Thoughts GP,SP,LCR; Mine/Yours

[shaffe48]

I bought my GP for IDPA four years ago and, since quitting IDPA, I’ve used the gun for home/apartment defense and winter/woods carry. However, after some realistic target shooting, I’ve really had to reevaluate my use of the GP for self defense. For close range shooting (7 yds -), I can outperform myself with a GP-100 with both the SP 3” and LCR. What I mean is that the is SP/LCR are quicker to draw and point and less likely to get caught up in clothing. The weight of the GP gives it the advantage if you are unloading the entire cylinder at highest speed into one target but I don’t think this is the best tactic anyways. In failure to stop type drills, I usually perform as well if not better with the SP. This is possibly partly to do with the bolder and more distinct fixed sights and better pointability.

If I was looking at a 2” revolver, I would really look at the LCR (which I have only shot) because it makes pocket carry much more realistic and it has the greatest trigger out of the box. I think the SP has its advantages, however, in addition to my preferred 3” barrel length. Longevity would be the biggest. I’ve seen a youtube where they burned up the top strap on a 38 sp LCR and the LCR doesn’t have the 3 cylinder locking points. I’ve also flattened primers from hand loads in the LCR that didn’t flatten in my SP. Further, the LCR has a difficult to press ‘cylinder button’ possibly to prevent unlatching in your pocket and the super light cylinder is harder to swing out and reload. Finally, the SP looks better especially with nice grip inserts.

After experiencing all the current Ruger SD revolvers I would say this. If I wanted a 2” gun, I think I would buy the LCR but the SP 3” is still my preferred handgun. I guess the GP I’ll have to find a new purpose for. I'm sure others have had the same observations and I'm also sure that others have reached different conclusions.

 

[FergusonTO35]

I've had both a GP and an SP. Great guns but I find my S&W 10-5 is the perfect fighting revolver for me. Perfect weight and feel in the hand and way better trigger pull.

 

[Revoliver]

Have had my 6" gp100 for a long time now. It is old faithful. By simply taking hold of it it becomes an extension of me. For home defense and open carry it will always be chosen over it's peers.

Finally got a 3" SP101 just before christmas (got lucky and found one locally). Have already become 'familiar' with it (helps that the wife already has the 2.25" sp101). Handles very quickly and fits me well with full size black badger grips on it. For travel and concealed carry, it gets the go ahead.

No idea what this 'LCR' is you speak of. I have distant memories of a tupperware plastic polymer and metal revolver abomination, but as I do not believe that anyone would ever make, much less actually buy and use such an abomination, I will not comment on it.

 

[shaffe48]

No idea what this 'LCR' is you speak of. I have distant memories of a tupperware plastic polymer and metal revolver abomination, but as I do not believe that anyone would ever make, much less actually buy and use such an abomination, I will not comment on it.

My initial reaction may have been the same but, after actually shooting the gun, I can see that the trigger rivals the much larger GP's and it handles 357's almost as well as the heavier SP. It's a highly functional handgun and most people don't care what it's made of.

 

[22/45 Fan]

No idea what this 'LCR' is you speak of. I have distant memories of a tupperware plastic polymer and metal revolver abomination, but as I do not believe that anyone would ever make, much less actually buy and use such an abomination, I will not comment on it.

I understand. One shouldn't let functionality or good performance get in the way of their prejudice. :)

 

[FergusonTO35]

I would probably get an LCR if there were some better grips available for it such as the excellent Pachmayr Compacs. The stumpy, ugly Hogues just don't work for me. Ruger should've given the LCR the same grip frame as the SP-101, them we would have way more options.

 

[shaffe48]

I would probably get an LCR if there were some better grips available for it such as the excellent Pachmayr Compacs. The stumpy, ugly Hogues just don't work for me. Ruger should've given the LCR the same grip frame as the SP-101, them we would have way more options.

http://shopruger.com/Hogue-LCR-Bantam_Boot-Grip/productinfo/19927/

The LCR I shot wore these boot grips. I do not like Hogue either, but to each his own.

 

[Terry T]

22/45fan, I like your style! I like folks who know themselves and can poke fun at themselves. :D

That said, I have one of each, (well more than that actually - 13 GP-100s and only 17 SP-101s, all different, and (only) one .357 LCR. :oops: )
I find different uses for each so it's not an 'either / or'. The LCR's light weight makes it much easier to carry. The SP-101 3" in .357 mag. is one of my favorites - kind of an all around useful piece while the GP-100s are defiantly heavy duty belt guns (I have 3", 4" and 6" half lug). I probably shoot the best with the 6" GP-100.

Another way to say it might be that if I were limited to only one handgun (Heaven forbid), the 3" SP-101 might be THE ONE. I'm kind of a smaller guy so concealed carry with a big piece is a bit problematic for me.
I mean, it's kind of asking what shoes I'd have if I could have only one pair - dress shoes, boots, loafers, 'tenny runners', flip flops - you get the idea. I AM blessed to be in a situation where I CAN have more than one pair of shoes - not everyone is.

Another thing I've noticed is that our needs, abilities and tastes change as we age (in handguns and shoes). As I move into the autumn of my life, big heavy magnums seem to be less interesting and smaller, lighter, 'non-magnums' (.38spl & 9mm) seem to be my first choice. Now that I'm retired, the dress shoes rarely come out of the closet. :D
Terry T

 

[Revoliver]

I can see no one on this forum has got a sense of humor...

Since everyone wants to take this super seriously, let's get really crazy with it.

As to the trigger being better than the GP100's, maybe the GPs you've handled, but not one GP I've handled had a bad trigger much less worse than an LCR's (of the LCRs I've handled and two I've actually shot). Sample size is a everything.

I have not met a single mperson in real life that has ever expressed anything other than disbelief at the LCR's polymer/metal construction. Gun stores, ranges, BSing with people anywhere about guns, all the same story. The internet is the only place that anyone not only likes the LCR, but actually tries to justify and defend it.

As to the functionality and performance, it shoots bullets and does it's best to turn your hand into numb mush. Reminds me of when I was a kid goofing around with fireworks and had a blackcat go off in my hand. Why anyone would want to do that to themselves willingly when there is no reason to is beyond mebut to each their own.

Then there's the 'well, you can always shoot softer/weaker/downloaded/.38 spc ammo' rebutal, that only further proves the gun's true purpose is to be a self torture device for masochists at best as opposed to helping one justify that .357 magnum should be stuffed into such an abomination. Same story with wearing gloves.

The only thing I'll concede to the LCR is that it's trigger is better than almost every of the many SP triggers I've gotten to try (my wife's SP being the only exception).

 

[shaffe48]

I find different uses for each so it's not an 'either / or'. The LCR's light weight makes it much easier to carry. The SP-101 3" in .357 mag. is one of my favorites - kind of an all around useful piece while the GP-100s are defiantly heavy duty belt guns (I have 3", 4" and 6" half lug). I probably shoot the best with the 6" GP-100.

I agree; if I was a cop needing a revolver capable of 10-30 yd+ shots in addition to close range I would consider the GP a good balance. And that's really what the GP was designed for--a service revolver. I guess it serves a purpose for me; I'll save it just in case they have a mass revolt and escape at the federal penitentiary. :shock:

But for 7 yds or less, I've noticed the SP size of gun tends to work very well for myself and for others. Speed to first shot is one of the most important factors for me. I also like the SR sized guns in a pistol, not too big, not too small.

The LCR is smaller but seems to perform almost as well. The trigger rivals (hopefully I don't get misquoted again) my GP's and .357 self defense loads were actually very manageable both for myself and for the owner of the gun for which this is his first handgun.

 

[FergusonTO35]

http://shopruger.com/Hogue-LCR-Bantam_Boot-Grip/productinfo/19927/

The LCR I shot wore these boot grips. I do not like Hogue either, but to each his own.

Even more of the same. More than other guns, the grip is what makes or breaks a small revolver. As of right now there are no grip options for the LCR that do it for me. When there are, an LCRX will probably come home with me!