Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Ruger LCRX VS S&W Air Weight.

I've been shopping for a S&W Air Weight 38sp. I've found a couple just under $350, one slightly more $ without the lock. I ran across a Ruger LCR locally. It's the X version with an exposed hammer for single action. It's a 9mm with 5 moon clips for $440.

I've never owned a small frame revolver and never ever fired a 38sp as far as I remember. I have owned several larger framed revolvers and pistols. I'm not a newbie in that aspect. I just don't have any experience with these revolvers so would appreciate anyone's thoughts on which they might prefer.

I’m likely biased…but the LCR has never even been on my radar. I’ve handled several and shot a couple, and they just do nothing for me other than look and feel cheap.

J-frames are what they are, and damned good at it. The lock, for me, isn’t a deal breaker although I would obviously prefer without and might pay a very slight premium for the lack of. I have either and without and they both work like they are supposed to.

Personally, I prefer the Bodyguard models, with Centennials a close second. Exposed hammer guns are fine, but for a toting gun, the hammer just gets in the way.

The new Ultimate Carry guns are absolutely worth looking at.

No Ruger LCR for me. I have shot a couple and really did not like them. However, I might be biased because I have used an S&W Airweight J frame for 32 years on the job. Usually as a backup, but for a stretch a J frame was my primary when working on a multijurisdictional undercover narcotics task force. I like the Centennials over the Bodyguards.




Lately, I have been slumming this UC J-frame and have grown fond of it.

Appreciate the input.

I like my LCR especially the trigger and shoot it well.

I owned an LCR, but sold it. I prefer the trigger on the j frames.

Airweight with a $10 set of Wolff springs is hard to beat.

I just changed the springs in my 649 to the wolf set. It was a nice change in weight and feel. The 649 is a nice light weight carry gun.

Thanks guys I think I'll just pick up a S&W 642. I'm old enough that the polymer frame doesn't really appeal to me. I just needed to make sure the Ruger wasn't a much better gun than I thought.

Please go to a range and rent both then decide for yourself.

A good suggestion re: going to a range and renting both yourself, if in fact there is such a range where you're at.

At the ranges where they are most likely to be needed, either one would work fine and the criminal wouldn't know the difference. J-frames too are a genuine piece of Americana, part of our culture.

You might want to shop around/ask here for advice about a different grip, the boot grip they come with doesn't fit my hand well. Mine wear Uncle Mike's Combat Grips but those have been out of production for some years.

Big fan of the LCR and its trigger. I'd prefer without the hammer to the LCRx, but either should work well.

Precision Gun Hideout Grips

These always have been, and still are, my favorite J-frame grips. They seem to be long out of production, but I still have a pair I hang onto. Absolutely love them.

I have a few J frame S&W’s and one I frame. I really like them. I don’t care for the LCR.

This Mod 38 was my EDC for about 25 years. Far enough back that the firing pin was still on the hammer and all j- frames still had the shorter .38 Special-length cylinders and frames before they began to make all of them .357 length (1995?). A small but noticeable difference.

It’s wearing an Uncle Mike’s Combat grip. I like that Airweight so much that since it would be hard to replace, it sits in the safe now in lieu of the aluminum/stainless version 638.

I said the same thing about polymer frames in revolvers and semi's as I own an old model 36 and a 642 but the LCR is the one that gets carried because-for me the trigger and hogue grips does it for me.
Everyone is different 😉

I had/carried an S&W 642 for years. Then Ruger came out with the LCR, while a bit bigger, the trigger was much improved, IMO. It’s one of my carry guns.