Posted on 04/03/2015 3:11:40 PM PDT by big truck
I'm considering the purchase of either the Ruger LCR .357 snub nose (1 7/8" barrel) or the S&W 340 M&P .357 with the same barrel length. Anyone own/carry either gun? Pros and cons? Preferences?
The trigger on the Smith & Wesson will be way better than the Ruger trigger. Beyond that, they will both go bang every time you pull the trigger and the Ruger is cheaper.
I have heard many people say the way the handle is made on the LCR it absorbs/redirects energy much better than average wheelguns from the other makers. Better control and less fatigue are two thumbs up in my book. Plus being hammerless it won’t catch on anything when removing from the holster.
I have the .357 Ruger LCR but recently added the Ruger .22 LCR for practicing. They are so similar in shape & size that the Range Master recommended it for practicing for my daughter and I, she’s 21 and just learning . . . and then the .357 for a few rounds each time BUT we’re shooting .38’s out of it most of the time but at least it gives you options when ammo is hard to find.
My goal is to buy one gun per year while Zero is in office and right now I’m behind by one gun. Maybe will buy another tomorrow. I’m going to the NRA 4 hour class with her tomorrow night. And plan to take more classes with her and the extra bit of confidence in taking more classes won’t her for me either.
I have the Ruger .380 but I am just not real comfortable with it . .. and it has jammed when practicing.
Oh yeah! And I lost all of my pistols, revolvers, shotguns and rifles when my boat sank in a hurricane.
I’ve had my old S&W Mod 28 Highway Patrolman since 1972. It was 4 lbs of solid steel. When I was a liquor store clerk in the 70’s I had a punk throw a bottle and come over the counter at me. Didn’t have time to aim & shoot, but I smacked him upside the head with that 4lbs of iron and stopped him cold. Then in the 80’s carried it as my service weapon with the Police Dept. as a certified reserve patrolman. Heck of a chunk of metal, thousands of rounds of practice ammo practicing for bi-annual qualifications for 6 years. Never a misfire, jam or problem.
I have never found semi-autos as reliable as wheel guns because eventually, a semi- will FTF. But, in a defensive scenario, you wouldn’t have already snapped off 150 rounds. The debate will rage forever over “six for sure” vs. “semi-auto-jammers.” The best bet with either is to make the first shot count as best you can - center mass. And, that means practice, practice, practice.
Feels like 4 lbs but it’s actually only about 2 and a half
I love my Taurus 605 Stainless 5 with 2” barrel and it cost a lot less than either of your choices.
Yep, I wish I would have shot a Ruger .380 before I bought it. My husband likes it so maybe I will give it to him.
If you intend to shoot 38+P rounds, suggest you buy a 357. The extra weight will be a positive. And, you’ll have the flexibility of shooting any of the 38spl or 357 rounds should you choose to do so.
I agree. The .357 feels so much better in my hands. Even my daughter liked it better than the .38 and she shot both at the range and her hands are even smaller than mine.
When I went to buy my LCR I had the intention of getting .38 but liked the .357 much better.
Waiting on the May big Ruger sale at our shop nearby to get the daughter’s “first” gun.
One of the most pleasant snub nosed revolvers I ever had was a Colt lightweight agent. Actually it was not one of, it was the best.
Six shots, not very heavy and I always loaded it with wadcutters. Not hugely powerful but pretty nasty up close.
Also at maybe 10 yards it would just keep putting those 148 grain tubes in a single large hole.
My preferred carry weapon is a Glock 23, which is a compact .40 S&W. I also carry two spare magazines. So, with 13 rounds each and one in the chamber, I have 40 chances to neutral any threats. That's eight times more rounds than one of those two revolvers can put out. And changing a magazine is much easier and faster than reloading a revolver.
Lost mine in a tragic handball accident in High School.
No, I don’t sound like PeeWee Herman.
I had a S & W .38 hammerless before the boat accident. If I still had it I’d get it out and practice. It was nice for concealed carry.
I have to keep telling myself that despite the problems I have with picking up sights and tolerating recoil, at least I'm still here to have to deal with them. I can easily handle .357 Magnums in heavy revolvers like GP100s and L-frame S&Ws, but the last time I used full-house .357s in a K-frame, I decided that the "fun" of doing so had long since parted company with me. The old saw - and it was old even 50 years ago - that the best gun for the average person was a .38 Special with a 3 or 4 inch barrel sounds more reasonable the older I get.
The .357 LCR's extra weight makes hot .38 Specials feel okay (less outrage than when fired from the .38 Special LCR); I personally feel that .357 Magnum in the LCR is a bit much, but if a person considers the kick of .357s out of a light handgun to be pleasant, they will get their jollies in abundance. The 340 M&P will get your attention with .357 loads too, while - as with the .357 LCR - it is not too bad with the .38 Special loads most people have on hand.
I like the 2-1/4" Ruger SP101 for it's tractability, but it is a tad heavy and a bit large for pocket carry (at least for myself)... I wish Ruger would see fit to shorten the barrel at least a quarter of an inch and develop a grip that was less "pointy" at the lower rear so that it was more "pocketable," but that hasn't happened.
Mr. niteowl77
I carry the LCD in Moms pocket holster. More than happy with it and it’s not that bad to shoot. Very concealable You’ll never feel a thing if you need to use it. Use the personal defense ammo designed for short barrel pistols.
Make that LCR and Mika holster. Hate this spell check.
Personally the short barrel length makes hitting your target difficult. If you are seeking a wonderful revolver I might suggest a Ruger SP 101. It has a very good weight to it, in 4 to 6 inch barrel, and in 38/357.
I use it to teach new students on the range every day. Ruger is a very well made revolver. In stainless Steel it is hard to beat.
The longer the barrel the less recoil.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.