9mm LCR vs. 357 LCR

[cal44mag]

I live in a state that requires carry guns to be listed on my CC license. And there is a maximum of three.

I pocket carry at this point.

The piece I carry most is my S&W 431PD in 32 H&R Magnum. It's a 6 shot and weighs only 13.5 oz. It's easy to forget you even have it in a pocket, and it's accurate.

The other gun I frequently carry is my S&W Model 49. It's steel, a bit heavier, shoots 38 special, 5 shot. It's a shrouded hammer gun and I carry it when wearing pants that tend to snag.

Right now I have a Model 60 three inch 357 Magnum on my license, but never carry it. The 3" barrel is hard to pocket carry, and the gun is heavy.

I'm thinking of replacing the M60 with either my LCR 9mm or my LCR 357. Both are lighter than the M49 and the M60. Plus they fit better in a pocket.

Which LCR would you choose? I'm interested in everyone's thoughts.

(I already have both LCRs and won't sell the M60 as it's a nice range/HD gun, just replace it on my license with one of the LCRs.)

 

[gotboostvr]

If you're not going to carry full power 357 loads in the 357 LCR, I'd carry the 9mm.

 

[eldon519]

Which do you shoot better?

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I would go with the .357 since you already have a lighter/smaller (.32) option on your list. Good to have the .357 option if you're going into places with large animals, also, ammo easier to find on road trips if needed.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I would go with the 357 and not deal with the moon clips

 

[Fiv3r]

If you do some hiking and whatnot, I'd stick with the .357.

However, I have the 9mm as my edc. At that, I've hiked around (lightly) with nothing but a 9mm lcr with 147gr ball. I wasn't planning on hiking, it just came up.

I'm lucky to be able to carry whatever I like, so I keep a couple of sp101s in .357 and .327 for hiking duty. My 9mm is for daily carry.

Two things about the 9mm LCR:
The performance, imho, is most likely better out a short barrel compared to the longer .38/.357. I'm not saying that 9mm performs better from a ballistic standpoint. However, I have read that some people chronograph speeds closer to what you find coming out of 3" semiautomatic pistols due to the extra length left in the chamber. I've never checked this, but some thing to research should it interest you.
You will love or hate the moon clips. Well, I take that back...I'm pretty indifferent. I don't carry this revolever with the anticipation of a fast reload. should I break/lose all of my moon clips, I wouldn't worry about having to poke out the empties. No different, imho, than the process people go through that carry NAA .22s.

I think the 9mm LCR is criminally underrated.
That said, the reloads and dropping spents is a fast process. My general carry procedure is to carry the gun on my belt and a spare moon clip. I would guess I am 75% faster reloading this gun than my non moon clip revolvers.

 

[Macchina]

I love my 357 KLCR! The 357 was originally designed for duty sized guns but nowadays you can get excellent snubbie ammo for a 357. I carry Remington 125g Golden Sabers which I chronographed at 1,100 FPS and are extremely accurate. I can also handload 158gr XTPs at 1,124 FPS from my KLCR which will put the hurt on anything I may encounter while hiking about.

In my opinion when they are basically the same gun, there is no reason to not go with the revolver cartridge unless you're trying to use the same ammo in your rifle and handgun (which 357 works better for anyway!)

 

[Macchina]

BTW, the Golden Saber round is about as light a 357 round as you can get and it's very controllable to shoot. 1,100 from a snubnose 357 is about the max speed you'll see for 124gr 9mm from a duty sized pistol. This means 357 in a snub STARTS where a full size 9mm pistol ENDS.

 

[Sergei Mosin]

The 9mm LCR has been known to suffer from crimp jump, which is enough to put me off it. The .357 LCR, loaded with the abovementioned Golden Sabers, is my choice in a pocket gun.

 

[springer99]

I'd opt for the .357 LCR as my third choice. The LCR in 9mm doesn't offer anything to you as a pocket carry option, that the .357Mag doesn't do better.

BTW, you do have a nice selection to choose from though.

 

[Tallball]

I would go with the 357. I don't mind shooting semi-automatic ammo out of revolvers for fun, but I would rather trust my life to a revolver that shoots actual revolver ammo. I have the 38 special, btw. I prefer shooting my friend's 357 version because it is about four ounces heavier, and that makes a big difference in felt recoil. I prefer carrying mine, though, because it is so light I barely notice it and it doesn't drag my pocket down.

 

[bluetopper]

Anything with moon clips as a requirement is a deal breaker for me.

 

[cal44mag]

Anything with moon clips as a requirement is a deal breaker for me.

People sure have strong feelings towards moon clips.

Some think moon clips offer a great advantage -- others can't stand them.

 

[Fiv3r]

People sure have strong feelings towards moon clips.

Some think moon clips offer a great advantage -- others can't stand them.

I honestly don't mind them. The only big draw back is having to poke out your empties manually if you choose to shoot without them. The gun is still 100% functional.

Also why I know crimp jump has happened, I've never had an issue in over 300 rounds of ammo. Cheap 115 gr to premium +p to 147 ball. 100% reliable.

Anyway, I don't fault anyone for picking a .357 lcr over the 9mm. it's just for me, I have a stout .357 that can handle the round comfortably with the sp101. The 9mm lcr just shoots better (for me), and I have been able to afford to practice with it.

Probably my best 2016 gun purchase.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

No me gusta crimp jump.

357 all the way.

 

[PabloJ]

I would rather shoot 17oz 9x19 than 17oz .357Magnum. Practice ammo for 9x19 is cheaper than that for .38Spl or .357Magnum. Assuming you carry them reloading using moon clips would be faster than from a speed loader.

 

[BigBore45]

.357 for me. If you don't like the recoil of 357 shoot 38 special. You could also send it to a gun smith and have the cylinder reamed to fit 9mm and inlaid for moon clips. Then in all reality you could shoot all 3 rounds out of it. Should be accurate enough for SD situations

 

[Blacksmoke]

Ditto on which ever one you shoot the best.

 

[Stumper]

Either is good. As an owner of both 9mm and .357 snubbies I have to say that I believe the 9mm to be the better snubnose cartridge. Of course it all depends on how you qualify one as "better". The 357 is more versatile. I love it for that. The .357 is also more powerful. No dispute. However the 9x19 is one of the most efficient cartridges ever created. Consequently it is possible to get nearly as much performance from the 9mm as the .357 provides IN A TWO INCH BARREL REVOLVER....and get it with less powder thus less muzzle blast and less recoil.

 

[SlayerOfBunnies]

LCR is a great revolver - may as well get one that shoots revolver ammo. Go with the .357 (practice with mouse fart .38s) and never look back. If you get yourself some reloading gear (also doesn't have to be expensive) you can shoot on the cheap. Reload AND cast your own lead and you can shoot .38s for about the same cost as .22lr.