Ruger LCR 9mm: Full Review and Range Report

[AJChenMPH]

Nice vid review.

Was that one instance of the bullet jumping crimp and locking up the cylinder the only instance, or did it happen to you multiple times? And what ammo were you shooting when it jumped crimp?

Thanks...

 

[rhinoh]

The pit bull is also heavier, lowering recoil, which is what cause the jumping. It's also possible the tolerance are not quite as tight as the Ruger, also lowering the chances.

I'm curious what "tolerance" would influence jumping crimp.

I was checking out a LCR 9 yesterday- I'm hoping Ruger will bring back the 9mm SP101

 

[Madcap_Magician]

Can't watch YouTube at work, but curious what load was jumping crimp, and if you thought that was the gun or just a weak crimp?

 

[C0untZer0]

I'm curious what "tolerance" would influence jumping crimp.

That statement didn't make sense to me either.

The Charter Arms does have spring tensioned extractor claws but the cartridge doesn't headspace based on where the ejector rod and extractor claws hold the cartridge, because the claws hold the cartridge less tightly than a moon clip does. You can test this easily by pointing the muzzle up and you will see the cartridges slip back a 32nd of an inch or so.

The chambers have a rim where the 9mm case head sits.

I don't know if the LCR has rimmed chambers, but if it doesn't the difference would be that, upon recoil, in the PITBULL the cartridge is being pushed back by the rim, whereas in the LCR the cartridge is being pulled back at the extraction groove by the moon clip.

I don't think that makes a difference. I think the reason there isn't crimp jump in the PITBULL is that it is a more massive revolver with a different recoil impulse than the LCR.

 

[C0untZer0]

The more I think about this the more I am wondering about it.

The LCR is built on a 357 frame with a 357 sized cylinder right?

The S&W 929 has a 9mm sized cylinder which is 1⅜" long. There is about ⅜" of space in the chamber from bullet tip to the forcing cone/end of the chamber.

The Charter Arms PITBULL cylinder is 1⅝" long and there is 9/16" of space in the chamber. I've heard that the PITBULL was built on a 357 frame.

I think for a 9mm bullet to jump crimp in an LCR and block the cylinder from rotating it would have to come all the way out of its case.

There would powder everywhere.

 

[PurpleMountainOutdoors]

I'm curious what "tolerance" would influence jumping crimp.

I was checking out a LCR 9 yesterday- I'm hoping Ruger will bring back the 9mm SP101

The cylinder to throat fit. The tighter the fit the better the accuracy, but great chance of being tied up by a loose bullet.

 

[PurpleMountainOutdoors]

The more I think about this the more I am wondering about it.

The LCR is built on a 357 frame with a 357 sized cylinder right?

The S&W 929 has a 9mm sized cylinder which is 1" long. There is about " of space in the chamber from bullet tip to the forcing cone/end of the chamber.

The Charter Arms PITBULL cylinder is 1" long and there is 9/16" of space in the chamber. I've heard that the PITBULL was built on a 357 frame.

I think for a 9mm bullet to jump crimp in an LCR and block the cylinder from rotating it would have to come all the way out of its case.

There would powder everywhere.

This is what happened. There was powder everywhere.

 

[PurpleMountainOutdoors]

Nice vid review.

Was that one instance of the bullet jumping crimp and locking up the cylinder the only instance, or did it happen to you multiple times? And what ammo were you shooting when it jumped crimp?

Thanks...

I was shooting cheap federal champion. The cylinder only got tied up once, but the bullets loosened from the case multiple times, also an issue.

 

[AJChenMPH]

I was shooting cheap federal champion. The cylinder only got tied up once, but the bullets loosened from the case multiple times, also an issue.

Got it...all with the cheap Federal Champion ammo, or different makes of ammo?

 

[HankR]

all with the cheap Federal Champion ammo, or different makes of ammo?

I'm not the OP, but I tried several loads and reported it here (link to another THR thread)

Short summary, Federal Champion repeatedly slipped by 1/8'' after two shots and pulled all the way out after three. Fiocchi and Winchester White box did not visibly move after 4 shots (All three were 115 gr). I bought some other cheap ammo to try, but it got cold and I haven't gotten a round tuit.

 

[PurpleMountainOutdoors]

Got it...all with the cheap Federal Champion ammo, or different makes of ammo?

Also with my friends range ammo, not sure what he was shooting. The Black Hills 115 gr XTP +p seemed to be good to go, but that stuff is too expensive to shoot a lot of it.

 

[GJgo]

I'd like to know if the 9mm LCR has a .355" or a .357" bore. Anyone measure?

 

[C0untZer0]

I can slip a strip of paper between the forcing cone and the cylinder of the S&W 929. I can't do that with the Charter Arms PITBULL. If I open the cylinder, put a strip of paper over the forcing cone and close the cylinder on it, I can pull the strip of paper out but there is tension on it.

So I know that there is less of a gap there for the PITBULL. I can also just hold the guns up to the light and eyeball it and see that the gap is slightly wider for the 929.

I'd also be interested in what the bore dimensions are for the Ruger 5456.

Although people who shoot 9mm out of the Blackhawk have generally reported no discernible difference in accuracy, I'd rather have a 9mm barrel than a .357 barrel.

 

[Johnny_B_Goode]

If you are going to buy an revolver chambered for a semi auto cartridge you need to buy ammo made to stand up to a revolver. You need roll crimped ammo or bullets with a cannelure, both would be better.

 

[GJgo]

I have a Blackhawk convertible. When I shoot 9mm through it with an exposed lead base it slugs up & shoots well. When I shoot FMJ/TMJ stuff through it (such as most premium ammo) I can only assume it doesn't slug up because it shoots poorly. This probably has a lot to do with the accuracy claims from both sides of the fence on this combo. I am interested in the LCR 9mm, but only if it's a .355 bore.

 

[PurpleMountainOutdoors]

If you are going to buy an revolver chambered for a semi auto cartridge you need to buy ammo made to stand up to a revolver. You need roll crimped ammo or bullets with a cannelure, both would be better.

I'm thinking the Hornady Critical Duty or Critical Defense would work quite nicely in this gun.