Ruger LCP for backpacking gun?

[learningman]

Hello been awhile since i've posted here. My question is about the ruger LCP in a 357. I like to backpack and would love a light gun to carry with me for protection. Whille iI fully understand that a 357 isn't the most ideal gun for backwoods protection it is something. I usually am in the backcountry with nothing but what I can carry in my pack from anywhere from 3 to 5 days. With limited space and the weight of my gear, ounces start to add up quickly. Thats where the LCP seems like a perfect match for me. I am wondering however whether or not the 357 is worth getting in the LCP because of the short barrel. Will the 357 deliver enough extra over the 38 plus P to make it worth stepping up to the 357. I am also looking to get my carry and conceal and this LCP is something that I really like.Again I fully understand that a 357 is not the ideal backwoods gun but something is better than nothing in my view.Sso any help that you can offer me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Hanzo581]

It's the LCR you are referring to. And yes, step up to the .357 model.

 

[DMZ]

One of the things that make the LCR a great back pack revolver is the fact that it is nearly impervious to the elements.

 

[hirundo82]

Another .357 to consider for a small backpacking gun would be the Ruger SP101. It weighs more than the .357 LCR (25oz vs. 17oz) but is much easier to shoot. Might be worth considering if the extra half pound is worth it for a more controllable gun.

 

[David E]

I don't understand this odd affection for the Ruger SP-101 5-shot revolver.

It's heavy, holds only 5 shots that are difficult to shoot accurately, is slow to reload and makes more noise than it's worth.

A friend used to carry one, but he put a chrono on it and discovered his man-stopper loads weren't going as fast as the muzzle blast indicated. He sold it and started packing a Kahr P-9

For an backpacking gun, I can understand the need for LIGHT, like the LCR, but if I was going to pack the weight of the SP-101, I'd pick something else.

Of course, that's why there are Fords and Chevys.........

 

[Diggers]

I dunno the .357 seems like it would be a fine backwoods caliber to me. If you're shooting heavy soft point loads its going to go through quite alot.

I shot one of these .357's a couple months back. I shot .38 +P+ 115 grain HP through it, very easy to control. Very little felt recoil. It comes with a beefy grip that helps with the recoil nicely.

I'd say go for it, it will make a fine backpacking gun AND a fine CC gun.

BTW, I carry a 442 for a CC. I put a pachmayr compact grip on it and it still has more felt recoil then the LCR did, while shooting .38 +Ps.

OH and BTW again, the LCR .38 model and the .357 model are basically the same price, no reason not to get the .357 seeing as you can shoot both types of ammo through it.

http://www.ruger.com/products/lcr/models.html

 

[Madcap_Magician]

If you want a gun to stop bears, the LCR in .38 Special or .357 magnum is not it.

It's also not much of a plinker.

If you're only worried about running off the occasional rattlesnake, coyote, or two-legged varmint, you'll probably be fine with it.

 

[Onward Allusion]

.357 mag out of a LCR is a whole lot of recoil/flash. You're better off with a 9mm semi auto loaded hot running at 1,200 to 1,300 fps. Now, if you're talking about a longer barrel and slightly more weight, then a .357 will do the trick.

learningman
Ruger LCP for backpacking gun?

 

[sansone]

.357 in a 6" brrl is very nice. Less is a waste IMO.. unburned powder out the muzzle is not pushing the bullet. I like the round very much in a different weapon

 

[Cosmoline]

I'm still waiting for someone to come forward with a detailed range report on the recoil of full house .357 out of the new LCR. I remain very skeptical about how practical it is. If you up the loads to the standard trail loads which are 180 or 200 grain hardcast solids.. ouch!

For a trail gun, either don't bring one or bring one you can shoot rapidly and accurately with heavy enough loads.

 

[Waywatcher]

I think the LCR .357 would be a dandy backpacking gun.

Lightweight, powerful, virtually impervious to rust.

 

[Diggers]

Any backpacking gun loaded with the right ammo for backpacking (i.e. heavy sp bullets) is going to suck to shoot. Thats just the way it is.

Remember the .44 mag S&W made for backpacking a while back that was around 25 oz? Not fun.

 

[PabloJ]

I would gladly carry extra ounces in the form of K-framed S&W with 4" barrel and adjustable sights. Lets face it once you get past raincoat pocket concept there isn't much to the .357LCR. If ability to hit something and followup shots are not important then the LCR would make a wonderful weight watchers gun.

 

[hapidogbreath]

I have a LCR and am going to the range this week. My friend will bring his snubbie .357 and I'll put them on the Chrono and post the results....

 

[PabloJ]

I have a LCR and am going to the range this week. My friend will bring his snubbie .357 and I'll put them on the Chrono and post the results....

Seeing targets holed with .357 loads at 10 to 15 paces would be infinitely more interesting.

 

[Cemo]

10 mm Glock, light weight and packs a punch for most anything you would run into.

 

[clutch]

.380 is a bit light, I carried a .380 the last time I back packed. Better than nothing if you run into two legged predators. Next time likely a S&W M&P compact in .40. I likely will be alternating Winchester Supreme Elite with 180g hard cast.

Clutch

 

[KosmicKrunch]

Your Ruger will be just fine for almost anything except Grizz Bear and moose and even then., given the right bullet/load combo, you could even come out alive with those two animals. Understand the different loads and what they offer or do not offer you. Make sure you bring a few shot shells for close up snake work (very hard to hit a snake with the .357 shot shells, but better than nothing). carry some back up ammo on speed strips and you are set.

I would look into a few reloaded rounds with 3 buckshot balls as the bullet. They are very handy in a stress situation both in the woods and in the streets.

I would rec not to take glocks and other buzz word or pretty plastic guns into the woods and stick to your very solid Ruger. If you need more than 5 solid shots in a woods situation, then seriously, you do not need to be where you are at or going to.

I am very familure with the Coeur d'Alene Idaho and Billings MT areas and have never needed a gun for anything I have encountered there. I do carry one, but have never needed it. Good trail and woodsmanship skills should keep you out of most dangers animal/human wise (2 legged or 4 legged).

I do suggest stress train shooting with both hands often so it is second nature.

 

[learningman]

Thanks for all the advice. I would carry somethig
ng bigger but weight really does matter when you've got your house, bed, clothes, and food on your back. I was wondering if the short barrel would allow the 357 to develop enough energy to make it worth stepping up to it rather than the 38 plus P. I appreciate all of your comments and wish you all the best.

 

[goon]

I'm in PA. I carry an SP-101 in .357 and don't worry much about it. It's marginal against a bear that would really want to hurt me but blackies are generally not that threatening. I've seen a dozen and none have ever caused me the slightest concern. Even a loud noise, such as a gunshot that misses, might be enough to stop an attack. If not, I know they have been killed with .357's and that a deep penetrating bullet or two or three will likely do the job.

If I were around big bears, I'd bring a bigger gun.

 

[Onward Allusion]

125 gr about 200 fps and 100 fpe more from a 357 snub.

 

[oldfool]

I don't understand this odd affection for the Ruger SP-101 5-shot revolver..
only 5 shots.. difficult to shoot accurately, slow to reload, makes more noise than it's worth...loads weren't going as fast as the muzzle blast indicated.
Of course, that's why there are Fords and Chevys.........

really, I think you answered your own question at the end there, David

no shortage of people right here on this forum satisfied with five, reloads or no reloads
difficult to shoot accurately, no, not really, any/all "snubbies" require a bit more practice, practice, practice to hit well with, but in IMO the 3" SP101 is easier to master than most snubbies
all compacts/snubbies make a lot of noise, no short barrel is going to yield velocities that full size barrels do (same load), all shorties are flamethrowers when throwing a stout load

SP love is, I think, is partly because it stands out from the over crowded display cases of "too light, too small"
and in significant part because the mega marketing trend for lighter/smaller ignores the core basic fact that weight is a shooter's friend, always was
and in some part because that SP-101 shouts right out loud "indestructible", "built like a tank"... leaving zero doubt that this "little" gun can handle all the muzzle blast you can powder in
(though me being me, I think 357 out of anything less than 5" or 6" wastes too much powder anyway, but revolver folks can choose a wide range of loadings, to suit their personal taste.. 38+P mostly gets me where I want to go, even with a 6" k-frame... any j-frame thread you read here, most go 38+P vs 357 in snubbies, but it's purely optional, as it should be)

SP for everybody, no not hardly
for IWB or pocket carry, no, not for me
but nonetheless the most shootable small frame 357 revolver in the marketplace, weight counts, stands out from the crowd
and mighty handy nightstand decoration, for those who don't plan on having to shoot BGs but one or two at a time
sure will make a mess of ol' possum

diversity in firearms, wonderful stuff, enjoy it all

 

[MillCreek]

I have been backpacking, mountain biking, hiking, XC skiing and snowshoeing for decades in the Pacific Northwest. I have about 19 different revolvers and pistols to choose from, and my standard backwoods carry these days is a DAO 2.25" .357 SP-101. Stainless to be impervious to our rain, DAO hammer for compactness and no snagging, easily concealed so I don't frighten the masses, and a .357 revolver for point and click and a wider variety of ammunition choices.

I have also carried various compact 9 mm and .45 pistols, and a titanium Taurus revolver (for when I am especially weight-conscious or am riding one of my titanium bicycles, for the sheer titaniumosity of it all), but I keep coming back to the SP-101. I have had my eye on a LCR, and I may well pick one up some day.

 

[Stainz]

I did think my 625MG in .45 Colt was an ideal 'woods' gun. It requires a holster and weighs over 2.5lb loaded. Holstered, it just isn't sheeple-friendly. I have a CCL for a reason - and my pocket-carry 642 in .38 will suffice for most applications. My 'ultimate' - for hogs, dogs, maybe even small black bear, is a 240gr LSWC in a S&W 296 - a 2.5" enclosed hammer AirLite-Ti in .44 Special. One - or two - of those lead rounds are followed by 200gr Gold Dots, shown below, very effective at the 805 fps they chrono-ed from the 2.5" tube (The 240gr LSWC's broke 750 fps!). Thus loaded, it's <1.5 lb - and pocketable. It's a decent slap in the hand, too. Loud boom maker - not an earsplitting ultrasonic 'crack'.



About the SP-101 - I bought a NIB 4" .32 H&RM - worst combination of poor QC I have ever experienced in a firearm. Most was remedied - with lots of TLC. Not the oversized chambers - just like the SA SSM I had. Cheesy windage-only adjustable rear sight on the SP - and none of the .38/.357 SP's even have that. The S&W 60 is just a finer revolver.

Now, the LCR... no thank you! I've shot several of the .38's - with mild plinkers to +P 158gr LHPSWC's. Live or dry fire, they don't 'feel' or 'sound' like they will stay together. I'll stay with steel. Most new CCW guys who have bought the .38 LCR as a 'first' CCW have thought the basic 642 to be a big step up - and I agree. I haven't shot an S&W equivalent to the LCR, but assume it will be similar to the LCR - and not of interest to me. I was a Ruger guy - but I am now an S&W revolver guy.

Stainz

 

[griz1]

I carry a 3 inch SP-101 loaded with 180 and 200 gr CorBon. Easy to shoot and will never let you down. Remember your brain is the best defense against any kind of attack. That said I always carry my Sp-101 as a last defense against bear.