Ruger LCR .357 vs Charter Boomer .44

[forrest r]

Seeing how you have effectively turned a perfectly good 357mag into a lower ended 9mm load. It makes choosing the 44spl an easy choice.

Myself I have/use both a snubnosed 357 & a bulldog/44spl & I would never use a 125gr hp in the snubnosed 357 or any other 357 for that matter.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Well, I DO have two pockets.

The fastest reload is another gun.

 

[WisBorn]

You aren't going to go wrong with either. Most testing I have watched on YouTube the 357 HP ammo will preform out of the snubby barrels. You can set up a simple test of your own. Shoot into a couple of milk jugs of water with a backstop of bundled newspaper or magazines. Old blankets work also.

+p 38 ammo hollow points are designed to open up at snub nose velocity.
I would look for defense loads for the 357 the should be designed for 2" barrels.

Carry rotation LCR 357 Monday - Friday, Charter Arms 44 special on the weekends

 

[lee n. field]

Broken transfer bar? Please elaborate.

In 2013-5 I had 2 Charter Undercovers (the original, and the one the factory sent me to replace it). On the first, the transfer bar broke twice. On the replacement, it broke once. I sold that gun off. Fast forward to 2020, I bought a used .44 Bulldog. Transfer bar broke at about 800 trigger presses.

All dry firing after the first Undercover broke it's transfer bar, has been with snap caps.

The transfer bars all broke at the same place, right below the "flag" part at the top. Each time it looked like metal fatigue.

I think the part needs to be redesigned, or made of better steel.

 

[golden]

Hippie,

I have .38 Special snubnose revolvers, .44 Special 3 inch revolvers ( a Bulldog and a TAURUS) and a single snubnose .357 (all the others are 4 inch or longer).

If I carried my RUGER Speed Six, I would probably go with the REMINGTON 110 grain sjhp load. My agency issued 110 grain .357 when I started in law enforcement and we never had any complaints about it.
It does not have the fierce recoil or muzzle blast of the more powerful 125 grain ammo, but has worked well enough.

I would pass on the Bulldog, the round kicks a lot, even the old 246 grain round nose ammo and they are not very effective. If I carried the Bulldog, I would use WINCHESTER Silvertips or more likely, the SPEER Blazer 200 grain hollowpoints.

For the .357 snub nose, I might even go with a premium bullet +P load like the FEDERAL HST 130 grain jhp. It has excellent expansion, even from a 2 inch barrel. Another alternative would be a high performance boutique load like the DOUBLE TAP .38 Special rounds. The balance here is recoil and control versus power. The older I get, the more I want to avoid recoil.

The big problem is your belief in hitting the spine. Remember, it is a very thin, moving target. If you cannot buy into the argument for using a good expanding round like the HST, then aim for the head, it is at least 3 times wider. Unless you practice a lot, you may miss it as well, unless you are close up. I practice a failure to stop drill, every time I shoot, which includes at least 2 shots to the head. This was part of my agency's qualification drill and based on actual gunfights, though the worry here was the use of bullet proof vests.

Jim

 

[FlippinHippie]

In 2013-5 I had 2 Charter Undercovers (the original, and the one the factory sent me to replace it). On the first, the transfer bar broke twice. On the replacement, it broke once. I sold that gun off. Fast forward to 2020, I bought a used .44 Bulldog. Transfer bar broke at about 800 trigger presses.

All dry firing after the first Undercover broke it's transfer bar, has been with snap caps.

The transfer bars all broke at the same place, right below the "flag" part at the top. Each time it looked like metal fatigue.

I think the part needs to be redesigned, or made of better steel.

This is disturbing to hear. I only have the one Charter. Got a basket full of Smiths and Rugers. But as far as I know, the only game in town if you want a lightweight carry in .44 is the Bulldogs. I'll contact Charter Arms and inquire if this problem has been addressed.

 

[FlippinHippie]

View attachment 987031

I've shot mine with exactly the grips pictured. The Charter is a bit of a beast with the standard service grips. I can get two fingers around it with the pinky wrapped around the butt. This is not an issue with the .38s I own, but the harder recoiling .44 moves around a bit in my hand and stings a bit. Most of my shots are low and left. A full sized three fingered grip solved that problem. Nice center grouping with my point shooting method and no pain.

The Ruger boot grip only lets me get one and one half fingers around it. No issue shooting heavy .38 wadcutters, but harder to control with magnums. Also it's a harder to grab in a hurry from a pocket with that short fat grip. Again, problem solved using a full sized grip.

 

[FlippinHippie]

Hippie,

I have .38 Special snubnose revolvers, .44 Special 3 inch revolvers ( a Bulldog and a TAURUS) and a single snubnose .357 (all the others are 4 inch or longer).

If I carried my RUGER Speed Six, I would probably go with the REMINGTON 110 grain sjhp load. My agency issued 110 grain .357 when I started in law enforcement and we never had any complaints about it.
It does not have the fierce recoil or muzzle blast of the more powerful 125 grain ammo, but has worked well enough.

I would pass on the Bulldog, the round kicks a lot, even the old 246 grain round nose ammo and they are not very effective. If I carried the Bulldog, I would use WINCHESTER Silvertips or more likely, the SPEER Blazer 200 grain hollowpoints.

For the .357 snub nose, I might even go with a premium bullet +P load like the FEDERAL HST 130 grain jhp. It has excellent expansion, even from a 2 inch barrel. Another alternative would be a high performance boutique load like the DOUBLE TAP .38 Special rounds. The balance here is recoil and control versus power. The older I get, the more I want to avoid recoil.

The big problem is your belief in hitting the spine. Remember, it is a very thin, moving target. If you cannot buy into the argument for using a good expanding round like the HST, then aim for the head, it is at least 3 times wider. Unless you practice a lot, you may miss it as well, unless you are close up. I practice a failure to stop drill, every time I shoot, which includes at least 2 shots to the head. This was part of my agency's qualification drill and based on actual gunfights, though the worry here was the use of bullet proof vests.

Jim

Thanks for the input Jim. Of course, a three or better yet a four inch barrel will allow the .357 to shine. Problem is with snubbies. I'm from the old school where penetration trumps expansion. The .357 works well enough out of the two inch, but lacks penetration. Out of a four inch however, it truly is the "crack of doom". Expansion and penetration with reasonable recoil. The snubbie is what I carry though. It's all about trade offs. Can't conceal a larger revolver in my waistband due to the fact that I suffer from the white man's curse...no ass to hold up my pants. (Really, I've just got a hole in my back.) I have to cinch my belt tight enough without stuffing a gun in there. On occasions when I do, I must tighten my belt to the point where no blood reaches my legs. So for me, pocket carry is the most comfortable. I carry all day every day so comfort is king. Is it the best carry option? No of course not. But when you are cursed with no ass and failing eyesight, I revolver in the front pocket just works. At least I have a gun with me, and nine times out of ten, you can see trouble coming anyway.

 

[Duster340]

This is disturbing to hear. I only have the one Charter. Got a basket full of Smiths and Rugers. But as far as I know, the only game in town if you want a lightweight carry in .44 is the Bulldogs. I'll contact Charter Arms and inquire if this problem has been addressed.

Eclipsed 5,000 rounds awhile ago in my 7yo 2.5" Bulldog without a single hiccup. I did use a little blue loctite on a few screws to keep them from backing out during extended range sessions. Guess there's a chance of something breaking in any manufacturer's guns. But I think newer CA products are reliable as anything else out there.

 

[FlippinHippie]

Eclipsed 5,000 rounds awhile ago in my 7yo 2.5" Bulldog without a single hiccup. I did use a little blue loctite on a few screws to keep them from backing out during extended range sessions. Guess there's a chance of something breaking in any manufacturer's guns. But I think newer CA products are reliable as anything else out there.

I'll keep a close watch on the transfer bar. Hopefully there would be some sign before it just gives up. Again, thanks for the heads up.

 

[Buckeye63]

Other than one odd Charter Bulldog I had . The others have been great ( knock on wood)

 

[Spug]

Just consider the gun an extinction of your fist.

I don't know, that could lead to a flinch problem, I'd think.

Sorry, couldn't resist. No experience here with either the LCR or the Boomer, but my Charter Bulldog in .44 Spl has pretty much supplanted my beloved SP101 in .357 for everyday revolver carry, mostly for the lower blast issues of the .44 listed above and also for better penetration of the much heavier weight .44 bullet in the unlikely event of a bad encounter with a large quadruped (or sumo wrestler). I know the Sp101 is a lot heavier than the LCR, so maybe it's off topic. Still, a smaller Ruger in .44 Special would be amazing, but I can't get my hopes up.

 

[FlippinHippie]

Thanks for all the input. I've come to the conclusion that a Buffalo Bore 150 grain full "cutter" is a better choice for the snub than a the 357. I've got a couple of LCRs in .38 that weigh in at just under a pound loaded. I carry one during the hottest days of summer when drawstring shorts are the order of the day. I'll carry the Boomer the rest of the time. My plumber really liked the .357 version. I traded it for 800.00 worth of plumbing work yesterday. Hope I don't regret it.

 

[golden]

Hippie,

I am old school as well. I grew up on a diet of COOPER, KEITH and SKELTON, but!!!!!! then as I got older, I learned to question assumptions. My agency had at one time issued .45ACP's, then went to the .38 Special to improve their shooting. Later on, after a number of complaints from the field, they dropped the .38 Special +P+ "Treasury load" and switched to the .357 magnum. Then we went to .40 S&W and now we are going to the 9m.m. So old school does not mean you have to not reconsider and change based on better information and selections.

As for penetration. I know a lot of people consider it paramount. I do not. The FBI foisted the 147 grain jhp 9m.m. on the law enforcement world and those agencies that jumped on that bandwagon found out it was a bad idea. The premium bullets available today get the 147 grain and other barely supersonic rounds into the useful side, but that is another story. I hope your choice of a deep penetrating load does not cause you grief.
If you really think that expanding ammo will not stop a threat, then you should probably switch to a light recoiling round and practice exclusively on head shots. It is a bad practice as stress will make accurate shooting all the more difficult and the head is a small, moving target. Still, it makes more sense to me than trying to hit the spine of an oncoming threat.

I pocket carry as well. That is because in Florida, a jacket or vest really stands out and screams gun, just like a large fanny pack. My choice is a GLOCK 42, but I am considering a 9m.m. like the GLOCK 26. I do not like the recoil of the mini 9's like the 43 and all the other single stack mini 9's.

If I was still living up north, by CANADA, I would go with a pancake holster on my hip and carry either a SIG or BERETTA 9 or .40. I found that this was not a problem in Montana or the Dakota's.

Just my opinion,

Jim

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Hippie,

I am old school as well. I grew up on a diet of COOPER, KEITH and SKELTON, but!!!!!! then as I got older, I learned to question assumptions. My agency had at one time issued .45ACP's, then went to the .38 Special to improve their shooting. Later on, after a number of complaints from the field, they dropped the .38 Special +P+ "Treasury load" and switched to the .357 magnum. Then we went to .40 S&W and now we are going to the 9m.m. So old school does not mean you have to not reconsider and change based on better information and selections.

As for penetration. I know a lot of people consider it paramount. I do not. The FBI foisted the 147 grain jhp 9m.m. on the law enforcement world and those agencies that jumped on that bandwagon found out it was a bad idea. The premium bullets available today get the 147 grain and other barely supersonic rounds into the useful side, but that is another story. I hope your choice of a deep penetrating load does not cause you grief.
If you really think that expanding ammo will not stop a threat, then you should probably switch to a light recoiling round and practice exclusively on head shots. It is a bad practice as stress will make accurate shooting all the more difficult and the head is a small, moving target. Still, it makes more sense to me than trying to hit the spine of an oncoming threat.

I pocket carry as well. That is because in Florida, a jacket or vest really stands out and screams gun, just like a large fanny pack. My choice is a GLOCK 42, but I am considering a 9m.m. like the GLOCK 26. I do not like the recoil of the mini 9's like the 43 and all the other single stack mini 9's.

If I was still living up north, by CANADA, I would go with a pancake holster on my hip and carry either a SIG or BERETTA 9 or .40. I found that this was not a problem in Montana or the Dakota's.

Just my opinion,

Jim

I'm in Florida, too. I carry a good, sharp knife, typically. A lot of us old swamp critters do. I grew up with knives and guns, both. I don't carry a "switchblade" but close enough to be as fast as one without being so close it's illegal. My employer forbids carry in the workplace and I like my cushy, high-paying job so I don't carry a gun - knives are fine. Leaving one in the car all day just isn't in the cards and getting caught with one at work is not worth the risk.

 

[golden]

Geo,

What about on your day off or for that midnight run to the 7/11? My work issues GLOCK 19's for anyone who signs on the dotted line.

What was funny, when I started, they were so short on money, they used to count the bullets. The first time I qualified, after we cleaned our guns, they told me to hold out my hand and placed six rounds in my hot little hand. I told them to keep counting and whined until I got 18 rounds for the gun and my speedloaders.

I carry a knife too. Everyone that I work with does. We are always cutting and opening stuff.

Jim

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Geo,

What about on your day off or for that midnight run to the 7/11? My work issues GLOCK 19's for anyone who signs on the dotted line.

What was funny, when I started, they were so short on money, they used to count the bullets. The first time I qualified, after we cleaned our guns, they told me to hold out my hand and placed six rounds in my hot little hand. I told them to keep counting and whined until I got 18 rounds for the gun and my speedloaders.

I carry a knife too. Everyone that I work with does. We are always cutting and opening stuff.

Jim

I'm in bed by 10PM, even on Saturdays. I don't work in law enforcement. I avoid high-crime areas - especially "7-11's" which we don't have any, they're all Lil' Champs, Kangaroos or Gateways now. The little town I live in has some bad elements, mostly druggies and dealers, but they're mostly harmless except to each other. A crack head tried to mug me about ten years ago. I slapped him silly and threatened to call his mom and tell her where to find him. Poor kid ran away crying. Last time I had a problem in the "big city" of Gatorville, was just after Y2K - I stopped to get gas on the way home at 2AM and some kid pulled a knife on me on the way to pay. Again, slapped him silly, broke his arm in the process, which I kind of felt bad about later, took the knife away and told him to get a job - and take a bath. I thought the clerk in the Lil' Champ was gonna double-over laughing. The cops took him away and I never heard more about it. I guess they either cut a deal and didn't need my testimony or decided no to prosecute - our State's Attorney back then was famous for letting some little fish go to catch bigger fish.

Maybe I'm being silly and some day it gets me killed. Won't be the first time. YMMV, ask your doctor if its right for you, do not take if allergic, etc. etc. etc....