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The LCR (357) - the "final solution"?

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briang2ad

briang2ad

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I got rid of my only revolver years ago, but inherited Dad's old Model 10. Shooting it the other day made me miss the revolver. Pleasant, accurate, etc.

While I own a PM9, and it has been VERY reliable and completely a breeze to carry, AND packs 6+1, and is more powerful than a .38, I can see a niche for a revolver. A S&W snub is cool - period. But, as I read on in Hipowersandhandguns, a terrific bunch of writing by Stephen Camp, I will take his word for it that a small snubbie in .38 IS the WAY to go over a 357. Again, I respect his opinion very much.

Has the LCR (beyond the Glockster looks) fixed this? It would seem so, reading Thetruthaboutguns. http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2011/09/ryan-finn/gun-review-ruger-lcr-357-revolver/

What say you?
 
I pick mine up next tues. PITA ten day wait every time... Then I will hopefully be saying yes best .357 snubby ever.
 
OK - let me shorten this:

DOES IT solve the problem of having a small/light revolver shooting 357 loads?
 
briang2ad said:
OK - let me shorten this:

DOES IT solve the problem of having a small/light revolver shooting 357 loads?
Click to expand...

As in, does it still try to rip your hand of every time you fire it? The answer is YES. No one cancelled the laws of physics, last I checked, though I heard Obama is promising to do this if he's re-elected in 2012.

Does it hold up better to shooting .357 repeatedly? I've no idea, but I would strongly doubt that it would be more durable than a heavier revolver in the same caliber, like the SP-101
 
So... you own/shoot one and find that the link I provided isn't correct in your experience?
 
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My LCR 357 has well over 500 rounds of 357 through it. The Grip makes shooting 357 controllable and painless. I shoot it more than any of my Five 357s. It still looks like new and is showing no flame cutting or ware. I have put several hundred 38+P rounds through it all so. I like shooting 357 Snubs but, they are not for everyone.
 
Haywood - thanks. FWIW, my old N-Frame showed plenty of frame cutting at the point your gun is.
 
I had an SP101 and I now have an LCR, and while .357 is certainly snappier in the LCR, it's totally manageable.

There's just something so beautiful about this gun in spite of its plastic parts.

6613613435_59cf8593e8_b.jpg
 
I like the LCR and hope to own one eventually. So it comes in either .38 Special or .357. All I'd lose by going with the .357 instead is I'd have to carry a few more ounces of weight. And even if I never want to fire a round of .357 through it, it doesn't hurt to be able to. So when I get mine it will be a .357.
 
briang2ad said:
So... you own/shoot one and find that the link I provided isn't correct in your experience?
Click to expand...

I don't own one, but I have shot one. I did not enjoy the experience. But I'm more recoil-sensitive than some of the machos on here. Even .38+P out of a 442 is a bit of a handful for me.

So my answer to your question is NO, the LCR does not tame recoil sufficiently to make a difference. FOR ME. I'm sure there are plenty of people who don't think there's a problem with .357 recoil to begin with.
 
The LCR is quite snappy with full house .357 loads....bordering on unpleasant.

I think that if I were to consider getting one, I would go for the .38 version. Like the previous poster stated, I don't feel the .357 gives you enough of a benefit in this small platform to justify both the more abusive recoil and more importantly the longer target reacquisition time. I would prefer a couple of well placed .38 loads as opposed to a decent first and marginal follow up.


I have an SP-101 with a 3" barrel that is quite a bit heavier than the LCR I shot and even that recoil is not terribly pleasant. I can get back on target significantly faster shooting .38s than .357s


I don't consider myself all that recoil sensitive and shoot full house .44mags more than any of my other calibers but the .357 recoil in a lightweight gun is sort of unpleasant.
 
You won't like shooting 357 to start. I have been shooting it since 1978. As long as I have grips that don't hurt my hand I don't care about the recoil. I like the 357 round because even from a 2" the popular defense loads are top stoppers.
 
98Redline said:
I think that if I were to consider getting one, I would go for the .38 version.
Click to expand...

That's not a good solution. You can still shoot .38 out of the .357 version, and the .357 version is 4 ounces heavier than the .38. There is no advantage to buying a .38 version.
 
2WheelsGood said:
That's not a good solution. You can still shoot .38 out of the .357 version, and the .357 version is 4 ounces heavier than the .38. There is no advantage to buying a .38 version.
Click to expand...
Well I purposely bought the .38 over the .357 simply because I didn't want the extra 4oz. I wanted the lightest .38 special revolver I could afford. The LCR fit the bill nicely. I have full size 357's for .357/.38. In a pocket revolver, I just prefer the .38.

A couple oz doesn't seem like much, but it can be felt after awhile. I really like the LCR in .38.
 
My Kahr PM9 is 15.9 oz. unloaded. With 7 rounds, I figure it weighs about the same as the LCR 357 also loaded. I can tell you that I can wear that gun with the right belt and pants all day and totally forget about it. In fact, with a belt OWB holster, I forgot I had it on the other day in a store.

Stephen Camp:

"The notion that the .357 is so inefficient in the two-inch guns that it's no more effective than a hot .38 Special just doesn't seem to be true. While neither is at its best in the snub, the magnum is the more potent of the two with most ammo."

Here:http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/38vs357snub.htm

And... most consider the 357 too much for the J-frame.

Also, the 357 with a few more ounces will tame any 38 load and still shoot plenty of practice ammo with its STEEL frame with less long-term wear.

I've just heard too many experienced shooters say that the LCR made the 357 shootable - not candy - just very manageable.
 
briang2ad I carry a cm9 or cw9 at times. The georgia arms 124gr+P new ammo they sell chrony at 1158 avage for my out of the cm9 and 1189 from the cw9. That look pretty good to all but a couple 357 loads . And the kahrs are waaay more controlable that 357mags from a 15 to 18 oz revolver. I carried an old taurus 85ss for 20 years. And it still as a great revolver. I also bought a ultra lite 13oz 38 revolver and after some 38+P's I gave it to a son-in-law. I will say with my kahrs .
 
The PM 9 is reliable and a keeper. I am just considering a revolver as an alternative, and looking for my SON - as he will be a policeman soon and may need a backup and off-duty gun.

It would be NICE to see an LCR in 9mm also. BUT, again, reports see to suggest that this IS a different deal than the usual LW revolver.
 
2wheelsgood what's with the 4 rounds in picture? You are halfway to a heckler and Koch advertisement
 
I have never shot a 357 LCR. I do own a 38sp LCR as well as a CM9. I find the CM9 comfortable to shoot. I find the 38 while shooting +p at the line of being comfortable. I feel with the 38 I can not only make a good shot but also quick follow ups. I like my LCR and find I shoot it better and accept the recoil better than I did with my 642. I cant imagine shooting 357 from my LCR if it weighed another 16 oz much less 4.
 
I had the .357 LCR and recently sold it in favor of a .38 J frame.

The "right" .357's out of the LCR were easy enough to manage. The "wrong" full house loads were enough to rip your hand off.

I changed it out in favor of the j frame because of the marginally better pocket carry dimensions and the fact that the LCR and/or J frame are (to me) both "get off me" guns to be used at up close and personal range. In that situation I feel that .38 is more than sufficient.
 
I have a 638, LCR 22 and an LCR 357.

I ran some 125 grain 38 Special +P carry ammo through both the 638 and LCR 357 at the range the other day. You can definently tell a difference in the recoil between the two guns. I realize this is not apples to apples due to the superior Tamer grip on the LCR which soaks up recoil along with the small amount of extra weight.

As I see it we have good points and better points to going LCR 38 or LCR 357.

If you shoot a great deal. The LCR 357 being a little heavier is more pleasant to shoot.
The LCR 357 is made stronger, and should last longer in use.
If after some period of time you decide to up the Horse Power to a Midrange 357, you have that option with an LCR 357. This is not as big a step with Speer 135 Short Barrel 357. I have a couple boxes on order for mine.

Now the advantages of an LCR 38 would be being almost 4 ounces lighter in weight. Not a huge difference, but enough that you notice it being heavier carrying it in a pocket. I have been carrying my 638 in a pocket for 4 years. I just started carrying the LCR 357, and I can tell it is heavier.

Realisticly the LCR 357 vs LCR 38:
For belt carry. If you have a quality holster, I doubt you will notice the slight exrea weight of the LCR 357. Not enough difference to be an issue anyway.
With pocket carry you will notice a difference in weight. The LCR 357 is right on the edge of being too heavy for a good pocket carry gun. Not over the line, but right on the edge in my opinion.
Shootability is another issue. Most users would find the LCR 357 more pleasant to shoot at the Range with practice ammo.
Shooting +P carry ammo the LCR 357 again will dampen recoil more due to the extra weight.
The ability to shoot MILD 357 Magnum ammo. The guys who shoot a lot will probably carry mild 357 ammo. A nice option to have available.

The Bottom Line comes down to weight. That is why the LCR 38 is still made. For most guys and gals who carry a lot, weight is a huge issue. This is where the LCR 38 really shines.

For us range types who burn up lots of ammo, I prefer the heavier LCR 357. To me being a little more shootable is more important than the 4 oz. weight difference when carrying it.

Just my 2 cents

Bob
 
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