what is the point

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1.5 oz.? Not noticeable, especially once loaded. The weight of a some pocket change.

The 340? The LCR isn't a .357, any more than the 642 is. Apples and oranges.

The LCR would have to compete with the 642/442 by being a better revolver, easier to shoot well, cheaper, or all three. It does not compete with a .357.
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While I'm sure the LCR isn't a .357, I'm less certain the weight obsessed won't be noticing the weight more than anything else.

Plus, it's new.

Markets are funny. I wouldn't be surprised if the .38+p vs .357 came in dead last in some folks checklist of the two "outer space" revolvers. Internet forums and the general public are different. The latter see to it that current production S&Ws sell like hotcakes. "Judges" seem to move much better in the real world than internet backchatter would lead me to believe as well.

But then again, I'm the one that thinks the next great thing in forum software upgrades will allow for "pool betting" on matters such as these.
 
I wouldn't be surprised if the .38+p vs .357 came in dead last in some folks checklist of the two "outer space" revolvers.
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It's got nothing to do with the Internet.

When you go to a gun shop, you will probably see a 340 and a 642. That's how it's been for a long time.

Then you'll see the price tag, and you'll ask the difference. The gun shop guy will probably lie to you about how NASA issues the 340 to all the astronauts, and the 642 breaks after 50 rounds. But if you're lucky and he doesn't, he'll just say that one's a .357 and a little lighter, and the other is a .38 and a little heavier and a lot cheaper.

Now you throw the LCR into the mix.

What's the difference?

Well, one of them is still a .357 and a lot more expensive. The LCR will be compared with the 642, not the 340.

As I said, the Internet's got nothing to do with it.
 
You have a great deal more confidence in the discrimination of the average buyer.

Both the LCR and the 340 are NEW and, in addition to being issued to astronauts are used for shark repellant by the special forces of several major nations. Against the backdrop of "new" the difference of 1/10" in brass and some of those PSIs may well pale into insignificance.

I'm not arguing that you're incorrect with regards to the proper comparisons. I am however extremely skeptical that your, or a gun board's consensus perception of such will translate into the real world where "Judges" are doing a land office business.

But if you're lucky and he doesn't, he'll just say that one's a .357 and a little lighter, and the other is a .38 and a little heavier and a lot cheaper.
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That would be the same guy that told a co-worker that 9mm Makarov ammo would work just fine in his P-95? Just last week?

Clearly, we have had different experiences with the quality of advice "out there".
 
My assumption is that, when someone is looking at one of these guns, he/she has some sense of a practical application for it (CCW, most likely).

I don't really understand what would drive someone to purchase a Judge. Surely it's not some sense of a practical application for it. Shrug.

A guy at a gun shop was talking the Judge up the other day. I looked at him kinda funny, like, yeah whatever, and asked about some vintage Smiths in the display case -- bought one, too.

Why DO people buy Judges?
 
Yeah, but it's looking so far like they will sell for about $100 more than a comparable J-frame like a 442.
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Well that is very disappointing. As much as I like my 642, a dramatically improved trigger would be welcome.
 
I think the LCR was made to fill a niche Ruger had open in their catalogue. Thye didn't have anything to compete with lightweight revolvers S&W makes. Doesn't have to be lighter than a S&W to compete. Price alone can do that. Innovative uses of modern materials can be a very good sales point. It worked for Glock.
 
Plastic carries a higher margin than steel. Some people will buy it just for the novelty of having the first plastic wheel gun, so they will make money on it & good for them. For some reason my brain will allow a plastic pistol, but not a wheel gun.
 
i must be the oddball then because i bought a judge and im really concidering the LCR mind you i bought the judge after a few "real" guns were procured lol and the only reason i like the LCR is because its different hell ill probably even carry the little sucker
 
People buy "Judges," for one reason. The word "shotgun." Tell them it's a shotgun, and illustrate the point with those little shoot n see targets like they do on TV, and next thing you know, Joe Sixpack starts to reason that if it's a shotgun, he won't have to aim it, and it's got so much more power than a 9MM, or the like. Obviously it does, look at the size difference in the ammo.

Anyhow, slight thread drift over...

S&W's been kicking Ruger's tail up and down with the J-frame. The closest thing ruger had to compete with it was the Sp101, which isn't the world's smallest or lightest snub.

Anyhow, what will it do that a J-frame won't? Answer: Make money for Ruger.
 
Ruger LCR
Weight: 13.5 ounces
MSRP: $525

S&W 642/442
Weight: 15 ounces
MSRP: $600

It's cheaper and lighter than a gun that sells like hotcakes because it's cheap and light. What's so confusing about that?
 
If Ruger really wanted a good size chunk of the j-frame market (my chunk anyway ;) ) they'd have given us a Rugerized version of the old Colt Agent - a 6 shot, 15-16oz .38 special.

rd
 
actually im more bill beer belly than joe sixpack and i personaly bought the judge because i like the idea of unique (read novelty) firearms that dont always fit into a "reason" to exist
again i say im interested in the LCR mainly for novelty but if it works it works and id be the first to carry it
i hope the darn thing works so well in fact that they make it in (dare i say it) .327FEDMAG and jam another round in the cylinder
heck i hope it works so well in fact that next year everyones riding S&Ws sack for there new polymer revolver and that a few years later we can all be talking about how crappy taurus polymer revolvers are compaired to ruger and S&Ws polymer revolvers are
 
Why did they make the LCR?
Well they can claim they wanted to make a light revolver, with recoil reducing polymer, thats cutting edge and very neat looking.

But the real answer is they found a way to make a gun cheaper and sell it for more. Plastic is the magical ingredient.
 
i like the idea of unique (read novelty) firearms that dont always fit into a "reason" to exist
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Nothing wrong with that. I have a bunch of black powder handguns.:)

The collector-of-the-unusual market can't account for all the buyers of the Judge, though, can it?
 
for myself, the point would be the price. i've wanted a snubbie for awhile now, but i couldn't rationalize spending more than $400 on one, when i could get a quality semiauto for that. if the LCR is priced right, i may finally have my dream snubbie.
 
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