LCR vs SP101 for CCW - QC issues?

J

jtyson

New member
I know these have been beaten to death and it is a matter of preference most times, but I want your opinions. I bought one of each - both second hand, with the intent of picking which one I like best for carry and get rid of the other one. Both are 357 magnum, short barrel, with Crimson Trace grips.

I took both out to shoot today. Here are my thoughts. I didn't take pictures of targets or anything because frankly, I'm not an amazing shooter like many of you, so I just shoot to get on paper at defense range. While both have laser sights, I was shooting outside in bright sunlight, so I couldn't use them, just the factory fixed rear and factory front ramp on both guns.

LCR 357 - With 38spl ball ammo, it was nice to shoot and I was within my paper plate range with 4 out of 5 shots consistently. With 125gr 357 mag loads it hurt considerably, but I was actually more accurate, getting smaller groups on paper and 5/5 every time. My hand isn't sore this evening, so the pain is temporary. I don't feel I was getting back on target for follow up shots any slower with 357 than I was with the 38 spl. This gun feels okay in hand, but very small. I have rather large hands and fat fingers, so I only have my middle finger and not quite half of my ring finger on the grip. It feels great slipped in my pocket. Weight advantage definitely a plus. The trigger is slightly better. The lockup doesn't feel as tight to me as it should. I can move the cylinder enough that when looking down the barrel with light, I can see things out of line. Everything lines up perfect when I pull the trigger and it rotates though. The 357 rounds don't eject as well, they seem to expand more. The cylinder release is sort of stiff. Rolling the cylinder into place and locking it in feels sort of grainy.

SP101 - With 38 spl ball ammo is great to shoot, but accuracy was awful. I was on paper with maybe 1-2/5 every time. And honestly, I think that was just luck. Same story with 125gr 357 mag loads. Though obviously the heavier frame was much easier on the web of my hand than the LCR. The grip on this gun is long enough for me to have both middle and ring finger on and pinkie tucked under comfortably. Feels better in hand. In pocket, it doesn't fit quite as well and is obviously much heavier.

I'm not exactly an avid shooter. I go a few times a year. Truth is I just can't afford to go more often than that. With that said, I consider myself a fair shooter. I'm relatively accurate. I just wasn't happy with my performance with the SP101. While I was cleaning it when I got home, I noticed something that I perceive to be a flaw that may very well be the cause of my poor accuracy. The rear sight is obviously just cut into the frame. According to my eyeball and my ruler, it is cut at a slight angle from left to right. The groove doesn't line up with the firing pin, cylinder and front ramp all perfectly straight. Over such a short sight picture, I feel that could very well be why I couldn't hit my paper plate very often. Am I crazy? If I'm not, is this something Ruger would fix? I bought the gun second hand too, if that matters. I've never sent anything in to any company for any reason, so I have no idea.

I'm kind of torn on what to do either way honestly. The SP101 feels better in hand, but not being carried. It handles heavier loads better, but at the expense of weight. I really want to like it better because it feels more solid being a metal frame. Also, I got a better deal on it, so that has something to do with it as well.

What do you guys think about the sight on the SP101? What is your feeling about carrying the LCR or SP101 good bad or otherwise?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and comments!
 
I've never owned a SP101, but I have always found it to be very heavy for a five shot revolver. I do have a 2.75 inch Service Six, which I like a great deal and is a very similar gun as the SP. I do have a .38 LCR, and I think it's a great pocket revolver-very lightweight and a great double action trigger. It could be that the smoother, lighter trigger pull of the LCR is helping you with accuracy. As far as the sights go, I would have a friend who is an experienced shooter try the gun. If he agrees the sights are misaligned, call Ruger and send the gun back for repair or replacement. If you are wanting to shoot more, consider a basic reloading setup. I can reload .38 wadcutters for around twelve cents per round, even buying my (lead) bullets. Sure beats the price of factory ammo.
 
The weight doesn't bother me really. Actually, before I bought these two, my regular carry gun was a 686 w/ 2.5" barrel. I don't mind the heft. I'm a big guy too, so I could pretty much hide a short barrel shotgun with a little effort and good holster. The only reason I prefer the lightweight LCR in this case is for in pocket carry in pants I don't want to wear a belt with or at least not a gun belt.

I've had a number of 357 and 38spl over the years and they've always been tack drivers (for my standards). These however are the first two Rugers I've ever shot. I've always been a Smith guy. But I liked the reviews of the LCR and I came across the SP101 at a really good price, so I decided to try both.

Unfortunately, I shoot more than anyone I know! Maybe by chance someone in Albuquerque will happen to see this thread and would be willing to lend an experienced eye to see about the sight alignment on the SP101. I thought about getting a pistol vise so I could sight in the lasers accurately. I wonder if I could confirm or disprove my rear sight alignment theory that way as well.

I've always liked the idea of reloading, but the initial expense has kept me from going for it. With as little as I shoot, it'd probably take me years to have it pay for itself. But, as you say, maybe at reload prices, I'd go shooting more often.
 
You can always try shooting the pistol off a rest, single action, at say 20 yards. In five or ten shots you will have a pretty good idea where your gun is shooting compared to your point of aim.

Also, any gunsmith should be able to look at the Ruger and determine what the issue is with the sights. They may also be able to fix the sight alignment cheaply if you don't want to send your gun back to the factory. I had to have the barrel turned on my Service Six to correct a sight alignment problem. It cost me a whopping ten bucks.

It doesn't take a lot to get started reloading. A basic setup like I have runs less than $120 online and will do everything you need it to do. A set of Lee dies should cost around $35 or $40. When you can reload .38 Special for six bucks a box, and store-bought ammo runs around $18/box, you pay for your $160 investment in only 14 boxes of ammo. Here's a link to the Lee Anniversary Kit that has everything you need except the dies:

https://fsreloading.com/lee-precisi...chant_center&gclid=CIbwvszB-MUCFdgegQodsJ4AxQ
 
For carry, absolutely get the LCR357 and put 38+P bullets in it. Anything by Hornady or Speer for sure will be great and there are others. Leave the 357 bullets for a much bigger gun.

I see no advantage of the SP101 for this purpose - or any other much. It's a tweener size for me. I'd rather have the LCR to shoot 38 and GP100 to shoot 357.
 
Like you said, it is a matter of preference. My LCR is gradually taking a primary role in all my CCW situations because of how light it is. I have small hands, so it probably fits and shoots more naturally into my hands than yours.

I have never shot an SP but I would expect better accuracy. Second hand with a misaligned rear sight sounds like it was dropped. You could try bigger targets to get more holes. If you are missing consistently in the same area of the target then you may have a sight problem. A local gunsmith should be able to look at the sights and offer advice.

Keep shooting both and you will find a preference.
 
I see no advantage of the SP101 for this purpose - or any other much. It's a tweener size for me. I'd rather have the LCR to shoot 38 and GP100 to shoot 357.
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Slimjim9 said it better than I could so I just stole his words.

I feel your pain about the 125 grain .357 magnums out of the LCR. That's the max I would shoot. I shot 158 grain .357 magnums ONCE out of the LCR. Didn't even shoot a full cylinder. I won't do that again unless I'm absolutely forced to do so. (And they weren't even 'hot' 158 grain rounds...just standard range ammunition.)
 
I've had both of those guns. I like the LCR a lot better for carry. but just for information purposes. the LCR 357 has a stainless steel main frame not an aluminum one like the other LCR's. the only polymer is the grip frame and fire control housing. if your hitting targets with the LCR then I would no doubt choose that as my carry weapon. actually I did till I let my wife try it now she carries it. and I have several others to choose from.
 
I have and LOVE my sp101. Been my go to wheel gun for more years than I care to remember. I will take a stab at your accuracy issues with the gun.

As much as I love the SP101 I have to say that out of the box, it has the heaviest, grittiest, creepiest trigger I have EVER felt on a revolver. (think pulling a broken jeep thru a sand pit with a nylon rope)

With a gunsmiths help, or if you, like me are mechanically adept a few hours with some cheap tools and new springs it can be made to nearly rival a finely tuned smith, that $20 investment turned a sows ear into a silk purse indeed.
 
I have and LOVE my sp101. Been my go to wheel gun for more years than I care to remember. I will take a stab at your accuracy issues with the gun.

As much as I love the SP101 I have to say that out of the box, it has the heaviest, grittiest, creepiest trigger I have EVER felt on a revolver. (think pulling a broken jeep thru a sand pit with a nylon rope)

With a gunsmiths help, or if you, like me are mechanically adept a few hours with some cheap tools and new springs it can be made to nearly rival a finely tuned smith, that $20 investment turned a sows ear into a silk purse indeed.
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^^^^^ +1

What Sarge said.

I have no experience with the LCR.

I have a 1989 SP101 3" .38 Spl with a Hogue monogrip. I used the $10 Wolff Spring Kit http://www.gunsprings.com/Revolvers/RUGER/SP-101/cID3/mID52/dID234 and polished the offending areas sparingly. The pistol is easily disassembled/reassembled (once you know how to do it) and I think I spent a little over an hour to get things right. When changing hammer springs, test fire it with each spring to see if it feels good AND to insure positive ignition for every round fired. The Wolff 8# trigger spring allows for complete reset of the trigger (on my gun), and I used the 10# hammer spring. The hammer let-off is very clean with no trigger take-up or creep, and the hammer is easily thumb cocked for SA use.

Note: if you ever send it back to Ruger for whatever reason, re-install the original factory springs because you probably won't get the Wolff springs back.

My wife hated the factory trigger/hammer and now is quite pleased.
 
Thank you all for the responses.

I'm well aware that if I practiced shooting more, with both these guns and others, I'd probably be more accurate. I'd love to, I just haven't been able to afford it. I'll look into a small reloading setup to see if that is something that could get me out more often.

The main reasons I lean towards the SP101 is the grip size, and the fact that it feels like it is more solid. That and the fact that I'm into it much less $$$ than the LCR. However, I don't have any issue holding onto the LCR and being relatively accurate with a gun I've never shot before, even with the magnum loads, so I guess my one finger grip is adequate.

I am rather mechanically inclined so I am sure I could tackle a trigger job on the SP, but first I want to figure out about the sights before I make any decisions to tweak it otherwise.

I'll attach a couple pictures of the SP101, but I'm not sure it will help describe anything considering all I have is an iphone and it is tough to see a millimeter in a picture. I don't think that dropping it would make much difference though considering it is machined into the frame. But, I'm not an expert by any means so I could be wrong.
 

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even if your sights were off by a millimeter, your groups still would be tight and slight off centered, not erratic and flyers happening. Sight don't do that, especially fixed sights. Adjustable, maybe because the sight shift, but it this case, the sights look perfectly fine for the intended use and you should not be off because of them.
Perhaps the trigger pull, yes, but sights no.


The SP is not going to be an easy pocket pistol, whereas the LCR is.
I've got one in my pocket daily and hardly notice it all day long.
But wear my Smith 19 or security six on the belt.

So if you are willing to belt carry, the SP will be fine, but if you want every day pocket carry, learn to shoot and live with the LCR which is a fine pistol.

You mention that the SP is short barreled. Is it the same as the LCR?
 
Yes both are short barreled. Maybe the trigger was my issue then. I definitely didn't like it as much as the LCR, but it didn't feel terrible. Though honestly, I've never shot a gun where I thought the trigger was terrible. I don't know if I'd be a good judge of what is a good or bad trigger pull.

I feel for belt carry I'd rather have a full sized pistol. I'd like to get another 686, this time in the + model. Or even consider a Performance Center 8 shot snub.

I wouldn't feel like I was settling for the LCR. I think it is a great little gun. I just always lean towards all metal pieces where I can. That is why I've shifted away from semi auto pistols for the most part.
 
I feel for belt carry I'd rather have a full sized pistol. I'd like to get another 686, this time in the + model. Or even consider a Performance Center 8 shot snub.

I wouldn't feel like I was settling for the LCR. I think it is a great little gun. I just always lean towards all metal pieces where I can
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Sounds to me like you are talking yourself away from the SP and towards the LCR357. I understand the desire for 'all metal' too, but to me there is no better compromise than the LCR357 for pocket carry. Yes the LCR38 and S&W Airweights are lighter but no fun to shoot (IMHO) and even a couple of more ounces like my old model 36 is just over the edge (again, IMHO) for comfortable pocket carry. Moving up to guns like the SP, S&W 640/649 pretty much force you to the belt and then you have a lot more options to consider.
 
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Looks fine to me.

You mention that the SP is short barreled. Is it the same as the LCR?
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"Ruger sez", LCR has a 1.875" barrel, SP101 2.25". Nearly a half inch extra on the SP101.

ut to me there is no better compromise than the LCR357 for pocket carry. Yes the LCR38 and S&W Airweights
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I went with the Airweight over the .38 LCR. when I was shopping to replace my Undercover, because it was a bit heavier. A better grip made it comfortable to shoot.

Comfort is subjective.
 
Forgive me for not being as specific when I could. Both guns are short barrels. I do believe the SP is slightly longer than the LCR, but not by enough to matter IMO. Plus, you could argue that any length beyond that of the LCR would give a slight accuracy advantage.

I'm probably just a bad shot. Maybe it is the trigger on the gun. I measured the gun to the best of my tools abilities and it is off, though like mentioned before, that would just move my group in one direction if I was doing my part correctly.

I'm really trying to talk myself one way or the other. I'd love to just keep both guns, but unfortunately that isn't an option. Considering what I am planning to use it for, I guess I should probably just go ahead and settle on the LCR and sell the SP.
 
I have both guns. I carry the SP101 AIWB, the LCR357 in a pocket. I don't shoot 357 much anymore because of Arthiritis. 38 and 38+P shoot good. I am more accurate with the LCR. The LCR with smooth trigger and Tamer Grip seams to make it easier to shoot. I also shoot at paper plates. I can easaly keep all shots grouped on the plate at 21feet. Snubs are not easy to shoot. It takes a LOT of practice. Dry-Fire practice will help with trigger control and keeping your sights on target. It will also smooth the action on the SP. And dosen't cost anything. I don't think anything is wrong with your sights. Like I said it takes time. A lot of People have to change grips on the SP to make it fit them.
 
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