Ruger LCR 38 sp vs S&W 442 or 642?

[Bull Nutria]

MY LCR WAS STOLEN, I plan on replacing it with either of the above. the ruger is $461 and the 642 is $418 at LCR. I really liked my LCR but S&W are also quality revolvers??

What say you?

Bull

 

[Fiv3r]

I shoot the lcr way better. I had a 642, but it didn't stick around. I foolishly traded off my lcr. 38. I had a 9mm that I really liked, but I kept bending moon clips.

I keep telling myself that I am going to pick up a .357 or .327 lcr next time I stumble upon one at a good price. I've thought about another 642 or 442, but I just shoot the lcr better.

 

[fordtrucks]

Go with quality you know and shoot well. If you didn’t shoot the lcr well, consider the smith. Also, why stolen? Not left in a car unattended I hope.

 

[If1HitU]

I have the LCR.38 SPL+P.and a S&W .442-2 SPL+P.I like them both but I going to get me a S&W 642.I say you can't go wrong with any of your three choices. That's my 2cents!

 

[SteadyD]

If you're already well practiced with the LCR and already have holsters, stick with it. If you're wanting a change, go for the 442/642. I have both and like both. After getting a Performance Center 442 I personally won't get a regular model j frame unless I intend to have the trigger worked on.

 

[SwampWolf]

I think the LCR is an ugly gun but I much prefer its da trigger pull over any J-frame I've sampled over the past decade or so. I plan on getting an LCR for a pocket revolver, chambered in 327 Federal Magnum, as soon as my lgs gets them in stock. I love having 20% more ammunition in a "man-stopper" cartridge on board for self-defense purposes (five .38 Special/.357 Magnum rounds vs six .327 Magnum rounds).

 

[Haywood]

I don’t like the trigger on the LCR so I sold mine. I like the 442 best.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I carry a M442 daily and wouldn't have it any other way. I like that j frame revolver a lot and I have other choices.

 

[jstert]

how about a heavier ruger lcr 357 to better absorb 38 recoil?

 

[cc-hangfire]

S&W or Ruger?

Chevy or Ford (or Dodge)?

I have an LCR & a 642, both .38spl. I slightly prefer the LCR’s trigger and it wears the small bantam grip and works for occasional pocket carry for me. The 642 currently wears a larger Delta grip and lives in a quick access safe for home defense (along with some other higher capacity auto-loaders). It’s almost a coin flip for me to choose between the two.

So....I’d say go with replacing your LCR; the difference in cost is only a few boxes of ammo.

 

[CajunBass]

I'm a Smith & Wesson guy, but have never cared for J-frames. I've got one, 642. Normally I don't care for Ruger revolvers, but I've also got a LCR, which I like better than any J-frame I've ever owned.

 

[mavracer]

It's a coin toss.
I prefer my LCR for carrying, but only because it has a XS front sight and Crimson Trace grips, I sold the CTs off my 442 because I just didn't carry it much.
My 442 is pretty though with the wood Hogue bantems and the two tone finish, it has stainless cylinder.

 

[bassjam]

The LCR's have a really smooth trigger, but I prefer having an aluminum framed revolver over a plastic frame so I vote S&W. I also don't care for the larger grip the LCR's come with.

 

[8ring]

For me, the J-Frame Airweight with an Apex Tactical Spring kit is superior to the LCR. The J-frame action is also much easier to smooth out with some mild polishing. My 638 shoots all factory ammunition and my reloads with the Apex Tactical spring kit. I shoot my 638 much better than the LCR 2" barrel and the LCR-X 3" barrel I've owned. .

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

I would go for a Ruger LCRX with the hammer but that's just me, unlike most I actually prefer a hammer even for pocket carry.

 

[Milt1]

Bull, if you had an LCR then you know how well it is to conceal in a pant pocket. I've carried mine and forgot that I even had it with me. I don't think there's another revolver on the market that will conceal as easily as the LCR, if there is I haven't seen it. My trigger has gotten much smoother over time and that may have something to do with the fact that I shoot it about every week. The only thing I don't like about the LCR is that you can freeze one up by too rapid a trigger pull. I don't know if a gunsmith can remedy this or not? If anyone knows that this can be done I'd like to hear from you. My suggestion Bull is to stick with the LCR!

 

[Gary A]

I have never fired an LCR but am impressed with their design and the ultra light weight (38 +P version). I’m not crazy about the standard grips. The boot grips are admirably small but don’t feel very good in my hand and I don’t know how they handle recoil. However, I have a whole stable full of Smith and Wesson Airweights most with the excellent Uncle Mike’s rubber version of Spegel Boot Grips. The others have Pachmayr Bantams on them as I don’t like Smith’s current rubber factory grips because they don’t seem to work well with speedloaders for me. I just haven’t felt the need to try to fix what ain’t broke though slightly more than 1/2 of my airweights are not +P rated by the factory. Still, I wouldn’t mind owning an LCR at all.

 

[red rick]

I have a 642 because they were not making a LCR when I bought it . I like the trigger a lot better on the LCR .

 

[Bull Nutria]

Well thanks for the suggestions, I showed my LCR to RC Model about 10 months before he died. He coon fingered it, snapped the trigger a few times and said it was very smooth. Now RC was an S&W man from way back. To hear him say that made all the difference to me. He had a pile of S&W revolvers some in 44sp that he cherished. He also had a pair of Colt 1911s that he built himself when he was in the Army AMU. He was a 1911 pistolsmith for several years in the Army!! He could disassemble a 1911 in less than a minute. He sent me a video to prove it!!

I really missed that guy and I suppose many of you THR guys do also!!

Bull

 

[bannockburn]

I tried an LCR but didn't really care for it all that much. Much prefer my S&W Model 638.

 

[bannockburn]

Bull

I really missed that guy and I suppose many of you THR guys do also!!

Yes, indeed we do.

 

[luzyfuerza]

I carry a 442 as a BUG, and my wife carries an LCR as her primary. I've had the 442's trigger polished, but kept the original springs. The LCR is box-stock. I like them both, and think that they are both fine handguns.

My problem is that I don't shoot either of them enough. Recoil gets uncomfortable over long range sessions, even with light target ammo.

If I lost both of them, and I had to replace them, I think that I'd go with the 357 version of the LCR, with its stainless frame and additional recoil-absorbing weight.

 

[Tallball]

Due to its light weight and my preference for revolvers, my LCR (38 special) is my most-carried handgun. It has as good or better DA trigger than any S&W J frame I have ever shot. It's uglier than the Smiths, but I don't carry it to look at.

 

[SeanSw]

I went with the LCR .38 for the light weight and trigger. If I didn't mind a heavier gun or felt .357 was necessary I'd probably seek out one of the heavier all steel S&W models. The dao sp101 I tried just didn't seem to scratch that itch. Too much gun for my pockets, though it seems to work well for others.

 

[DPris]

You don't freeze the LCR trigger by shooting too fast, you freeze it by short-stroking, not allowing a full trigger reset.
And no gunsmith can correct operator error.
Denis