Which is best for CCW

[Chipito]

Ruger LCR, SP101 or GP100?

 

[gunman42782]

Between the 3, I would say the LCR, for most people. Much, much lighter than either the SP101 or GP100.

That being said, I hate plastic. Personally, I would rather put up with the weight and I would go with the SP101.

And welcome to the forum.

 

[wwb]

.......... I hate plastic. Personally, I would rather put up with the weight and I would go with the SP101.........

+1

 

[Yosemite Sam]

I concur, though the extreme low weight of the LCR interests me somewhat.

Despite what I just said, in carrying other guns I've found that "a few" ounces really doesn't make that much difference. I have both a Glock 30 and an all-steel Commander. The Commander is actually more comfortable to carry due to the slimness and rounded edges. A good belt and holster makes all the difference in the world.

-- Sam

 

[JimMarch1]

What Sam said. I'm packing a NewVaq357 daily without fail, and that's 42oz .

Another thing: a 3" barrel in 357 is much better overall than a 2". I consider the 3" barrel SP101 the smallest "real" 357 made, in that it can handle the gnarliest stuff possible without breaking you if you keep the round count on the wild stuff low per session.

 

[Flash]

What Sam said. I'm packing a NewVaq357 daily without fail, and that's 42oz .

This reminds me of the tv show McCloud, where Dennis Weaver rode a horse down the streets of New York carying a single action. :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[JimMarch1]

Well at least I'm in TUCSCON .

 

[Eric N.]

SP 101,I really like my 3 inch.

 

[FergusonTO35]

What kind of ammo are you going to be shooting? With .38's any of them would be ideal, the only criteria being just how light or heavy you want to go. With .357's the minimum for me would be the SP-101 and ideally the GP.

 

[berettapistols]

Welcome to the Forum Chipito

Of the three listed for concealed carry the LCR will be lighter & offer better use as a pocket revolver..
I have owned three SP101s & am partial to them BTW..
The GP100 weighing more & being larger even in the 3" fixed sight variant would still be heavier than the SP101..

This is The Ruger Forum but for daily carry I still carry one of two J Frame Smith & Wessons 642/942 & 940..

Good Luck In Your Quest
Gary/bp

 

[Landric]

What Sam said. I'm packing a NewVaq357 daily without fail, and that's 42oz .

Another thing: a 3" barrel in 357 is much better overall than a 2". I consider the 3" barrel SP101 the smallest "real" 357 made, in that it can handle the gnarliest stuff possible without breaking you if you keep the round count on the wild stuff low per session.

I suppose that depends on what you consider "much better". I chronographed Federal 158 grain .357 Hydrashoks out of both my 2 1/4" and 3" SP101s, the results were not that different.

2 1/4" 1130 fps average

3 1/16" 1165 fps average

FWIW, that is about the same difference I have seen with my various handloads between the two guns also. One might see a more significant difference with lighter bullet magnums, but I have not had a chance to test that as of yet. The 3" version is a little easier to control and offers a longer sight radius, while not being much bigger. I carry the 2 1/4" one most of the time though, just because I have more holsters that fit it well, plus its easier to pocket carry. I think either would be a good choice, and my vote, if it wasn't obvious, is for the SP101.

 

[JimMarch1]

I suppose that depends on what you consider "much better". I chronographed Federal 158 grain .357 Hydrashoks out of both my 2 1/4" and 3" SP101s, the results were not that different.

You tested Federal. That was a mistake and a half. Carrying Federal is an even bigger mistake. Federal wimps out on powder charges, esp. on wheelguns. This is a well-known issue.

Try some REAL ammo from Cor-Bon, or better yet Buffalo Bore or Doubletap Ammo. You'll get a much different result.

Here's some published Buffalo Bore data:

---
1. 3 inch S&W J frame

a. Item 19A/20-180gr. Hard cast LFN = 1302 fps
b. Item 19B/20-170gr. JHC (jacketed hollow cavity) = 1299 fps
c. Item 19C/20-158gr. Jacketed Hollow Point = 1398 fps
d. Item 19D/20-125gr. Jacketed Hollow Point = 1476 fps

2. 4 inch S&W L frame Mt. Gun

a. Item 19A/20-180gr. Hard cast LFN = 1375 fps
b. Item 19B/20-170gr JHC = 1411 fps
c. Item 19C/20-158gr. Jacketed Hollow Point = 1485 fps
d. Item 19D/20-125gr. Jacketed Hollow Point = 1603 fps

3. 5 inch S&W model 27

a. Item 19A/20-180gr. Hard Cast =1398 fps
b. Item 19B/20-170gr. JHC = 1380 fps
c. Item 19C/20-158gr. Jacketed Hollow Point = 1457 fps
d. Item 19D/20-125gr. Jacketed Hollow Point = 1543 fps

4. 6 inch Ruger GP 100

a. Item 19D/20-125gr. Jacketed Hollow Point = 1707 fps

5. 18.5 inch Marlin 1894

a. Item 19A/20-180gr. Hard Cast = 1851 fps
b. Item 19B/20-170gr. JHC = 1860 fps
c. Item 19C/20-158gr. Jacketed Hollow Point = 2153 fps---- Can you believe this?!!!
d. Item 19D/20-125gr. Jacketed Hollow Point = 2298 fps---- Or this?!!!
---

Note that the vintage S&W 5" barrel is shooting abnormally "slow" by the standards of both newer S&W barrels and Ruger barrels.

Pay particular attention to the difference between the 3" and 4" 125gr numbers - over 125fps difference. That's huge. And the loss down to 2" is worse.

 

[deserttrans]

Not trying to be a wise a--, but the one you carry all the time and not leave at home is the best one. Get what is comfortable for you and carry it....

 

[toytraindoc]

I like the LCP myself.

 

[JBL13]

Ruger LCR, SP101 or GP100?

I have all three, and have conceal-carried each at various times. All have their advantages and disadvantages. Clearly the LCR is the easiest to conceal.

To be honest, my 4" stainless GP warms my heart like no other, so I carry it concealed quite a bit. Including as I type this.

 

[stashu]

Just for fun?
Why is everybody worried about a few ounces or a pound of pistol weight.
Heck many people have to much excess weight themselves but are worried about carring a gun is a few ounces heavier. Hard for me to understand.

Stashu

 

[Hugh]

Amen brother.

Welcome to the Ruger Forum Chipito. Carry what suits you.

My favorites for concealed carry are a 4" Security Six in .357 Magnum, and then 2-1/4" SP-101 .357 Magnum. I carry 125 grain .38 Spl+P JHP in the SP-101, and 125 grain .357 Magnum JHP in the 4" Security Six. That's just me though.

As soon as I get my 3-1/16" SP-101 organized, that's what I'll carry instead of the other two for concealed carry. On the trail will be one of my small gathering that is appropriate for the activity.

 

[Knuckles]

This here ain't hard to hide on your person... I wouldn't recommend anyone carrying it in there speed-o :mrgreen:

 

[Landric]

I suppose that depends on what you consider "much better". I chronographed Federal 158 grain .357 Hydrashoks out of both my 2 1/4" and 3" SP101s, the results were not that different.

You tested Federal. That was a mistake and a half. Carrying Federal is an even bigger mistake. Federal wimps out on powder charges, esp. on wheelguns. This is a well-known issue.

Try some REAL ammo from Cor-Bon, or better yet Buffalo Bore or Doubletap Ammo. You'll get a much different result...

---

...Note that the vintage S&W 5" barrel is shooting abnormally "slow" by the standards of both newer S&W barrels and Ruger barrels.

Pay particular attention to the difference between the 3" and 4" 125gr numbers - over 125fps difference. That's huge. And the loss down to 2" is worse.

Federal only claims 1240 fps for the 158 grain Hydrashok (presumably from a 4" barrel). That is about on par with the other major manufacturers 158 grain magnum loads. No doubt that the smaller specialty manufactures make more powerful ammunition, but that wasn't really my point. There seems to be an internet rumor floating around out there that .357 ammunition fired out a snubbie isn't any more powerful than .38 +P, and that is simply not the case.

As for Buffalo Bore, Double Tap, etc., its not available locally and I'm not interested in paying $15 in shipping on a box or two of ammunition. I'm not one of those people who thinks velocity and energy are all that matters in carry ammunition anyway. The 158 grain Hydrashok has proved completely reliable and nicely accurate in my SP101s, plus its easy to control and can be found in local shops. All that is more important to me than a extra 250 or so fps, especially when that extra speed and energy will necessarily come with more recoil. A 158 grain JHP at 1100+ fps meets my needs just fine. YMMV.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

The 158 grain Hydrashok has proved completely reliable and nicely accurate in my SP101s, plus its easy to control and can be found in local shops. All that is more important to me than a extra 250 or so fps, especially when that extra speed and energy will necessarily come with more recoil. A 158 grain JHP at 1100+ fps meets my needs just fine. YMMV.

Plus the bullet is well designed for law enforcement and self defense and is able to penetrate glass and metal as well as clothing and expand in a reliable way. I think Federal HydroShoks are hard to beat. :shock:

...Jimbo