Posted on 04/03/2015 3:11:40 PM PDT by big truck
I'm considering the purchase of either the Ruger LCR .357 snub nose (1 7/8" barrel) or the S&W 340 M&P .357 with the same barrel length. Anyone own/carry either gun? Pros and cons? Preferences?
Best approach is to buy both, decide which you prefer, then send the other to me.
S@W for looks Ruger for function.
Neither will be much fun to shoot.
You got that right.
My advice is to buy either one but put .38spl in them. .357 magnum is too much bang for a snubby.
I owned a Smith model 49snub nosed .38. It was poorly balanced and I was unable to hit a target. If you’re going to carry it I’d suggest a small frame semi-auto in the caliber of your choice. For home defense I’d go with a longer barrel. I have a 6’’ Smith .38 that is very accurate.
I’m not real interested if the perp likes the way it looks or not. I’ll go with “function”. One vote for Ruger. Thanks!
I was thinking the same thing. I don’t think I would want anything shorter than 4 inches in a .357 mag.
If you really want one, it doesn’t matter which brand. Both are decent.
Why not?
I have an LCR 38 and an airweight 38.
I also have a couple of .357’s of various longer lengths. I would never want to carry either .357. The .38’s can be carried anywhere, the LCR being the lightest and smallest. If you want to Conceal Carry, what good is a CC if you don’t have it with you at all times. A .357 is great, don’t get me wrong, but they really are hog legs and that short barrel saps a lot of the power.
I did check out a .40 semi auto. Nice piece but seemed a bit big for conceal-carry. How heavy is the 6” Smith?
They are compared on utube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3Zo9ewddHc
I was hoping to CC the .357. The .38 is that much better?
The weight of a firearm counteracts recoil. The lighter the gun, the more felt recoil.
I luvz my Smiths but the 340M&P is, as most of them, quite expensive for what it is. Ruger’s a great platform with a great and well-deserved rep. That said, I’m giving advice I never took, because...I luvz my Smiths... :-(
Am I wrong, but with a barrel that short unless you are literally sticking into the perps gut, are they accurate?
My smallest pistol barrel is 4 inches on a M&P40c. It does Ok at 50ft, but further than that I have to really concentrate.
I have both and I like them both. My 340 M&P cost about double what the LCR cost. I bought it before the LCRs came out. I am not sure that the M&P is worth the extra cost but it is a good gun and I am happy with both.
I have a S&W 340PD which is just a little lighter than the M&P340 and shooting full power .357 loads felt like it would take my thumb off and the short barrel makes accuracy non-existent.
I prefer my Glock 26 or 42 for those reasons.
They are sufficiently for what they are intended to do. Nobody mugs you from a block away.
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