LCR - Which caliber??

[danez71]

I don't have any revolvers. All of my semi's are either 9mm or 22LR.


Primary intentions to use as a traveling and fun gun - A revolver simplifies unloading and reloading for driving. For ex, no worries about bullet set back,


This wouldn't be a 'shoot for hours' gun but I DO want to have fun shooting and practicing with it.


I generally have preferred DA/SA in the past but I also see the benefits of being hammerless.




Below are the 3 calibers I'm considering, with my Pro's and Con's, but I'm looking for other peoples input.

9mm:

Pro's: All my semi's are 9mm so ammo compatibility would be nice; and 9mm is pretty cheap and readily available

Con's: Probably fairly snappy but it's not going to be a high round count range gun. Moon clips, but even those aren't mandatory and there is some upsides such as being speed-loader-ish.


22 Mag:
Pro's: A much softer shooter. At hotel distances, I think of it as 'the little engine that could' but obviously not ideal.

Con's: Ammo costs as much or more as 9mm. 22Mag still isn't super available and I don't have anything else in 22Mag.(But again, this wont be a high round count gun)



A distant 3rd consideration is a 38 Spl. The only advantage I see over the 9mm (for me, personally) is I could buy the LCR-X and get a hammer and, if I reeaally wanted too, I could buy reduce loads for less recoil.

 

[CZ9shooter]

True, no worries about bullet setback, but the 9mm has been known to have the opposite problem. Yanking the bullets out of the cases. Just something to consider.

I'd personally stick with the tried and true 38 special.

 

[Catpop]

38 spc

 

[AlfonsDeWolf]

Check out the triggers. 38 was gorgeous, .22lr a little less so, .22 mag even less, but all still good. I believe the 9mm and .357 weigh 5 ounces more, 17 vs 12?....for better or worse. As for .22 mag vs .22lr in that barrel length, I'm torn. 2 more rounds in .22, less blast,about 200 ft/sec lower velocity. Gotta say, for me, the .38 would be my ticket....and it might be soon.

 

[Thomas Traddles]

I've got the 38 special and shoot approx. 100 rounds a week for practice. After two years, I'm just starting to become proficient. Plus P rounds are snappy in this gun. I don't shoot Plus P rounds very often. Since I reload, I usually shoot 158 grain cast bullets in the 800-825 fps range, which is somewhere around 16,000 CUP (plus p range is 17,000 to 20,000 CUP). These are much easier to control than Plus P rounds and easier on the hands. I also load target wadcutters in midrange (750 fps) and these are a real pleasure to shoot.

I've put grips from the 3" LCRX on my LCR, and this has improved controllability immensely without compromising ease of concealment and carry. The trigger is smooth, the gun is accurate. I've no complaints now, although when I first got the gun and shot plus p ammo out of it for the first time I thought about trading it off. That initial experience was painful and disconcerting. But if you are used to guns, which I was not at the time, you should not have a problem with it.

I've thought about the .357 LCR, but having owned an SP101, and having found it difficult to shoot full throated .357 magnum ammo out of it, I believe that shooting .357 out of a 17oz LCR would not be a pleasurable experience. YMMV

 

[SVTOhio]

Love my 38sp but it's a bit snappy. Would love to get a 22lr for the wife to carry. And just for a fun shooting gun.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[VoodooMountain]

I recommend the 9mm since you already shoot it. 9mm also works much better than the 38 from a short barrel and you can use moon clips which is kind of a perk.
The trigger on the rimfire lcr series is pretty darn heavy as well and 22mag ammo isn't always so easy to find.

 

[dbmjr1]

I've got two, one a LCRX in .38 Spl, and the other a 9mm. I recently borrowed a friend's .22LR.

The rimfire LCRs have a much heavier trigger pull. Don't ask me why. They do. Still, they are very accurate.
Personally, if I were going to get a revolver in .22 mag I'd get the S&W kit gun. About the same weight. One more round, and a better trigger pull. Also doesn't have that annoying rattle.

All LCR's have that annoying rattle. You won't hear it unless you shake the revolver, but still, it's there.

You are concerned that the 9mm will be snappier than the .38. Not so. In fact, the opposite is true.

The 9mm is built on the same frame as the .357. It has much more metal, and consequently is significantly heavier. Really a pretty smooth shooter. The full moon clips make reloads fast and convenient.

The .38, on the other hand, is a joy to carry. I don't even notice it at the end of a long day, but it's painful to shoot. I also like carrying my reloads on Bianchi Speed strips, instead of moon clips. They ride better in the pocket.

Now, that's what I know. You decide.

 

[Wishoot]

.327

If you can find one.

 

[rcmodel]

.38 Special, for all the reasons mentioned above.

rc

 

[dbmjr1]

.327 I want one.

 

[danez71]

The more I think about it, and from the replies.... the 22 mag is off the list.


I was considering the 327 Fed Mag because of the ammo flexibility. But I don't see myself shooting the 327 out of such a light weight gun much (I said that I DO want to have fun with it) and 32H&R mag and 32 S&W Long or Shorts are not commonly found and on the high end price wise among all of these.

Even though I'm still intrigued by the 327, Im a bit afraid of buyers remorse for this purchase.

You are concerned that the 9mm will be snappier than the .38. Not so. In fact, the opposite is true.

.

I did not expect to see that. Thanks


I was aware of crimp jump on the 9mm but it doesn't seem to causing any issues.


Question... why doesn't it happen on 9mm semi's and only on revolvers. Is it bore axis distance to the remaining rounds?

 

[SVTOhio]

The more I think about it, and from the replies.... the 22 mag is off the list.





I was considering the 327 Fed Mag because of the ammo flexibility. But I don't see myself shooting the 327 out of such a light weight gun much (I said that I DO want to have fun with it) and 32H&R mag and 32 S&W Long or Shorts are not commonly found and on the high end price wise among all of these.



Even though I'm still intrigued by the 327, Im a bit afraid of buyers remorse for this purchase.













I did not expect to see that. Thanks





I was aware of crimp jump on the 9mm but it doesn't seem to causing any issues.





Question... why doesn't it happen on 9mm semi's and only on revolvers. Is it bore axis distance to the remaining rounds?

If you get he 327 and don't like it I'll gladly trade you my 38 sp LCR for it

 

[CZ9shooter]

Question... why doesn't it happen on 9mm semi's and only on revolvers. Is it bore axis distance to the remaining rounds?

When a revolver recoils the unfired cartridges are accelerated backwards by the interaction of the cylinder with the case rim. The case is forced to move back rather abruptly while the bullet tends to stay rest due to it's own inertia. Sometimes the case will lose it's hold on the more massive bullet.

In a typical semi auto the remaining rounds are kind of free to move around in the magazine. They are not locked to the rest of the frame like in a wheel gun. Even when a cartridge is accelerated backward under recoil it is pushed from the front, not yanked from the rear. There is no mass to leave behind.

 

[khari]

.327 isn't too tough to find at this point; there are several available right now on GB for a pretty good price. I think Ruger did another run recently.

I recently got one and shot .32 S&W RN, .32 S&W Long LRN, .32 S&W Long WC, .32 H&R Mag and .85 grin hydra shock, 100 grn Speer Gold Dot, and 130 grn Buffalo Bore. Great fun. Recoil went from slightly more than .22 LR to "Damn!" Love the versatility. It is now my #1 carry gun.

 

[Pokajabba]

Personally, I don't like either. 9mm, an auto cartridge with a totally different style of crimping, in such a light revolver has been having widespread issues with bullets jumping out of the case locking up the cylinder. If you want a 9mm revolver, look elsewhere.

.22 Mag in the LCR... I'd like it more if it was an 8 shot and not a 6. .22 Mag is expensive compared to .22 LR, so if you want .22 go with the Long Rifle.

If I had to get an LCR, it would be a .327 as the first option and .38 second.

I think Ruger needs to start expanding the LCRx line because there are several LCRx's they're aren't making that I want to give them money to buy.

 

[Panzerschwein]

.38 special.

A tad less snappy than the 9mm version while being a few ounces lighter to boot. You also won't have to worry about the crimp jumping issues many brands of 9mm are experiencing in the LCRs (see Yankee Marshal's latest videos on YouTube).

.38 special +P has plenty of power for the job provided shot placement is good, and that goes for 9mm as well. Keep in mind you WILL have to use moon clips in the LCR if you want to reload. Otherwise you'll be left shaking or poking the cases out one by one. The gun will fire without moon clips, but extraction will not be quick.

With proper technique, and some good speedloaders, .38 special is the ideal caliber for this type of gun. You could even look into the .327 Fed Mag version (I'd get that before the 9mm in fact) but ammo for that is pricey.

 

[Sergei Mosin]

You didn't mention the .357 version, but I'll make the case for it anyway. It's heavier than the .38, but not enough to make it any harder to carry. The extra ounces do help a great deal with recoil even when shooting .38 Special loads; I carry medium-level .357 loads in mine and find the recoil from those quite manageable, but even if you never fire a single Magnum round the extra recoil absorption over the .38 model is worth it.

 

[22-rimfire]

I would go with the 38spl LCR and forget about moon clips. Just one more thing....

The 22 mag from a revolver is extremely loud and I would generally pass unless you simply want a rimfire.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I'd get a 327 or 357. I'd probably favor the 357 if I wanted to shoot it a lot just because 38 special ammo is easy to find.

 

[Dragon breath]

Get the .357 magnum. Practice with.38's and carry with magnums.

 

[SwampWolf]

If cost and ammunition availability are issues, I'd get the .357 Magnum variant. But for me, I'm getting the .327 Magnum version. I like the idea of having a sixth shot in a compact, snub-nose revolver being used for self-defense.

 

[Jim NE]

A revolver simplifies unloading and reloading for driving

I'm not sure why this would be, unless you're talking about moon clips. I should mention, I believe I've seen moon clip versions of some new .38 snubbie. Can't remember if it was an LCR or a Smith, but it may have been a Smith...not sure. Just another option.

I was in the market for a hammerless (DAO) .38, and I bought a S&W 442 instead of the LCR, in part because of price. I'm not sure either one is going to score big in the "fun to shoot" department, though.

The good thing about .38 Special is that it will be easier to find some low power cowboy loads that actually will be more pleasant to plink with than most 9mm loads. If you shop for ammo online, you can even find some .38 Colt ammo that will be even lighter recoil (these will work in .38 Special firearms.)

But if you really want a good double duty plinking/carry revolver, my suggestion would be to look for an old 3" K frame Smith with a round grip frame. Not the most common configuration, but they can be found. A more affordable yet still viable alternative would be a Rossi version of that same gun (I just ordered one of these. It's from the Interarms era in the 1990's, and my experience with these guns has been very positive.)

But just because the 9mm LCR isn't my first choice, that doesn't mean it's the wrong choice. If that's the way you go, you'll be happy. Best wishes.

 

[Tallball]

22mag - just buy 22lr if you want it for plinking. 22mag is not a SD round. Double-action triggers on rimfires are often stiff.

327 - good for SD with potent 327's or maybe 32 H&R, fun to plink with 32 S&W long, but you might have to order ammo online or buy at gun shows. I LOVE my 32 revolvers, but then again, my FiL reloads 32's for me.

38 special - that is the one I am buying tomorrow. I am buying it for CC, not for plinking.

357 - I shot my friend's recently. It is slightly bigger and heavier than the 38, if I understand correctly. Since I am getting it for CC, I am going for the 38 because of size. Keep in mind I am not at all recoil sensitive, but I thought the 38 specials were easy to shoot from it. The 357's were stout, but not painful. I thought they were kinda fun, actually, but I shoot a lot of 44's and stuff.

9mm - ammo is the cheapest centerfire and effective for SD. I have avoided 9mm revolvers due to the talk of "jumping crimp" and because I am not eager to use moon clips. But I have zero experience with them, so keep that in mind.

 

[pezo]

Go with the klcr 9mm since you already have other weapons in that caliber. You'll get the moon clip option which I think would be great. No need for speedloaders. I like ammo comonality. There's no reason the trigger would be different than the .38 variant. Ballistically 9mm and .38 are close enough why invest in another similar caliber. The rimfires I've heard may have a stiffer trigger.
I have the 13 ounce bgxs .38 variant. Came factory with the night sights and boot grip. It's usually my Main carry piece. I can also squeeze in in jacket pocket while having my sp101 iwb if the need arises.