{"id":7257,"date":"2018-12-10T13:21:39","date_gmt":"2018-12-10T18:21:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/?p=7257"},"modified":"2021-07-27T15:53:45","modified_gmt":"2021-07-27T19:53:45","slug":"smith-wesson-j-frame-versus-ruger-lcr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/smith-wesson-j-frame-versus-ruger-lcr\/","title":{"rendered":"Smith &#038; Wesson J-frame Versus Ruger LCR"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/category\/pocket-pistols\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-7262 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/pocket-pistol-banner-6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"198\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/pocket-pistol-banner-6.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/pocket-pistol-banner-6-600x99.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/pocket-pistol-banner-6-1024x169.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/pocket-pistol-banner-6-768x127.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/pocket-pistol-banner-6-350x58.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><\/p> <p>As I was planning future installments of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/category\/pocket-pistols\/\">Pocket Pistol Series<\/a>, I realized that several of the upcoming caliber-specific discussions would need to include references to the Smith &amp; Wesson J-frames and the Ruger LCR snub nose revolvers. Rather than forcing our viewers\/readers to suffer through multiple repetitions of a basic &#8220;J-Frame vs LCR&#8221; comparison, I decided to dedicate this installment of our series to that topic so that I could simply refer back to it as needed. It turns out there was a lot more information to cover here than I initially thought, and there is still plenty more that could be said. If you&#8217;re in the market for a snub nose (whether it&#8217;s your first or your 20th), I think you&#8217;ll find something useful here.<\/p> <p>Details in the video below, or scroll down for the full transcript.<\/p> <div class=\"entry-content-asset\"><script src=\"https:\/\/fast.wistia.com\/assets\/external\/E-v1.js\" async><\/script><\/p> <noscript class=\"idle-load\"><div class=\"wistia_responsive_padding\" style=\"padding:56.25% 0 28px 0;position:relative;\"> <div class=\"wistia_responsive_wrapper\" style=\"height:100%;left:0;position:absolute;top:0;width:100%;\"> <div class=\"wistia_embed wistia_async_exqs9seyjg dnt=1 videoFoam=true\" style=\"height:100%;position:relative;width:100%\"> <div class=\"wistia_swatch\" style=\"height:100%;left:0;opacity:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;top:0;transition:opacity 200ms;width:100%;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/fast.wistia.com\/embed\/medias\/exqs9seyjg\/swatch\" style=\"filter:blur(5px);height:100%;object-fit:contain;width:100%;\" alt=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\" onload=\"this.parentNode.style.opacity=1;\" \/><\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div><\/noscript> <\/div> <hr \/> <p>It\u2019s Part 6 of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/category\/pocket-pistols\/\">series on pocket pistols<\/a> and other ultra-concealable handguns and we can\u2019t talk about pocket pistols without giving some special attention to the snub nose revolver. In particular, I want to compare two of the most popular types of snubbies on the market: the Smith &amp; Wesson J-frame and the Ruger LCR.<\/p> <p>The first member of the J-frame family came in 1950 with the advent of the Smith &amp; Wesson Chief\u2019s Special, later called the Model 36. It was a steel frame, 5-shot .38 Special available with a blued or nickel-plated finish.<\/p> <p>Over the years, Smith &amp; Wesson has produced hundreds of variants of these small revolvers chambered in numerous cartridges, made from different materials with all kinds of finishes, barrel lengths, sights, stocks, and dozens of other options. Smith &amp; Wesson\u2019s catalog currently lists 52 variants of the J-frame but the most popular is probably the aluminum-framed Airweight 642.<\/p> <figure id=\"attachment_7274\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7274\" style=\"width: 814px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/SW-642-2.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-0\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7274\" src=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/SW-642-2.jpg\" alt=\"Smith &amp; Wesson 642 Airweight\" width=\"814\" height=\"459\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/SW-642-2.jpg 814w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/SW-642-2-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/SW-642-2-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/SW-642-2-350x197.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 814px) 100vw, 814px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7274\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Smith &amp; Wesson 642 Airweight<\/figcaption><\/figure> <p>The original Ruger LCR or \u201cLight Compact Revolver\u201d debuted just a few years ago in 2009. It\u2019s a double action only 5-shot .38 Special intended to compete directly with the Smith &amp; Wesson Airweights. The frame of the LCR is in two parts. The bottom half, which holds the action, is polymer, and the upper half, housing 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.<\/p> <p>Right now, Ruger offers 19 options in their LCR lineup, including six different calibers and the LCRx variants, which add a single action capability and some 3-inch models.<\/p> <figure id=\"attachment_7273\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7273\" style=\"width: 1500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/Ruger-LCR.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-1\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7273\" src=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/Ruger-LCR.jpg\" alt=\"Ruger LCR\" width=\"1500\" height=\"852\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/Ruger-LCR.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/Ruger-LCR-600x341.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/Ruger-LCR-1024x582.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/Ruger-LCR-768x436.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/Ruger-LCR-350x199.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7273\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ruger LCR<\/figcaption><\/figure> <p>Before we get into comparing these two revolvers in detail, I just want to say up-front that I don\u2019t have a dog in this fight. I have owned and carried multiple J-frames and LCRs. I like both of them for different reasons. I\u2019m going to compare these guns one attribute at a time but it\u2019s not my intention to ultimately declare one better than the other overall. That\u2019s going to depend on which specific model you\u2019re looking at and how you prioritize each of these attributes based on what your needs are.<\/p> <h3><strong>1 &#8211; Size<\/strong><\/h3> <p>Let\u2019s start with a look at the outer 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 through middle and the stocks or grips tend to be about a quarter inch longer as well. That\u2019s not much, but depending on how you\u2019re carrying the gun, a quarter inch could be the difference between being completely concealed and a gun that prints enough to be noticable. So in terms of size, the Smith offers a very slight advantage.<\/p> <p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/J-frame-v-LCR-size-1.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-2\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-7275\" src=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/J-frame-v-LCR-size-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1500\" height=\"844\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/J-frame-v-LCR-size-1.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/J-frame-v-LCR-size-1-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/J-frame-v-LCR-size-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/J-frame-v-LCR-size-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/J-frame-v-LCR-size-1-350x197.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/a><\/p> <h3><strong>2 &#8211; Caliber Options<\/strong><\/h3> <p>Okay, so how about caliber options? J-frames have been offered in tons of different calibers over the years, but in the current Smith &amp; Wesson catalog, there are only four options: .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .22 Long Rifle, and .22 Magnum. The LCR is available in all of those same calibers plus 9mm and .327 Federal Magnum. If you look hard enough and you\u2019re willing to pay a premium, you can find some discontinued J-frames in those calibers, but they\u2019re pretty rare. The LCR comes in more caliber options that are readily available today.<\/p> <h3><strong>3 &#8211; Action\/Trigger<\/strong><\/h3> <p>Next, let\u2019s talk about the action, or the quality of the trigger pull. J-frames have a notoriously stiff and heavy action. They can be a real challenge to master, especially on the lightweight guns. The LCR is known for having a smooth and reasonably light trigger, usually around 10 pounds.<\/p> <p>So the Ruger would seem to be the obvious choice in this category, but I want to add a couple of caveats to that. First, the J-frame triggers tend to get significantly better with use. It might take a couple thousand dry fire repetitions, but eventually, the trigger will get smoother. If you want a short cut, there are some aftermarket spring kits that can make a huge difference too, but you do have to watch for light primer strikes if you start messing with the springs.<\/p> <p>There\u2019s also a minor downside to the LCR\u2019s action. It has what you might call a \u201cfalse reset.\u201d When you fire the gun and you\u2019re letting the trigger reset, there are a couple of \u201cclicks\u201d that kind of feel like the trigger is ready to go again, but it\u2019s not. If you try to press the trigger again too early, the cylinder will turn, but the hammer won\u2019t fall and the gun won\u2019t fire. Some people never even notice this and it\u2019s not a problem at all. It tends to be more of an issue for people who have shot J-frames a lot. The J-frame trigger has a slightly shorter length of travel. If that\u2019s what you\u2019re used to, it\u2019s really easy to short stroke the trigger on the LCR, especially if you\u2019re shooting fast. I wouldn\u2019t call that a deal-breaker for the LCR, but it\u2019s something to be aware of.<\/p> <h3><strong>4 &#8211; Sights<\/strong><\/h3> <p>Okay, now let\u2019s look at which one has the better sights. The sights on our semi-auto pistols have improved drastically over the last 30 years or so, but unfortunately, that has not been the case for snub nose revolvers [<em>For more on this topic, read <a href=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/snub-nose-sights-matter\/\">&#8220;Snub Nose Sights: Do They Matter?&#8221;<\/a><\/em>]. Most of the J-frames and the LCRs come standard with a shallow notch in the top strap for a rear sight and a ramp-style front sight. On most of the J-frames, it\u2019s an integral fixed front sight that\u2019s machined into the top of the barrel. Some of the J-frames and all of the LCRs have a pinned front sight, so at least you can swap it out for something else like a night sight or a fiber optic.<\/p> <figure id=\"attachment_7276\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7276\" style=\"width: 1500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/pinned-v-integral-sight.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-3\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7276\" src=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/pinned-v-integral-sight.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1500\" height=\"513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/pinned-v-integral-sight.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/pinned-v-integral-sight-600x205.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/pinned-v-integral-sight-1024x350.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/pinned-v-integral-sight-768x263.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/pinned-v-integral-sight-350x120.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7276\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fixed integral sight from a S&amp;W 642 (left) and a pinned front sight from a Ruger LCR (right).<\/figcaption><\/figure> <p>There are a few models with decent sights. The 3-inch J-frames and LCRs have adjustable rear sights that aren\u2019t too bad. Some of the newer J-frames have a U-notch rear sight and an XS big dot front sight. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/best-j-frame-smith-wesson-model-640-pro-series\/\">Smith &amp; Wesson 640 Pro<\/a> is an all-steel J-frame with dovetail cuts for the front and rear with semi-auto style night sights.<\/p> <p>Even if you end up with a model that has lousy sights, you can always add some Crimson Trace lasergrips which are available for both the J-frame and the LCR. But for the LCR, they\u2019ve discontinued the compact models like this and the one they\u2019re still making is quite a bit larger. For the J-frames, there are four different styles available, including the compact grips.<\/p> <p>So overall, the sights situation is not great but there are more decent options available with the J-frames.<\/p> <h3><strong>5 &#8211; Weight<\/strong><\/h3> <p>Judging these revolvers based on weight is a bit complicated because weight is not necessarily a bad thing. Lightweight revolvers are easier to carry but heavy revolvers are easier to shoot.<\/p> <table style=\"width: 50%; margin-left: 25%; margin-right: 25%;\" border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"5\"> <tbody> <tr> <td style=\"text-align: center; background: #2e5635; color: #ffffff;\" colspan=\"2\" rowspan=\"1\"><strong>J-FRAME VS LCR WEIGHT COMPARISON<\/strong><\/td> <\/tr> <tr style=\"height: 21px;\"> <td style=\"width: 150px; height: 21px; text-align: center; background: #2e5635; color: #ffffff;\"><strong>MODEL<\/strong><\/td> <td style=\"width: 107px; height: 21px; text-align: center; background: #2e5635; color: #ffffff;\">WEIGHT (OZ)<\/td> <\/tr> <tr style=\"background-color: #dddddd; height: 21px;\"> <td style=\"width: 150px; height: 21px;\"><strong>S&amp;W 350 PD [.357 mag]<\/strong><\/td> <td style=\"width: 107px; height: 21px;\">11.8<\/td> <\/tr> <tr style=\"height: 21px;\"> <td style=\"width: 150px; height: 21px;\"><strong>Ruger LCR [.38 Spl]<\/strong><\/td> <td style=\"width: 107px; height: 21px;\">13.5<\/td> <\/tr> <tr style=\"background-color: #dddddd; height: 21px;\"> <td style=\"width: 150px; height: 21px;\"><strong>S&amp;W M&amp;P 340 [.357 Mag]<\/strong><\/td> <td style=\"width: 107px; height: 21px;\">13.8<\/td> <\/tr> <tr style=\"height: 21px;\"> <td style=\"width: 150px; height: 21px;\"><strong>S&amp;W 642 [.38 Spl]<\/strong><\/td> <td style=\"width: 107px; height: 21px;\">14.4<\/td> <\/tr> <tr style=\"background-color: #dddddd; height: 21px;\"> <td style=\"width: 150px; height: 21px;\"><strong>Ruger LCR [.357 Mag]<\/strong><\/td> <td style=\"width: 107px; height: 21px;\">17.1<\/td> <\/tr> <tr style=\"height: 21px;\"> <td style=\"width: 150px; height: 21px;\"><strong>S&amp;W 640 Pro<\/strong><\/td> <td style=\"width: 107px; height: 21px;\">22.4<\/td> <\/tr> <\/tbody> <\/table> <p>Let\u2019s take a look at a few different models sorted by weight. At the very bottom we have the all-steel J-frames like the 22.4-ounce Model 640 Pro I just mentioned. If you want a Ruger that is as pleasant to shoot as a steel J-frame, you have to move up to the larger <a href=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/ruger-sp-101-the-shooters-snub-nose\/\">SP101<\/a>.<\/p> <p>The heaviest LCRs are right around 17 ounces. They have a steel upper half, but the polymer lower keeps the weight manageable. I think the .357 LCR loaded with .38 Special offers a nice balance of being easy to carry and shoot.<\/p> <p>Next, we\u2019ve got the iconic S&amp;W 642 Airweight with an aluminum frame and a steel cylinder coming in at 14.4 ounces. Guns this light are really convenient if you\u2019re carrying in a pocket or on the ankle or really any method of carry that\u2019s not on your belt. On the other hand, even with .38s, these guns are a handful. Airweight J-frames have the potential to be incredibly useful for the people who have put in the practice time to make good use of them. Smith &amp; Wesson sells a lot of Airweights to people who don\u2019t know any better and for inexperienced shooters, this is not a good choice.<\/p> <p>If you\u2019re a glutton for punishment and your J-frame just has to be a magnum, you could go for the M&amp;P 340. The frame is aluminum blended with a metal called Scandium to make it lighter and stronger\u2026 and more expensive. And right around the same weight, we have the original .38 Special LCR at 13.5 ounces. Some people say the recoil is not quite as bad in these as the Smith &amp; Wesson Airweights, but it\u2019s still going to be pretty snappy.<\/p> <p>Among the very lightest of the J-frames is the 340 PD. This one has a scandium alloy frame and a titanium alloy cylinder making it just 11.8 ounces. You can shoot magnums through these, but it\u2019s something people tend to do only once.<\/p><p><\/p> <figure id=\"attachment_6430\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6430\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/CB-M342.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-4\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-6430 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/CB-M342.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"678\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/CB-M342.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/CB-M342-600x339.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/CB-M342-1024x579.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/CB-M342-768x434.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/CB-M342-350x198.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6430\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">At 10.8 ounces, S&amp;W&#8217;s lightest ever .38 Special J-frame was the 342 PD, produced from 2000-2004.<\/figcaption><\/figure> <p>This is a 342 PD, which is the .38 Special-only version of the 340 and it\u2019s a full ounce lighter. It\u2019s no longer in production, unfortunately. I really don\u2019t enjoy shooting anything other than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/wadcutter-ammo-self-defense\/\">wadcutters<\/a> out of this gun, but it\u2019s really nice to carry. I forget I have it with me half the time &#8212; I think it weighs less than my wallet.<\/p> <p>So while I would not say the LCRs are too light or too heavy &#8212; you definitely have a broader range of options with the J-frames.<\/p> <h3><strong>6 &#8211; Durability\/Reliability<\/strong><\/h3> <p>Durability and reliability: the J-frame and the LCR typically exhibit both of these qualities. Of course, there are always exceptions. I have had to send a J-frame and an LCR back to their respective factories for repair after very little use. The J-frames have the advantage of a much longer track record. There are steel J-frames out there with decades of regular use that have been neglected and abused that still work just fine. On top of that, we\u2019ve got books and manuals and tons of other resources out there all about how to maintain and troubleshoot a J-frame.<\/p> <p>The LCR has been out almost a decade and it\u2019s developed a pretty good reputation, but compared to the J-frame, it\u2019s still relatively unproven. There aren\u2019t many LCRs out there that have 10,000 rounds through them. It does seem to be a very solid design and I\u2019m not aware of any common widespread reliability issues with the LCRs.<\/p> <p>With both the LCR and the J-frames, if you\u2019re going to have problems, they are most likely to show up either within the first couple hundred rounds or after several thousand rounds. If the gun runs fine with the first few boxes of ammo it will probably keep running as long as you keep it clean. When you get into very high round counts, especially with high pressure ammo, the aluminum frames guns can start having problems because of the harder steel parts causing wear on the softer aluminum over time.<\/p> <p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/LCR-muzzle-flash.jpg\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-5\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-7277\" src=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/LCR-muzzle-flash.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"790\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/LCR-muzzle-flash.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/LCR-muzzle-flash-600x395.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/LCR-muzzle-flash-1024x674.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/LCR-muzzle-flash-768x506.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/media\/LCR-muzzle-flash-350x230.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><\/p> <p>While we\u2019re on the subject of reliability, I should also mention the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/smith-and-wesson-internal-lock\/\">Smith &amp; Wesson internal lock<\/a>. This is a safety feature they started adding to their revolvers in the early 2000s. It is almost universally hated. The locks have been known to occasionally engage all by themselves under the force of recoil, which means the gun is completely locked up until the user can find their key and unlock it. This problem appears to be most common with the lightweight guns. Fortunately, in the last few years, Smith &amp; Wesson has started to offer some of their J-frames without the internal lock, but only the double action only models. If you buy a new J-frame with an exposed hammer, it\u2019s going to have an internal lock.<\/p> <p>So in terms of overall reliability and durability, I don\u2019t think I can choose J-frame in general over LCRs or vice versa. Let\u2019s just call this one a tie.<\/p> <h3><strong>7 &#8211; Aftermarket Support<\/strong><\/h3> <p>Okay, we\u2019ve got just two more categories to look at. Aftermarket support: the J-frame wins by a mile. You can find just about any holster you want for the J-frame. Speed loaders, spring kits, grips, you name it, you can find it for the J-frame. There is plenty of aftermarket support for the LCRs, but if you\u2019re looking for something really specific, you\u2019re a lot more likely to find a J-frame-compatible version of whatever it is.<\/p> <h3><strong>8 &#8211; Cost<\/strong><\/h3> <p>And finally: cost. Most LCRs are priced between $400 and $500 with the magnums at the higher end of that range. Maybe $50 more for the 9mm and .327 versions. J-frame prices are all over the place. At the low end, the standard 642 Airweight is usually around $350. But some of the ultra-lightweight models with the exotic metals sell for $800-900. The average price of a J-frame is probably higher than the average LCR price, but you can get a new J-frame cheaper than you can get a new LCR. So this one is also a tie.<\/p> <p>Even though we\u2019ve been looking at this as &#8220;J-frames versus the LCR,&#8221; I don\u2019t think it\u2019s fair to call one of them generally superior to the other. I think of the J-frames as being best if you want something really light or if you want a small steel frame gun that you can shoot a lot. The LCRs are better if a smooth trigger is a priority or if you\u2019re looking some of the more obscure revolver calibers. Either way, when you decide on a snub nose revolver, make sure you feed it with ammo you can get with lighting fast shipping from us at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/\">LuckyGunner.com<\/a>.<\/p> <hr \/> <p>Want more detailed info on these revolvers? Be sure to check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/guide-sw-38-357-revolvers\/\">Guide to Smith &amp; Wesson .38 Special and .357 Magnum Revolvers<\/a>. We&#8217;ve also got a review of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/review-ruger-lcr-9mm\/\">9mm Ruger LCR<\/a> in the archives, and another one on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/ruger-lcr-22-review\/\">.22 LR Ruger LCR<\/a>.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As I was planning future installments of our Pocket Pistol Series, I realized that several of the upcoming caliber-specific discussions &#8230; <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.luckygunner.com\/lounge\/smith-wesson-j-frame-versus-ruger-lcr\/\">Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":7284,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[361,216],"tags":[43,44,47,364,132,310,42,125,131],"class_list":["post-7257","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pocket-pistols","category-wheel-gun-wednesday","tag-357-magnum","tag-38-special","tag-concealed-carry","tag-j-frame","tag-lcr","tag-pocket-pistols","tag-revolvers","tag-ruger-lcr","tag-snub-nose"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Smith &amp; Wesson J-frame Versus Ruger LCR - Lucky Gunner Lounge<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A side by side comparison of the Smith &amp; Wesson J-Frame vs Ruger LCR models of revolvers. 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