Ruger's LCR and other .38 Special snubbies are very accurate. If you don't think so try benching one. My old Detective Special (hand held) is combat accurate out to 100 yards and more.
The "can't hit the side of a barn, inside and with the door closed" problem is relative to the shooting skill of the user, and is real.
The LCR's design looks awful, but is very practical, and as snubbies go they have an exceptional trigger pull because they copied S&W's old "long action" in a double-action only mode.
But while all of this helps, it doesn't eliminate the inherent issues embodied in shooting any lightweight snubbie combined with a relatively hard-kicking cartridge in a so small/light platform.
What one can do with one concerning "practical accuracy" depends on their skill, and how they define that term.