Ruger LCR - .357mag or .38spl?

[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/w...layErrorView_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.