As promised from my other thread, a detailed comparison. I will get a range comparison up as soon as I can

Here you go:

Smith and Wesson 442-1 and Ruger KLCR Comparison Part 1: Specs and Speedloaders

I am rather liking this 442, I cannot wait to shoot it.

Thanks, curious as how you like it compared to the LCR.

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Chewy

So far so good. I'll let you know after a few range sessions and a class or two.

I will be very interested in your analysis.

I have both a KLCR and 642.

I think the real niche for the 357 Magnum LCR is a pocket gun that can actually shoot 357 Magnum reasonably.

The KLCR, at 17.1 oz, is significantly lighter than the S&W 640.

The M&P 340 at 13.3oz is lighter, but much harder to shoot.

The KLCR is a great middle ground 357 Magnum that is actually shootable, IMO.

I agree, the LCR will be my winter carry with 357 and the 442 my summer carry with 38. I have no plans on ditching the LCR which has been a constant companion. At the young age of 46 I decided that I want to carry only revolvers from here on out. Comfortable, fun to shoot, and I just prefer them over semis. I have been carrying the LCR and a Charter 44 since I turned 40 and it has sold me on the little 5 shots.

I bought one of the LCRx 3" revolvers to fill the "lightweight in the woods kit gun" role and it is good except for the grip angle.

It came with a full length grip which is a bit more vertical than I am used to. I tend to like the J frame grip angle which is very close to the angle of my (wait for it...) GLOCKs!!

My 642 fits in my pocket better...

Edmo

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TRUTH: Don't delete my posts!

Nothing at all wrong with that IMO. There are many practical as well as tactical reasons to choose a snub revolver for carry/personal defense...

Using A Revolver As Your Concealed Handgun

Why the Snub Nose Revolver Makes Sense - Angry White Dude

https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/sti...sive-revolver/

I just posted up my range report, was good to get out and stretch it's legs for the first time

Smith and Wesson 442-1 and Ruger KLCR Comparison Part 2: Range Report

Great range report man. I like to think I'm a good j frame shooter with two-handed ragged holes @7yds but dang your groups one-handed at 10 yards are great! Mastering the trigger so that there is no front sight twitch on a gun with a 10lb+ pull is quite a feat.

I do a lot of dry firing. Especially since my finger and wrist had surgery.

In that recoil video I was doing some one handed at 25 yards as well. You can see there was no issue with the 442 It doesnt move but you can see the wrist and arm muscles start to tighten at the end of the long LCR pull. I

Making a fist with the weak hand helps.... I had to death grip the phone while I recorded that. Mr. Ayoob is the one who I first heard mention that. Sympathetic muscle response, someone recently posted about it here as well. I only use it for slow firing one handed.

I've been reading your blog for several years. You do good work.

Thank you it originally started as a way to help a few friends get into reloading with that tutorial, then I just started writing more stuff

The Ruger LCR beats the 442 in every way except in the looks department.

I completely disagree. Especially for fast shooting. The 442 short trigger with solid reset excels.

You can clearly see in my video recoil and accuracy are the same. The only benefit the LCR has is the ability to change the front sight.

Can you explain why? I would love to read your comparison. Different opinions with reasons why are always welcome.

Hi, sure. Please keep in mind this one mans opinion. I've owned over the years a couple 642's 438. 638. 360. 442. 342. 340pd. So you could see I'm no stranger to J frames. I still have a 640 no dash...love that gun. Most of them had to go back to S+W for one reason or another. After selling them all off except the 640 I decided to try the Ruger LCR and I find the trigger is much smoother right out of the box. The finish on the gun holds up much better. You can replace the front sight as you mentioned. I've had cracked frames, one had broken a hammer pivot stud. The cylinder slid passed the cylinder stop off the frame on one The blast shield on the 340pd fell off the frame. The hand on one had to be replaced. The cylinder locked up tight while the gun was loaded on one. The barrel on one was over tightened to the right. The finish peeled right off of the 642 and I did not use any harsh chemicals on it. All had to go back for service. With all that being said Ruger's is NOT with out their share of problems. I bought a LCR 38 and put 1000 round thru it and it shoots just like the day I bought it. I guess I'm just unluckiest guy with S+W J frames. The BIG draw back to the LCR other than them being uglier than sin is you're very limited with grip options. I know there's a lot of people out there who love their J frames and that's great enjoy them as I enjoy my LCR. This is just my story. Oh yea the LCR has NO LOCK
Mike

I wanted to like the LCR, but couldn't get comfortable with the trigger reset. I sold the 38 and 357 I owned and decided to stick with S&W j frames.

I have a LCR .357 and .22lr. I'm hoping I can train myself to overcome the trigger reset issue. If not, the .357 goes and maybe get a J frame (442 or 640) but I read a lot about the J frame QC problems. I have a Glock 19, Smith 65 with 3" barrel and LCP so I can live without a 5 shot snubby but they are fun, handy and not likely to have a accidental discharge. eb07 with all the time/experience you have with the LCR I was surprised of your more positive review of the Smith over the LCR. I appreciate your objective review.

I love the KLCR. It is the best 357 magnum in its size and weight range bar none.

The trigger is sweet when punching paper with deliberation but where it's limitations begin to show is in fast combat shooting. The smith trigger is just better due to length and reset.

I go on all these forums and read about quality issues with smiths, rugers, glocks, etc.

I have not experienced them. Ever. I must be lucky.

I wanted to post an update to this a year later. After shooting and carrying the 442 for a while.


My 442-1 is great and it is my EDC carry in the summer. I haven't had an issue with it at all. I have thousands of dry fires (with snap caps) and a little over 2500 rounds through it. Mostly 130 or 135 gr +P reloads pushing 850-900 fps depending upon the weather ( hotter is faster). It is accurate and I have yet to short stroke it. I have done two point shooting/shoot on the move classes with it to date. One being a night class. It handled itself well.

Other than putting some glow on paint on the front and rear sights, some grip tape on the back-strap to help my busted and recovering hand, and the altamonte wood boot grips, I haven't upgraded it at all internally. It is just beginning to show a turn line



I am dropping it off with Nelson Ford tomorrow so he can perform his trigger magic on it. I decided to do so because these old revolver smiths aren't getting any younger and will be retiring soon and I want to get the work done now before I regret not doing so. It will have company in the form of my 29-2 which is in need of a go over so it will not be alone.

The 357 LCR will be my carry gun this summer for the next 30 or so days while it is in the shop. It kind of got pushed out by the Charter 44 for winter carry. You have all read before that it is well over 6.5K in round count and thousands of dry fires ( with snap caps). I still love it and it handles 357 great but the long trigger caused some serious short stroking, especially when I run pistol classes that require drawing from concealment, moving, and firing quickly. Something I have yet to experience with my 442 due to the shorter travel and reset. That and 357 reloads just don't work in the speed loaders due to length, you have to stick to 38's so the grip doesn't become a factor.

The mods I have done to it are putting some glow on paint front and rear sights and the extensive boot grip modifications I made with a dremel and addition of some grip tape, again to help my busted hand.It shows a little more wear due to more carry and more shooting. I have done five point shooting/shoot on the move classes with it.



To date the only breakage was that dust cover on the trigger pivot pin that you can see in the photo and Ruger sent me a replacement no questions asked. It really have been a great little revolver.

My conclusion still stands after a year:

Where the K-LCR excels over all others is it's ability to absorb the recoil of 357 magnum rounds traveling 1000 fps + out of it. For that reason alone it is superior to all others in it's class. It has no equal in it's size and weight range.

When we are talking 38+P only, the 442/642 air weights are the cream of the crop for lightweight j frames. They are plain better than both LCR's and are my choice for lightweight 38 carry.


Glow on paint for the 442 below in case anyone was interested. Pretty much applies with a toothpick, allowed to dry, then sealed with some clear nail polish. One quick hit with a tac light and the sights glow for 2-5 minutes which is a good amount of time. Hit them again to reset it. I like it. Inexpensive and practical. Worked well in a night course I ran with it.





I'm gonna miss this girl while Nelson has her but I am sure she is going to come back with a much better trigger that I will appreciate like I do on the model 19 he took in a while back.