In 1974 I used my department issued Colt Detective Special, about the same size as a J frame, in a gunfight w/armed robbers and had to reload under fire. Whoever says the small .38 is inadequate for defense will get an argument from me b/c two suspects were put down and a third was arrested the next day @ a hospital seeking treatment for gunshot wounds.

I've had a 642 for years. It's the gun I carry the most, so I put the most rounds through it. Once you master a snub nosed revolver where you can shoot it as well a full sized gun, you feel like a Jedi master.

Regarding the “false reset” on the LCR, here’s the fix. The LCR/LCRX use a transfer bar and do not have rebounding hammers. So when you have just fired a round and the trigger is fully compressed, the full weight of the hammer spring is pressing the transfer bar between the hammer face and the frame. When you release the trigger the trigger return spring has to drag the sandwiched transfer bar, and not very smoothly either, back down from between the hammer face and the frame. Once it pops free is when you feel the false reset. The transfer bar is a MIM part and is full of seams, high spots, etc. Stone it down flat and polish it. Problem solved. Polish the hammer face as well. The LCR is way oversprung on the trigger because of this. Polish it up and it will reset like a madman. You can totally disassemble the LCR/LCRX with a T10 Torx driver and a paper clip. Don’t believe the stories that they are hard to work on. They are quite simple and ingenious in design. They are the Glock of revolvers.

This is how you do a video. About anything.

I have the 38 SPL LCR and love it. Light to carry, easy to clean, shoots right on target, manageable recoil for its size. It's keeper.

The best channel on KZfaq ... i.e., measured, stylish, smart, sophisticated, balanced, detailed, accurate, humble, and always instructionally-oriented

Carried a .38 Snubby as a back up for many year's!!! Very Reliable, no doubt, n thank the lord never had to use it, Awesome topic!!! Happy Holiday's!!!

Ok, I'm a new shooter and I'm here to learn, not to speak. But I am a music librarian and historical sound archivist and I wish to point out that the music you chose to set the mood for 1950 comes from the late 20s or early 30s. Not sure anyone here cares, but it's not often I get to speak from expertise on a gun video! ;) And on that note, I want to thank you for all of your excellent print and video content. I've been doing a lot of study as I enter the world of shooting and I find your offerings to be among the most well-organized, informative, and objective resources I've found online. (And that's high praise coming from a research specialist in academia!) Your .38sp/.357 ballistics gel test study is particularly outstanding. Keep up the great work!!!

This is an excellent review. Concise, clear, thorough, informative. You do most excellent reviews.

I bought a 340PD ten years ago after carrying a Model 36 for thirty five years. I didn't even notice the internal lock until I got it home. I never used the lock and never had a problem with it, but a few years ago I heard of people having it lock up on the range. It's not difficult to remove the lock and there are kits to plug the keyhole if you so desire. Since I was changing out the trigger spring for a lighter one I removed (and saved) the lock. I've had it to the range a number of times since and haven't had any issues. And I've fired a .357 through a 340PD once before I bought mine. And that one time is why I've never fired a .357 through mine. That one time was proof that experience is something you get five minutes after you needed it.

I really don't think a guy can go wrong with either the S&W Airweight or LCR....just to be sure, I got one of each. ( & I love em both)

One final advantage of the S&W J-Frame is its resale value.

I've always carried a 642 for the last 12 years. Maybe not a .45, but it's easily a constant companion everywhere because it's so convenient to carry. The action really slicks up with use. It can be fired from a pocket if need be in an emergency and it always works!

Man this Channel is way under rated, wow, a whole lot of Info. You should have 400k subs. Don't be afraid to have some fun to , humer is great for this upside down world . please disregard if this not what this channel is about. Thanks for all the work

Love me some LCR... the fact that this revolver is only a decade old, has 19 versions available, and has become entrenched as the direct competitor to the S&W J ...speaks to how good this design is, and how well it fits certain shooters. I come from owning a few S&W J guns, and have carried an LCR for about 4 years now. I like them both, but the trigger (particularly the staging) on the LCR is supreme.

I actually rented the LCR in 38 special from my local range back in the early summer. I enjoyed it so much, first revolver, that I started to look for a revolver to carry. They were out of LCR when I went it looking to purchase a revolver. I got the alternative snubby in 38 special and haven’t regretted it yet. It’s my every day carry now.

I love my 642. It's not the most pleasant gun to shoot a lot at once, but that just makes me slow down and focus on hitting my shots instead of mag dumping. It's possibly my favorite gun I own but that changes day to day.

I’m happy with my Taurus 856. Cheap, solid, reliable, light, and easily concealed. And it holds 6 rounds. Ive probably put 1,500 rounds through it, with a good cleaning every other session. Never had a single malfunction. Even put a couple boxes of +p through it and it functions great.

Another nice and informative video. Thank you! I went with a 3" Model 60. I put a Wollf spring kit in it. The trigger is very nice after about 500 rnds.

Excellent comparison, and you’re right, there’s no clear winner

That ammo plug at the end was almost as smooth as your slicked back hair! Great video, as always!

Love this channel so much. Extremely educational, and extremely executed.

A while back I was in a quest to find the "perfect" back up / pocket carry revolver. I bought an LCR 38 special from my local gun store. I liked the lighter trigger pull of the LCR, however it has a draw back. It`s a long trigger pull with a light feeling trigger return spring. I short stroked the trigger all the time and that made the cylinder ending up half way from where it supposed to turn to. That in turn made it to skip a round. That was a no go for for me. Also the trigger guard is large with not enough undercut near the grip. I traded the LCR for a no internal lock S&W 642. Yes, the 642 trigger has a heavier pull, but it is shorter with a strong trigger return spring. I have yet to short stroke the trigger on my 642. The 642 has a higher trigger under cut for a higher grip. The LCR with the Bantam grip was a two finger grip, while the 642 with the Bantam grip is a 2 and a 3/4 finger grip. That is a big difference for recoil management. The 642 feels generally smaller than the LCR. The recoil feels lighter on the 642 due to its extra weight compared to the LCR. Just my 2 cents worth.

In June 2014 I purchased a Smith and Wesson 442 (no lock) for summertime carry only, intending to switch back to my Smith and Wesson M & P Shield 9 mm that Autumn. The first couple of boxes the safest place to be was directly in front of me. But with practice, I eventually got pretty good with it. Almost five years later, I still haven't gone back to the Shield. Nothing wrong with the Shield. It's fine. But the J Frame is in my opinion, far better suited to the job.

With a snubbie and a few holsters on hand (belt, pocket, ankle) you've got all your bases covered. Sure the capacity is limited and the trigger stiff but one can carry a snub virtually anywhere on the body and in any weather condition and do so comfortably and with minimal effort. I understand the hangups about capacity but one can't beat versatility and reliability afforded by the often maligned snub nose.

I just picked up a 340PD the other day and I was absolutely shocked by the weight. I'm 100% certain I had heavier cap guns as a kid.

I really like your presentations. Very informative, and professional.

Great review I love my 637 and carry it the most out of all my pistols. It took awhile to get confident with the reloads but after a few trips I can drop another 5 rounds in pretty fast.

Thanks for the excellent review. Much appreciated. As a long time J Frame user, I'm glad that you mentioned the "false reset" issue as it took me a little by surprise in the beginning. Not a problem now. Also my LCR is chambered in .327 Federal Magnum which helps a bit with the recoil as opposed to full load .357 Magnums.

The larger grip of the LCR can be addressed with a Houge boot grip. It has the same gell pack in the rear, but smooth sides that won't cling to clothing. The boot grip makes the LCR very easy to pocket carry.

Great info, thanks for posting! I’m set in my S&W’s carry the 442 occasionally, but keep my 60 in the safe, it’s a beaut. They really fit the bill when a small semi is to bulky. 👍🏼

Good stuff! Very informative and unbiased. I really enjoy your vids! I own both guns, the 640 (actually my wife's) and the LCR in .327. Love them both but the trigger pull on the Ruger just blows me away! It's the first polymer pistol that I have ever owned. As an old fart, it was difficult for me to warm up to polymer use in firearms for something other than furniture. Thanks!

He forgot to say they include the 1920's private eye accent that comes free with either

I bought my S & W 340C Airlite .38spc/.357 mag when I was fortunate enough to receive my first concealed carry permit (the first issued in Nebraska) in 2007. I have shot both .38 specials and .357 magnums through it, though admittedly not very much for either. I chuckled when the video said most people don't shoot it more than once, and it is probably true. The same might also be said of the S&W 500 with the two or four inch barrel (which I also own). Both can wreak havoc on one's hand in a very short time. That being said, I love the concealability of the 340C as well as the light weight. You can literally carry it in a shirt or jacket pocket, an ankle holster, or other options and forget it is there. For self-defense, it has plenty of stopping power, and I would not be at all concerned about how my hand might feel afterward if it saved my life. How many times does the average Joe really expect to shoot a gun in self-defense? Most of us expect it will never happen, but we prepare for it anyway. When it comes to self-defense, it seems far more likely to be a situation where my target would be at point-blank range or perhaps a few feet away than at a distance where marksmanship would come into the equation. At that point, I'm probably not even aiming, but rather just pointing. My gun may not ever even leave my pocket (just the bullets from it). If my hand is a bit sore afterward, so be it. The main drawback is being limited to five rounds; however, at normal self-defense ranges, if five rounds isn't enough, then a grenade would be my only option, and that would take me out along with the attacker. I certainly don't discount the possibility of multiple attackers, and there, more bullets would be great; however, from the hundreds of videos I've seen in self-defense situations, the remaining attackers seldom hang around once the first one goes down.

Instant Like for tackling a topic that has a lot of hidden little details and nuances. Once again, another intelligent and reason video from Lucky Gunner. Also glad that you guys are challenging the popular recommendation of these super small, super light guns to newbie shooters. Some additional details I've picked doing research before picking my first gun: S&W's aluminum and scandium frame revolvers: flame cutting. Shoot the gun enough and the gases escaping the cylinder gap will burn away some of the inner topstrap. I haven't heard of any catastrophic failures, but this does happen. Ruger LCR in .38 Special: frame stretching. The aluminum frame will eventually stretch from repeated use, reports say around 5,000 rounds. As a carry gun, maybe your round count won't go that high, but that means you're not practicing with it. No problem for the .357 Mag LCR which uses a steel frame instead. Realizing that these guns sort of destroyed themselves veered me away from them. Having a gun is pointless if you can't shoot well with it, so that means practice, which means racking up a large round count. I ended up following the guidelines in the "Mid-Size Revolvers for Concealed Carry" video and, aside from a few mistakes here and there, things turned out okay.

I added a Green Crimson trace laser sight and also a high-vise optical sight to my Ruger LCR .22 magnum. I don't like having to give up the nice Ruger hand molded grips it came with but I have to say the Laser sight has totally exceeded my expectations and it's really fun to shoot at the gun range at close and extended distances with the laser. My laser was set at 30 feet I had to adjust it a it a little to sight it at 50 feet. But installation and adjustment is very easy and quick.

I went with Altamont extended wood grips on my 642. Nice in the hand. Fits in the pocket.

Very comprehensive review. You do good work!

A few years back, a dear (and now sadly late) friend of mine had just gotten a S&W 342 PD and we were at the dept range firing it. I fired 5-rounds of Std Pressure American eagle 158 gr RNL with one hand and 5-rounds of Federal 158 gr +P Nyclad SWCHP with the other. If he had offered me $20 to fire it again I'd have turned him down. LOL. Yes, it was THAT uncomfortable and my BUG at the time was a Kahr PM40 (tiny little .40 S&W)! That said, I'd love to have one. It was accurate and I believe I could carry it just about anywhere all day long without any discomfort (well ... except if I needed to shoot it in which case I doubt I'd notice and any little sting in the hand is a lot better than being dead, sooo ... yeah). I've shot a LOT of J-frame and similar revolvers over the decades and they can be tough to master; you really have to do your part. But once you do get good with them, they are great additions to one's self-defense armory.

I love my 357 LCR I picked it up on a wim because it was on special at my local shop and I wanted a reliable light weight gun for protection while backpacking from both 4 and 2 legged animals. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Even with full power Underwood Ammo loads I find it just a blast to shot. Only with the heaviest bear loads did I find I need some additional training time to get an acceptable 5 shot speed test. Though very doable with just a little practice and training. I did replace the front sights with fiberoptics which I found amidetly gave a very fast sight picture an at 50 yards it is very accurate. For purely defensive gun you cant ask for much more than that. If ongoing to shoot long range I will use my Glock 40 or my 460 Rowland 1911 that's what they ate made for. So while I picked this up just for a lightweight backpacking gun I love it so much it has found a place in my carry rotation. While it is not my preferred ccw. It is the gun I keep locked up by my front door for times when I run out of the house in shorts a tshirt and want to just put something in my pocket that I feel comfortable with.

I wish the 327 was more ubiquitous, I've been looking for a good deal on one for a year.

I've had a J frame Airweight 38 for years, put at lest a 1000 rounds through it, just a joy to shoot.

Both are excellent. My old man has a “flat side” J frame that still sees regular use and shoots well.

Have the 642 and lcr 357.Sometimes when I cant decide, I just carry both.

Put S&W's "combat" grip on my 642 and it tamed about 95% of the recoil. Fantastic weapon.

340PD loaded with Corbon 200 Grn Hard case lead. only pulled the trigger once. felt like catching a fast ball bare handed.

The first firearm I ever purchased was a 642 in .38 SPL. I have carried quite a bit and still own it. But my much more recently acquired LCR in .327 Federal gets a lot more holster time now. Both are great, and I don't feel undergunned with either.

The LCR .38+P has been my EDC for some time now, and I am very happy with its size and weight, sometimes forget it is there. I have large hands and haven't experienced any real issues with the stock grips and I have painted the front sight but am planning on purchasing a fiber optic sight for better visibility. Good review, thanks.

Have had my Ruger LCR 38+P since they came out and has been rock solid. Love the trigger and grip. Still not really a fun gun to shoot, but sure is a pleasure to carry. Only thing I did was put a front night sight on it. I do have an issue short stroking the LCR if I have not shot it in a while since I am used to semi autos with a much shorter reset.

Great video. Very informative. Owner of the Smith and Wesson. 442. Love the little powerhouse.

I am a fan of .327 Federal and the 32 H&R for use in a compact revolver so I went with the LCR in that caliber. The .327 felt recoil seemed equivalent to me in an LCR to the 38 sp and the .32 H&R gives a recoil sensitive shooter a good option (and an extra round for what it's worth).

I love my S&W M&P 360 in .357 magnum. I have small but strong hands, so it's a perfect fit all around for me, and the trigger pull is beautiful.

Awesome video Chris. I don't leave the house with out a Ruger. But as an honorable mention, I love my Smith and Colt safe queens too.

Glad to see revolvers making more of a public revival in the market!

Good video! I have a S&W 638 with the really small Crimson Trace 'Boot' grip. It can be a challenge to shoot, but I find it easy and consistently accurate at close ranges (7yds) with standard 38 Spl. ammo (NO +P). Dry-fire practice helps with accuracy, and the laser grip makes dry fire practice better because you can see the laser dot move on the other side of your living room. Keep that dot from moving and you will develop good trigger habits!

I've had the 442, LCRs in 38 only, 38/357 and .22... I kept the 442 and added old style wood thin grips that I thinned further by sanding down and a Tyler t grip. Very concealed but still very suitable with the Tyler T grip.

Great video. After shooting airweights and LCRs I ended up buying a SP101 with a big dot night sight. When you need a magnum you can bet on a Ruger. I've fired hundreds of magnum rounds and it's still tight as new.

This video is amazingly done! Thank you.

Have the 327 lcr and love it. Nearly 400 ft lbs of energy, recoil similar to a hot 38 spl and the added benefit of an additional round of capacity. I certainly wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of it.

I used to own a 9mm LCR, and I would typically pocket carry it. I realized that I was better off just belt carrying the Shield I already had since the 9mm LCR was a bit too heavy for pocket carry and the draw stroke was not nearly as fast, especially in the summer with sweaty pants. Still a neat little gun. I probably will own another snub in the future.

My EDC is typically a G43 or G26, depending on the weather and my clothing, but my S&W 642 is generally what’s in my pocket when I’m at home and in my house pants.

I went with the LCR 327 Federal Magnum loaded with 32 S&W Long and it is an extremely fun pistol to shot.

I've dry fired an LCR my grandad carries and I can confirm that the "false reset" will screw with you if you aren't aware that it's a false reset. It's otherwise a very smooth trigger pull, but that one design flaw irks me to no end.

Been shooting autos forever and never any revolvers until recently when I rented an LCR. It felt good to me but next time I’ll rent a J frame and an LCR side by side and compare before I buy one.

I am a J-frame man I carried one off duty for over 10 years and use one as my CCW until about two years ago. I owe six J-frames.

The internal locking mechanism on J-frames that occasionally self-engages, rendering the gun useless, should be a non-starter for anyone needing a self-defense pistol. The main selling point of a pocket snubby is it'll always go bang when you pull the trigger. If a J-frame can't be relied upon 100% of the time, go with an LCR or a small semi-auto. Lucky for me I bought my 638 more than 20 years ago, before S&W came up with the genius internal lock. A fantastic concealed carry piece.

The S&W M&P Bodyguard .38 that I own has been a sweet shooter. That .38 round is a palm puncher for sure lol and the gun has been very reliable. Also I enjoy your channel and thanks for all the great content you guys put on it.....cheers!

Hard to go wrong with the S&W (no lock) j-frames as there are plenty on the used market! They hold their value and I believe the steel or aluminum frames will continue to have a higher resale value! Resale may not be important to some, but I kind of trade a bit now and then!

Very nice and informative review, thanks a lot!

Proud owner of the Ruger LCR .38. It is my carry gun in the summer.

Fantastic review! the 13oz LCR is what I'm going to get. My Kimber Micro 9 is great, but I want something much lighter and in a different style

About as empirical as a KZfaq gun video can get without venturing deep into nerdom. Thanks for a truly informative discussion. I've a 50+ year old S&W Model 37 that shoots smoothly. Especially when loaded with Federal Low Recoil Personal Defense 110 gr. Hydra-Shock JHP.

Couldn't pass up the SW 442 on impact for $300.... they might still be on sale... +P rated and NO internal lock. Great deal.

Wifey has arthritis and loves the 38 LCR trigger. Great info as always.

Love the material you guys put out it’s very helpful please keep it coming. Also, can you do some videos on speed loading revolvers, the advantages and disadvantages of speed loaders, speed strips, and moon clips? And is it worth it to get a cylinder machined for moon clips if it doesn’t already come that way? Thanks

Great review I’ve got a bunch of SW’s and pocket carry the 351C 22mag and the 327PC with 8 shots of 357.

I love my Ruger LCR .357 mag! It’s makes a great pocket carry gun. For a better sight, I’m running a Novak Mega Dot fiber optic front sight.

Both are great. Having both a 637 and a lcrx, I carry the lcrx in my pocket daily. The lcrx seems a bit tamer recoil wise. Maybe the polymer frame absorbs some of that recoil plus the hogue tamer grip with the padding along the back strap. I also have a XS big dot sight which was a big plus for me. The back strap of the j frame feels like being slammed with a hammer in the palm after about 10 rounds. The Smith just looks a whole lot better in my opinion.

This is becoming my favorite gun channel.... after Hickok45 of course.

The trigger on the LCR is the smoothest out of the box out of all the revolvers I own.

Great revolvers I couldn't decide so I got both(Smith 442 no lock and lcr 357)

I’ve had the LCR and a S&W air weight at the same time. Ended up selling the S&W and I’ve carried the LCR for years. Biggest plus is the bigger more ergonomic and comfortable (for me) grip on the LCR and huge trigger guard. Just easier and more pleasant to shoot, though I’d call neither a range “fun” gun. Great for what it was designed for. Mine fits comfortably in the pocket of slacks with tucked shirt. Just forget it’s even there. The sights blow for my aging eyes but problem solved with white enamel paint on front sight.

I have the S&W 642 (J Frame) and the Ruger LCR and prefer the LCR on every level besides the weight.

I want a Ruger LCR in 9mm with a 3" barrel. I really like my S&W 60 and 36 with 3" barrels. The extra inch of barrel really improves the handling and pointing attributes of the J frame and it really does not make the revolver any harder to carry, conceal or draw.

I love my 642-2 with crimson trace grips one of my go to for concealed carry

The Airweight 638 works for me. Lightweight, easy to conceal, reasonable power, with 5 ready to go.

I have a S&W 442 in 38+p Extremely dependable and light.

Thank you for this thoughtful comparison.

I've had a 649 for years and I love it. Small enough for most kinds of carry, big enough to shoot comfortably. The holster placement is the most critical once you settle on a revolver. Get yourself some of the safariland speedloaders, and bianchi speed strips and you're good to go.

Just ordered my second j frame (442 38spec +p) to carry. Have had a model 60 for 40 years.

Love my .38LCR, carried it for close to a year now, the light weight and small size makes it flexible for concealed use, although it won't fit in all of my pockets. I have large hands but don't seem to have any problems shooting. I'm going to be installing a fiber optic for better sight vision. Good video!

i have the LCR .38spl and i love it! i carry it most of the time over the shield or my XD

Another excellent video - thank you LG! The J Frame carries so much better due to the slim grips, which is the whole point of these. Designed specifically for carrying concealed / self-defense, fine points of shooting like trigger feel and the like seem irrelevant (to me anyway).

I sold cars years ago and one of the points I would make is yes you can compare the specs but ultimately what car do you like being in and driving? Same for a pistol I would say, unless there is an imbalance in the specs, what pistol feels best in your hand and what one do you shoot best with / enjoy shooting.

I have owned several Ruger’s and S&W’s. I would like to attest, that a S&W is significantly easier to stage than the Ruger. The Ruger-as I am an instructor for mostly women, is always better in defense firing and the older the lady, the better the Ruger trigger shines. Men, will prefer the S&W.

That LCR has a great trigger but coming from shooting Smiths and semi-autos that audible "reset" on the LCR fooled me into thinking I had misfires when I just shortstroked the trigger.

These are two revolvers that SHOULD be compared! Thanks.

Great accurate evaluation of both. And I have owned both. My .38 LCR gets forgotten after the first 15 minutes in its OWB belt holster. The .357 after 20 minutes. But your mileage may vary. The .357 is a handful of pain and flash with full loads. Somewhat less with the newer short barrel stuff like Gold-Dot SB. Carry ammo is a toss-up. The .357 hits harder, but follow-up shots are longer and if nighttime will be harder to get back on target for that mandatory zombie double tap. But that is why Crimson Trace is in business. It all depends on shot placement anyway doesn't it.

My 642 Airweight is snappy, especially with +P ammo. I don’t run a lot though it as I practice at 15 feet , which the FBI says is the distance most shooting incident occur. The trigger is stiff, but you’ll get used to it. This is my go to carry option and is also Hickok 45’s favorite carry gun.

I like the moon clips that the 9mm LCR offers. Would like to test speed loading with that option.