Ruger LCR Thoughts to Share ?

[bula]

Yesterday I spent the day in my ole 'hood, a camp meeting to attend. We got there too early, a bad habit of mine. So a LGS was entered. Had a short list of things to look for, 240gr xtps, powder for the 430jdj, and such. No luck, then made mistake of looking under the glass, DOH ! There sat the butt ugly LCR, I asked to see it and the 2 J-frames next to it to compare. The LCR's trigger was surprisingly better, and the sights with a white swatch up the ramp, were easier for my eyes. Then there was this little gremlin on my shoulder, looked like Axehandle, whispering in my ear, "you don't need no steenkin' hammer ! I have dies here and small primers. I have lots of brass that friends had given me that know I load. I never say no, always thank you. So just need bullets. After loading for FIL and now his grand son, for a 357 SS BH, I only have heavy bullets,180xtp and 180 WFN's. So, for you that have LCR's, what have you learned ? Preferred bullet weights ? Glitches and hitches ? Front sight swaps ? Whatever, share please. I grabbed a box of Blazer 125gr JHP's so I wouldn't have to put it to bed with an empty stomach. I would like to look at bullets between the 125's and 158's. A growing weight range, for some years now. 

[AxeHandle]

"you don't need no steenkin' hammer !"

[AxeHandle]

We have the 22LR, 22Mag, and 38 on the range. They are all shot extensively and are trouble free reliable little guns. Ruger engineers did an excellent job on the LCR action. The 38 can be an unpleasant little hand full. Bad experiences with the 9mm version. The 9 requires careful selection of ammo to prevent crimp jumping. The 357 version was simply too much for the range customers. Personally own the 327 version and wholeheartedly recommend it for recoil sensitive shooters. Shoot 32 Long for extended shooting sessions. Shoot 32 mag to step it up a bit. Then run a cylinder of 327 through it before you load it with 6 rounds of 327s and leave the range.

[magnumwheelman]

I’ll admit I do have a plastic revolver… mine a pretty early model…

I’ll also admit that I did a little personal test one day a couple years ago, where I shot my snubbies all in one day, to compare group size, double, and single action ( all of my snubs are so equipped ) the LCR in 38 Special came in dead last for both categories… must be something about it though, as it survived my sell off 3-4 years ago??? Maybe because it’s unique, and so small and easy to feed???

Your mileage may vary, guns included smaller and bigger bores, and several 38’s, I’ll also admit, I’ve never done an ammo search to see what it likes best, so I can’t offer any advice on a bullet weight preference

[Encore64]

I have the 3" Adjustable Sight 38 Special +P Version. Highly reliable, but a bit unpleasant to shoot much.

I think accuracy suffers from the guns being so light. As trigger pull weight goes up or gun weight goes down, accuracy suffers.

It isn't because of the gun's inherit accuracy, but our ability to hold them steady.

[Chip]

I have the .22 and the 38 spec. Just put the big dot front sight on the 38. Big improvement for these old eyes. Both work like they should. Recoil can be fierce. Arthritis doesn't help.

[contender]

I also have a pair of the LCR's. A .38 Spl & a 9mm. As noted,, dependable. Yet, not for the recoil shy. It's pure physics. Light weight gun, heavier recoil. Great for carrying though.

As for feeding it,, I prefer my 148 grn wadcutters. The .9mm, I haven't spent enough time with it to offer much.

[bula]

Am thinking a full WC and a 130-145gr JHP, then shotshells to load. Funny, went to see what 38 ammo was around for FIL's gun now gone to his son. But I kept the ammo, components because I bought them to load for Dad. The years inlaws lived with us, he had a 38 and a 357, so. Only bullets left heavies for the 357BH. But I had waaay more loading stuff here for him than I remembered. So good for awhile, but not what I'd choose for the LCR. LOTS of brass, will sort and throw a pile in the tumbler in a bit. Found a little belt slide kinda pancake holster left behind from the 44 Boomer that went to another nephew. FITS ! So in pretty good shape, can check, clean and shoot later. A speedloader followed me home at time of purchase. Some PC'd wadcutters, maybe 140gr XTP's, and some Speer shot capsules to buy. 

[jeffh]

I bought an LCRX four or five years ago. Memory says TWO years, but time compresses the older I get, so I implement the conversion factor of 2 to 2.5X and usually right when I dig out the receipt or consult the log that I keep for insurance purposes.

I've not shot it a lot, but it is accurate, doesn't lead, has a really good DA and SA trigger, very light, but not all that compact. Narrower, but its profile is as big as a lot of six-shot revolvers I've owned. Being VERY light and very accurate makes up for that though. I leave it in the house for my wife, but it would be a great gun to carry afield.

I carried a 4" Target Bulldog in that capacity for years, but have been carrying a 3" 357 Mag Pug for the last couple now, which is about the same weight. Either tag along unnoticed while hunting, hiking or cutting wood. When cutting wood, the "burden" becomes very obvious when it's a gun any larger or heavier.

UGLY. It doesn't get any prettier even as I come to appreciate its other qualities more either. It was born ugly and will stay ugly - no growing out of that. I do like the gun and it checks all the boxes for me. Pretty on a gun, to me, is just a bonus, but one I can live without, especially if it costs more.

I'd buy it again, but they are considerably more expensive that when I got mine. If a used one came up cheap enough, I'd buy it.

This is also one of the very few, if not the ONLY revolver I've ever bought which didn't at least need a trigger job and a deep-clean when I got it. It was great, right out of the box.

[45MAN]

I HAVE 2 LCR's, A 22 MAG AND A 327. THEY ARE MY EDC REVOLVERS, I JUST PUT THEM IN MY RIGHT FRONT POCKET. STARTED WITH THE 22 MAG AND WHEN THEY CAME OUT WITH A 327 I GOT 1 AND SWITCHED TO THE 327 FOR EDC. BOTH ARE 6 SHOT WITH 2" BARRELS. HAVE NOT SHOT THEM MUCH AT THE RANGE AND DO NOT RECALL HOW ACCURATE THEY ARE OR ARE NOT, JUST THAT THEY WERE ACCEPTABLE.

THE 327 WAS A TUFF TO SHOOT WITH THE FEDERAL AMERICAN EAGLE 100gr LOAD SO I USE A FEDERAL 85gr HP FOR EDC. WISH THEY WUD HAVE MADE THE 22 MAG A 7 SHOT.

[ezekiel38]

Some of the best groups I've ever fired with an airweight 38 has been with an LCR. 125-140 grain bullet shoots to POA for me. 10 rounds in 2 holes at 10 yds DA. Ugly but I like the performance. Fits Detective Special rigs pretty good, but lots of aftermarket stuff for the LCR.

[bula]

So there are 500 button nosed wadcutters asked for, inbound. Plenty of powder in the appropriate burn range. A second tumbler full of brass to run this am. Then lots of sorting. Gotta check primers in stock yet. I found 2 holsters that fit well, here ! A second speedloader and some strips to find yet. Progress ! Are short barrel Gold Dots available as components ? 

[bula]

Ok, see Speer offers a 135gr SB JHP, but unavailable at the moment. Years back, in 44spec ., they tested well outta my Bulldog so would consider for the LCR. If joy and happiness is quickly found with the 148gr WC's, Jacketed anything may be scratched from list. Shotshll capsules to find.

[leftysixgun]

I have 2 LCRs, a 357 and a 38. The 38 has a boot grip on it so ankle carry is easier. The 357 goes on my hip. BOTH guns are very accurate and reliable. But as mentioned before, even the 38 isnt for the recoil shy. And no way would I try the boot grip on the 357.
The WORST 357 was a J-frame Smith and Wesson, it was an airweight also. After three rounds, I honestly thought I had broken a bone in my hand. My thumb area turned dark (bad bruise) by the next morning.
I find it fun and challenging to attend a defensive class with my 3” 686+, while others are running bottom feeders. Many times after the class, several folks start asking questions about revolver carry. Many ask to shoot my 686. A couple times the instructors have asked to shoot my 686 and ask questions about revolver carry.
Revolvers are just plain FUN!

And you dont have to pick up brass 😬

[bula]

Understand the recoil concerns. Grew up with a SBH and a Bulldog, then 3 480's and 2 M69's. Physics will not be denied. Somebody should have stopped that in it's tracks, and slapped that Newton guy when we had the chance.