Just got to shoot the LCR a week ago. It certainly ain't pretty, but does everything it's supposed to. I'd be inclined to go with the Smith but then again, I've read some pretty bad reviews. I haven't handled a 43 myself.

 

Just to help you out on making a decision, Hooper, I dug-up some pictures from my archives, of the first range session with my BRAND-NEW 43C, bought early in 2012, after just 100 ROUNDS of standard and high-velocity .22 LR's:

There was so much blow-by and shaving of lead, it looked like it had been sitting on a busy welding table for a week:

Check out the shaving at the forcing cone:

It blew-back so far, it leaded the recoil shield:

I don't know about YOU, but when I spend a little-red-curly-hair short of 6 FRANKLINS for a plinking/pocket .22 LR Revolver, it had BEST be RIGHT FROM THE FACTORY, and THIS ONE OBVIOUSLY WAS NOT.....The fit and finish on this particular 43C was PERFECT, there was NOTHING to tip me off that there was any issues whatsoever, when I inspected it at the gun shop before purchasing it.....timing APPEARED spot-on, but it was off enough to do what you see in the pictures above......Oh, and I ALSO was getting about a 20-25% RATE of LIGHT HITS/FTF's, during that first hundred rounds, too.....NOW I was P*SSED-OFF.....

To S&W's credit, they did "make it right", it was gone just short of three weeks, and the subsequent range session was MUCH better, but NO WHERE NEAR the accuracy of my old, solid-steel (non-inserted and tensioned) barrels on my K-22's, 63's, 617's, etc.....

My NEXT .22 LR revolver will be a Ruger......or an OLD S&W Model 34, no-lock 317, etc.....I am GUN-SHY on these new-fangled inserted barrels and S&W's obvious QC/QA issues the past few years.....There is NO REASON a revolver should leave the factory like that......I took a chance on the new ones, got bit, WON'T be back......All it takes to ruin one's reputation, is to let something like this out, and p*ss-off a good, loyal, long-time customer, that will take the time and effort to post evidence of their lax QC/QA.....Don't get me wrong; I DO NOT want to see Smith & Wesson fail......but when they do things like this, I think my next purchase will be from Ruuuuger, out of sunny Arizona......Hopefully, THEIR QC/QA will be a LOT better.....

DocZeus
AKA
The "I Only Buy The OLD Ones From Now On" One.....

 

Wow! I don't think I've ever seen anything like that out of a rimfire. And a new one to boot! I'm glad Smith took care of you but as you say, for that kind of money this shouldn't happen. I think I still prefer the old K22.

 

Doc, The Ruger may be on the ugly side, but I think you'll be happier with the her compared to the S&W.

 

I had a LCR, it wasn't pretty but it had a great DA trigger. However, I prefer my model 317 w/ it's ability to shoot single action. Let us know what you pick & give us a range report. Did S&W make yours right Doc?

 

I had a LCR, it wasn't pretty but it had a great DA trigger. However, I prefer my model 317 w/ it's ability to shoot single action. Let us know what you pick & give us a range report. Did S&W make yours right Doc?

Yes they did, Injunbro....Less than a three-week turn-around, in a busy part of the year, which wasn't bad.....

I've been on the hunt for a pre-lock 317 for a while now.....ONE of these days, a decent, gently-used one is gonna pop up on GunBroke and I'll snag it.....That's the reason I bought the 43C, I couldn't find a pre-lock 317 for a decent price.....

I like having single-action capability in a carry-revolver, too.....that's why I ALWAYS carry a Model 638 in my pocket.

DocZeus
AKA
The "This 43C Will Be My ONE AND ONLY D.A.O. Revolver" One

 

Doc, Now you know why so many of us REFUSE to buy a new S&W! I'll stick with the P&R models.

As far as Ruger goes....the SR22 really floats my boat. It's DA/SA, but you can always either not decock it, or thumb cock it, after decocking it for the first shot. It's small and light....perfect for carry and plinking at some small critters. (not you Critter!) Bob

 

Great pic's Doc...thanks for share'm...

HD

 

Wow, Doc that's pretty frightening! I to recently experienced first hand quality control problems with Smith. Returned my new 617 after too numerous FTFs and indexing problems. To their credit they fixed it and had it back to me in a little over a week but there was no reason that a new gun off the line would have those problems. They replaced the hand, extractor, firing pin and strain screws.

After seeing your pics, I now am having second thoughts about the little 43C