Okay, I gave my son in law my Xdm 9mm pistol. I have a buyer for my Glock 26. Once that transaction is done, I will be auto free except for my P22 Walther which doesn't get shot much.
I still have a bit of 9mm rounds so I am thinking about a Ruger LCR 9mm. Any thoughts on this?
I also want a .22LR revolver for plinking purposes. Would the Ruger LCR .22LR revolver or the Ruger SP101 .22LR revolver be the better purchase?
I don't want to screw this up so am asking for comments.
What purpose(s) do you have in mind for the guns?
Have you trained with revolvers at all? Have you attended any defensive handgun courses? This is very important because moving from semi-autos to revolvers requires a quite a bit of change. Finding a good revolver instructor can be a challenge. I recommend Mas Ayoob's MAG-40 class since he knows revolvers and give you all the tips and tricks that are now mostly lost.
You are in luck with the LCR series: you can get it in 22 LR, 38 Special +P and 357 Magnum. Why not get an LCR in 22 LR and 38 Special +P? They offer an LCR with 3" barrel too. Ruger offers a smaller grip for concealed carry (
http://shopruger.com/Hogue-LCR-Bantam_Boot-Grip/productinfo/19927/).
Forget the SP101 in 357 Magnum. It's Glock 19 sized and does nothing well. Either get a full sized GP100 or go with the small framed LCR. You will see why after carrying and shooting the SP101 for awhile.
I'm sure the SP101 in 22 Long Rifle is just fine. It has an adjustable rear sight, 4" barrel and fiber optic front sight.
The LCR in 9mm would be a good choice. You'll get a bit more performance over 38 Special +P and it runs on moonclips. (TK Custom can cut your 38 Special LCR cylinder for moonclips). You can still shoot 9mm without moonclips, but you'll need a "tactical pencil" to pop out the cases (as if it were a single action revolver).
Ruger LCR 9mm Review (make sure to watch the video)
http://mousegunaddict.blogspot.com/2014/11/ruger-lcr-9mm-review-pocket-9mm-for.html
If I were going to do what you're doing, I would buy the following:
Ruger LCR in 22 Long Rifle (1.875" barrel)
Ruger LCR in either 38 Special or 9mm (1.875" barrel)
Ruger GP100 in 357 Magnum (4" barrel)
The two centerfire guns would cover most of your defensive needs. You could get the LCR with 3" barrel for better ballistics at the expense of concealability. The reason for the LCR in 22 LR is for cheap practice on the same platform since snubby revolvers require a bit more training.