S&W model 60 vs. Ruger LCR

[xTHORx]

Hi everyone,

I recently got my first revolver, a S&W model 637-2 and, I am very pleased with it. I have started saving for a 357 magnum revolver for occasional carry and, enjoyment at the range. Right now my top two picks are the S&W model 60 and, the Ruger LCP. Does anyone know which is the better value as far as quality, longevity and, such or, possibly a better option?

Thanks in advance,
Thad

 

[glocking26]

I've been been a big fan of the Smith + Wesson J frames for years and owened several. In the last 10 years The quality has went downhill fast. Split forcing cones crooked barrels hammer studs breaking paint finishings peeling off guns coming right out of the factory With the timing off. I speak from experience out of the last 5. J frames I bought three had to go back for repairs one couldn't even be repaired they replaced it with a brand-new gun. And the gun they sent me had to go back right out-of-the-box. These were all the airweight series. My advice is if you're going to go with the Smith and Wesson J frame by one of the older guns that are stainless steel or blued. With all that said I was reluctant to buy a Ruger LCR because of the Polymer frame and just the looks of it. But guess what I bought one and LOVE it. Silky smooth trigger very like to carry and a great finish. I put hundreds around to various kinds of them ammo through my little gun and it just keeps going and this is coming from someone who owned lots Smith and Wesson handguns for 40 years. I'm sure someone will post how happy they are with their 642 or 442. Me I'm done with the NEW S+W's one mans opinion
I almost forget then there's that dumb ass lock. Rant done.

 

[xTHORx]

Thank you for sharing your opinion. I have been a little let down by the finish on my J frame 38 special. Other than that I can't find anything else to gripe about. That's why I am considering a stainless model 60. My brother is trying to convince me to get a Colt Python but, those things tend to cost a lot more than I want to spend. The reason I am considering the LCR is the abundant number of positive reviews.

 

[glocking26]

Great little guns. You have to look really hard to read anything bad about them. Do a YouTube search on them. Good luck on what ever you choose.

 

[OpticsPlanet]

Both excellent choices. I do tend to like the "old school" materials a bit better, so stainless steel always gets my vote. Since I'm willing to tolerate a little more weight in my revolvers, I have gone to the larger frame sizes with short barrels (i.e. - S&W 686 or the old 66) carry guns in .357, as they are a bit easier to shoot well and I feel like they will hold up better in the long run.

George P.

 

[xTHORx]

Thanks for the replies. I just saw a 66 with a 2 1/2" barrel on Gunbroker and, those are sweet. I have added it to my consideration list.

 

[edmo01]

I am also smitten with S&W revolvers, but have also had less than stellar experience with their quality control. Below is my saga from the past few years...

- Bought a a new BG38 38+P snubbie. One month later the action locked up. Sent it back and when it was returned, the gun frequently misfired. Sent it back again and they said they would need to replace it. I opted to pony up a few extra $$ and have them send me a 642-1CT instead.

- 642-1 replacement for the BG38. Flawless and still running strong.

- 642-1 (#2). I liked my first 642 so much I bought a second one when a LGS had a good deal. Three months later the trigger pivot pin sheared off. I sent it to S&W and they said it would be replaced. I again opted to pony up a few extra $$ and upgrade to a 640-1 Pro Series J frame.

- 640-1 Pro Series. It took over 5 months to receive this gun. When it showed up, it had 4 glaring issues out of box. 1) the barrel was visibly clocked in the frame. 2) the "357 Mag" etching on the barrel was done twice... In different, overlapping locations. 3) the white outline around the tritium front sight was pitted & damaged. & 4) the rear sight fell off the gun!! Yup, it fell off! I sent it back and everything was fixed. Over the next 8 months the barrel slowly twisted back to the "clocked" position just as it originally arrived. I sent it back again. I'm 75 rounds into the new fix and it seems to be holding.

- 9mm Shield. Just like my first 642-1, this Shield has been flawless.

In summary, 3 of 5 current production guns I own from S&W needed to go back for repairs. That is 75% of the revolvers from a company who is know for their quality revolvers.

From this point on, I'll limit my S&W revolver purchases to pre 1980s model guns. That is when they still made quality guns.

Edmo

 

[Stumper]

I am blessed to have both. Pretty tough call. I like the look and styling of the Smith but the LCR is a sweet to shoot snub. (I am assuming that you mean the LCR-You said LCP in the text of your post which is a nice tiny autoloader but not much of a "fun gun".

 

[xTHORx]

Yeah, I didn't notice the typo when I proofread before posting. LCR is what I meant. I own an LCP and, it was a very disappointing purchase. I had many takedown pin issues with it and, from the extensive reading I have since done on them it is rather common. I find it enjoyable to shoot when it's not trying to fall apart on me. I "fixed" mine with a TandemKross tool less takedown pin and, it is currently my most carried for no reason other than it being the most convienent, at least, untill I choose a holster for my S&W 637. I am thinking about getting a Recluse pocket holster for the 637. I have one for my LCP and, like the holster much more than the 380 auto it carries.

I'm rather surprised to hear about so many quality issues from S&W found by a single coustomer but, at the same time I guess it's not all that unheard of these days. Almost nothing seems to have the quality found years ago.

 

[red rick]

I would not get a lightweight .357 since you already have a lightweight .38 . The recoil is just to much for most , not making target shooting fun . You could practice with .38's in it though . The .357 is also very loud , with a lot of flash out of a short barrel and you do not again that much over a .38 with a short barrel . I would look at the 4" stainless Ruger GP100 for some fun at the range , but I don't think you would be conceal carrying it . If you want to do both , I would suggest the 3" Ruger SP101 .

Out of the two you were asking about , I would look for an older pre-lock model 60 .

I have a 4" GP100 and it makes a nice outdoors / range revolver . I also have a 3" SP101 that I CC most of the time . I carry it more than my 642 . I mainly got the 642 for pocket carry . I had a M&P 340 , 13.8 oz. .357 , I sold it .

 

[Huntiers]

I love model 60.

 

[Rollie]

I just bought a M60-14 and a LCR 3". The last S&W, 637PP, 640 pro, and 315NG have all had accuracy problems. I put over 100 different loads through the 315 without a good group. Yet my 629 Mt. gun will shoot 2 1/2-3" cast bullet groups at 30 yds, so I don't think it is me. I have had NO problems with the lock, so it is a non issue.
The 60 was nicely finished, and attractive. The LCR is well, different and took some getting used to, I like it.The double action on the 60, although good, wasn't as good or smooth as the LCR. Single action on the 60 was defective. There were 2, yes TWO, places the the hammer would catch when pulled back. the first gave a normal pull similar to my 337, 36, 629, and 3913. The second, full back, is very light. The LCR is O.K., and very good.
Accuracy with the 60 was fairly good at 30 yds. Roughly to point of aim, with the best of 15 loads at 5", high and right. The 2nd. load through the LCR was 2 1/4" at 30 yds. As it has adjustable sights, it was easy to bring it in to poa.
Please don't give me the crap about these guns only good at 7 yds. ( this is spear range ). If $600-800 only gets a group at 7 yds., there should be a disclaimer.
Weight of 60 loaded = 25.4 oz. LCR = 18.6 oz. both with Buffalo Bore 158 +P. The recoil in the 60 with this ammo was O.K. and controllable, likely due to the 2 1/8" barrel and overall greater weight. In the LCR it was much more noticeable, a handful , but the grips soaked it up. Probably one wouldn't practice a lot with this ammo in the LCR, but fine for carry. Also I paid 50% MORE for the 60 than the LCR.
The LCR came in a cardboard box with a nice pouch inside. The S&W 60 came in a 25 cent cardboard box with no pouch. I have bought fruit in a better box than the S&W one.
End result: I will keep the LCR, but NOT the 60. Also not interested in any more S&W. Just FYI, my Taurus 405 in 40S&W, and my PT99, have had NO problems, sorry Taurus bashers, .

 

[burk]

Until the LCR hit the market you would have had a tough time convincing me that any one did small 5 shot concealable revolvers better. Smith no doubt set the standard in that category. BUT, having shot the LCR and several Smith's, the LCR is far superior in almost every way. All of the weaknesses of the Smith design become readily apparent when you shoot the Ruger.

1) Trigger, the Ruger trigger is smoother, and better in almost every way.

2) Grip angle, by changing the angle of the grip and getting the trigger guard out of the way, the Ruger feels significantly bigger in your hand and is far easier for quicker target acquisition

3) Felt recoil. This is where the Ruger kills the Smith. Between the polymer frame and hogue grips the Ruger is a far more comfortable gun to shoot. The Smith can be down right brutal with hot loads. I remember working in LE supply and one department bought Smith Scandiums for all of their officers at BUG's. A few of the firearms nut SRT guys decided to qualify with .357. These were big guys use to doing a lot of shooting. Many of them told me they'd never put a .357 round thru those guns again.

Smith makes some very good revolvers, and while the current company does have some QC issues, there full size revolvers and large frames are competitive with anyone and in some cases the best in class. But in small concealable 5 shots, the LCR has changed the category.

 

[mavracer]

I have a LCR 38 and a 442 Smith, A 3" M60 and a 3" SP101. If you want a 357 to shoot 357s from I wouldn't get a KLCR, I really don't even shoot many full tilt boogie 357s from my 60. The SP is IMHO the perfect small 357 unless you go 6 shot

 

[Caswell Ranch]

I would go with the Ruger SP101 2 1/8" over the LCR or the 60. The 60 is a nice gun but recoil is less (to me) with the SP101 and better for long term use.

 

[stoky]

IMHO, The LCR is a better value, the Model 60 is a better investment. I've been carrying and shooting a Model 60 for forty+ years. If it fell apart today, it doesn't owe me a thing.

 

[Caswell Ranch]

STOKY,
The LCR I test fired was a hand full, very snappy and I was only shooting 38spl.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Sp101....

I had a great DA only Ruger SP101 5 shot .357mag in the early 1990s, .
It was stainless steel and weighed more than a alloy frame S&W but the longer ejector rod was a + & it could fire .38spl +P too if I needed it.
The .357 LCR would be fine. Hogue has several cool after market grips for the Ruger LCR line.
S&W J or E frames are okay but I'm not a fan of the shorter rod.
I'd feel safe with a J frame & almost purchased a NIB S&W 642 no lock .38spl in 2014 on sale for about $365.00.

 

[xTHORx]

To be perfectly honest, my LCP has left a rather bad impression of Ruger but, I'm willing to consider the LCR because, it's a revolver and, comparing the two is like apples and, oranges. I certainly will not spend my hard earned money on another Ruger semiauto reguardless how many good reviews are out there. Even though my experience with hand guns is probably a bit limited as to different brands and, styles my absolute favorite semiauto is my 1974 Polish P64 (I have not fired anything more reliable) and, the best revolvers I have had the pleasure to fire are Colt Pythons (6", 4" and 2.5". All were extremely enjoyable with hot loads) and, my S&W 637 ( even though it does have that stupid lock)

That being said, I have been doing a lot of reading and, you tubing on the LCR. It does sound rather impressive. I handled one at a gun shop recently and, like the feel of it. I wish I could have tried it out.

The air weight 38 +p I have is a lot of fun at the range even with +P loads. I don't mind a stout recoil. Even though I am a little disappointed by the finish on my 637, I purchased it to be an EDC to replace the LCP. The finish will be getting carry punishment anyway so, it's kind of a moot point.

 

[Frank V]

xTHORx

Welcome to the forum.
I'm going to suggest a different revolver altogether & the reason is you said to take to the range & .357. I read that to mean you intend to shoot it maybe a lot with .357s & if that's the case even the mod. 19 & similar guns will eventually shoot loose with a lot of .357s. I'm going to suggest a good old S&W Mod. 28 or 27 & I'd prefer one without a lock. The 28 will not have a lock & can probably be had for less than a new 27 with the lock. Yes I'm aware both are N frames & big .357s, but both will stand up to a LOT of shooting with .357s & not get loose.
They will be harder to carry, but if it's a range gun with occasional carrying this shouldnt' matter. Even carrying them a lot won't be all that bad with proper leather & they will outlast a mod. 19.
Just something to think about.
Let us know what you decide.

 

[xTHORx]

Frank V

Your suggestions of either a 27 or a 28 sound to be a much better choise for my purposes than either the 60 or, LCR. I think if I go for one of them I will most likely choose a newer 27. I like the older models but, I would prefer to have one with some sort of drop safety. Something that size will most definately be only an occasional carry. I try to get to the range at least twice a month. When I go I first run 50-100 rounds through my carry piece then another 50-100 through whichever other I decide to take with me if I take any others with. The way I look at it is if I am going to carry a gun I am going to practice with it a lot. I used to carry my P64 daily but, with my preference for a shoulder holster with that one I decided on something that I can pocket carry without having to pull my pants up all the time. I just ordered a Recluse pocket holster for my 637 and, will start to carry it as soon as the holster arrives.

 

[El Viejo]

Both are excellent, but I really love my S&W.

 

[Twiki357]

xTHORx: Thanks for the replies. I just saw a 66 with a 2 1/2" barrel on Gunbroker and, those are sweet. I have added it to my consideration list.

That would be my first choice. But then I have 30 S&Ws and only one Ruger so you could say I’m a little prejudice.

 

[Waveski]

If you want a light polymer revolver to carry in your pocket , buy a Ruger LCR.

If you want a fine , classic snub nose revolver , buy a pre-lock Smith & Wesson 60.

I can stay on the range all day with my Smith 60 , happily gobbling up 38 special.

Shooting an LCR is about as pleasant as slamming the hood of my truck on my hand.

For the record , I do not enjoy discharging 357 magnum from any snub , with the possible exception of the SP101.

 

[xTHORx]

First off, I would like to thank everyone for your insights. After careful consideration I believe I will use my 637-2 as my EDC and, save up for a model 27 with a 4" barrel for home defense, occasional carry, and, enjoyment at the range. This will take me a few months to swing. In the mean time I will be enjoying my snub 38.