How Much Recoil Does...

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HGM22

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a Ruger LCR (.38) have firing 158gr +P ammo? Light, Medium, Heavy?
 
I tried the Taurus 85 Ultra-Light and a .38 LCR side by side at a range last month. Neither one I'd want to run more than 50-75 rds through in a range visit. However to answer OP question: I couldn't discern the difference in felt recoil. I would compare it to shooting .357 range loads through a 686 or GP100. Stout, but tolerable. As Mr. Newton said, as pistol weight goes down, recoil goes up!
 
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Tolerance of felt recoil is kind of a personal thing. Some people don't consider 44 Magnum a punishing cartridge to shoot. I am not one of those people

I have an 38 Special LCR, and I've shot it with 110 grain +P. It kicked hard enough to smart, but it didn't give me a flinch, and I think I could practice with it enough to make it a reasonable "carry" load. 158 gr +P would be worse, and I would not want to shoot it unless nothing else was available. Also, my LCR has a 2-inch barrel, and I do not think that 158 gr +P would perform well from it, but that is off-topic from what was asked.
 
Same here, recoil is hard but tends to be more back than with a great deal of muzzle flip. That is with standard velocity 158 grain ammunition. I am not recoil sensitive but the LCR in 38 Special is not a beginner nor casual shooters' gun.
 
As much as I tend to be recoil insensitive, every small .38 Special I've ever fired was unpleasant to shoot beginning with the first round ... and it only got worse after that.

I don't think these type guns are intended for extended range sessions, but you need trigger time with any gun to gain proficiency. These little guns are simply not worth it. As in the usual case, YMMV.
 
I have an ultralight (alloy) 38 snub. It doesn't sting or even bother me much with moderate loads. That varies a lot from person to person. Some people don't like it at all, to some it's nbd.
 
With my all stainless S&W Model 649 I don't feel all that much recoil, even with the hotter stuff. Now my lighter weight aluminum frame Model 938 I notice more of a kick with the +P loads but it's still manageable and the rubber boot style grips help quite a bit too.
 
I've not shot the LCR, but I do own a S&W 637 Airweight and I have experimented with several different loadings for my gun. I fall into the category that it's just not fun for me to shoot. I think a lot of it has to do with the size of the grip and how it fits your hand. My 637 has a tendency to dig the trigger guard into my second finger when fired regardless of the ammo being used. The best advice I can offer is to determine how the gun fits your hand, how much purchase you have on the grip and where the frame contacts your hand.

Blessings,

Paul
 
The Airweight 38s(LCR included) don't recoil exactly. It's more like a hard smack to the hand. I don't find them comfortable to shoot, but still do, and still carry one occasionally.
 
I do not like shooting +P anything in my S&W M642. The recoil is too stout for my liking.

I cannot imagine the Ruger LCR would be any better in that respect.

Tolerating various recoil levels is a personal thing.
 
As others have stated, it's a largely personal thing. I'm not particularly fond of stout recoil, but I don't hate it. My 637 Airweight definitely has some kick when shooting +P loads, but it's not painful. Those rubber grips definitely help. As it's my EDC, I shoot it every time I go to the range, and it's becoming more comfortable with each visit. (Important note; I only shoot 125gr in it.) I've not shot the LCR, but I suspect it's none too different. If you live near a range with rental guns, that would obviously be the best way to answer your question.
 
It will give a mild sting to your hand and a finger or knuckle or two. But it wont jar your wrist or elbows like a big bore "magnum" cartridge.
 
I don't enjoy my range time with +p loads out of my .38 LCR. It isn't so much that it hurts it is just really snappy or something. It makes my hand kind of itchy after awhile.

Still, it is the gun I carry most often so it does see a lot of range time.
 
A few months back I went to the range with a new LCR , planned to fire 50 rounds of non-+P 39 sp. ammunition . I stopped at 35 rounds. It was not a very enjoyable shooting experience ; my right wrist ached mildly the next day. I have to think that +P ammo would be punishing in that polymer Ruger.

If I had to do it over again I would buy the .22 mag version.
 
An LCR weighs 13 oz. The felt recoil(recoil of a 158 .38 +P is the same regardless of what it's fired out of) will be heavy. So much so that you wouldn't want to practice with it using that 158 +P ammo. No point having the thing if you won't practice with it and the ammo you carry in it.
 
Very stout. I have the lcr in 38spl & a taurus 85. the lcr is a bit lighter & smaller, & with the same ammo you feel the recoil more. But the grip with the gel at the web makes it tolerable.
 
I wouldn't describe my BodyGuard 38 as a light recoiling gun, but I can shoot a box while at the range. I used to shoot a 2.5" Python with compressed loads of Blue Dot under 125 HP's, a lot, and it's no worse than that.
 
As Post #14 Waveski mentioned, the .22mag LCR with its 6 shot capacity may be the better choice if you are recoil sensitive or wanting precision over power. I think a face full of CCI TNT or Hornady Critical Def would slow anyone down. Plus the LCR is far more controllable than NAA pocket rimfire pistolas. Just to show how valid this idea is, American Rifleman did a piece on it a while back...

Link for those interested:
http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2015/6/8/the-22-magnum-for-self-defense/
 
The first time I shot an LCR, I was ready to sell it. By the third session, I was ready to take it to a day-long training course. (And I did!) I still wouldn't recommend it for regular high round count sessions though. And it's not a gun to introduce new shooters to.

It feels like someone gave the end of the muzzle a sharp rap with a small ball peen hammer. The saving grace is the soft rubber and gel Hogue grips it comes with. A snub with hard wood grips feels abusive to fire and hurts, but the LCR isn't too bad.
 
Shoot 5 rounds out of a 500 S&W. After that you will never feel that .38 spl or 9mm has much recoil at all. It's all a matter of perspective.

People who worry about recoil develop bad habits such as flinches, trying to compensate or overcome the recoil. Once your realize that recoil is just something that happens when shooting and concentrate on your trigger pull and sight alignment you won't pay much attention to recoil. Well fitting grips that fill your hand and do not slip around when firing will go a long way to alleviate recoil sensitivity.
 
I shoot a 357 LCR with +P 38 specials 50 rounds a session with no problem.
The 357 LCR weighs in at 17 oz.
I can shoot 15 full house 357 mags and that is enough for me.
I always carry 125 grain Hornady critcal defense in 357 mag as my EDC round.
If you really want some fun and you reload your 38 specials down to around 850 fps.
Then you stick that gun in your pocket and go ground squirrel hunting with it.
Now so you know at first you will miss a lot and you will get better as you go along.
The objective is to get better and have a lot of fun at the same time.
Believe me if you can hit a Squirrel at any distance you will not have any problem with a 2 legged preditor.
After shooting like this, you become accustomed to recoil and you won't have any issues.
 
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