Ruger LCR

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gutterman

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I have a chance to pickup a NIB Ruger LCR .38+P. Have read some comments from a few sources, saying the new revolver is the perfect carry gun, with plenty of power,light weight,easy concealment etc. Anybody out there have any experience with one? I know they are relatively new.
 
I havent shot one yet but have only heard good things from the owners I meet. The trigger pull is pretty darn good.
 
I have had my LCR since May. It may look like a mongrel dog, but it sure does grow on you. Mine spent a good deal of time with me on trout expeditions this summer.
 
I handled one at a gun show. It was light, but I wasn't allowed to dry fire it to see what the trigger pull was like. Aside from that, you'd never know you were carrying one.
 
Good gun from my perspective. Easy to carry, shoots good, a lot less kick than my J frame. Highly recommend.
 
I like mine. It (subjectively) shoots much more comfortably that the Airweight Smiths I have owned, and has been an uneventful ownership experience for over 600 rounds. It is a nice, comfortable pocket carry.

My only complaint is that the push-style cylinder release is a bit trickier to work with on reloads than the Colt-or-Smith style releases, although this is probably more of a training/practice issue than anything. Also, Ruger only endorses HKS speedloaders with this gun, and I strongly prefer Safariland, but again, this is more a personal problem than a problem with the gun.

All in all I've found it to be a comfortable, pocketable, reliable gun that is worth owning.
 
thanks for the input-i feel this forum is the best source of honest info you can get--it has helped me alot in my recent trades. thanks again
 
I think as time goes by, the LCR is going to take a bite out of J-Frame sales for S&W. And there will undoubtedly be some converts who sell their J-Frame to switch over to the LCR.

I'm just glad to see Ruger take the CCW market seriously at last.
 
Over the last two months, there have been several good magazine articles on them-American Handgunner, Guns and American Rifleman did pretty extensive work-ups. Ive had one for two or three months and it stays in my pocket holster most of the time.I've basically sighted in the laser sight but most of my shooting has been broad daylight using the very visible fixed sights. I don't claim a large round count but have shot it out to fifty yards with some very gratifying results. It is very easy to hit with-significanly more usably accurate than most snubs.
It is easy to keep the shots inside the 9 ring at 25 yards with most of them crowding the ten or x rings. This was shot with standard pressure swc reloads at 25, 35 and 50 yards standing two handed five shots each. the eight ring shot was from 35 yards but I got three out of five inside it at 50 yards.
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the laser grips transmit a bit of recoil-probably distracting to a casual shooter but I am told the standard grips are really comfortable. When I first learned that ruger was making use of considerable plastic in a revolver, it kind of turned my stomach. I don't like plastic autopistols either. But now I'm sold on this LCR as a practical portable tool. With a little mental flexibility, it's not a bit hard to look at. Much prettier and more practical than my second x wife actually.
 
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It is very easy to hit with-significantly more usably accurate than most snubs.

Significant usable accuracy. I think that sums it up very well for the LCR. For me that is due to the grip angle, the grips (I have the Hogues), the sights and the trigger.
 
I've had mine about a month and have managed to put about 100 rds through it. It does transmit more recoil back to the shooter as mentioned above. I think this is due to the very light weight and the feel of the laser grips. If I had it to do again, I think I would not get the laser grips and get a soft set of aftermarket ones or the factory Hogues. The laser grips feel slick on a hot day.

I have found it to be very accurate with SWC and RNL rounds. I have not had the chance to put any +P stuff through it. It shoots alittle low with the slow stuff, so hopefully the +P's will put it right on. The trigger is the best I have ever found on a pistol of this type.

I would love to see Ruger chamber the LCR in .327 Federal and maybe in .22lr or .22WMR. It would make a great kit gun.

Overall, I am very impressed. I would buy another one in a heartbeat. I give them 9 out of 10.

T2E
 
I have one. It is the model with the standard stocks - no "laser grips".

I purchased it new just a few months ago. All I have done to it so far is shoot it, clean it, carry it, and shoot it some more.

I estimate that I have about 300 rounds through it at this time.

I really like it. It is obviously very light (13.5 ounces empty) and quite handy to carry.

I have found three holsters for it. I have a DeSantis Nemesis holster that is used to carry the revolver in the front pocket of shorts, slacks, or jeans. It works quite well, stays in the pocket when the revolver is drawn, and conceals the weapon fairly well.

The second holster is made by Simply Rugged and is made specifically for the LCR. (As a matter of fact, I am wearing that holster and the LCR as I write this message). This is a three-slot "pancake" type holster that allows you to adjust the cant of the holster and wear it as a cross draw holster if desired. I prefer the straight up position on the strong side, personally. The holster does a great job of holding the revolver snugly against your side and makes it quite easy to conceal under even a fairly snug tee shirt. The workmanship is very good and it holds the LCR quite snugly. The belt loop slots are long enough to accommodate a 1 3/4" belt, but the slots are cut so narrow that it makes it tedious to thread a belt through the slots. It is also so flat in profile that it is not real easy to re-holster the LCR with one hand. But when it is in the holster, the revolver is secure, well-protected, and extremely low profile.

The third holster is a Blade Tech Sting Ray made from Kydex, and is the case for virtually all my handguns, this is my favorite holster for the LCR. It is of typical Blade Tech quality, fits the revolver perfectly, and is FAST. Concealment ability is not as low profile as the other two holsters, but is more comfortable to wear, perfectly acceptable for concealment, and as mentioned earlier, FAST. (I just checked and I have six of this model holster for six different handguns).

Now for the LCR: I really like the trigger as it came from the factory. In my opinion, it is vastly superior to any J frame Smith & Wesson revolver as it comes from the box. (I know that some J frames can get a very good trigger after a knowledgeable and talented gunsmith works on them, and I am not trying to insinuate that the LCR trigger beats a tuned J frame trigger). There is no creep or stacking, and I don't intend to do any action work to it unless something goes wrong.

The front sight is pinned in place, and is a perfect candidate for replacement with a "big dot" XS sight or something similar for my ageing eyes, but at this time, nobody I have contacted makes an aftermarket front sight for it. When they do, it should be pretty simple to switch the stock one out. The front sight is of good size considering the diminutive size of the revolver. I painted the entire serrated section of the front sight ramp a bright fluorescent green and it works out real well for me so far. The "rear sight" is actually a square notch cut in the polymer frame housing, and is of ample width and depth to allow for a very good sight picture, considering the size of the weapon and the 1 7/8" barrel.

The stocks that come on the gun are of adequate size for this size revolver, but I have to make compromises with any small pistol or revolver I shoot, as I wear Extra Large size gloves and have long fingers. However, the flexibility that seems to be inherent in the polymer frame of the LCR, combined with the really well designed stocks, make the revolver as comfortable to shoot as I think is possible.

I have shot jacketed hollow points and cast lead SWC and SWCHP ammo in the revolver, and it has digested everything fine, as one would expect from a revolver. All my accuracy testing was done unscientifically, as I see no reason to "benchrest" this pistol at 25 yards and attempt to shoot five shot groups with it. Instead, all accuracy testing has been done shooting from a standing position at a measured 15 yards, shooting very methodically (obviously all shooting done DA, as the hammer cannot be cocked with the thumb).

Average of three five-shot groups at 15 yards from this position and distance have ranged from 2 3/8" to 3 5/8". That is actually better than I expected. I have also shot the revolver at 25 yards, and while I didn't shoot a bunch of 5 shot groups at that range, accuracy was certainly acceptable and the revolver does its part, especially considering I have never been much of a revolver double action shooter at any distance.

After trying four different factory loads, I chose to use the factory Buffalo Bore .38 Special (not +P) 158 grain LSWCHP for carry ammo. In my revolver, it provides an average velocity of 827 FPS with a standard deviation of 6 FPS. Accuracy is consistently around 2 1/2" for five shots at 15 yards. POI seems to be about point of aim at 15 yards and about one inch higher at 25 yards. This is a very soft bullet and while I haven't performed any kind of expansion or penetration tests, I expect it might expand quite well. It is soft enough that after firing about 25 rounds through the LCR, it is begging for a thorough barrel scrubbing. Not an issue for a self defense gun of this type, in my opinion.

I reload ammunition, so I experimented a bit with three different bullets for a practice load and found one that almost exactly matches the ballistics of the Buffalo Bore factory 158 LSWCHP. My load of choice is an Oregon Trail Laser Cast 158 grain SWC (not HP) bullet loaded in Winchester brass over 4.8 grains of Winchester W231 powder and using a Winchester WSP small pistol primer. OAL is 1.480". This loads provides an average velocity of 835 FPS with a standard deviation of 13 FPS. You can see how closely this resembles the Buffalo Bore ballistic performance. This load also shoots to almost the exact point of aim as the Buffalo Bore load (it actually has group center about one inch to the right of the Buffalo Bore load at 25 yards), and is on par with the Buffalo Bore accuracy. I am satisfied that I have a good carry load and a good practice load for this revolver.

No malfunctions or issues with the revolver so far. Its greatest feature is how easy it is to hang on my hip or toss in a pocket so I am NEVER unarmed, and it serves a great role as a BUG as well. I know I can shoot a pistol better than I can a double action revolver, but I am practicing with the LCR a couple times each month and feel confident I have a capable weapon, given its caliber and design limitations. (It is not a 1911, and it is not a .45, but then neither are a lot of other weapons out there).

All in all, I am quite satisfied with the LCR and do not hesitate to recommend the revolver for use as an "always with me" or BUG role.

Hope this feedback helps.
 
I have not shot one, but have handled one. IMO, what the LCR lacked was good balance. The poly grip section made the alloy parts of the frame feel much heavier than they are, giving it a top heavy feel to me. I like the balance of a J-Frame better. I prefer alloy or steel in a revolver, but am not adverse to poly. I can see the poly making the gun a great everywhere piece...something about poly just makes you less adverse to putting a gun through the abuse of every day carry.
 
Regarding balance, the balance shifts to a perfect sweet spot with the cylinder loaded. Empty, it is muzzle heavy. Loaded, it is just spot-on. I'm liking it more than my Keltec PF9 for this very reason. The KT is grip-heavy when loaded with 7 rounjds. The LCR is just...well, durn near perfect.

Q
 
I haven't had a chance to get out and shoot my LCR, but I really like how the gun feels and the trigger is awesome compared to my S&W 340PD. Once I can get a set of CT grips for the LCR and some range time, it could very possibly take the 340PD's place in my pocket.

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My girlfriend got one a few weeks ago. We cleaned it, shot it, and loved it. I think the recoil feels much lighter than comparable small lightweight snub nose revolvers. We both think it's a great revolver, and now she won't borrow my Smith & Wesson Airweight any more.
 
One of these days I will embrace the notion of a DAO revolver, and hopefully I can find a deal on a one of these.
 
I've had my LCR for a couple of months and I love the gun. On an average weekend it gets 200 rounds fired through it. If you don't like the thoughts of a "plastic" revolver get over it, this is probably the first of many to come.
 
I like the LcR but i hope they don't start putting plastic frames on single action armies. After USFA came out with a bunch of those with pastel bake-on finishes, I predicted they'd go to plastic next.
Maybe not.
 
They have one at Academy here for $475, about what I'd heard was the msrp on 'em. Then, I saw one down the road at a gun shop with $660 on it. Seems some think they're rare and unavailable or something. :rolleyes: Personally, I've got a Taurus UL I've been shooting for 13 years that works great, very nice trigger, too. I just don't see the need to spend that much on yet another snubby. Heck, most of the time I have a pocket 9 on me, carry the Taurus when fishing or just in the revolver mood.

Very functional gun, a little fugly, but very functional and built tough in the Ruger tradition while not being overly bulky or heavy. I like it a lot, just don't see the need at this time. One thing, too, I really prefer a hammer and SA capability. Spare me the lectures, I've heard 'em all. I just like the option of SA even if I don't shoot the gun that way too often. I actually use SA to place shots in the field quite often. DA is strictly for self defense. To me, not having SA capability limits the uses of the gun, another reason I think I'll stick with what I've got. My 9 is DAO and defense is its only use.
 
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