LCR Vs. Bodyguard 649

[bombadillo]

I know that these two guns are different calibers but they will both mainly be shot with .38sp rounds. I was curious if anybody here has much experience with BOTH guns and how they compare. Outside of the obvious things like the LCR is made of plastic and lighter, they both handle +P loads from .38 etc. How do you think the ergos are, what are the likes, dislikes, trigger pull comparisons, and anything else you could think to compare the two.

I am going back and forth on both of these and I've got about 4 guns lined up but can only buy about 1 every 2 months or so. I'm mid process of going through the CCW course and am looking to get a revolver rather than my XD9SC. I like the simplicity of a revolver and I already own plenty of .38.

[Killawhale415]

649 all the way, my buddy used to have one and I really liked it.
Good ergos, fairly smooth trigger and it didnt kick too bad even with +P loads.

[elSquid]

I've never had a CCW, so take what I'm about to write with a big grain of salt.

If you've never shot a lightweight snub, do so. Heavy DA trigger and lightweight make it a challenging gun to shoot.

My G26 is a better handgun than my 642 in terms of practical accuracy, followup shot speed, recoil control, capacity, ease of reloading, and it's more pleasant to practice with. ( A lot more! 200 rounds through the G26 is fun, and I'm sure that if I ever tried to put 200 rounds through the Airweight in one session I'd be in tears. ) Power is a draw. The 642 has the advantage of "5 for sure" and is a more concealable package.

Since you already have an XD9SC, I figure that the above needed to be said.

If I had a CCW, I'd want to carry the 642, but if trouble actually happened I'd be wishing for the G26.

-- Michael

[A324]

Have both the XD9SC and the LCR but for CCW I prefer the LCR. I can slip it into my pocket holster and forget it's there. Smooth trigger, extremely lightweight and accurate. And no, I don't put hundreds of rounds downrange with the LCR, it's simply not a range gun, my 1911 is a range gun but I don't carry it concealed. It's hard to keep your pants up with a fully loaded 1911A1 in your pocket.

[9mmepiphany]

I compared these exact guns at my FFL recently...didn't get to fire them yet.

the LCR gave be a better index of the barrel due to it's shape and the trigger was noticeably smoother. I don't think either would win a beauty contest...I like the 642 look better, but i thought the LCR looked better.

If I didn't already have a tuned 642 and i needed a snubby J-frame, the LCR would be mt choice

[bombadillo]

One thing I like about the bodyguard is that it has a hammer that you can use in SA for a range day and try to get some accuracy out of it too. The LCR doesn't have any single action at all which is a bummer. We'll see.

[9mmepiphany]

My major objection to the 649/638 is the hammer, I've found that students will use it as a crutch to avoid learning to correctly shoot the gun in DA.

I shoot my 642 out well pass 25 yards and will shoot out to 50 yards for the fun matches...how much further would you want to shoot where you'd need to cock the hammer?

[bombadillo]

Oh, I'm not shooting for distance but its obviously way easier to shoot in SA than DA on a 2" snub. Not really for anything but for the small amount I would want to shot it at the range. I shoot obviously much better in SA than DA and would at least like the option. In a defensive situation, if somebody was 25 yards out I likely wouldn't be firing on them, but....you never know.

[9mmepiphany]

its obviously way easier to shoot in SA than DA on a 2" snub... I shoot obviously much better in SA than DA and would at least like the option.

although it is generally believed to be true, usually by people who don't shoot DA much, it is anything but obvious.

having joined LE back when they issued revolvers and having competed in PPC (back when it was all revolvers), I can say that a DA shot is just as accurate as a SA shot out to 50 yards...they also did this when the revolver ruled Bianchi Cup shooting.

I have found that having a student shoot a DA/SA pistol in DA will often cure their flinching when shooting in SA

[John Browning]

I wasn't impressed with the build quality on the LCR versus a 642. I'll be picking up a 642 here in the near future.

[jdg30]

I don't own either of the specific models you listed but I do own a couple S&W Airweights (442 and 642) and a Ruger SP101. All of them are excellent guns. It really is up to your personal preference which gun of the 2 to get because either one will be excellent for CCW and neither will let you down.

If it was my decision, I would get the S&W, but for CCW I would get a concealed hammer version like the 442/642. They conceal very well and don't have anything to snag while being drawn. They are very accurate and conceal perfect in a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster.

I think the Ruger LCR is a nice gun but I just don't like how they look as much compared to the S&W and they have a thicker frame/grip. Another gripe of mine is I don't like how you can hear the transfer bar rattle inside the gun when it is handled. These dislikes are mostly cosmetic and have nothing to do with function or quality of the gun though.

If I didn't have the option to get a S&W or didn't have one already, I would definitely get a LCR. The main reason I don't have one is because I don't have the need to have one because my Airweights already fill the role the LCR would have.

The best decision for you is to wait to buy until it is clear in your head which one you want. Nobody else can decide that for you. If you still can't decide then the best decision is to get one now and then get the other later when you have a chance.

[Cokebottle]

No experience with the NG, but I would not buy another LCR.
Wife hates it... too much recoil.

It doesn't bother me TOO much, and if my friend doesn't buy it, I'll probably transfer it into my name and keep it as a carry piece, but I would honestly prefer something a bit heavier in 357 like an SP101.

My impressions of the LCR:
1 - The muzzle flip pushes the trigger guard into my trigger finger.

2 - Takes a lot of "getting used to" the DAO hammer release point... but I would presume that would be the same for any DAO gun. I like my 1911 and XD9... I know exactly when that hammer is going to fall

3 - I have not been able to find a leather holster that fits it properly. Supposedly, SP101 holsters will fit, but it doesn't slip in deep enough, and the hammer shroud prevents the use of the suicide strap.

4 - When I go to the range, I like to shoot A*LOT.... like 200+ rounds.
When I took the LCR to the range, I put through 50rds of FMJ and 20rds of JHP+P. I didn't WANT to shoot that gun again. I then picked up my 1911 and put over 120rds down the pipe without flinching.

5 - Probably due to the light weight, quite honestly, I could not feel the difference in felt recoil between the standard load FMJ and the Speer JHP+P loads.