I originally had purchased a Rock Island 1911 compact for ccw but I realized over the summer that this was a little large for every day. I needed something smaller and lighter for summer. I picked up a Ruger LCR in .38spc back in July and I'm rarely without it.
I carry the LCR in one of 3 ways: ankle (with the gun glove), IWB (cheap blackhawk holster) and in my front pocket (DeSantis Nemesis). Aside from places that I'm legally not allowed to carry in I really never have a reason not to carry this thing. The LCR weighs in at about 1lb fully loaded and with the nemesis holster it slides right in and out of my front pocket when I grab for it. It's also nice for ankle carry because it doesn't add any significant weight to your ankle. Generally if I'm going to carry IWB I go for my 1911 but sometimes the LCR just works a little better, especially when I'm working out or running at night. If I make sure my running shorts are on securely I can confidently run for two miles without worrying about how securely my pistol is. The LCR is also fairly resistant to sweat.
As far as shoot-ability, this is very easy to shoot for a pocket sized gun. Inspite of its low weight and short barrel the recoil is surprisingly manageable. +p rounds give me more trouble but I could spend all day shooting regular .38 out of this thing (if ammo prices would cooperate). The sights definitely aren't built for precision shooting but they get the job done, I ran through several of the OPOTA courses of fire and did quite well even from 50ft. I did have to modify the tests because the LCR is only a 5 shooter and a couple courses require 6.
I've found +P to be kind of impractical. I have some Remington UMC +P ammo that i've put on groundhog duty. Otherwise followup shots are a pain and if you shoot +P out of this thing at night it becomes a flashbang.
In summary, I carry my .45 whenever I can and even then I carry my LCR as a backup. This thing is easy and comfortable to conceal in any setting and with any clothing I happen to be wearing. While I'm one of those guys who believes in carrying the largest thing practical, I don't think .38 is anything to laugh at.
I really recommend one of these for anyone who has a hard time concealing some of the compacts on the market. It's also an outstanding gun to carry while you exercise. While their are autos that are a little easier to conceal I'm not a fan of shooting 9mm pocket pistols and .380s aren't fun either. I believe in getting a carry piece that doesn't compromise comfort and ease of shooting for concealment and this is the only gun I've found that shoots as smoothly and fits in my front pocket.
I carry the LCR in one of 3 ways: ankle (with the gun glove), IWB (cheap blackhawk holster) and in my front pocket (DeSantis Nemesis). Aside from places that I'm legally not allowed to carry in I really never have a reason not to carry this thing. The LCR weighs in at about 1lb fully loaded and with the nemesis holster it slides right in and out of my front pocket when I grab for it. It's also nice for ankle carry because it doesn't add any significant weight to your ankle. Generally if I'm going to carry IWB I go for my 1911 but sometimes the LCR just works a little better, especially when I'm working out or running at night. If I make sure my running shorts are on securely I can confidently run for two miles without worrying about how securely my pistol is. The LCR is also fairly resistant to sweat.
As far as shoot-ability, this is very easy to shoot for a pocket sized gun. Inspite of its low weight and short barrel the recoil is surprisingly manageable. +p rounds give me more trouble but I could spend all day shooting regular .38 out of this thing (if ammo prices would cooperate). The sights definitely aren't built for precision shooting but they get the job done, I ran through several of the OPOTA courses of fire and did quite well even from 50ft. I did have to modify the tests because the LCR is only a 5 shooter and a couple courses require 6.
I've found +P to be kind of impractical. I have some Remington UMC +P ammo that i've put on groundhog duty. Otherwise followup shots are a pain and if you shoot +P out of this thing at night it becomes a flashbang.
In summary, I carry my .45 whenever I can and even then I carry my LCR as a backup. This thing is easy and comfortable to conceal in any setting and with any clothing I happen to be wearing. While I'm one of those guys who believes in carrying the largest thing practical, I don't think .38 is anything to laugh at.
I really recommend one of these for anyone who has a hard time concealing some of the compacts on the market. It's also an outstanding gun to carry while you exercise. While their are autos that are a little easier to conceal I'm not a fan of shooting 9mm pocket pistols and .380s aren't fun either. I believe in getting a carry piece that doesn't compromise comfort and ease of shooting for concealment and this is the only gun I've found that shoots as smoothly and fits in my front pocket.
