lcr vs s&w 642

[seethesvt]

I've been trying to decide between a ruger lcr and a Smith 642 for months now... I'm going to shoot both of them tomorrow with the intention of buying one. I have been looking up individual reviews on each of them and they're all positive reviews. I've also been looking up comparison reviews and I have found alot of great reviews and discussions on the two. It seems that the lcr is favored about 60% of the time. With out having shot either gun, I'm leaning more towards the s&w. I've been to j&s custom guns a few times and to gander a few times to handle them both. Neither one is uncomfortable to hold. The lcr seems a little more bulky in the grip and it also seems to have a better trigger pull... but its just butt ugly, and ruger doesn't have the track record of s&w. The 642 has been around for decades and from what I've read is one of s&w's best sellers. Its not gonna be the gun I go shooting all day with, but ill definitely throw a few rounds through each range visit. its mainly gonna be my carry piece when carrying my g19 isn't logical, like on my motorcycle. I've also heard that after a few thousand rounds the s&w trigger greatly improves. But we'll see what happens at the range.
Any feed back from people who have/do own both?

[gyrfalcon]

I would say Ruger has an advantage in cost and customer service.

[Paul]

I would say Ruger has an advantage in cost and customer service.

Maybe customer service, not sure about cost. Thunderjohn has has the 642's without the internal lock for $340ish... That's pretty cheap.

I have tried both, and owned a couple S&W air weights... That would be my vote.

[gyrfalcon]

Maybe customer service, not sure about cost. Thunderjohn has has the 642's without the internal lock for $340ish... That's pretty cheap.

Yeah that's true... I was talking more about the S&W340's vs Ruger LCR 357's.

[seethesvt]

I would say Ruger has an advantage in cost and customer service.

Maybe customer service, not sure about cost. Thunderjohn has has the 642's without the internal lock for $340ish... That's pretty cheap.

I have tried both, and owned a couple S&W air weights... That would be my vote.

$340? Wow, that's cheap... I'm about to pay $375 for a slightly used one w/ a holster... but, I'm told its a nice holster worth about $40, and the gun has had less than 100 rounds through it...
At gander, brand new the lcr is about $50 more than the 642. But at j&s, the 642 is about $100 more than the lcr...

[MrVvrroomm]

I have both. Flip a coin, they're both great little revolvers.

[cobb]

I will keep my preference neutral, but relay what I have been told by a few of the that ladies have gone through my classes and have shot both.

Because of both revolver's light weight, neither are fun to shoot, but that is basic physics. What several of the ladies have told me is that the Ruger has a better or easier trigger for them to work. I assume that in most cases a woman's hand strength is less than most men, so with the Ruger's easier trigger, the ladies can shoot the Ruger more accurately.

This is what I have been told by a few women, so I guess seethesvt will find out tomorrow.

[ttousi]

Buy from Gouger Mountain if you like paying thru the nose..........typically minimum $ 50 higher

Suggest you give the business to thunderjohn instead of the big corp..........see srigs for a holster

[seethesvt]

Buy from Gouger Mountain if you like paying thru the nose..........typically minimum $ 50 higher

Suggest you give the business to thunderjohn instead of the big corp..........see srigs for a holster

Gander is cheaper than j&s.. I got my g19 from gander for $499, that was a great deal...
I sent thunder a pm.

[ttousi]

Buy from Gouger Mountain if you like paying thru the nose..........typically minimum $ 50 higher

Suggest you give the business to thunderjohn instead of the big corp..........see srigs for a holster

Gander is cheaper than j&s.. I got my g19 from gander for $499, that was a great deal...
I sent thunder a pm.

Next glock you buy check out the GSSF membership which allows you to buy a glock a yr at cost

[whiteox]

My perception was that the recoil was slightly less on the LCR. If grip width is a concern, there is also a boot grip available and the Crimson Trace grip is thinner than the standard. Of course with the Crimson Trace the felt recoil is stronger. You can't go wrong, really, unless you buy the gun from Gander.

[westhope]

I've shot & carried S&W J-frames for years (642,442,432,317). I will agree, the stock trigger of a Ruger is better than a stock S&W. With a little work on the rebound slide and rebound spring, I like S&W triggers better.

To me, the S&W feels better in the hand. The Ruger just doen't point right for my hands.

I WILL NEVER SHOOT A 357 MAGNUM IN A J-FRAME.

It just hurts way too much. I shot one of the 12 oz., ultralight S&W J-frames in 357 Mag, won't do it again. +P loads are more than enough. Practice with light 38 Special loads.

S&W just came out with the 642 with a 2-1/2 barrel rather than the standard 1-7/8 barrel. I got one, really like the longer barrel. Pocket carries the same as the shorter barrel. The main advantage is that the longer barrel fully extracts the empties from the cylinder rather than only partially as with the 1-7/8 barrel. The longer sight radius is also noticeable. The longer barrel has a pinned sight, so it can be replaced with a fiber optic one.

Crimson Trace offers 3 grip sizes for the S&W J-frames. Note: NRA instructors can buy their grips for about 1/2 price.

[tacticalninja32]

I would say Ruger has an advantage in cost and customer service.

Maybe customer service, not sure about cost. Thunderjohn has has the 642's without the internal lock for $340ish... That's pretty cheap.

I have tried both, and owned a couple S&W air weights... That would be my vote.

340 is mighty cheap

[gyrfalcon]

...I WILL NEVER SHOOT A 357 MAGNUM IN A J-FRAME. It just hurts way too much. I shot one of the 12 oz., ultralight S&W J-frames in 357 Mag, won't do it again. +P loads are more than enough. Practice with light 38 Special loads...

Did it really hurt that much to you? I know lighter guns can kinda give a punch/slap that might make you flinch, but I don't think I've fired anything that really hurt (pistol) if it wasn't caused by snake bite, etc.

[JJ]

I personally love 357 in my little airlight. Seperates the men from the boys. And my wife likes it too.