Ruger LCR .357 vs. .38 +P?

[stinger 327]

If using +P loads in the LCR .38 and LCR .357 is the recoil going to be more in the .38 LCR than the .357 LCR revolver?

How bad is the recoil on the .357 Ruger LCR revolver in comparison to the +P .38 LCR?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Since the .357 Magnum is 3.5oz or so heavier the recoil will probable feel lighter when the same ammo is fired in both.

You ask about recoil and "how bad" it is. Felt recoil is very subjective, people persevere the impulse differently so it's very hard to tell how you react to the recoil.

 

[ColeK]

A .357 Mag in a lightweight, short barreled revolver is a fire breathing dragon!
I have a Model 60 .357 Mag with a 3” barrel that is about twice as heavy as a LCR and the recoil very bad!! I shoot BB .38 +P+ low flash.
In my Model 637 I use BB .38 +P low flash.

 

[Waveski]

.38+p from a .38 LCP is no day at the beach. I would have zero interest in discharging .357 from a LCR.

 

[splattergun]

I have a new SP101 3"bbl. I've shot 357 magnums and 38spl through it. .38 real comfortable to shoot. The magnums are certainly a handful, but manageable. The more I shoot them, the better my grip becomes, and the better my grip, the less I feel the recoil. I can actually hit what I'm aiming at now

That said, I am working up some 38+P loads in the magnum brass, and I should be testing some of those this weekend. Seems like a logical compromise.

 

[Haywood]

I have a LCR357. Full house 357 is a eye opening experience. I shot a lot of mid range 357 self defense type Ammo. It wasn't too bad. 38 and 38+P is a lot easier and more fun. I quit shooting the 357 Ammo and started practicing with 38 and 38+P. I would go with the 357 gun if you want to shoot a lot of 38s and some 357 mid range. My friend is a big guy and 357 wasn't too hard on him. The gun loaded is easy to carry in most pockets and excelant in the belt.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

I would get the 357 mag and avoid running anything bigger than 38+p in it.

J-Frame's are already unpleasant to shoot. No use making it worse that it has to be.

/$0.02

 

[I6turbo]

I'm not particularly recoil sensitive - for example, I think a full house .357 feels ideal through a 686 Smith - but standard .38 Specials through a LCR .38 Spl. isn't really enjoyable to shoot, IMO. I'll shoot it enough to get familiar with the gun and get a feel for how it handles, but it stops there because it's just not fun. My wife feels the same way about the LCR -- only enough to get familiar with it.

 

[Macchina]

I have shot lightweight S&W 357s before and they were terrible! I have owned my KLCR in 357 for a few years now and with the hard laser grips I find it really fun to shoot! 357 can sting a bit after a while but they are completely manageable for aimed fire, rapid aimed fire takes about a second to get back on target with full tilt loads. I have fired everything up to full tilt H110 158g loads (they are enlightening) and hundreds of Power Pistol 158g reloads that are a chronographed 1100 FPS from the LCR with no pain. I can shoot 100 of those rounds as far as I can load them and have a great time.

My carry ammo is Remington 125g Golden Saber and it's very easy shooting.

Anyone who tells you .38 and .357 are the same from a snub is very ignorant. 158 grain loads are almost double the energy in .357 Magnum (1125 FPS) at 443 FT-LBF compared to .38 Special (800 FPS) at 225 FT-LBF.

 

[Tallball]

I am a good one to ask. I went shooting with a friend who has the 357 LCR. Shooting 38's out of it was NBD. 357's were spicy, but not painful. I liked the gun a lot. We are both tall guys with big hands, but we could control it easily.

A few weeks later my LGS had a used 38 +P LCR for a good price. I brought in a couple of pistols I didn't want anymore and traded for it. When I took it to the shooting range I was very surprised. I could not control it well enough to hit the side of a barn. It smacked my hand around like a rented mule. The little round spot on the back of the grip made my hand bleed after only 30 rounds or so.

The extra four ounces that the 357 weighs make a HUGE difference. I was flabbergasted that only four ounces could make such a big difference.

I asked some advice here on the board and was steered towards larger grips. I bought a set of the ones that normally go on the LCRx. Adding the longer grips solved my problem. When my friend and I went shooting again with both of the LCR's, we could both control either one of them just fine.

So my recommendation would be to go with the 357 version. If shooting 357's is not to your liking, just shoot 38's out of it. I personally found that the extremely light weight of the 38 version made it difficult and painful to shoot (though that might be due to me having very large hands).

 

[stinger 327]

I am a good one to ask. I went shooting with a friend who has the 357 LCR. Shooting 38's out of it was NBD. 357's were spicy, but not painful. I liked the gun a lot. We are both tall guys with big hands, but we could control it easily.

A few weeks later my LGS had a used 38 +P LCR for a good price. I brought in a couple of pistols I didn't want anymore and traded for it. When I took it to the shooting range I was very surprised. I could not control it well enough to hit the side of a barn. It smacked my hand around like a rented mule. The little round spot on the back of the grip made my hand bleed after only 30 rounds or so.

The extra four ounces that the 357 weighs make a HUGE difference. I was flabbergasted that only four ounces could make such a big difference.

I asked some advice here on the board and was steered towards larger grips. I bought a set of the ones that normally go on the LCRx. Adding the longer grips solved my problem. When my friend and I went shooting again with both of the LCR's, we could both control either one of them just fine.

So my recommendation would be to go with the 357 version. If shooting 357's is not to your liking, just shoot 38's out of it. I personally found that the extremely light weight of the 38 version made it difficult and painful to shoot (though that might be due to me having very large hands).

At least with the .357 LCR you get the option to use .357 and can always back down to .38. The LCR 38 is slightly smaller and lighter but certainly doesn't help in shooting it. Just that the .38 LCR is slightly smaller and lighter which makes it easier to carry. But the power difference between these two cartridges are greater than either size of the .38/.357 LCR gun.

 

[Predator55]

The whole design of the LCR is to reduce recoil. The grip has an extra gel insert to help with felt recoil. I own an LCR 357 mag and shooting 38/38+p and +p+ are very nice. When I carry I load up Winchester 145 gr silver tips. It's a load that you will feel but for me it's manageable and for SD it's great.i shot some 158 gr semi wad cutters and wasn't bad. You will feel it but in a defense situation you won't feel it. Get the 357 so you have the option and shoot 38's in it if you can't shoot mags.great gun, it one of my EDC and It hides very easy. If you get one I would tell you to look at a Kusiak IWB holster it's what I use and it's a fantastic holster for the LCR , get the canted IWB.

 

[stinger 327]

I have shot lightweight S&W 357s before and they were terrible! I have owned my KLCR in 357 for a few years now and with the hard laser grips I find it really fun to shoot! 357 can sting a bit after a while but they are completely manageable for aimed fire, rapid aimed fire takes about a second to get back on target with full tilt loads. I have fired everything up to full tilt H110 158g loads (they are enlightening) and hundreds of Power Pistol 158g reloads that are a chronographed 1100 FPS from the LCR with no pain. I can shoot 100 of those rounds as far as I can load them and have a great time.

My carry ammo is Remington 125g Golden Saber and it's very easy shooting.

Anyone who tells you .38 and .357 are the same from a snub is very ignorant. 158 grain loads are almost double the energy in .357 Magnum (1125 FPS) at 443 FT-LBF compared to .38 Special (800 FPS) at 225 FT-LBF.

Yes big difference between ballistics of a .357 and .38 +P loads.
Those Buffalo Bore loads hit even harder especially the recoil.

 

[cocojo]

I own both and the 357 steel frame handles recoil much better but the light weight 38 is not that bad. The 357 will hold up much better if you plan on doing a lot of shooting. The 38 carries better and if you ever need to use it for self defense reasons, you wont notice recoil at all. I shoot light loads for practice and run a few rounds of plus p for poa.

 

[stinger 327]

I own both and the 357 steel frame handles recoil much better but the light weight 38 is not that bad. The 357 will hold up much better if you plan on doing a lot of shooting. The 38 carries better and if you ever need to use it for self defense reasons, you wont notice recoil at all. I shoot light loads for practice and run a few rounds of plus p for poa.

Between the two would y ou say it is a better option to just get the .357 lcr over the .38 LCR?

 

[FLNT4EVR]

I purchased the 357 lcr with that exact objective in mind. The 4 oz difference makes it much more comfortable to shoot 38 and 38 +p . If I want to shoot 357 mag's out of it I just put on the larger grips . But at the range that the gun is intended for 38+p is adequate for my needs. Except for wad cutters, all my loads are with 158 grn bullets

 

[Manny]

I have a .357 KLCR purchased w/ Crimson Trace grips which are much less cushy than the stock Houges. Shooting my standard practice load of UMC 125 hr +p .38 Special or my carry load of 125gr Rem Golden Saber .38 +p's is quite comfortable. I'm always surprised when I read reports of the "vicious" recoil some folks seem to experiance with these LCR's, not my experiance at all.

 

[stinger 327]

I have a .357 KLCR purchased w/ Crimson Trace grips which are much less cushy than the stock Houges. Shooting my standard practice load of UMC 125 hr +p .38 Special or my carry load of 125gr Rem Golden Saber .38 +p's is quite comfortable. I'm always surprised when I read reports of the "vicious" recoil some folks seem to experiance with these LCR's, not my experiance at all.

Do the Crimson laser sights help in hitting target?

 

[cocojo]

If you plan on ankle carry a lot, buy the lcr 38 but honestly the 357 is exactly the same size. I have carried both on my ankle without issue. Belt carry no problem with either. I love both revolver but steel will hold up a lot better in the long run. Hold both see which you like better. One thing i would do is buy the green fiber optic front sight. Big difference in shooting over standard sights.

 

[Milkmaster]

I owned both the .38 and .357 LCR pistols. I am 6 foot and 265 lbs wet, but the .357 LCR hurt my wrists when shooting it. The .38spl in that pistol was tolerable. After my experience I went back to my .38 LCR permanently. The .38 pistol is a little smaller and easier for carry purposes. I switch between the .38LCR and the S&W 642 as my carry options.

 

[stinger 327]

I owned both the .38 and .357 LCR pistols. I am 6 foot and 265 lbs wet, but the .357 LCR hurt my wrists when shooting it. The .38spl in that pistol was tolerable. After my experience I went back to my .38 LCR permanently. The .38 pistol is a little smaller and easier for carry purposes. I switch between the .38LCR and the S&W 642 as my carry options.

Yes I believe you are correct. The LCR .38 is just a bit smaller but not by much. Though I do notice some difference in size.
My thinking was that the .357 is much more superior in ballistics than the .38 +P.

 

[SeanSw]

I rented the .357 version at the range and didn't make it to my 3rd cylinder with Federal .357 before deciding it was way too much for me. Even now I find that 15 rounds of +p in my lcr .38 special is enough to give me the shakes for the rest of the range session and I begin to fade after <50 rounds 158gr standard pressure ammo. Recoil does feels lower with 125gr and 130gr ammo unless it's +p. It is not an easy or comfortable gun to shoot IMO, but that's what you get for 200 ft. lbs. in a 13 ounce gun. Never a misfire with all kinds of ammo in mine either.

 

[stinger 327]

I rented the .357 version at the range and didn't make it to my 3rd cylinder with Federal .357 before deciding it was way too much for me. Even now I find that 15 rounds of +p in my lcr .38 special is enough to give me the shakes for the rest of the range session and I begin to fade after <50 rounds 158gr standard pressure ammo. Recoil does feels lower with 125gr and 130gr ammo unless it's +p. It is not an easy or comfortable gun to shoot IMO, but that's what you get for 200 ft. lbs. in a 13 ounce gun. Never a misfire with all kinds of ammo in mine either.

Well go figure the type of gun it is as a last effort and last resort for easy carry. (not a comfortable gun to shoot for sure) If threatened and in danger perhaps the recoil won't make much of a difference as far as pain goes shooting the LCR. I shot the LCR 38 +P revolver and yes left my hands buzzing after so many rounds but it is not a gun for shooting at the range.

 

[Manny]

Do the Crimson laser sights help in hitting target?

Yes it does, huge help with the stock blued ramp front sight. I've got a tritium front sight for it now which is much, much better. IMHO changing the front sight to a high visibility one is THE essential upgrade on these fine little shooters. The CT grip laser is incredible for low light shooting and if you can afford to it's a great benefit on a defensive gun. It's also a great aide in dry fire practice. Plus I like the the CT grips much more than the stock Hogues as they're more compact.

 

[stinger 327]

Yes it does, huge help with the stock blued ramp front sight. I've got a tritium front sight for it now which is much, much better. IMHO changing the front sight to a high visibility one is THE essential upgrade on these fine little shooters. The CT grip laser is incredible for low light shooting and if you can afford to it's a great benefit on a defensive gun. It's also a great aide in dry fire practice. Plus I like the the CT grips much more than the stock Hogues as they're more compact.

Go figure in most of these self-defense shootings you end up pointing and not using or aiming per se using regular iron sights.