Can I replace my LCR?

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waterbaby

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I carry my .38 LCR in the AIWB position and it is impossible to detect there and I frequently forget I'm carrying it. It is a great carry weapon but I have a problem with it.
I'm not even close to accurate with it despite many trips to the range and lots of rounds through it! I have changed the sight and even put a CT laser on it. I realize this is a "belly gun" but I have no confidence in being able to hit what I'm aiming at for more than a few feet.
My other carry is a larger semiauto which I shoot very well but it doesn't conceal well and it is too big to carry in the AIWB position.
I have come to the conclusion (perhaps erroneous) that my LCR is too short and light for me, (I'm partially disabled) resulting in poor sight picture due to short (1 7/8") barrel and corresponding short sight radius and more importantly the extreme light weight allows me to move my POA while pulling the DA trigger. Again, I think the problem is mine not a problem of the LCR.
Consequently, I have been looking for replacement for it. Ideally, a DAO 6 round revolver with a slightly longer barrel/sight radius maybe 2 to 2 1/2' barrel and more weight to help me stay on my POA better. I'm willing to look at less than my "ideal". Price is a factor that eliminates some contenders. BTW, a striker fired semiauto in my pants is a non-starter.
I know this results in a very small list. I've been looking and haven't found anything yet. That is why I'm asking you! Thanks!
 
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S&W use to make a Model 638 with a 2.5" barrel and I believe still make the Model 60 (.357 Magnum), with a 3" barrel and adjustable sights.
 
I'm in the same boat. I love my LCR except I can't shoot it as well as liked. Using my pocket .380 I can reliably hit cans at 20 yards but struggle at shorter distances with the LCR. It isn't the gun or the ammo, it's just me. Practice has only helped so much and I'm beginning to think the gun is simply a poor fit even though I can't imagine a better platform for pocket and car carry. A j-frame probably wouldn't change anything and larger guns don't have the appeal. My next stop is probably the new Kimber K6 revolver, though I may stay on the .380 route even though it isn't my preferred caliber.
 
Vern Humphrey said:
To my way of thinking, a Colt Detective Special is the ideal concealed carry revolver.
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That is my conclusion. My wife has a late model DS with barrel shroud and I have an old "Cobra". In the 1970s, I carried an "Agent" while working. They are light, easily concealable, six rounds. This gun has a long history of proven effectiveness. The S&W Model 10 2 inch is a bit larger and sturdier but does not fit in my trouser pockets.
 
ArchAngelCD said:
Before you change anything, try buying a set of snap caps and do some dry firing. Without the recoil you will quickly see what you are doing wrong and be able to correct it and get your trigger control correct. Give it a try first.
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That is the first thing I did when I bought the Cobra. It took a while to relearn the DA trigger on a snubbie. The only revolver I have shot for many years prior was a Redhawk.Yes, there is a difference.
 
The 3 inch S&W model 60 may be the answer. The adjustable type sights would allow for a lot better sight picture as would the longer sight radius and it weighs in at 22 ounces or so
 
As with anything which doesn't suit the popular opinion on this site, I fully expect full force trolling and flaming hate to come after saying this...

You may likely find it difficult to find any DAO revolver which will have less drift in the sights than the LCR. The LCR trigger is known to be incredibly well designed for its class, with a stable draw-stroke curve and remarkably light weight (especially in its price class). The extra weight and length are going to be purely a mental comfort, so strapping a longer nose and extra weight on top of a lesser DAO trigger might defeat any gains you might find.

I'd encourage you to go test shoot a few models which suit your parameters listed above before investing.
 
"Before you change anything, try buying a set of snap caps and do some dry firing. Without the recoil you will quickly see what you are doing wrong and be able to correct it and get your trigger control correct. Give it a try first."

I agree with this 100% though I personally have never used snap caps for my LCR. I had my LCR for a couple of years before I was proficient with it. On top of dry firing, I would randomly put 1 or 2 live rounds in the cylinder at the range. When you hit one of those empty chambers, you will know right quick what you are doing wrong. In my case, I had two issues. I was flinching with it and I was inserting my trigger finger way too far into the trigger. Since it was my first revolver and the trigger felt so much heavier to me than my semi-autos, I was trying to get more leverage this way. Centering the trigger on the pad of your trigger finger instead of on the knuckle helped me tremendously.

I wouldn't dry fire until your hands are sore either. After all, it does have a heavier trigger if you are used to semi autos. Just practice with it for 20-30 trigger pulls each day and, over time, the trigger will feel natural to you.
 
I've come to the conclusion that I simply cannot shoot lightweight . 38 snubbies well. I had an lcr in .38, couldn't hit anything with it beyond 7 yards. Bought a SP101, I can nail the target at 25 yards. Bought a 642, same poor shooting results as the lcr.

I fell into a clearance 9mm lcr, and I can keep all 5 shots in the orange at 12 yards easily. I think the heavier frame really helps.

My 9mm lcr is my most often carried gun when weight is an issue. Very underrated, imho.
 
Fiv3r said:
I've come to the conclusion that I simply cannot shoot lightweight . 38 snubbies well. I had an lcr in .38, couldn't hit anything with it beyond 7 yards. Bought a SP101, I can nail the target at 25 yards. Bought a 642, same poor shooting results as the lcr.

I fell into a clearance 9mm lcr, and I can keep all 5 shots in the orange at 12 yards easily. I think the heavier frame really helps.

My 9mm lcr is my most often carried gun when weight is an issue. Very underrated, imho.
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IMHO, 7 yards and less is about what a snubbie is made for. Anyone wanting accurate shooting at longer ranges ought to go with more barrel and maybe better sights.
 
You just need to practice. Start at Ten Feet and move the target as you get better. Concentrate on grip, sights and trigger control.
 
I had the same problem. I couldn't hit squat with it. It was too light and the grips were too small for my hand. I bought a set of the somewhat larger grips that go on the LCRx. The problem was solved. I can shoot it pretty good now. The grips cost $20 or something like that. It might be worth a try.
 
Blacksmoke said:
IMHO, 7 yards and less is about what a snubbie is made for. Anyone wanting accurate shooting at longer ranges ought to go with more barrel and maybe better sights.
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I generally agree, but if I struggle to hit the target at 7 yards during metered, aimed fire at an indoor range, I van probabaly expect my combat accuracy to be horrific.

I find that I can shoot my heavier snub nose .357 and 9mm snubbies both quickly and accurately compared to my lightweight .38s. I just don't see any reason to keep light .38 snubbies around when I can get accuracy and performance out of a slightly heavier gun (the 9mm) or true distance accuracy out of the chunky .357.

So, for me, 9mm LCR for around town or on the well trod trail. Sp101 for when I want to bring a little more thump at the cost of a few more ounces.
 
As stated above, use what you already have and dry fire the snot out of that LCR using snap caps. Watching that CT Laser while you pull the trigger will tell you much of what you need to know. Keep working at it, 20 or 30 'shots' at a time, until the laser no longer dances around while the hammer falls. With lots of practice like this, you should be able to keep the snubby on target while you pull the trigger. Then start shooting at ten feet, gradually increasing the distance out to ten yards as your accuracy and consistency improve.

If that does not lead to improvement, or if you already have spent a considerable amount of time dry firing the LCR with the laser, all to no avail, then it may be time to find a handguns that 'fits' you better.
 
The LCR 357 weighs about 4-5 oz more than the LCR 38 and is quite a bit easier to shoot with 38 special ammo.

Another thing to do is get a slightly bigger grip -- one that enables you to get the pinky finger on the grip.

A little heavier gun with a larger grip makes a big difference for me.

I also think you probably need more practice. Dry firing with snap caps and using the laser to see how much the laser spot moves as you pull the trigger will help.
 
What type of gun is your semiauto and what type of trigger does it have? The LCR has one of the smoothest and lightest DA trigger pulls out there. If you struggle to shoot it well, I am not sure that there are going to be many small revolvers that are much easier to shoot. Maybe you should consider a compact hammer-fired semiauto for carry. A P30SK or P2000SK might do the trick.
 
Within about 7 yards, shoot in DA mode. For longer distances, train yourself to cock the hammer manually so that you have a short crisp trigger pull in SA mode. Of course, you will need a revolver with an exposed hammer.
Also, the previous comments regarding a better grip are good advice.
 
I purchased the LCR in .357 expressly for the extra weight . That dampened the recoil considerably but I still had control problems . Changed the front sight to a fiber optic and replaced the small grip with the LCRX grip. that made a world of difference . The gun is much more comfortable to shoot and easier to control even with +P loads . I have fired .357 with it , I won't do it again any time soon . For HD ,I load it with hard cast wadcutters for carry i load the old FBI SWCHPs . It has become a gun I know I can rely on in a SD situation.
 
I like the Hogue G10 grip for my LCR.

See picture below. The longer LCRX grip is more padded and probably better for control, but doesn't work as well for pocket carry as the Hogue G10.

index.php
 
I love my 357 LCR and shoot it mostly with 357 Magnum loads (125 grains at 1240 FPS). It took me a couple hundred shots but I find it to be my easiest revolver to shoot quickly (including longer barrel models) because of that super smooth trigger. I've had other Ruger and S&W revolvers and the LCR really is revolutionary. Another thing to consider is getting a 22 pistol for practice. My Ruger Mark III put me on target with all my handguns an at double the range before I got it. I went from flinching during Magnum shooting to feeling completely natural after a few thousand shots through a 22 pistol.
 
I have dry fired my LCR quite a bit and it didn't seem to help, I'll dry fire some more. It looks like the LCR just isn't a good fit for me which is too bad since it conceals so well. I want to replace it with a revolver and not a semiauto so my "muscle memory" doesn't get confused with my other carry.
Eldon asked what my other carry is - it is a Taurus 809C but it is too big for me to carry it AIWB, I have to carry it at 3:00 and it has a tendency to show there. It is DA/SA.
Note: To all you Taurus haters out there, it has never failed to go bang when I pull the trigger, has NEVER had any kind of failure in 100's of rounds of all brands and types! Also, I can eat out the center of a target with it. Used to be, I didn't think much of Taurus myself but I now have 2 Taurus pistols and love them both.
I have done a lot of research and I think I'm going to get a Ruger SP101 in SS with a bobbed hammer and 2.25" barrel. I'll put in the Wolff springs and give the trigger a good "fluff and buff". The other ones in distant 2nd and 3rd place are the Taurus 85 and Taurus 605. I'll most likely go with the Ruger because of their legendary reliability and it is popular enough that there are lots of holsters and accessories for it.
Thanks for all the help!
 
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I might recommend trying a SP101 before buying one. I've owned an SP101, a GP100, two Super Redhawks, and a plain Redhawk. I didn't have the Redhawk at the same time as the SP101 to direct compare, but by FAR the SP101 trigger is stiffer and harder to use than the GP100 or SRHs. If you are having trouble with the light and smooth trigger of the LCR which is probably the best on any Ruger, I think you will really struggle with the SP101. I have dry fired the heck out of mine and done the fluff and buff. It gets better but is still far from a great trigger. It is a great gun, I am just not sure it is the answer to your problems though.
 
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