Triggers... LCR vs. 642

[Inebriated]

Pure curiosity here. I'm going to go try both tomorrow, but I'm itching to do it now, so... I'll ask.

Which one has the better factory trigger, and which has the best potential if we throw in a trigger job?

 

[9mmepiphany]

I tried a couple side-by-side about a year ago at my FFL and the LCR was better by quite a bit.

I've been a long time carrier of a S&W 642 and mine has had the action tuned (much more than a trigger job) and the LCR was pretty close. If I had to start over again, I'd go with the Ruger, because the grip and balance felt better too

 

[19-3Ben]

+1 to 9mmepiphany.
I recently tried an LCR, and it was the best trigger i've ever felt on a J frame sized revolver. Not nearly as heavy as the 642, or my Taurus 85.

 

[Old Fuff]

An out-of-the-box Ruger LCR has a better trigger pull for a reason. It was designed from the beginning to be double-action-only (DAO). Smith & Wesson J-frame revolvers may have internal hammers, but the parts and hammer/trigger pivots are based on a single-action/double-action system so the double-action trigger pull is compromised.

To counter the LCR, Smith & Wesson introduced the (new) .38 Special Bodyguard, that is also designed as a DAO revolver and has a trigger pull more in line with the LCR. Check it out and then decide which you like best.

 

[horsemen61]

Having tried both the LCR and the body guard I say the LCR 's trigger is much better That is why I bought it.

 

[9mmepiphany]

To counter the LCR, Smith & Wesson introduced the (new) .38 Special Bodyguard, that is also designed as a DAO revolver and has a trigger pull more in line with the LCR. Check it out and then decide which you like best.

I have had a chance to put a box of rounds through on if them and it is an improvement over the older J-frames, but it still isn't as nice as the LCR.

I really wish S&W hadn't used the Bodyguard name for the new gun



...while the 438 (the original Bodyguard model) was still around



as the (new) Bodyguard is obviously based on the 642 (Centennial)



And while I understand it, the new location of the cylinder release is a bit slower

 

[Girodin]

The LCRs Ive used are better than any J frame I've used, including ones with trigger jobs.

 

[palmetto99]

I got a chance to shoot an LCR at the same time as my model 60 (with a good trigger job) a couple of years ago. The out of the box LCR was pretty darn good.

 

[beatledog7]

LCR triggers are good OOB, but I'll keep my slicked up 642.

 

[JERRY]

my daughter's LCR is the .22lr, its trigger is worse than the 642, but its a rimfire......

 

[Old Fuff]

I really wish S&W hadn't used the Bodyguard name for the new gun

So do I!!! And I wish they hadn't recycled the term, Military & Police.

 

[bannockburn]

I have tried both the LCR and the Bodyguard triggers in a side by side comparison and I would have to rate the LCR as being the better of the two.

Actually the trigger on my newer S&W Model 638 was pretty decent right out of the box. I would say it was almost as good as the trigger pull on my well used Model 649.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

The LCRs are smooth, but I found I short stroked it regularly when dry firing it. That wasn't the case with my 642, so I bought that one. I'm not sure why people hate the stock j frame triggers. Mine is smooth, resonably light, and breaks very cleanly. I have the TALO edition. I don't think they did anything to the trigger though. I'm happy with mine.

 

[Sergei Mosin]

my daughter's LCR is the .22lr, its trigger is worse than the 642, but its a rimfire......

Rimfire makes all the difference. The trigger on the centerfire LCRs is much better than on the rimfire models.

I wonder how the LCR-22 trigger compares to the S&W .22 revolvers. My opinion is that it's better than the trigger on the SP101-22.

 

[9mmepiphany]

The LCRs are smooth, but I found I short stroked it regularly when dry firing it.

It has much to do with you prior exposure to revolver triggers, it is just a technique issue. The LCR's trigger stroke is more like the one on Colt D-frames than S&W J-frames

I'm not sure why people hate the stock j frame triggers. Mine is smooth, resonably light, and breaks very cleanly.

It is a result of S&W reducing the size of the action parts from the K-frame to the J-frame without taking into account the affect on the geometry and leverage...it didn't help that the substituted the leaf spring with a coil spring, which increased stacking in the action.

If you have a chance to shoot a K-frame, or larger frame, S&W with optimized leverage, you'd be amazed at the improvement possible.

What Ruger did with the LCR is optimize leverage of the trigger at the cost of slightly longer trigger travel for a superior DA trigger stroke. I think it was a good tradeoff...but, then I'm an fan of the trigger on the Colt Detective Specials

 

[Zaydok Allen]

It has much to do with you prior exposure to revolver triggers, it is just a technique issue.

Yep, I agree with you. It was my technique, not the LCR. It's just the way I pull the trigger in rapid shooting. Not knocking the LCR at all, it just doesn't work as well for me as the 642. I may switch it up though at some point and give the LCR another look. I carry an XDs now though in .45 soI may be done with pocket revolvers.

Oh yeah, I meant to say also, I bet you are right about past experience with revolvers. I have only been shooting and buying guns for about 5 years, so my experience is limited. On top of that, of my gun friends, I'm the revolver guy. I don't get to try many, unless I buy them myself. No rentals here.

If you have a chance to shoot a K-frame, or larger frame, S&W with optimized leverage, you'd be amazed at the improvement possible.

I have and again, I agree with you. I own a 460 magnum, and I have a 686 PC Competitor on layaway. The triggers on full size Smith's are much nicer than a jframe. I guess I just don't have a problem with the j triggers personally. I believe it is a matter of knowing your weapon well, practicing like hell, dry firing like hell, and always bearing in mind what gun you are firing. There certainly are nicer triggers to be had though, and the LCR is next in line for me. The 642 just works for me. I wish the XDs had a trigger like a j frame........

 

[9mmepiphany]

The triggers on full size Smith's are much nicer

The Performance Center trigger...certainly not the regular production line triggers...don't even approach what it possible when you have shot one that is optimized. I'm not talking about just smoothed and having all the bearing surfaces aligned and set, but to actually have the leverage changed.

I used to shoot a tuned (Bill Davis Custom) K-frame in PPC and that trigger was superb...but it was right on the border of reliable ignition...and I didn't think it could be improved. I've shot Power and Glenn tuned K-frames also.

The first time I tried an L-frame and N-frame worked over by Apex Tactical I was stunned. The DA was about half what I expected and it would reliably ignite any ammo I fed it. The performance Center guys hate them, because they aren't allowed to change the leverage of the factory guns

 

[Zaydok Allen]

The first time I tried an L-frame and N-frame worked over by Apex Tactical I was stunned.

Good info. It sounds like you have had some nice opportunities. I'll have to look up Apex.

 

[Water-Man]

The LCR trigger is a good two pounds lighter than the Smith.

 

[fatcpa]

I have both and am just the opposite of most here. The LCR is smoother and lighter out of the box, but I have problems "staging" the trigger on my LCR like I can on the 642. My 642 doesn't have a professional action job. I did install an Apex spring kit and stoned all mating parts. If it were any smoother, my fat old meathooks couldn't tell it.

 

[9mmepiphany]

The LCR is smoother and lighter out of the box, but I have problems "staging" the trigger on my LCR like I can on the 642.

That was just an added plus to the LCR trigger when I compared them...that it had a rolling trigger break.

I too grew up with the belief that SA triggers that "Break Like a Glass Rod" was the mark of a good trigger. So naturally, when shooting DA, I learned to stage my trigger to get that SA-like press to release. I can staged either trigger and have to remind myself not to, when practicing

Over time, it became apparent that, for most people, staging a DA trigger leads to jerked shots. If you watch new shooters, they'll always try to stage the DA portion of DA/SA pistols. We normally attribute this jerk to anticipation of the trigger break, but it is really set up by staging the trigger, rather than just pressing it through. It is because of the knowledge of the shortness of the remaining press to let off and the desire to control when the trigger breaks.

Pressing straight through a DA trigger offers more accuracy potential...at least out to 50 yards. It becomes even more important when you are trying to shoot accurately at higher speeds

 

[grimjaw]

I have a S&W 638 but have been considering replacing it with something like a kit gun, like the 317 or Ruger's LCR22. I tried out the LCR22 today and it is a lighter but longer pull than my 638. Not by much, mind you, but I could tell a difference. I didn't try the centerfire LCR to get a comparison.

 

[shafter]

I'd say the LCR which is surprising. Usually Smith and Wesson outdoes Ruger in the trigger dept.