Ruger LCR vs S&W 642

J

jtheise4

New member
I'm looking at purchasing either a Ruger LCR or a Smith & Wesson 642 for CCW. I'd like feedback/experience/recommendations? Thanks.
 
It's hard to beat a 642 for a proven, dependable, easy-to-carry snubbie, and I'll never give mine up.

That said, one of my co-testers at BBTI picked up a LCR last week and was *very* impressed with it, even in comparison to a 642. I saw one yesterday at a shop for $400 cash, and was tempted . . .

Jim D.
 
I"ve got the 642 and I've not even handled the LCR.
I'm reading good reviews of the LCR with no complaints. People who have them apparently like them.

Many new S&W 642s have its integrated lock, although ones without the lock can sometimes be found if this makes a difference to you.
There will be more accessories available, right now, for the S&W J-frame as they've been on the market decades. Holsters, speedloaders, and grips/stocks are all readily available, whereas the LCR will be very limited, again, if that's of concern to you or not.
 
I notice Ruger's "new" non-stacking trigger system is like the S&W system.

As someone said, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Colt's late DA revolvers copied a lot of S&W's internals, and now Ruger is on the same track.

Jim
 
I don't quite have either gun, but I do have a Kel-Tec P3-AT and a 442, which is the blued version of the 642. I carry both as backups, one in a pocket holster and one on my ankle. In the winter they both ride in pocket holsters in one or another jacket pocket.
The 442 is a good little gun, in the ankle holster it rides all day and is totally comfortable. I had a difficult time becoming proficient with it, the stock grips are small on me, the trigger takes an effort to pull and the recoil is strong even with 38spl+p loads. I don't shoot a lot of rounds every time I take it, but I shoot enough to do com at 25 ft.
The P3-AT hides almost anywhere and mine has been very reliable. I actually wore it out by shooting it every week, but the factory replaced it at no charge. Gotta love that warranty. It shoots more accurately than I thought it would given the practically non-existent sights. The trigger pull is long, but I like it better than the one on the 442. This gun is about the size limit for it's size and caliber, imho, it is not a novice's gun. I have noted that limp-wristing is a major problem for people not used to it, both by loaning mine to others and my shooting other's guns. I haven't tried an LCP yet, but I would be surprised if the same wasn't true with it. It takes a firm grip to work properly.
 
I sold my Airweight after getting LCR!

I was quite happy with my 642 Airweight...UNTIL...I picked up an LCR.
After shooting/carrying both of them for two weeks - I, too, sold my Airweight!

The Ruger is just a superior shooter. There's some kind of magic in that polymer. The LCR exhibits about the same recoil with +P rounds that the 642 did with standard rounds!
My LCR has the Crimson Trace laser...the non-laser model has special Hogue anti-recoil grips, so I can only assume that IT shoots even softer!

The combination of reduced recoil, laser sights and a remarkably smooth trigger/action adds up to greatly improved accuracy.

I have a S&W Model 36 that I had a custom trigger/action job done on.
The Ruger trigger is smoother 'out of the box' than the custom 36!

Mike Harvey
 
This is a review of the LCR I did for another forum, reprinted here. Part of it refers back to another poster on that forum who wondered why the LCR weighed more than his S&W 340 when his 340 was all metal and the LCR was part polymer:

I got an LCR a couple weeks ago and I have to say--I'm impressed. I've shot and carried all manner of pocket guns from Seecamps to Walthers, Kahrs to Kel-Tecs, but I've always gone back to my S&W 642 because of its inherant reliability and easy portability. It just seems like all of the tiny semis eventually have issues, if not with design, at least with variations in ammo, and in today’s market your ammo of choice may just be whatever you can find available.

The fit and finish of the LCR was better than what I was expecting and the appearance, while unconventional, is certainly not offensive to me. I like the appearance a lot more than some of the new high-end revolvers from S&W. The weight is 13.5 oz. with the Hogue grips, but only 13 oz. with the Crimson Trace laser grips. The poster who wondered why the LCR weighs more than the S&W 340 when it is made out of polymer, aluminum, and stainless steel might want to check to see what the 340 is made of... If I remember correctly the 340 has no major steel parts, but has a titanium barrel and cylinder and a scandium frame, almost doubling the price for a 1 oz. weight savings. The LCR is also a bit larger than the J frames in the area of the trigger guard.

I remember in the 80's how everyone believed that Glocks would never sell because a polymer frame just couldn't hold up to the hard use that a metal frame could. Well, just about everyone now is making polymer frame pistols. The new polymers are effectively stronger than anything else in the same weight range, having a degree of flex that withstands stresses that fracture the harder (and thus more brittle) metals of similar weight. This has been shown in frame cracking with aluminum frame guns that shoot high pressure ammo.

The sights on the LCR are superior to any of the sights on my J-frames. Of course, some of the newer S&W J-frames have nice high visibility front sights, but I believe they are only on the costliest of the bunch and only on the newer models that also have the infernal/internal lock. All of my J-frames (342, 442, 640, 642, 940) are older models without the lock. That also means that all of their front sights are integral with the barrel and adding a high visibility front sight would be both expensive and problematic. The LCR has a pinned front sight which can easily be replaced with the XS Big Dot front sight that should be available later this month.

And the trigger! I think that is what initially sold me on the LCR. Never have I used a DA trigger as smooth as this one. I've had the triggers on my 640 and my 642 reworked by some of the best gunsmiths in the business, but the LCR's cam-action trigger beats them right out of the box. My 442 breaks at 18 lbs. and my 940 at 20 lbs. The two J-frames that have been reworked break at about 10 and 12 lbs. The LCR breaks at about 10 lbs. without replacing any springs or paying any gunsmith. The trigger is basically a 2-stage, but it doesn't stack like the S&W triggers do. It feels a lot like my vintage Colt Cobra that has had thousands of rounds put through it. And it shows at the range. The groups with my LCR are smaller than the groups with any of my J-frames.

Availability of accessories such as holsters and speed loaders--S&W J-frames will likely always have the edge here since everyone makes holsters and accessories for them. I've tried the HKS 36-A speed loader and it works--sort of--but instead of speed loaders I use Bianchi Speed Strips. Some reviewers have said that the LCR will fit in J-frame holsters, but not in any that are form-fit. The trigger guard on the LCR is larger and keeps it from fitting most of them. The LCR will fit in some of the more generic holsters like the Desantis Nemesis pocket holster that I use, and many of the custom holster makers are now listing the LCR among the guns for which they make holsters. I know the LCR fits in my Don Hume JIT slide [#52] made for the SP-101 like it was made for it.

I'm not selling any of my J-frames, but right now they're sitting in my safe and the LCR is in my pocket. I'm now an LCR believer.
 
X2 on the jones.

I bought a 442 last year that quickly got appropriated by my SO. She isn't carrying it at the moment because it is getting harder and harder to open for some reason. Yesterday I wore it all day and had forgotten how well it carries, so I got to thinking about maybe getting one for myself, i.e. a 442 or 642.

I had seen the new LCRs but hadn't paid much attention because the last year I've been focusing mostly on my new Glock 27 and my older Smith CS45 but something in me keeps drawing me back to wheelguns.

I think I may go ahead and get an LCR this summer, I've always admired Ruger but never had a pistol. I like my 10/22 and mini14 a lot.

Does anyone have a side by side comparo on the LCR vs 442/642? Average price, sizes, weights etc? I'm assuming from what I'm hearing they are very close. The big seller for me is I keep hearing the better trigger on the Ruger. I thinks that's pertinent for such a tiny pistol.

Great thread, keep it going.

Oh yeah, btw: I was interested in what someone said about carrying a speed strip instead of a speed loader. I did that yesterday when I put on the 442 for light carry and like the idea. When I was using the 442 or my 65-4 for CC I always carried a double speed loader pouch on the other side but they make such a bulge they're harder to conceal than the gun itself. I like a few reloads for drastic situations but the speed strip carries a lot better, also gives the option of just reloading the shots fired which would be awkward with the speed loader.
Someone in a western book or movie, I think it was Wyatt Earp, always reloaded as soon as he loosed a round, made a lot of sense.
Just saying.
 
Had many Rugers... fondled the LCR... have had a 642 for several years. I am not tempted in any way to get an LCR.

Stainz
 
I'd wait on the LCR until they come down in price. Also give it time just incase it is recalled. Let somebody else be the beta terster.
 
"I own both and personally much prefer the Ruger LCR."

That seems to be the consensus among actual owners of both.
 
I handled the LCR for the first time yesterday at a gun shop. Nice little revolver. I own a Smith 442. I would have to shoot them side by side to make a choice if I were you.
 
I have not shot a 642, I do have a 442 and I like my LCR MUCH BETTER. I think between the design, grip and trigger it makes it a better shooter. All of the revolvers I have are snubbies and outside of the 2 1/2 Python this is probably the most accurate of the bunch.
 
I recently picked up an LCR

I haven't put 100 rounds through it yet, though, so opinion is still forming.

So far, it's eaten 158gr range ammo, 110gr Hornady critical defense +P, and 130gr +P Remingtons without any trouble. Recoil has not dislodged any bullets from their chambers (the book Ruger supplies recommends loading five of whatever cartridge, shooting four, then checking the fifth for bullet movement in the casing).

Plan to try it out soon with some 125gr BuffaloBore +P, and some 125gr Starfire +P.

Hogue tamer grip works well at cushioning recoil. Trigger is very smooth. Sights are adequate. I've heard people say the grip is too big for concealed carry, but mine has ridden around most days since I bought it (after work; can't carry at work) and nobody has noticed, whether in front pocket of cargo pants or shorts, or small cargo pocket of board shorts.

It's also very light, so I don't notice it all that much, myself.

Too soon to say how accurate it will ultimately prove to be, since I'm still adjusting to it.

My lady didn't enjoy shooting it, though; 5 rounds was enough for her. Considering she tosses hay bales around in her spare time (horse people...), she doesn't have weak hands. Then again, she's a novice shooter, so we'll see. She prefers the CZ75B or S&W M28. Can't really blame her. Then again, she doesn't carry.

So, to recap, light, easily portable gun. Perception of recoil varies. Nice trigger. Ok sights. Kind of Frankengun look to it, but it's growing on me. Costs less than any comparable new revolver.

Cheers,

M
 
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