LCR - Which caliber??

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QUOTE: "...Personally, I'd go with the .357 Mag. I don't know much about the .327 round, and it may be fine, ballistically speaking. But the .357 Mag gives a little more ammo flexibility. (I have a hard time imagining being able to find .357 Mag, but unable to find .38Spl, but I guess it could happen.) The extra weight should help tame a little of the recoil..."

For some of us, it's not so much the ballistic differences between the .327 Magnum and the .38 Special/.357 Magnum cartridges as it is having 20% more ammo on board in a concealed revolver intended for self-defense. And the .327 Magnum is pretty "flexible" when you consider the many different cartridges that can be used in a revolver so chambered-if you can find them...;)
 
SwampWolf, that make sense, too.

danez71 said:
Spats McGee said:
Hmmm . . . Do you go shooting at the resort? Or on the way? Is there any reason to think that you'll need range ammo on these trips?
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. . . . But that's a lawyer-ish leading type question and I'm wondering where youre going with that..?


Please... lead away. You may make me realize something.
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Yeah, my questions do tend to be lawyer-ish. ;)

I asked because we keep talking about ammo availability. Now, I suspect that it's always going to be easier to find .38/.357/9mm than .327. I've never looked for .327, so I can't really say for sure. That said, and as a practical matter, though, if you can buy ammo at home, and aren't likely to shoot much when you're on the road, how much difference will that really make?

Let's say that you'll shoot 200 rounds per year on these trips. Well, it's going to be range ammo, so it's probably not going to be your SD rounds. With a revolver, bullet setback isn't a problem, so loading and unloading doesn't cause that concern. Anyway, you can buy and carry 200 rounds of ammo in the car fairly easily. (Of course, if you travel by motorcycle, it could be a problem.) Anyway, assuming that you can find the ammo near you, you could buy it before you leave and ammo availability kind of becomes a non-issue.
 
"Failure"

I agree that I never pushed the 9mm Federal Champion load to the point where the gun failed to fire, but the result of using those rounds was consistent and repeatable. After firing two shots, the remaining three bullets had pulled out about 1/8'. After firing three rounds, the clip comes out with 5 empty cartridges, leaving two bullets and the associated powder in the cylinder.

If you avoid that (and similar) ammo and if you don't shoot three rounds, then holster the gun for a few hours then try to shoot the last two, you probably won't have a problem. As I said in the linked post, lots of other cheap range fodder is readily available, and I wouldn't hesitate to buy the 9mm again.

Given your proposed use, with 5+ loading/unloading in a day the 9mm with moon clips has a speed and ease advantage over the .38. The smaller prescription pill bottles hold two loaded clips in a convenient sized package. I can't seem to find any 35mm film canisters lying around, but suspect they would also be convenient.

Could the gentleman that posted on the cheapness of the clips put up a link or let me know who (other than Ruger) sells the clips?
 
jstert said:
lcr 22lr. i had the lcr in 22wmr and 38, both gone now. 22wmr only 6 shots, very flashy and loud, short barrel means subprime ballistics. 38 very snappy, (im recoil sensitive, if too snappy i won't practice and any unpracticed piece is not worth carrying).

i sometimes ccw my lcr 22lr. i consistently shoot 8 yellowjackets to ventilate 3" of bundled magazines in a center mass 2" group at 10'. consistent hits with a small caliber trump misses with larger calibers every time.


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I agree with you, the LCR .22 Mag is pretty flawed. 6 rounds? It should be 8. The barrel isn't long enough and gives little more than the little NAA revolvers which are much smaller and lighter, yet have 5 rounds, have a more reliable ignition with its exposed hammer, and is half the price for a higher return in quality.
 
Spats McGee said:
SwampWolf, that make sense, too.


Yeah, my questions do tend to be lawyer-ish. ;)

I asked because we keep talking about ammo availability. Now, I suspect that it's always going to be easier to find .38/.357/9mm than .327. I've never looked for .327, so I can't really say for sure. That said, and as a practical matter, though, if you can buy ammo at home, and aren't likely to shoot much when you're on the road, how much difference will that really make?

Let's say that you'll shoot 200 rounds per year on these trips. Well, it's going to be range ammo, so it's probably not going to be your SD rounds. With a revolver, bullet setback isn't a problem, so loading and unloading doesn't cause that concern. Anyway, you can buy and carry 200 rounds of ammo in the car fairly easily. (Of course, if you travel by motorcycle, it could be a problem.) Anyway, assuming that you can find the ammo near you, you could buy it before you leave and ammo availability kind of becomes a non-issue.
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Well darn it. You didn't enlighten me... this time.

I agree with everything you said in general but the problem is that I can't find 327 in any if the shops around me on the shelf, or, any 32 based ammo for that matter. One place not too far that i called says they do get in small amounts of 327 every month or so. Ironically, their name is Ammo Bros.
 
Every Cabelas I've been to has it, and most of the other big box stores. If you favor your LGS then have them order it, it's becoming more common and every distributor can get it.

Also, I love revolvers generally for ammo flexibility, but nothing beats the .32's. .32S&W, .32S&W long (aka .32 New Police), .32H&R mag and .327 all shoot in the same gun, and although it's not a wonderful round in a revolver, .32acp, which even ejects without too much trouble in my guns.
 
Antiquus, I agree on the 2nd part.

In regards to the 1st part... No. As I've said, I'm not going to rely on the Internet for ammo availability nor rely on having a store 'special order it'.

I'm several 100s of miles from a Cabelas. Bass Pro doesn't even list it on their website but does list over 50 centerfold cartridges. I am close to a bass pro and even called them and they don't stock it at my store. I've called or visited about 10 shops only 1 says they get a small qty in but not regularly.
 
HankR said:
I agree that I never pushed the 9mm Federal Champion load to the point where the gun failed to fire, but the result of using those rounds was consistent and repeatable. After firing two shots, the remaining three bullets had pulled out about 1/8'. After firing three rounds, the clip comes out with 5 empty cartridges, leaving two bullets and the associated powder in the cylinder.

If you avoid that (and similar) ammo and if you don't shoot three rounds, then holster the gun for a few hours then try to shoot the last two, you probably won't have a problem. As I said in the linked post, lots of other cheap range fodder is readily available, and I wouldn't hesitate to buy the 9mm again.

Given your proposed use, with 5+ loading/unloading in a day the 9mm with moon clips has a speed and ease advantage over the .38. The smaller prescription pill bottles hold two loaded clips in a convenient sized package. I can't seem to find any 35mm film canisters lying around, but suspect they would also be convenient.

Could the gentleman that posted on the cheapness of the clips put up a link or let me know who (other than Ruger) sells the clips?
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Hank, thank you for pointing me back to that thread. I did see it before but didn't finish reading it so it didn't stand out as being a 'failure'.

Even though the gun didn't jam, I DO consider that a failure


Do you have any more experience with the bulk stuff coming apart other than that Federal stuff you had? Have you tried other lots of Federal?

From what you posted back then, the issue seems fairly limited as the other bulk ammo you tried seemed to be OK.

I'm wondering what your expierence has been since then, particularly with the bulk stuff but the Defense ammo too.

Thanks again for pointing me back to that thread.
 
The solution seems clear to me, purchase the .327 because it rocks, purchase a .357 magnum so you'll have at least one LCR that you'll never have trouble finding ammo for, and purchase the .22LR to practice with.

Problem solved.
 
Reading through this several questions came to mind regarding the 9mm bullet jump.

When you are target shooting, do you often (ever) fire a partial cylinder?

If you end up using your revolver for defensive purposes do you really care if bullets get stuck AFTER the incident/while unloading?

The whole reason I bought an LCR in 9mm was to have commonality like danez mentioned earlier. Perhaps it would help if I also tested mine for bullet jump. More data certainly can't hurt.
 
C0untZer0 said:
The solution seems clear to me, purchase the .327 because it rocks, purchase a .357 magnum so you'll have at least one LCR that you'll never have trouble finding ammo for, and purchase the .22LR to practice with.

Problem solved.
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lol..... A 3 gun solution!?!?!. :what:


Dang....I just started thinking about the '2 gun solution' last week. :uhoh: ;)
 
Havok7416 said:
Reading through this several questions came to mind regarding the 9mm bullet jump.

When you are target shooting, do you often (ever) fire a partial cylinder?

If you end up using your revolver for defensive purposes do you really care if bullets get stuck AFTER the incident/while unloading?

The whole reason I bought an LCR in 9mm was to have commonality like danez mentioned earlier. Perhaps it would help if I also tested mine for bullet jump. More data certainly can't hurt.
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PLEASE DO!

More data is good.... that why I asked HankR if he has more experience with various ammo since that thread 2 yrs ago.



Ideally, it would be only 1 or 2 bulk-mart ammo shows enough crimp jump to even be worried about and the rest of them are fine for plinking for fun and practice.



As far as defense ammo, I'm OK if I found 2 or 3 brands that work fine while testing and practicing with them,,,,, I'm only shooting those in self defense at inside distances after that
 
All I can test that's relevant here would be handloaded JHPs (XTP bullet). Alternately if you aren't in any rush I can pile up several common brands/boxes and try them all out. This would take a bit of time to pull together, but I could post results here or in a new thread.
 
Havok7416 said:
All I can test that's relevant here would be handloaded JHPs (XTP bullet). Alternately if you aren't in any rush I can pile up several common brands/boxes and try them all out. This would take a bit of time to pull together, but I could post results here or in a new thread.
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Sure! I'd really appreciate that.

Ive been with out my on revolver for about 20 yrs still traveled with my M&P9c for the last 7+ yrs so its not like I have to make a decision immediately.


Being that I haven't had my own revolver in 20 yrs, I'm really wanting to make the best decision for myself. It could be my last revolver.... or maybe open up a lot of doors.
 
I own a steel .38 Chief Special and factory 158 grain 38 still kicks but not uncontrolably.
I'd love it in .22 mag
Probably more rounds and good power and penetration with good controllability too!
The .38 is a good fighting caliber decent power in a small gun
Yes the LCR will kick in .38 but still be a great gun
The .22 mag gives you more chaallyces to hit and more controlably
Personally, I choose the. 38 cause of a successfully history in fights for Cops
Hard choice, both .22 and .38 score well!
 
One point I'd make concerning the availability (or lack thereof) of .32 caliber ammunition in general is that I don't plan on shooting an LCR chambered in .327 Magnum any more frequently than I would a J-framed Smith with +P .38 Specials- which isn't very much over a year's time. I run a lot of lead through the barrels of handguns chambered in .22rf, .38 Special, 9mm Luger, .40 S&W and .45ACP, mostly because I like to "plink" with .22s and compete in various pistol "games" (Bullseye, IDPA, etc.) but I doubt I'd fire more than fifty rounds a year or so of +P .38 Special or .327 Magnum ammunition from a relatively light-weight, compact, snub-nosed revolver intended for concealed carry.
But that's just me. If you plan on firing hundreds of rounds through a snub-nosed revolver annually, then the fact that .327 Federal Magnum ammunition is hard-to-find (at the present time, at least-though I would expect this situation to get better over time if the .327 Magnum chambering becomes more popular, which I think it will) becomes a real consideration when deciding on which chambering to invest in.
 
I bought a .327 LCR last week. I sold a S&W 632 and a 432 2"ers about 8yrs ago when I couldn't find factory ammo anywhere. I've had a hankering for a .32 H&R magnum snub ever since. I found the LCR for $415 and bought factory .32 S&W long, 5 boxes of 50 rds .32 H&R mag. and some .327 mag. all of which cost more than I wish to talk about. A friend reloads and last GS he picked up .32 dies n stuff. Nice gun, I put a night sight on it. Now if only I can stay awake late enough to see if the sight works.
 
My 'justification' role of this is traveling with many unloading/loadings due to the requirement of 'unloaded and locked' while driving.


However, it will most likely be taken on every time I go shooting and a box of 50 run through it or more if its comfortable enough; 25 rounds minimum.

So, a couple hundred per year is in the forecast.
 
I DO consider that a failure
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Yeah, me too.

Do you have any more experience with the bulk stuff coming apart other than that Federal stuff you had? Have you tried other lots of Federal?
Click to expand...

No, but I do have several brands of cheap 9mm that I could try in it. I've been using WWB, 115 gr, with no problems (but I seem to recall another internet report where that also exhibited the problem). Weather and family permitting I'll test out some of the other cheap stuff I have and report back this weekend.
 
HankR, that would be great. I'd sure appreciate it if you did.

Interesting about the WWB 115, if you're remembering right.

I wonder if firm grip or different lots would be the biggest difference....?
 
Pokajabba said:
I agree with you, the LCR .22 Mag is pretty flawed. 6 rounds? It should be 8. The barrel isn't long enough and gives little more than the little NAA revolvers which are much smaller and lighter, yet have 5 rounds, have a more reliable ignition with its exposed hammer, and is half the price for a higher return in quality.
Click to expand...


I'm curious why you feel the exposed hammer gives me reliable ignition. That's a theory I've yet to see expressed.


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I bought the 357 LCR. I used to like the recoil and blast not to mention the power of 357. Full house 357 was too much so I had it down loaded for years to equal some of the self defense loads such as Corbon and Gold Sabor. After a few years the hands getting older and arthritis setting in l have gone to 38+P for carry and standard 38 special for practice. The weight of the 357 gun makes practice time a lot more fun with 38s. It's like having Two guns.
 
Get .357 so you can shoot .38 and .357. They're popular rounds and can be found everywhere. Also, they are rimmed and have ample stopping power. You can buy affordable .38 for practice and plinking and use .357 for carry and even hunting and other tasks requiring a harder hitting round.
 
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