M14 Forum

techvoodoo · February 7th, 2012, 10:22 AM

Recently picked up this Ruger LCR .38 for my CCW firearm (if/when I ever get my license in the mail... waiting for 2 months now

). Overall I'm pretty pleased with it.

My only other pistols are all full sized 5" 1911 Government models so this is a lot different than what I'm used to shooting. Will need to spend more time at the range training and getting used to the trigger. but the size and 13.5oz weight feels really good for daily carry.

Hgunner · February 7th, 2012, 11:42 AM

Nice revolver, personally I like J-frames but that will make an excellent BUG or pocket carry when you can't carry a 1911.

As far as becoming proficient with it, your going to find out rather quickly just how punishing light weight revolvers can be with standard .38 special loads much less plus+'s if it's rated for those.

Strictly as a suggestion, see if you can't find an older S&W 4 inch revolver like a Model 64 to learn to shoot revolvers double action on.
It can take some time and effort and a number of rounds to really nail double action shooting with a revolver. Doing it on that LCR may prove challenging to your hand so to speak. Learning the skill of DA shooting on a medium frame revoler may save you some wear and tear on your hand, and the skill will transfer easily to the smaller, lighter revolver(s).

techvoodoo · February 7th, 2012, 01:07 PM

thanks for the suggestions. i do have a bit of experience shooting double action revolvers. growing up my dad always carried a s&w model 66 and later a colt python for his leo sidearm and i've been to the range with those, but it's been many years. this ruger is rated for +p .38 specials but i haven't tried them yet. standard pressure is a little snappy in the recoil department so i'm sure +p will be a handful. i've only had the revolver for about a week so i certainly need some more range trips to get used to it.

Nightrider · February 7th, 2012, 01:36 PM

I actually bought a LCR and carried it for a while, it was so light-weight and easy to carry in a front pocket holster. Sadly when I got to go out and shoot it, quite quickly it became apparent to me that it is indeed a "belly gun".... if your target is more than 10 yards away putting your shots on target is going to be challenging, especially when the adrenaline is pumping and your heart is racing. It wasn't a recoil issue, just an accuracy issue. I sold it and bought a Kahr PM45 and haven't looked back. I now have 6 .45+P 230 grain hollowpoints compared to 5 .38+P 125 grainers and much better accuracy with night sites that still fits in the exact same front pocket holster. Also I have a back up magazine whereas the LCR doesn't have speedloaders designed to work with it. I'm much happier now. Just my 2 cents...take it for what it's worth.

dragon6097 · February 7th, 2012, 02:50 PM

Very nice wheel gun. That one in particular is on my short list to buy here soon. Can get em on for a good deal and they're just as nice IMO as anything that is out on the market for that style. I've been carrying a Sig 238 as a pocket gun but would probably run one of these instead. Something to be said for simplicity under stress

m14forme · February 7th, 2012, 03:44 PM

I personally like compact 5-shot revolvers, as long as they are .357 or +P+ .38.

I had two Ruger SP-101's, one .357, one .38. .357 had laser ported barrel and did not kick as much as the .38 with +P+ ammo. Both were well made, good quality revolvers.
I sold them because I could not get used to the trigger safety in the Ruger revolvers. I have trained extensively in S&W revolvers and kept locking up the trigger because I did not let it cycle completely forward after each shot. With the S&W's you only have to let the trigger cycle forward enough to engage the cylinder for the next shot.

Dry fire that revolver hundreds, even thousands of times while you are waiting for your CCW to arrive. You can't hurt it and might even smooth out the action. I got both of my Rugers internals polished by a gunsmith. Got all my S&W's polished and spring kits installed. Triggers pull like oiled glass. Ohhhhhhhh yeah.

mkd357 · February 8th, 2012, 08:50 AM

Good little revolver! My eye doctor has one & really likes it. I think I would opt for the .357 magnum version if I were to buy an LCR. It is 2 or 3 oz heavier with a steel upper frame instead of aluminum one. From what I have heard they handle recoil of hot loads a little better then the .38 version.
Still if a snubbie was going to come along as my ccw gun it would be a S&W J-Frame. Most probably a Model 60 .357 Magnum. I can live with the extra weight of the all steel gun. They definitely handle the recoil of magnum rounds a lot better then the aluminum or scandium frame models.
The other Snub Nosed option would be a S&W 66 with a 2.5" barrel. 6 shots in a small enough package that handles recoil better then any J-Frame I have ever shot. Now if I could just find a good price on one!

Silverton4 · February 9th, 2012, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by techvoodoo

Recently picked up this Ruger LCR .38 for my CCW firearm (if/when I ever get my license in the mail... waiting for 2 months now

). Overall I'm pretty pleased with it.

My only other pistols are all full sized 5" 1911 Government models so this is a lot different than what I'm used to shooting. Will need to spend more time at the range training and getting used to the trigger. but the size and 13.5oz weight feels really good for daily carry.

Nice wheelgun. I also have been using my Colt govt. models and my Colt Double Eagle as carry pieces and recently bought a nice used Ruger Speed Six in .357mag w/ 2 3/4" barrel. The Speed Six is heavier than yours, but is also a good back pocket piece and I like it fine. I have to wear suspenders when carrying either Colt to keep the weight from pulling my britches down so the Ruger helps some. Maybe I need a Jackass rig for the Colt.

Are those Hogues on it or Ruger factory? Tried the Hogue one piece stock on mine but it didn't really feel right, kind of changed the way I pointed with it. I put some old style Pachmayr compacts on my Ruger and they're nice.

Enjoy that Ruger. It looks like a nice'un.

100_3281.jpg

Silverton4 · February 9th, 2012, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkd357

Good little revolver! My eye doctor has one & really likes it. I think I would opt for the .357 magnum version if I were to buy an LCR. It is 2 or 3 oz heavier with a steel upper frame instead of aluminum one. From what I have heard they handle recoil of hot loads a little better then the .38 version.
Still if a snubbie was going to come along as my ccw gun it would be a S&W J-Frame. Most probably a Model 60 .357 Magnum. I can live with the extra weight of the all steel gun. They definitely handle the recoil of magnum rounds a lot better then the aluminum or scandium frame models.
The other Snub Nosed option would be a S&W 66 with a 2.5" barrel. 6 shots in a small enough package that handles recoil better then any J-Frame I have ever shot. Now if I could just find a good price on one!

Yeah, the extra weight is a plus, to me. I carry my S6 loaded w/ .38 +P JHPs and a speedloader with .357 JHPs. The .38 +P lets me control the recoil a little better and get back on with the 2nd shot, which might be a good thing someday.

techvoodoo · February 9th, 2012, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silverton4

Nice wheelgun. I also have been using my Colt govt. models and my Colt Double Eagle as carry pieces and recently bought a nice used Ruger Speed Six in .357mag w/ 2 3/4" barrel. The Speed Six is heavier than yours, but is also a good back pocket piece and I like it fine. I have to wear suspenders when carrying either Colt to keep the weight from pulling my britches down so the Ruger helps some. Maybe I need a Jackass rig for the Colt.

Are those Hogues on it or Ruger factory? Tried the Hogue one piece stock on mine but it didn't really feel right, kind of changed the way I pointed with it. I put some old style Pachmayr compacts on my Ruger and they're nice.

Enjoy that Ruger. It looks like a nice'un.

Attachment 15374

they are hogue tamer grips which it comes from the factory with by default.

Falcondrvr · February 9th, 2012, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkd357

Good little revolver! My eye doctor has one & really likes it. I think I would opt for the .357 magnum version if I were to buy an LCR. It is 2 or 3 oz heavier with a steel upper frame instead of aluminum one. From what I have heard they handle recoil of hot loads a little better then the .38 version.
Still if a snubbie was going to come along as my ccw gun it would be a S&W J-Frame. Most probably a Model 60 .357 Magnum. I can live with the extra weight of the all steel gun. They definitely handle the recoil of magnum rounds a lot better then the aluminum or scandium frame models.
The other Snub Nosed option would be a S&W 66 with a 2.5" barrel. 6 shots in a small enough package that handles recoil better then any J-Frame I have ever shot. Now if I could just find a good price on one!

I've got the 357 LCR and yeah I have to say it's actually a joy to shoot with the 38 and 38+p loads. I used your same logic when choosing. I can shoot her all day. For comparison, my Kel-Tec PF9 is far more nasty. I'm sure the extra weight helps but I'm sure the OP will find his version to be pretty easy shooting as well.

Now firing the 357 loads in the LCR... well, that's another story!

Great trigger on this thing though

Hungry1 · February 11th, 2012, 08:00 PM

I carry a LCR in .357, I really appreciate it's compact size.

I replaced the factory front sight with a XS Big Dot.

I did own the .38 model and I can say the .357 model does do a better job handling the recoil.