Ruger Lcr Safety - As I was planning the next installment of our pocket pistol series, I realized that some of the upcoming caliber-specific discussions would include references to the Smith & Wesson J frame and the Ruger LCR snub nose revolver. Rather than make our viewers/readers suffer through several iterations of a basic "J-Frame vs LCR" comparison, I decided to dedicate this part of our series to this topic so that I can simply refer to it as needed. It turns out that there was a lot more information to cover here than I initially thought, and there is still a lot more that could be said. If you're in the market for a sharp nose (whether it's your first or your 20th), I think you'll find something useful here.
It's part 6 of our series on pocket pistols and other ultra-concealable handguns, and we can't talk pocket pistols without paying special attention to snub nose revolvers. In particular, I want to compare two of the most popular types of snubbies on the market: the Smith & Wesson J-frame and the Ruger LCR.
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The first member of the J-frame family arrived in 1950 with the arrival of the Smith & Wesson Chief's Special, later named the Model 36. It was a single-frame, 5-shot .38 special available with a blue or coated finish. nickel .
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Over the years, Smith & Wesson has produced hundreds of variations of these small revolvers chambered in multiple cartridges, made of various materials and all kinds of finishes, barrel lengths, sights, actions and dozens of other options. The Smith & Wesson catalog currently lists 52 J-frame variants, but the most popular is probably the aluminum-framed Airweight 642.
The original Ruger LCR or "Light Compact Revolver" debuted just a few years ago in 2009. It is a 5-shot action only .38 special intended to compete directly with the Smith & Wesson Airweights. The foundation of LCR is in two parts. The lower half, which holds the action, is polymer, and the upper half, which houses the steel cylinder and barrel, is aluminum. In 2010, Ruger announced a .357 magnum version of the LCR with a steel upper half that weighs a few ounces more.
Ruger currently offers 19 options in their LCR line, including six different calibers and the LCRx variants, which add a single-action capability and several 3-inch models.
Before we get into comparing these two revolvers in detail, I just want to say up front that I have no dog in this fight. I have owned and maintained many J and LCR frames. I like both for different reasons. I will compare these weapons one attribute at a time, but it is not my intention to ultimately declare one better than the other in general. This will depend on the specific model you are looking at and how you prioritize each of these attributes based on your needs.
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Let's start with a look at the external dimensions. The Ruger is slightly larger than the Smith. They have the same barrel length and cylinder width, but the LCR frame is about a quarter inch taller in the middle and the stocks or grips tend to be about a quarter inch longer as well. That's not much, but depending on how you hold the gun, a quarter of an inch can be the difference between being completely hidden and a gun that is printed enough to be visible. So, in terms of size, Smith offers a very slight advantage.
Well, how about the gauge options? J-frames have been offered in tons of different calibers over the years, but in the current Smith & Wesson catalog, there are only four options: .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .22 Long Rifle and .22 Magnum. The LCR is available in all of these calibers plus 9mm and .327 Federal Magnum. If you look hard enough and are willing to pay a premium, you can find some J-frames suspended in these calibers, but they are very rare. The LCR comes in the highest caliber options readily available today.
Next, let's talk about the action, or type of pull of the trigger. J frames have a very strong and heavy action. They can be a real challenge to master, especially on light weapons. The LCR is known for having a smooth and fairly light trigger, usually around 10 pounds.
So the Ruger would seem to be the obvious choice in this category, but I want to add a few caveats to this. First, J-frame flashers tend to improve greatly with use. It may take a few thousand repetitions to dry fire, but eventually, the trigger will become smoother. If you want a short cut, there are some aftermarket spring kits that can make a big difference as well, but you have to look out for hitting light primer if you start messing up the springs.
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There is also a slight weakness in the action of the LCR. It has what you might call a "false reset". When you fire the gun and let the trigger reset, there is a few "clicks" that feel like the trigger is ready to go again, but it isn't. If you try to pull the trigger again too soon, the cylinder will return, but the hammer will not drop and the gun will not fire. Some people don't even notice it and it's not a problem at all. It tends to be more of a problem for those who have shot a lot of J-frames. Cause the J-frame has a slightly shorter travel length. If that's what you're used to, it's really easy to press the trigger short on the LCR, especially if you're shooting fast. I wouldn't call it a deal breaker for LCR, but it's something to be aware of.
Okay, now let's see who has the best visuals. The sights on our semi-auto pistols have improved drastically over the past 30 years, but unfortunately, this has not been the case for snub nose revolvers [
]. Most J-frames and LCRs come standard with a deep notch in the top strap for a ramp-style rear sight and front sight. On most J-frames, it is an integral fixed front sight that is machined into the top of the barrel. Some of the J frames and all LCRs have a fixed front sight, so you can at least swap it out for something else like a night sight or a fiber optic.
Fixed integral sight from a S&W 642 (left) and fixed front sight from a Ruger LCR (right).
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Some models are beautiful. The J 3 inch and LCR frames have adjustable rear sights which aren't too bad. Some of the new J frames have a U level rear sight and a large point XS front sight. The Smith & Wesson 640 Pro is an all-steel J-frame shotgun front and rear with semi-auto style night sights.
Even if you end up with a bad looking model, you can still add some Crimson Trace laser clips available for both the J frame and the LCR. But for the LCR, they have stopped the compact models like one and the one they are still doing is a bit bigger. For J-frames, there are four different styles available, including compact grips.
So overall the visual situation is not great, but there are better options available with J-frame.
Judging these revolvers based on weight is a bit complicated because weight is not necessarily a bad thing. Light revolvers are easier to carry, but heavy revolvers are easier to fire.
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Let's take a look at some different models sorted by weight. Finally we have the all-steel J-frame like the 22.4-ounce Model 640 Pro I just mentioned. If you want a Ruger that is as fun to shoot as a J frame, you should step up to the larger SP101.
The heaviest LCRs are about 17 ounces. They have a steel upper half, but the polymer bottom keeps the weight manageable. I think the .357 LCR loaded with the .38 Special offers a nice balance of being easy to carry and shoot.
Next we have the iconic S&W 642 Airweight with an aluminum frame and a steel cylinder that comes in at 14.4 ounces. This light gun is really handy if you carry them in your pocket or on your ankle or really any method of carrying that isn't on your belt. On the other hand, even in .38, these guns pack a punch. Airweight J-frames have the potential to be incredibly useful for those who have put in the time in practice to get good at using them. Smith & Wesson sells a lot of Airweights to people who don't know better, and for inexperienced shooters, this is not a good choice.
If you are a gourmand for punishment and your J frame just needs to be a magnum, you can go for the M&P 340. The frame is aluminum mixed with a metal called Scandium to make it lighter and stronger ... and
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