S&W Bodyguard or Ruger LCR

[gunbunnies]

Now don't get me wrong, I truely love S&W revolvers, but I think the LCR has the better grips out of the box. You will notice that the SP101 and the LCR357 have a thicker backstrap and keep the fingers below the trigger guard in thier design, better than the out of the box J frames do. This allows you better control over the recoil of a 357 magnum I believe...

Also and just my opinion, but a full house 357 magnum at 10 feet is a much better hammer than the 380 or 9mm is and really who's worried about recoil under the pressure of having to use a handgun for self defense. Were not talking about going out and target shooting all day with it...

 

[SyntorX]

I have shot the BG38. It is a really smooth shooting pistol. I did notice the laser was intermittent..I'm not sure if the recoil was causing it or the battery wasnt tight??? not sure. It had no more than 20 rounds thru it when I shot it.
Either way, I have been looking at the LCR for my wife- we both really like the smooth trigger action on it. I think the LCR has a better trigger than the Bodyguard .38
-->one vote for LCR

 

[Catsfan]

My wife didn't care too much for the recoil on my XDm 9mm so we looked at a bunch of 380's. She felt much more comfortable w/ a manual safety so that ruled out alot. We bought a BG380 late spring/early summer. I like it alright (for a pocket/purse pistol). LONG trigger pull and fairly stiff also. Round count is in 250-ish range... hoping the stiff trigger will loosen up a bit. Funny thing now is.... she's getting more comfortable w/ the XDm. Go figure!!!

 

[nsolimini]

Thanks for the input guys. I may just wait until the Indy1500 to see which gun feels better in my hands.

 

[dyerwatcher]

I rented a LCR at Blythe's....back when they rented guns. I did not care for it, especially the trigger. I went with a .380 Bodyguard and have since graduated to a Sig P238 and love it.

 

[Caldad]

Love my LCR! It's been my carry, since Ruger came out with them.

FYI- even the 38spl was very snappy with some hot ammo I bought... my hand could only take about ten rounds. I started reloading 38's, and with a standard charge, I can shoot a hundred rounds, and not have any problems from recoil. If I were going to shoot factory loads, I'd buy several different types to test for comfort and accuracy before stocking up on one in particular.

 

[Excalibur]

The Bodyguard revolver is a lot nicer than the Ruger, same with the .380 auto Bodyguard

 

[nsolimini]

Well I plan to have this gun only to carry and self defense. I hope to never have to shoot it... except 30-50 rounds every now and then at the range

 

[gungirl65]

Now don't get me wrong, I truely love S&W revolvers, but I think the LCR has the better grips out of the box. You will notice that the SP101 and the LCR357 have a thicker backstrap and keep the fingers below the trigger guard in thier design, better than the out of the box J frames do. This allows you better control over the recoil of a 357 magnum I believe...

Also and just my opinion, but a full house 357 magnum at 10 feet is a much better hammer than the 380 or 9mm is and really who's worried about recoil under the pressure of having to use a handgun for self defense. Were not talking about going out and target shooting all day with it...

I have a 2 1/4" snubbed nose SP101 357. I love this gun. It is a few ounces heavier than the LCR revolver but if recoil is an issue with the LCR, you will barely notice it with the SP101. I notice it more with 158 gr 38 & 357 loads but it isn't horrible. Of course by going with a heavier gun it reduces the recoil you feel. Just my .

 

[funkeecowboy]

If you're thinking about pocket carry I found the LCR to be too big. The frame seems taller, top to bottom, than my j-frames and I really struggled with pocket carry in anything other than cargo pants. It's a great gun and I wouldn't mind having another one but not for pocket carry.

 

[swamptick]

Both would be great choices.

 

[cj7jeep81]

I have a 2 1/4" snubbed nose SP101 357. I love this gun. It is a few ounces heavier than the LCR revolver but if recoil is an issue with the LCR, you will barely notice it with the SP101. I notice it more with 158 gr 38 & 357 loads but it isn't horrible. Of course by going with a heavier gun it reduces the recoil you feel. Just my .

how is the sp101 for concealed carry? i'm stuck between the lcr and the sp101. i've held an lcr (.38 version), but not an sp101 yet.

 

[greyhound47]

The number of people responding to this thread who have never shot either gun cracks me up!

Having said that, I have owned both. The Ruger feels better in the hand but the Bodyguard has vastly superior sights on it. The laser built-in to the BG is great as a training aid too. I own and carry the BG380 and love it. I sold the Ruger many moons ago.

 

[DFM914]

LCR 357 hands down. Easy to conceal, lightweight and you can trust it to go BANG when you pull the silky smooth trigger. And it's a Ruger!

 

[gungirl65]

how is the sp101 for concealed carry? i'm stuck between the lcr and the sp101. i've held an lcr (.38 version), but not an sp101 yet.

The biggest thing with concealing the SP101 is the weight. It looks like the newer 2.25" are between 25 & 26 ounces. I am petite and I have worn it in the waist band and didn't feel it there. For me the biggest thing is to find the right belt to use with it so my pants don't sag.

It conceals easily in my purse but it is a killer on the shoulder since it is a little on the heavy side. Plus I carry it loaded & I have 10 extra bullets with me.

 

[cj7jeep81]

The biggest thing with concealing the SP101 is the weight. It looks like the newer 2.25" are between 25 & 26 ounces. I am petite and I have worn it in the waist band and didn't feel it there. For me the biggest thing is to find the right belt to use with it so my pants don't sag.

It conceals easily in my purse but it is a killer on the shoulder since it is a little on the heavy side. Plus I carry it loaded & I have 10 extra bullets with me.

thanks. i'm definitely not petite, and already have a good gun belt, so i'll definitely look at the sp101.

 

[gungirl65]

thanks. i'm definitely not petite, and already have a good gun belt, so i'll definitely look at the sp101.

I think Ruger really dropped the ball on the stock grip on the SP101. The gun itself is sexy, the grip is just plain ugly. The grip pin is just an ugly screw that doesn't even have an Eagle on it.

Thanks to the generosity of a fellow INGO member who sent me a Hogue grip, my SP101 is now all sexy. Below are before and after pics of the grips.

 

[cj7jeep81]

I think Ruger really dropped the ball on the stock grip on the SP101. The gun itself is sexy, the grip is just plain ugly. The grip pin is just an ugly screw that doesn't even have an Eagle on it.

Thanks to the generosity of a fellow INGO member who sent me a Hogue grip, my SP101 is now all sexy. Below are before and after pics of the grips.

thanks for the info. i'll try to remember to look at this tonight. stupid filters are work block most images.

 

[exphys2010]

I have personally shot both of those, and I preferred the way the Bodyguard felt when shooting. I noticed that many people had mentioned a semi-auto in 9mm. I would have to agree with those individuals for preference in carrying a semiauto, especially with how slim some of the 9mm pocket guns have become. I personally debated between several 9mm pocket guns and I wound up buying the Beretta Nano, and I have never regretted my decision. It is extraordinarily easy to conceal without printing, it is very accurate at Self Defense range, and the trigger is awesome. But I dont think you could go wrong with either of those 38 special revolvers. Both are lightweight, accurate, and fairly easy to conceal. I was debating between the Bodyguard and the Taurus 617 in 357/38 special for a carry revolver and I wound up going with the Taurus, which has also performed very well. Good luck in your choosing.

 

[bobbittle]

LCR all the way. I'd recommend the .357 version just in case you ever want to shoot .357, plus you get a stouter frame.