Bought a new Ruger LCR in 9 mm... any questions?

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I saw one of these at my LGS, and I am wondering if it states anything in the manual about shooting 9mm +P+?? I figure that the same gun can handle 357 magnum loads, that it should be able to handle 9mm +P+. Is there anything in the manual about that for the 9mm version? Just curious. Thanks.
 
They make "holders", basically a rubber boot that goes on the end of your loaded moon clip:

http://moonclips.com/cart/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=36&cat=Moonclip+Holders+/+Concealed+Carry

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I'm not sure what advantage you get by sticking them in a holder, unless the LCR moon clip doesn't hold the cartridges tightly enough to keep them from popping out.

I know that no cartridges are going to pop out of the 929 moon clip - I need a mini crow bar to pry the empty cases out and a lever to pop the cartridges in, (Moonclip tool)






.
 

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if it states anything in the manual about shooting 9mm +P+ ?
Click to expand...

I don't have the manual, hopefully someone who has the actual manual will search it for this information. I do know that Ruger recommends 115gr ammo to address the possibility of bullets jumping crimp.

This is the heaviest gun in the LCR lineup (the 3" version is LCRx), so I don't think the gun itself has problems with +P+ rounds. I think the real issue is finding 9mm +P+ cartridges that hold together under the repeated recoil created by firing other +P+ rounds.
 
I tried to find the 9mm +P information in the manual, but, could not. It mentions +P ammo on Pg. 11 but only in the context of the .38 Special round. For me, it isn't an issue because the 9mm round seems to have more of an 'over-penetration' issue than an under-penetration issue. My Speer reloading manual, (#12), Pg. 498, mentions how hollow points are used to limit the tremendous penetration. If I need to use this round in self defense, (God forbid), I certainly don't want an innocent bystander injured by a "pass-thru". So, I'm personally not going to consider +P rounds for the 9mm.

I did get a chance to shoot a few rounds out of the LCR on a sub-freezing morning this week. I had mentioned earlier that my test rounds seemed a bit lower than POA. I still think that is the case but it's an easy fix so not much of an issue for me. The rounds were pretty much on target up to 21' where I did throw 2 out of 15 but the LCR shoots better, IMHO, than my S&W 642 Pro. Remington High Velocity 124 grain FMJ is what I used for practice.
 

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BLU, I looked on Rugers site and didn't see anything about 9mm +P, to use, or not to use.

On their FAQs, under revolvers, they say only to use ammo made to U.S. Industry Standard
 
How's the trigger compared to either the .38 LCR or the .357 LCR?

I have the .357 LCR and noticed the trigger is quite a bit heavier than the .38 LCR's...
 
Traded the .357 Magnum for the 9mm, but, didn't notice any real difference in trigger pull between the two. I can tell you that with my large hands, I shoot a better group with the 9mm LCR than I did the .357 LCR loaded with .38 Special +P 158 gr. SWC. For whatever reason, I don't know. However, I've qualified two years running with the .357 LCR so I'm comfortable with the accuracy of that gun as well. I'm considering using my 3" .44 S&W 629 for qualification this year for the bit longer sighting plane, but, as it stands today, I'm just as comfortable qualifying with this 9mm LCR. I only get one opportunity to qualify... there are no "do-overs" so I guess I'm saying I trust this little LCR from 15 yards out!
 
I didn't experience any crimp jumping at all. I've fired my 158 gr. LRN reloads through it before carrying and then a half a box of the Remington 124 gr. FMJ High Velocity and experienced zero problems.... strange primer hits, (deformations), case problems, etc. Worked flawlessly. I am pleased. I recommend to friends that they should at least try it, if not buy one. I wanted a 9mm handgun that wouldn't experience FTF, FTE, magazine problems, (springs, lip bending, fit, availability, etc), no need to lube 'the rails', etc.. This gun fits 'the bill' and I am satisfied that my money was well spent. It will be part of my carry rotation now.
 
Okay, I'll ask the obvious stupid question: has anyone tried .380ACP yet through one of these?

Only reason I want to know is in case 9mm (even standard/non +P loads) winds up being too stout for the boot grip (which is how I generally carry my KLCR in my pocket or on my ankle as a BUG, with standard-load .38's).
 
Hmm, I am no expert, but most revolvers firing rimless cartridges headspace on the face of the case so you can fire them without the moon clips if need be. You should be able to fire .380 ACP or even 9x18mm with the moon clips, but you might gunk up the chambers and mess up the headspacing for when you want to go back to 9x19mm. If I had one and wanted something with less kick, I'd just go with the lowest recoil 9mm loads I could find. Handloads could be as light as you'd like with no auto pistol mechanism to cycle.
 
I'm not sure this has any practical significance but it seems worth noting that 9mm +P+ is significantly higher in pressure than .357 magnum. Even plus P is up to about 10% higher pressure than .357 at 38,500 psi max vs 35,000 psi max for .357. +P+ is above 38,500 psi. The smaller the gun, the smaller the cylinder, the thinner the walls. At some point pressure becomes a factor. It would be interesting to hear Ruger's recommendations.
 
Folks keep in mind that 9mm is a higher-pressure round than .357, so making comparisons to the .357 version as far as operating pressure safety may not be advisable.

OP, thanks for answering all these questions, I am very interested in this gun. The high-quality moon clips seem to be the best part, I would have been turned off if it required a moon clip loading tool.

Has anyone who owns the 9mm LCR tried it with 147-gr. ammo? I prefer and have on hand mostly 147-gr. standard pressure and am interested in whether the long-for-caliber cartridge overall length combined with the recoil is enough to unseat bullets and bind the cylinder.
 
My LGS says he's got LCR 9mm's in stock, so will try to get one in the next week or so and try both Speer GD 147gr rounds and .380 rounds, see how well they do (in addition to the usual suspects).
 
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I'd be really interested to see what firing .380 ACP does to the gun.

The 380 doesn't really chamber, the cartridge just sort of hangs there so you're counting on the moon clip to keep it somewhat centered and pointing toward the barrel.

It would be interesting to see the fired brass looks like too.
 
I have to laugh! While getting ready to load a magazine for my Sig P238, I noticed I had grabbed one of my 9mm rounds by accident instead of the .380 rounds. Well, that got me to wonder if I could do that by accident while loading a moon clip for the LCR.... so naturally, I tried it. Yes... they fit into the Moonclip just fine. There is a difference between the .380 & 9mm casings. But, they do fit and insert into the gun. Without the Moonclip the 9mm headspaces on the case so you cannot properly just load .380 rounds into the cylinder without the Moonclip.

I have not fired any .380 rounds using the Moonclips... and won't until nearly everyone but me has tried it first! My Mother raised a fool but I call him "my Brother"!

My bore measured .357". I've fired quite a few cylinders worth of Remington High Velocity 147 gr. FMJs through it and haven't experienced any problems of any type. I was going to reload some 90 grain LRN bullets, (borrowed from my .380 stash), but I just couldn't seem to get the taper crimp set up just right so I ditched that idea! I'll try down the road some because I'm interested in using that load for paper punching.

Anything I can share I'm more than happy to. THR has helped me and in return I'd like to do the same.
 
How is the recoil compared to the LCR 38? I have tried the LCR 38 several times with 158 grain +p and I found the recoil just too painful. Very, very sharp. It irritates joints in my hand instantly.

I wondered if that slight weight increase in the 9mm smoothed it out some.
 
KeithC... refer to post #22... I've only shot the 9mm & the .357 LCR, never the .38 model. I'm lucky, I guess, recoil has never been much of a problem for me from .44 Mag down. The 9mm was snappy, but, for me, not a problem. Hopefully someone who is sensitive to recoil can answer that. I shot that target as I would to qualify, I.E. 2 rounds in 3 seconds kind of thing, mentally counting. Recoil didn't prevent me from getting back on target or from losing my grip.
 
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