Posted: 10/18/2009 8:38:29 AM EDT
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Am going to pick up a snubby on Tuesday & my choices are S&W 638 or 642 OR Ruger LCR.
Really leaning toward the Ruger- super light, more comfy in the hand, nicer trigger. Not really finding any negative reviews on it, though I know it doesn't have the Smiths' track record. A Smith is, well, a Smith & I totally get that. Beautiful pistols. So.... 638 or 642? It'll be a pocket/deep concealment pistol. I like the SA option of the 638, but it seems like a decent potential for lint/crap to get inside the gun. What say ye? S&W or Ruger? Why? Thanks! |
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Out of your choices, my vote would be for the 642 as the best pocket/deep concealment revolver. I had a Model 49 (Bodyguard) years ago and it worked pretty well as a pocket gun, but the 340PD that I have now is much easier to carry as it is a true hammerless design. I have no experience with the Ruger LCR, so I can't give you any insight with that one.
Here is my 340PD: 
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Out of your choices, my vote would be for the 642 as the best pocket/deep concealment revolver. I had a Model 49 (Bodyguard) years ago and it worked pretty well as a pocket gun, but the 340PD that I have now is much easier to carry as it is a true hammerless design. I have no experience with the Ruger LCR, so I can't give you any insight with that one. Here is my 340PD: http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y71/mic214/DSC_0331.jpg Agreed, but I prefer the blade sight. |
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Agreed, but I prefer the blade sight. I bought my 340PD used and it came with that front sight. I got a pretty good deal on it ($525.00) so I scooped it up. Yeah, I think the "Hi-Viz" front sight is kind of funky looking and I really didn't like it at first, but man it sure picks up the light (Which is an asset for "Older" eyes!). |
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Until you find somebody who has good shooting experience with both, I don't see this thread helping much. You'll hear a lot of brand loyalty, for sure.
I'm in the same boat...looking for another C.C. option. I'm probably going to try the Ruger (brand loyalty  ) If it's bad choice, I lose until I find a buyer and buy something else.
The pluses for the Ruger: Lightest weight and great trigger.(magazine reviews all agree) The shape of the gun and the factory grip makes it easier to shoot than the SW's recoil wise. Seems you loose that advantage with the laser grip.(magazine reviews all agree) But until you and I get to shoot one, who knows. Most magazines seem to never review a bad gun. 
The big thing is how it fits in 'your' hand and how it shoots for you. Nobody on the forum can help you with that part. Ruger's reputation for building great guns isn't much different from S&W's, except perhaps in trigger feel. This one seems to have conquered that. I admit that I had to have a $70 trigger job done to make my Ruger Security Six work as smooth as a Smith. Love the gun now. I have handled both guns in my favorite shop, and the Ruger feels great in my hand (smallish), better than the Smith. The trigger action is great too, but what can you know without shooting it? People who have dealers with indoor ranges to test in are so lucky. Not a chance of that where I live. |
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3" Ruger SP101, 3" M13, or 3" M65. Out of your choices, I'd go with the 642, even though I don't like J frames. I didn't like the LCR I handled, and a friend who bought one said recoil is pretty brisk. Just curious...did your friend buy the laser grip model?? |
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Was looking at snubbies about a year ago, when I got my permit.
Looked at Smith 642, 638, and Ruger SP101. LCR wasn't out yet. Already owned a Colt Dec Special. Ended up with 638. Of all the Smiths I played with this particular one had the nicest trigger. I liked the option of SA, even tho I rarely use it. Can't go wrong with any of them. I've handled but not shot the LCR. I probably would have stayed with the 638 even if the LCR had been out. No good reason, I just like Smiths. Passed on the SP101 due mostly to weight considerations. Don't carry the Colt much; things are just getting to valuable for a daily carry piece. |
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3" Ruger SP101, 3" M13, or 3" M65. Out of your choices, I'd go with the 642, even though I don't like J frames. I didn't like the LCR I handled, and a friend who bought one said recoil is pretty brisk. Just curious...did your friend buy the laser grip model?? I don't think so, but I'm not sure. |
| I was tempted to get a 642LS. Seemed a bit more refined than the 642. I actually went to pick it up as the shop by me had one in stock. I liked the fact it could take a 38+P load if I wanted a bit more power. A .357 out of a peanut that size would seem a bit brutal on the mitt. Anyway the placed was closed so I went to another shop and ended up leaving with a nice little PPK instead. I still might get the LS at some point. See if you can handle an LS model and see if it's not a bit smoother than the straight 642. |
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Howz the Lady Smith differ from the regular model? Supposedly it's a bit more tuned and buffed. Alls I can say for sure is it felt a lot smoother than the standard 642. It might be a better question to ask up in industry or in the S&W section as to the exact differences. I know it's a tad lighter as well. |
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Howz the Lady Smith differ from the regular model? If it is like the early ladysmiths somewhat smaller grip. Not sure on current ones but when they came out that was the big selling point. OP: I would say go with one of the smiths from the three you listed. Nothing against ruger (I have owned several and love the sp101 snub) but Rugers track record on new model handguns is not the best of late. Added to the, I won't be the first kid on the block to own the latest gun belief I have had for years, I would personally not look at the LCR for another year. If your heart is not set on one of those three look at either a sp101 (if the weight is something you can deal with) or a used colt agent. In my experience these tend to be mroe accurate than the smith Jframe snubbies. JMHO, JME, YMMV |
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I'd love one of the little Colts, but haven't seen any around here.
Probably just get a 442/642 for now & call it good. They had several & the guy I worked with on Saturday is cool about letting you check 'em all out, to find the one that feels best, so I'll just grab whichever one has the best feeling trigger & call it good. |
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Well, I ended up with the 442. Must've been an omen, as the three LCRs they had on Saturday were all sold.
I prefer the stainless look, but for some reason the 442 I picked felt better in my hand & had a better feeling trigger than the two 642s I handled. Oh well. I'll get over it, right? Hell, it's a pocket gun, so the silver paint on the 642 wasn't going to hold up any better than the 442's black. Picked up a couple different boxes of ammo to try through 'er. Federal Premium "Low Recoil" 110gr Hydrashocks, PMC Gold "Starfire" 124gr SFHPs & 2 boxes of Blazer Brass 125gr FMJs for practice. I'll see if I like/shoot well the 2 SD loads & either make a carry decision or do more research/shooting from there. Will know more/have more to report when I get to the range on Friday. 
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