Ruger Redhawk

If it were me I'd go with the SP101 over the LCR. The SP will last you for a lifetime. The LCR's are a great carry gun for their weight but I just don't think they will have near the longevity that the SP’s have. I carried my LCR for a while, then I bought a Smith 442. My LCR has had less than 100rnds, I'm in the process of trying to sell it. I carry the 442 on a regular basis. I tried to like that LCR but it just wasn’t for me.

WGolf

My wife bought the LC9 for ccw. We went to the range and I let her work out with the MkII for a while. (It was her first exposure to handguns). I tested the LC9 and then let her try it. After the first shot she turned and looked at me with her eyes as big as I've seen them and said: "#&%@*&^!!!!!" And I said: "Yep, a lot of bullet for such a small frame." This is always a consideration when selecting something you will use to protect yourself: Can I be comfortable enough with this thing that I will practice often enough to use it well? She went with the Sig 380 and I inherited the LC9. I love it, but it wears you out compared to a larger frame pistol. The LCR chambered for 357 has just got to be a real kick in the shoulder. Maybe you could try out both and see which works for you.

Revoliver

Personally, I would go with an SP101. There's just something about a steel frame that is more comforting than a plastic one, despite my knowing that the LCR is tried and true.

Allfat

I don't have either gun, but I have been contemplating the decision to get a small revolver for carry. I have pretty much decided on a 3" SP101. I just love the way it looks.

I usually carry a SR9c, and the SP101 does not weight much more than that, so if I can carry the SR9c fine, the revolver will be fine for me as well. Its not that much weight. If I can carry all the extra weight on my belly, I can handle a pound and a half on my belt just fine.

9026543

SP101 3" 327 Fed Mag. Wicked little devil and with my 100 grain Hornady XTP reloads will exceed the Federal advertised 1500 fps and 500 fpe. But have to watch it though with hand loads or you will get some brass wanting to stick.

SmokewagonSD

I own a Rock Island officers model, SP101 3inch, SP101 2.25 inch and the LCR. I'm most accurate with the Rock Island, enjoy shoting the SP in 2.25 inch the most and carry the LCR more than the other three combined. The three inch SP is mostly my wife's vehicle gun.

Jesters Dead

LCR 357 FTW. It's a great carry gun and was designed for that purpose.

I love the SP-101 in 357, but the LCR is lighter and has a superior trigger. Plus, as previously posted, it's easier to locate holsters for the LCR, compared to the SP. You get an extra round with the 101, but the LCR's advantages outweigh its disadvantages compared to the SP in the CCW department.

YMMV.

Waveform

I have both the SP-101 and an LCR and last I checked they both hold 5 rounds so that's not going to factor in your decision. (BTW, JestersDead, I loaded some Hornady Critical Defense in my LCR and looked at it and realized I was holding your avatar. Cool!)

Rent both at a gun range or, if you can afford it, buy them both and work with them to see which you prefer. I haven't had mine very long and that's what I'm doing more or less. If you shop around you'll find the right opportunities. I traded a Taurus I didn't much care for plus $80 for an almost new (2012) 3" SP-101 at a LGS. I found an LCR model 5405 (38 +P w/XS sight) from a dealer for $380 on a gun auction site. So I feel like I have both for $460 which is around the price of one (obviously I am discounting the value of the Taurus to $0. No offense to any happy Taurus owners...)

I will agree holster options are more limited with the SP-101. I found only one Bianchi holster at a LGS for the SP-101, otherwise I will have to order one without trying it first and I don't like that. Been disappointed too many times before. More options in stock at my LGS for the LCR.

Benemorte

IMO, the LCR only has the advantage in less weight, and that is not enough of an advantage to outweigh (no pun intended) all the advantages of the SP101.

While it is true that holsters are mostly still being "geared up" for the 3"-4" SP's, they do exist, although we decided to have ours custom made.

huntrick64

In my humble yet most accurate opinion,

I carry the 2 1/4" SP101 with full-house loads and love it. I have shot the 357 LCR with full-house loads, and quite frankly, I might just take on the bad guy hand-to-hand and come away with less pain than firing that plastic gun!
It hurts! Reminds me of not getting rid of the "black cat" firecracker before it goes bang.

I have fired about 800 rounds from that SP101 after doing the IBOK things to it. It is smooth and pleasant to shoot. The good news is, it's heavy;
The bad news is, it's heavy. If you are going to have to pocket carry, the LCR would be better because the SP is just too heavy to carry without a holster.

Waveform

Perceived recoil is a personal thing and the 38+P vs 357 LCR gets debated here often. I agree that 357 in any lightweight revolver can be really unpleasant, whether an LCR or Smith Airlite or whatever. Others claim they don't really mind and like the extra power. The point about the 357 being able to shoot 38, 38+P or 357 is valid but in the end I decided on the 38+P LCR. I decided the perceived recoil was going to be too unpleasant for me in 357 but the 38 is OK. And I wanted the XS front sight since my eyes have some trouble with black on black sight pictures. LCR model 5405 fit the bill for me.

I had the opportunity to shoot a friend's S&W Airlite (the titanium or scandium or whatever super metal with an MSRP of over $1K) and I shot one cylinder of 357 and handed it back with a grimace. He grinned - "Snotty little gun, isn't it!" So it's not just the "plastic gun" that hurts. Some here have commented they thought the LCR Crimson Trace grip model hurt more than the standard model grip so that may be something to take into account.

NY Ruger

I own an LCR in 38 and a SP101 in 357.

I'm not shy when it comes to recoil, doesn't bother me.
But I'll be honest to what feels like it bites and want doesn't.

I originally thought the SP101 357 would be best all around carry.
I bought it long before the LCR.

But for those times I want to pocket carry, the SP101 was just too much.
Every ounce counts with pocket carry. It became annoying.

With the SP101 , for me, has no issue with shooting 357 loads. I could shoot it all day long, as if it was a larger frame revolver.. yea , longer time to get back on target, but nothing feel tiring about the recoil.

The 38+Ps are much more unpleasant on the LCR than the 357's in the SP101.

I agree with above , different people feel the recoil from different guns differently.
And for me, these light little LCRs just do nothing to help manage the recoil.
(both my LCR and SP have their stock grips, not laser option on either)
I can shoot an M1Garand all day long from positions, and I'm tired from the positions. The recoil has no effect on me. But shooting the M1Garand from the bench, 90-100rnds , and my shoulder is tired.


I can shoot the SP101 all day with 357's and be ready for more.
But a box of 38+P in the LCR is more than enough for me for the day, I'm done.


The trigger on the LCR is excellent, I originally went looking for an airweight S&W, was able to pull the trigger on a few of them side by side to the LCR... LCR came home with me. Lighter gun, better trigger, smaller, and for pocket carry has to be a wheelgun for me.

Much much easier to pocket carry the LCR than the SP101.. the SP101 is very easy for IWB holster carry.

It seems "most" people found the LCR a bit on the tough side regarding recoil, and that was back when it was just only out on 38, I couldn't imagine shooting it with 357 loads. And besides, wouldn't want the larger cylinder, more weight and such that comes with the 357 version for pocket carry.
So I'm very happy with the 38 version of the LCR for my use.

ExArmy11b

Both have their roles...........the SP101 is a rock solid, concealable revolver that can fill the role of a full size gun. It can handle hot .357's, serve as a range shooter and allow you to train as much as you want. The SP101, to me, always seemed like the perfect gun for the concealed carry permit holder who actually likes to train a lot.

The LCR, to me, seems like a compromise. It's a "carry lots, shoot little" gun IMO and is no doubt durable, but is not a range piece. It's a lightweight carry gun that offers .357 or .38 +P punch for emergency defensive use. It's not something you're going to want to shoot for long range sessions. It's Rugers version of the S&W Airweight........ironically S&W and Taurus had to come out with poly frame revolvers too

NY Ruger

completely agree with those aspects..
I wouldn't want to , and couldn't use the LCR as a range gun.
Put some sample rounds down range of what it's kept loaded with to check out the rounds themselves, and carry it when it makes sense.

The SP101, yea, I have no worries with shooting it as much as I want.
As much as I like the GP100, I see the SP101 as rugged, but hugely easier for CC and as easy to shot all day long. And fun too. I love the K frame S&W, but not the J frames.. to me the SP101 splits the difference, yea smaller to me than K frame... but much easier to get a hold of than the J frames.

When I go to the range and it's hot, and got my long shorts with huge pockets + want to shoot it, I throw the SP101 in those huge pockets.

If I'm running around no jacket, and want something that I don't have to worry about showing... the LCR fits real nice in my jeans' pockets, and with the pocket holster doesn't print.
Seems like I can never get shirts long enough that wont print with an IWB holster, or worry of the shirt getting stuck on the butt end. I only feel comfortable with some jacket for iwb cc.

chief1

I really like carrying my SP101. It's as powerful as my favorite S&W model 19 with the 2.5 inch barrel and smaller. The only thing I don't like is the front sight blade. It disappears on the range. I painted it red with fingernail polish (not mine) but that seems kind of low rent for a Ruger. I called Ruger to see if they had a sight like the $15 one for the GP100 with an insert and the guy said no and they had no plans for one. I don't want to pay $100 for the fancy sight, so I will either stick with the paint or get a gunsmith to put in an insert (which is probably $100). It seems to me Ruger should correct this obvious problem and, if you get the SP101 you might see if this is a problem for you.