Ruger LCR - .357mag or .38spl?

[BuffCyclist]

Ever since I saw someone shoot an LCR at my CCW course in September, I've been wanting to pick one up as my first revolver and as a truck gun, hiking gun and any other time when I want to carry but don't want to carry my G23. I did get to dry fire the one from the class a few times and it has an EXCELLENT trigger, I was very impressed with that!

Living in the mountains, hiking up here and driving to/from work 16 miles away with no vehicular traffic, I will have to plan for and deal with the occasional bear or mountain lion encounter so I'm starting to feel as though I want to carry ALL the time while I'm up here. And sometimes carrying my G23 isn't an option due to its size/weight.

The more research I'm doing, it's a great little revolver. I'm now at a crossroads between getting the .357mag or the .38spl version of it. I've never shot either caliber, but plan on using it as a serious self-defense gun not for just target practice. So on that note, I'm sure I could handle the recoil of either if I needed to.

I like the idea of being able to shoot 2 types out of 1 pistol, and the .357mag version would make shooting .38spl+P a little easier because of the heavier weight. But I'm hearing that just shooting .38spl+P's out of the .38spl version is can be a little uncontrollable in and of itself.

Even if I got the .357mag version and shot .357mag once and decided it's too much, I'd still be able to shoot .38spl without a problem (and it's still lighter than the S&W airweights if I recall correctly). But if I got the .38spl version and decided the recoil is nothing to complain about, I'd never be able to shoot .357mag out of it. For this reason, I'm leaning towards the .357mag version. Plus I've heard there's a "medium" loaded .357mag for practice/self-defense that is less than a full .357mag but still more than a .38spl+P.

So, what do you all think? Opinions? Reviews? Suggestions?

[TFOGGER]

I think you've nailed it: With the .357 chambering, you can go all the way from .38 S&W Russian or .38 Special wadcutters to .357 158gr JHP loads in the same gun, with little penalty in weight or size.

[ghettodub]

I had an LCR for a while in .38, and I hated shooting it. More than almost any other pistol I've ever shot.

I wouldn't want to shoot that thing in a .357...

Just my .02.

[Irving]

I feel the same way and would go the same route.

[BuffCyclist]

I feel the same way and would go the same route.

Is that in response to ghettodub's post, or my post about getting it in the .357mag?

[BuffCyclist]

I had an LCR for a while in .38, and I hated shooting it. More than almost any other pistol I've ever shot.

I wouldn't want to shoot that thing in a .357...

Just my .02.

Why did you hate shooting it? Was the grip uncomfortable with the recoil? Or was it something else?

I'm just thinking utility, more options to choose from if I decided to carry .357mag instead of just .38spl+P

[Irving]

That was in response to you BuffCyclist. I flinched like a little baby shooting .44mag out of a full size Ruger Redhawk. I'd still do the same thing you're thinking of.

[ghettodub]

Why did you hate shooting it? Was the grip uncomfortable with the recoil? Or was it something else?

I'm just thinking utility, more options to choose from if I decided to carry .357mag instead of just .38spl+P

It was a combo of the grip and the recoil that I hated, hence my comments about not wanting to shoot .357 out of it.

As for your point: if you can shoot multiple calibers from the .357 model, then I would go with that over the .38

I loved that little gun until I shot it the first time. I did carry it for maybe a month too, and every time I shot it again, I hated it more and more. The size and weight on the thing is great, which relates to why I hated shooting it.

[4gunfun]

My wife carries and shoots a airweight 38 +p. They do kick a little. We load up some light loads to practice with but shoot a few hot ones too! I like the airweights and would buy another one. It is plenty small and light and has come down in price a bunch. I myself would like to be able to shoot 357's if in the woods.

[hip55]

A Kahr P45 (or any variant) might be a better option for hiking.

[BuffCyclist]

My wife carries and shoots a airweight 38 +p. They do kick a little. We load up some light loads to practice with but shoot a few hot ones too! I like the airweights and would buy another one. It is plenty small and light and has come down in price a bunch. I myself would like to be able to shoot 357's if in the woods.

Thanks, that is nice to know because if I recall, the airweights are similar in weight (an ounce or two heavier) than the LCR. I'd have to look again.

Haven't handled an airweight, but the trigger on the LCR really stood out to me as a nice trigger, I was quite surprised in all honesty.



A Kahr P45 (or any variant) might be a better option for hiking.

Wow, hefty price tag on those! Besides, I'm not looking for a semi-auto, I'm looking for a smallish revolver that I can actually carry with me and not feel so encumbered by it. As sometimes I do when I carry my G23. But at the same time, if I were to get a semi-auto pistol for a primarily woods-only gun, I'd probably just get a Glock 20 in 10mm. I've heard a lot of great things about 10mm and love Glocks.


Thanks for the opinions everyone! New points are being considered that I didn't think of before!

[gnihcraes]

LCR in 357. Just got done shooting my LCR 38, love it. As stated above, 357 you can shoot all the loads. Not sure I want to shoot 357 hot loads in that light of a gun, but would load it up for self defense in 357.

I did read an article somewhere though, that the short barrel length brought down the 357 speed to almost the +P 38's, do there wasn't much difference.

[rockymtnrifleman]

I shot the 38spl version not the 357, its wasn't pleasent but not uncontrolable. My brother-in-law just bought the 357 lcr, and shot it quite abit and said it kicks alot, He's also owns a S&W 500, and alot of other high caliber revolvers, and said the lcr with 357 is bad with recoil. I wanna try it and check it out for myself. Personally I like the SP101 in .357 mag, I'm trying to get my hands on another one. GL shopping

[Seamonkey]

Have you looked at the S&W Bodyguard?

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product4_750001_750051_766382_-1_757893_757767_757751_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

I preferred the trigger and grip of the bodyguard so I chose it over the LCR. I was lucky in that I was able to check them out side by side. The bodyguard just fit me better.

For my urban area use I went with a .38. The snub nose has a kick to it, no doubt, not something I'd want to shoot hundreds of rounds at a time with but it's not punishing.

As usual, YMMV


Edit: only in .38 so if you're going with a .357 it's not going to be your cup of tea

[bchase75]

Another vote for the SP101. I've got the two inch barrel version with Hogue grips, and I load it up with Buffalo Bore 180 grain hard cast ammo for hiking. Recoil is very sharp, but not painful (after I contoured those sharp edges on the trigger).

A friend of mine has the LCR (38 special), and while its fine with 125 grain ammo (commercial loads), target ammo loaded with 158 grain bullets had me massaging my hand and wrist after shooting a couple cylinders worth. Can't imagine what's it like to shoot full power .357 out of one of those things....

I might just be recoil sensitive, however. Plenty of guys swear by those little airweight .357s.