As a long time disciple of the short barreled revolver platform, I wish to second the comments of CWLONGSHOT. The lightweight snubnose DA revolvers are optimized for ease of concealment and carry. That doesn’t mean they are weak; I’ve put thousands of rounds through an Airweight S&W J-frame and it has held up well. However, you need to fit the tool to the job.
I’ve shot the LCR’s and know several people that own/carry them. They are good guns but in the world of lightweight snubnose revolvers, they are relative newcomers. I don’t know if they will hold up to decades of use and thousands of rounds. BUT, As CW points out, that’s not the criteria for selecting such a gun.
It is FAR, FAR, FAR better to have a gun when you need it than to not have a gun when you need it, and that is why small guns were invented. The strength of a snubnose revolver is the ability to have it when you need it. That doesn’t mean they are inaccurate (they are capable of fine accuracy despite what some folks believe) but they do require practice and training.
The Ruger LCR is an innovative design that combines plastic, aluminum, and high strength steel to achieve a light weight. It has a very smooth & snag resistant exterior. The DA pull is very good.
If you need a small, lightweight, DAO revolver, the LCR fits that role.