LCR vs SP101 for CCW - QC issues?

I'm not a fan of the SP101, and I love everything Ruger. With that said I own 2 LCR's in .38(one for me and one for my girlfriend to carry)

If i need something bigger than the LCR I just go open carry and wear the Security Six 4". If I need something smaller I carry the LCP.

To me the SP101 is to heavy for a small revolver and only get 5 shots. The GP/Match is too heavy period, the Security Six fits nicely in between those two and is extremely accurate and dependable.
 
Another Look At One Of Your Pics

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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Reference IMG_3647.JPG See Post #12

Unless the photo is skewed, I see a distinct need for shims on either side of the hammer, and the frame shows what I see as contact with the hammer on the right side. This seems to be a somewhat common "anomaly", so much so that there are YouTube vids addressing the problem. Mine has very little side-to-side hammer slop so as not to be a problem. Check the wear on both sides of the hammer.

Just an observation, not a condemnation. YMMV. Heck, I have 1911's that have more slop than any Ruger revolver I have ever seen or owned.

Jim
 
originally posted by jtyson

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and comments!
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I took a like to your post because our shooting habits are about the same. I only a few times a year myself and only to get the gun exercised.
I carry the LCR .38 special. (religiously)

The crucial point you made has me make this suggestion, go with the SP101.
Cause you said it yourself it just feels better in the hand, which means you'll feel better about it. Don't let weight be the distraction.

Let me make this point. When I took my courses to get concealed they told us not to buy a handgun if we didn't have one. Some listen and some didn't.
After our range session they asked if anybody had regretted buying, guess who raised their hands, everyone who had bought a mouse gun.
Bought because they have bought into the smallest to carry for concealed. And most of those who have will shoot even less then we do which will be never.
The average person getting concealed is not a dedicated gun person.
(and some are more dangerous with a gun than the criminals are)


But I will say this in regards to the LCR it is one superb firearm.
Good luck, but listen to your gut instincts or you will regret it.
 
Thanks for chiming in! I still haven't made up my mind yet. I ordered shims and a spring kit today for the SP101 to see if that clears up my accuracy issues. I plan to pull it apart and do my best on polishing the trigger up so it smooths out. Either way though, if it feels better in my hand, but I can't consistently hit as well as I can with the LCR, then it isn't the right choice for me.

The main reason I like the SP101 over the LCR is that I can fit two fingers on the grip. With my giant hands, I only get my middle finger and a small portion of my ring finger on the grip with the LCR. I can handle it just fine that way in a range setting, I just feel like in a self defense situation, the more meat on the grip might help me keep from fumbling around.

I'm a huge fan of "mouse" guns, because they are practical to conceal without bulky holsters and belts and such. With that said, I'm not opposed to full size guns for conceal either. Ultimately, I'm just trying to pick something that I feel comfortable with. If I can't choose after the trigger mods, then I'll just find a way to keep both until one grows on me more than the other.
 
I had a LXR 357 - it was a good shooting revolver but I only used 357s out of it once. I'm not a big fan of 357s - I much prefer 38s - but I'm "older" andI hate the punishment on my hands that the 357s in a lightweight revolver gives - I have no problem out of my heavier SA revolvers.

I have never shot the Ruger SP101 - but I have handled one. Nice revolver but too heavy for my liking as far as carry goes. I felt the same way about the Smith Model 60.

I ended up trading my LCR off on a Smith Model 36 snub. I like it the best of any revolver I've carried for CCW. I liked it so well that I picked up a 3" Model 36 just so the snub "wouldn't get lonely". :)

I think ig boils down to your own personal preference. The important thing is that you really do need to practice on a regular basis with whatever you carry. I know ammo can get expensive - I reload and cast my own bullets so I do save money on the price of what I shoot for practice. In the end, I would think that you'd want to carry whichever one you can shoot the most accurately - if you do need to use it, it's not going to do any good if you can't hit what you're shooting at. And, shooting in SD is going to be a whole different story than shooting at the range - your adrenaline will be pumping and you are only going to have a few seconds to react and fire if necessary.

If you like the SP101 the best - get some more range time with it and see if your groups don't tighten up. Have another experienced pistol shooter watch you as you shoot - they might spot something that you are doing that you aren't aware of - a change in grip, stance, etc. Good luck and enjoy. Both have a reputation of being good wheel guns. I own a number of Rugers - all good handguns.
 
I have never warmed up to the SP 101. It just doesn't "feel" right to me. I shot one a friend owns, and it didn't get any better.
On the other hand, I love my LCR 38 Spcl. Even with the smaller boot grips I added.
I don't understand my dislike of the 101 because I am usually able to adapt to most any design, or grip.
Unlike the OP, I am bothered some by weight in my carry guns. That is the main reason for the 38 LCR over the heavier 357.
 
Well, my shims and spring kit came in. Hope it isn't against the rules, but want to give a shout out to Lance at Trigger Shims for helping me out. He helped me figure out exactly what I needed to get things lined up correctly and got everything shipped out fast.

I installed the 10# hammer spring and the 8# return spring as it seems that combo worked well for people without having light strike issues. I did a good amount of polishing on the trigger to make things smooth out as much as possible.

I haven't shot it yet, but I can say that it definitely feels lighter and smoother. With that said, dry firing side by side, the LCR trigger is still much smoother. Granted I'm not a gunsmith, so the SP101 isn't everything it could be, but I feel I did an adequate job.

I'm going to try to get out and test both again in the next couple days and make a final decision on which to keep. If my accuracy doesn't improve with the SP101 to the same level as the LCR, regardless of how it feels in my hand, it is going to have to go. If I end up with similar groups, I guess I'll have to make a harder decision at that point.
 
Well I got a chance to take them both out again today to test out the trigger work I did on the SP101. 100% improvement. All shots on paper now. Much smoother trigger.

With that said, I think I'm giving the nod to the LCR anyway. It still just points more naturally for me. Even from 25 yards, I'm hitting a target the size of a 5 gallon bucket where I'm not anywhere close with the SP101. I will say though, the trigger on the SP101 is nicer than the LCR now. The LCR is no slouch, but I may start looking into trigger mods for that one.

So looks like I'll be selling/trading the SP101 off. Glad I gave it a try anyway!
 
The LCR is no slouch, but I may start looking into trigger mods for that one
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I'd be really careful with that one. Have you noticed there are no "spring kits" for the LCR? I think there's a good reason for that. If there is something wrong with your LCR trigger, it probably needs to go back to Ruger.
 
There's nothing wrong with it, I just feel the break is more crisp on the SP101 and I can stage the trigger more easily. Granted in a self defense gun that doesn't really matter, but I just prefer the feel.
 
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