Snub Nose Caliber choice

[skippy1729]

The ruger LCR is available in a wide range of calibers. I am trying to pick one for daily carry from the following list:

22 magnum
22 lr
22 short
327 Federal
32 H&R magnum
32 long
32 short
32 ACP

I think all will get the job done provided there is very accurate shot placement; PLEASE, no arguments here, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. My primary consideration is noise levels. I've always shot 45ACP, 357 or 38+P and am not familiar with any of the above calibers. There is enough anecdotal observations to basically eliminate 22 magnum in favor of the 22lr. Actual decibel measurements are few and far between. Most of them don't specify ammo used or barrel length and are not very useful. TRUE decibel meters capture a very small "window" of the blast and they are also VERY expensive. Direct comparisons are meaningful.

So, do any of you LCR owners have a comparison between ayn two in the list. Something like: "My caliber X is louder than my caliber Y with such and such ammo? Also interested in other 2 inch snubbie owners, S&W, Taurus, Charter etc.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Paul R Zartman]

I like the 32 h&r mag or the 327 fed, other than that my 44 mag DW but it has a imprint issue...

 

[bdickens]

It's not available in .38 spl?

 

[1KPerDay]

If caliber doesn’t matter to you use the 32 short IMO. Subsonic, not much powder.

 

[.308 Norma]

The 32 H&R is pretty darned loud out of my 2" Taurus. I figure an 327 Federal out of it would be ear splitting!

 

[PapaG]

32 long, short and acp are not listed as dedicated chamberings but the first two anemics can be used n the 327. ACP is for semi autos. I would choose 357 and carry 38 wadcutters if noise is of such importance.
I carry a 442, a 638 or a EC9S.

 

[Jimbo80]

I have both a Colt Cobra and DS in 38 special neither of which I would call fun to shoot. I really would like a 32 long.

 

[Deanimator]

For self-defense, I won't even consider anything less than .380acp.

For a 2" revolver, I stick with .38 Special or .38 Special in a .357.

 

[Riomouse911]

.38 Spl. +P With Critical Defense 110 gr JHP out of the LCR will fit the bill just fine.
A JHP in a 85 gr .32 H&R or 100 gr .327 Fed would also work.

The others, for me? Not so much.

Stay safe.

 

[Bcwitt]

That 327 is supposed to be one hot number.

 

[Mauser lover]

.327 is loud. Really loud.

Same gun loaded with .32 S&W (long) is probably quieter than a .22.

Same gun loaded with .32 ACP gives extraction problems. They do fire relatively reliably though.

Unfortunately, the jump from the cartridge case to the barrel really does impact the accuracy. .32 S&W Long isn't terrible, but it has noticeably more deviation in the group than the longer cartridge(s).

If quiet is your goal, I'd get the one chambered in .327 and shoot .32 S&W Long most of the time.

 

[DustyGmt]

There is enough anecdotal observations to basically eliminate 22 magnum in favor of the 22lr.

What does this mean? You mean strictly in terms of noise levels?

 

[Lnf Crzr]

I carry Snubs Smallest I prefer is 38 spl… Yet on occasion when concealment is difficult, and a small lite weight firearm is needed- I’ve carried my S&W 317. 8rounds of SSS 60gr and 30gr 22lr Stingers on every other chamber could certainly help get one out of a situation. Not ideal, yet better than harsh words.

 

[edwardware]

If you're defending your hearing, wear earplugs.

If you're defending your life, buy a .38Spl, or maybe .327 Federal Mag if you like blast and boutique ammo prices.

 

[NeroM]

Suggest Ruger model 5401, 38 SPL ?
AtTACH=full]1029125[/ATTACH]

 

[clone]

I like my 327. If noise is an issue I use 32 h&r, 32 long or short. I reload and cast my own bullets so ammo isn't an issue. I do buy factory to get brass though. But the cost of factory is about the same as 38 and 357 these days so that's not much of a difference.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I have both a Colt Cobra and DS in 38 special neither of which I would call fun to shoot. I really would like a 32 long.

A .38Spl standard velocity 158gr SWC is about the same boom level as a .32 Long loaded up to near max with a 115 gr FP. This is out of 2” and 4” Colts, DS, Cobra, Police Positive, Pocket Positive, and a few miscellaneous H&R 7-series revolvers plus a ported Taurus .32. I would go with the .327 Federal then load it with Buffalo.32 Long SD ammo.

 

[Dibbs]

My first choice (of those listed) would be 32ACP. After that, 22WMR, but, that's just me. YMMV.

 

[CDW4ME]

For self-defense, I won't even consider anything less than .380acp.

If you're defending your hearing, wear earplugs.

If you're defending your life, buy a .38Spl.

I agree with both and that is coming from someone who won't carry less than 9mm.
Stopping attackers ASAP hopefully before they can inflict serious or lethal injury should be more of a priority than how loud the caliber is.

 

[bangswitch]

The ruger LCR is available in a wide range of calibers. I am trying to pick one for daily carry from the following list:

22 magnum
22 lr
22 short
327 Federal
32 H&R magnum
32 long
32 short
32 ACP

I think all will get the job done provided there is very accurate shot placement; PLEASE, no arguments here, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. My primary consideration is noise levels. I've always shot 45ACP, 357 or 38+P and am not familiar with any of the above calibers. There is enough anecdotal observations to basically eliminate 22 magnum in favor of the 22lr. Actual decibel measurements are few and far between. Most of them don't specify ammo used or barrel length and are not very useful. TRUE decibel meters capture a very small "window" of the blast and they are also VERY expensive. Direct comparisons are meaningful.

So, do any of you LCR owners have a comparison between ayn two in the list. Something like: "My caliber X is louder than my caliber Y with such and such ammo? Also interested in other 2 inch snubbie owners, S&W, Taurus, Charter etc.

Thanks for any help.

I'd argue that the .22 Short will get the job done, at anything over 10 feet, and would you have time to recognize the threat and respond from that distance?

And any of those, except maybe the .22 Short, will still be loud enough without earplugs that you won't enjoy firing more than one, in any circumstance. The two magnums are a given that they'll be painfully loud (I can attest to .22MRF without earplugs/ muffs, and I can also attest to .32 Auto without protection). If you're in any sort of enclosure, or in an alleyway that will reflect the sound, it's gonna hurt no matter what you shoot. I consider all those calibers, except the .32H&R Magnum, to be insufficient as a stopping round at any reasonable self-defense distance (15-20 yards). Might as well go for something you know will be sufficient, and be ready for your ears to ring for a week. I wouldn't worry much about cost of ammo, either, when considering self defense.

If you're defending your hearing, wear earplugs.

If you're defending your life, buy a .38Spl, or maybe .327 Federal Mag if you like blast and boutique ammo prices.

What he said ^^^

 

[Lnf Crzr]

I think the general advice is to get the largest caliber you can shoot accurately. The wee little 8 shot 22lr I on occasion carry can stop a attacker , Yet if needed to use that - It may not stop a attacker permanently until days later. That’s not what you need when the Attacker is Coming at you with a crowbar. The person may stop, retreat and forget about his intentions- or He may continue with greater malicious intent.
I once read where a guy stated- Carry as big and bad of a fire breathing beast of a cartridge that you can shoot accurately when your Life is being defended. I always remembered that as it makes sense. Tho Sometimes you just can’t.

Be safe-Shoot accurately

 

[Jim Watson]

The ruger LCR is available in a wide range of calibers. I am trying to pick one for daily carry from the following list:

22 magnum
22 lr
22 short
327 Federal
32 H&R magnum
32 long
32 short
32 ACP

Not exactly.
The LCR is made in .22 LR which will shoot Shorts.
In .22 Magnum which will shoot WRF if you can find it.
In .327 Federal which will shoot .32 H&R, .32 S&W Long, and .32 S&W (often miscalled "short.")

You will find people who say "I shoot them there .32 Ottomattik bullets in my revo all the time." Well, sometimes you can and sometimes you can't. I sure would not go to war with ACPs in a revolver unless I was short of proper ammunition and the zombies were real bad this year.

Let's drop the .22 Short and .32 S&W, too; this isn't the 19th century where peritonitis and gangrene were deterrents that worked with low powered weapons.

There are people who depend on .22 LR. The technical requirements are a brand and lot number of rimfire ammo that is reliable in the individual gun and lots of practice for "shot placement."

The rule of thumb is that .22 Magnum in a pistol is comparable to .22 LR in a rifle, a worthwhile gain. It seems reliable, I have seldom seen a WRM misfire even mentioned. Not for free, the WRM is definitely louder which is your criterion.

The .327 Federal is a bona fide magnum and is going to be much the loudest you mention.

Which leaves you the .32 H&R, called "Magnum" but only in relation to the cheap H&R revolvers, nowhere near full magnum pressures like .327 and .357, and the .32 S&W Long. You would just have to try both and see which you were willing to put up with.

Anything you choose will be hazardous to your hearing, you are taking the risk to your ears to protect your life. Any training and practice must be done with ear protection. There was a cop here who went to semiannual qualifications with bare ears. His justification was that he would not have ear protection if he got into a gunfight "on the street." But said gunfight would probably not involve shooting 50 rounds with half a dozen other people on the firing line doing the same.

The mildest thing that passes Internet Acceptance (by some) is the .38 Special midrange wadcutter. But you didn't list that one.

 

[bannockburn]

From your list I would have to agree with many of the members here who advocate the .327 Federal Magnum loaded down to .32 S&W Long levels for the least amount of noise and yet still being rather marginally effective as a self defense round.

For my own choice in a snubnose revolver it has always been a .38 Special.

 

[Lnf Crzr]

Any of what’s listed is better than harsh words and dirty looks.
I always wanted a k frame 327

 

[Bob Meyer]

The 327 will let you put the most energy down range. I don't have a 327 snub. Of the calibers listed I would choose a 32acp in a Llama mini 1911 or a HK-4.

Left to my own devices I would choose a 38 Special or a 44 Bulldog.