Problems with New LCR

[Tallball]

I shot my friend's 357 LCR a couple of weeks ago and was very impressed. Then my LGS got a 38 special LCR in stock and I traded two pistols I didn't want for it. Saturday morning I took it shooting.

I had problems with it. I have very large hands and was unable to keep a firm grip on it. It moved in my hand with each shot. My accuracy was poor. After something like 30-50 shots it made a blister on my palm near the web of my hand - it's from where the little emblem thingie is on the back of the grip. I have never gotten a blister from a handgun before.

It might not just be the size, since my small-handed friend didn't shoot it well either. Or maybe it is, I can't remember if my other friend's 357 LCR had the same grips as mine or not. That being said, does anyone know of larger grips that might help me? I am an experienced shooter and not recoil adverse, but I just couldn't seem to keep a good enough hold on the LCR to achieve reasonable accuracy.

 

[BSA1]

Different grips will most likely help.

However remember everything is a trade-off. Larger grips means the gun will be harder to conceal.

 

[WheelGunMan]

Mine is somewhat comfortable. I'd really like a spot for the pinky finger...sounds like you would too. THESE will add a little length to it but still keep it concealable.

 

[danez71]

A longer grip may help by getting your pinky on it.

It may be the nature of the beast.... Hickok45 was getting a blister too in one of his test bids. I've been watch watching the 38, 327, 9mm lcr vids of his and can't remember which one it was.

 

[kcofohio]

Tallball, your friend has a steel frame and you have an alloy frame. But you probably already know that.

What ammo was you shooting? Bullet weight, plinking or +P? I can see hot loads doing that to your hand.

Here is a longer grip offered by Ruger that came out with the 3" LCR.
http://shopruger.com/Hogue-LCRx-and-LCR-3-Tamer-Grip/productinfo/19947/

I only shoot the LCR out to about 7-10 yds. I have large hands too. While I don't mind the stock grips, I did order the one linked above.

 

[Sergei Mosin]

Now you know why I recommended the .357 version. I have experienced this blister with the .38 model shooting standard pressure .38 loads and the .357 model shooting warm .357 loads. I have never experienced it with the .357 model shooting .38, .38+P, or light .357 loads (at a .38+P+ level, if you will).

I do find that wrapping my little finger underneath the grip helps steady the gun and control recoil, but the extra ounces of the .357 really do help. The .38 is simply too light.

 

[Tallball]

I was shooting my FiL's reloads, and he doesn't like to load them hot, but I don't know the bullet weight. We were shooting snubbies and the like at seven yards. (The SP101 and the Rossi 720 ruled the day.) I have to have my pinky tucked under almost every handgun I shoot, and this little critter was no exception. I am close to Hicock's size, so it's not unlikely we had a similar experience. Whoever put that rough patch high up on the back of the grip was a born sadist, or learned it well. I can't imagine that the extra three ounces of my friend's 357 made such a large difference (that is the weight disparity, according to him). Maybe his grips are different, or maybe the extra weight really is just enough to hold it steady. I have ordered larger grips, as y'all were kind enough to suggest. In a couple of weeks we plan on taking the 38 and 357 out together and see how they perform with the same loads. I will post an update then, and thanks to everyone for their kindly words of advice.

 

[Water-Man]

The truth of the matter is that there are many people who just can't handle a J-frame.

It is also true that for most people, much time and effort is necessary to become proficient with a J-frame.

 

[cal44mag]

Those diamond pro grips are good for people with big hands.

I like having a place for my pinky finger, but find the diamond pro grips to thick.

I settled on Hogue G10 grips on my LCR 357. I can handle up through mid range 357 magnum rounds with these.

They are about the same size as the diamond pro, but thinner. They conceal well for pocket carry.

 

[Tallball]

"The truth of the matter is that there are many people who just can't handle a J-frame."

I own quite a few of them and shoot the rest of them decently enough. It's my new LCR that's giving me problems. The steel-framed ones, or even the aluminum alloy ones, are no trouble at all.

 

[Havok7416]

Hogue makes a grip for the LCR that is just slightly longer. I bought one for mine and it made a world of difference, although I didn't have the issues mentioned by the OP in the first place.

 

[Thomas Traddles]

I had trouble with the original grips as well. Shooting +P ammo was hard on the hands and I learned to develop a flinch reflex very quickly. I solved the problem by getting grips from the LCRX 3" model, which fit the LCR. It made a world of difference. The grips are slightly larger, I am able to control the gun better, and I have no trouble at all carrying concealed with the slightly larger grips. These grips have made me fall in love with the LCR. Prior to that, I had been thinking seriously of selling it off. No more! I shoot handloads from mild target wadcutters to +P SWCs with pleasure. You won't regret getting these types of grips.

 

[antiquus]

I don't have a problem with the original grips, until I get through 25 rounds of +P. Then I know it. Plinking or standard ammo I can do all day, I usually target shoot with 148gr wadcutters, loaded around 750fps for a standard 4" barrel, forget what the LCR does with them, but they are easy.

 

[reverseturn]

Try a really firm grip on the gun. I also just purchased a .38 LCR and had a similar issue on my first trip with it to the range. Even with moderate target loads It smacked the web of the hand pretty hard and was painful to shoot. So I gave my hand a rest by shooting a GP100. I then tried again gripping the LCR really hard and that greatly reduced the problem. Accuracy was ok. Shot a couple cylinders of the target loads and cylinder of 158 gr + P without issue. Since that trip I did purchase the longer grips used on the 3" LCRx but haven't had a chance to try them at the range. Sounds like that will help a lot.

 

[WheelGunMan]

I know this will be frowned upon by some...but I have found using the middle finger on the trigger actually allows me to stage the LCR easier and gives a more comfortable hold. Inasmuch as my LCR is primarily a defensive firearm that will get minimal use other than the occaisonal tuneup session to keep proficient with it. I might add in a close quarters defensive situation I don't think I or anyone for that matter, would be to concerned about total grip comfort.

 

[Fiv3r]

There is just something about the j frame size guns. I shoot them poorly, well poorly past 10 yards. My SP101 can plug center mass out at 25 yards no sweat. I get past 15 yards with my 642 or and LCR and I just can't get them to group.