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.
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 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.
They are compared on utube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3Zo9ewddHc
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.
Before the boat sank I carried a M&P 340 as my EDC. It’s small enough to pocket carry and a comforting caliber in .38+P or .357 magnum. It no fun to shoot unless using standard .38. But it’s a carry gun not a target piece. Find someone that has either an LCR or a 340, load it with .357s and determine if it’s right for you.
An LCR in .357 magnum is pretty damn snappy on recoil.
I suggest two things: (1) if you want an LCR, get the .38 +P (because of the short barrel length you’ll get pretty much the same performance with a .38+P as you’ll get with the .357 mag cartridge); (2) if you want a .357 magnum in a short barreled revolver I would recommend the Ruger GP 100.
If you want to shoot .357 mag. in a small Ruger you better go with the SP 101 with Hogue grips. I have the.357 LCR and won’t shoot anything but .38 Special + P because the mags HURT!
A nice CC weapon is the Springfield XDS in 45 ACP. Should be all you need.
Ruger, Ruger, Ruger! I have the LCR .357. I never intend to shoot .357’s in it but I wanted the extra weight and strength of the steel frame vs. the aluminum of the .38 SPL model. I know that sounds strange but more weight (4oz.) = less recoil.
I shoot Speer .38 +P 135gr Gold Dot JHP’s designed for shooting in short barrels (check out the You Tube gelatin tests with this round). This round was developed for the NYPD who wanted something that performed like the 124gr Gold Dot JHP’s issued for their 9mm’s that would fit in .38 snubby back-up guns. Recoil is sharp but not painful. Anyone who would shoot a .357 in this gun is a glutton for punishment.
I carry strong side front pocket in a DeSantis Superfly synthetic pocket holster in 511 trousers and you’ll never know its there. The front sight is pinned and there are numerous replacements if you don’t like the original black ramp.
Oh yes, the trigger! It is like nothing you have ever used before. Ruger engineers re-designed the workings and it is the lightest, smoothest, double action design EVER. I had a Smith 642 and the trigger pull comparison isn’t even close.
Just a theory; but if you get shot or clubbed with either, it is going to hurt a lot.
I have a Ruger GP100 357 and it is by far my best pistol. Its a revolver and not exactly compact and only holds six rounds but it packs a punch and I am pretty accurate with it too.
The LCR is a nice little gun when loaded with .38 SPL +P. However, I like the cylinder release on the S&W much better.