Posted: 9/28/2013 4:50:58 AM EDT
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Looking for an easy to use CC piece for the wife. I'm seeing lots of great reviews for the LCR, and am thinking the .357, but loaded .38 special to keep the kick down for her, and keep the option open for the full .357 should I happen to want to use it.
Any experiences out there with the piece? |
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The LCR 357 is my primary carry gun. I typically carry it in a pocket holster that keeps it upright, keeps its trigger covered, and conceals its shape.
The LCR doesn't have the well established reputation of the S&W J-frame, but it has a few major advantages. The J-frames have lawyer locks, the LCRs do not. The LCR has a padded surface at the back of the frame, J-frames do not. The price difference between a .38spl and .357mag LCR is between $20-$50, and the price difference between a .38spl and .357mag J-frame is closer to $200. In bone stock form, the LCR also has a better trigger. I say all of this as a S&W guy. I'd take a Model 60 over a SP101, a 686 over a GP100, and a 629 over a Redhawk any day of the week. But to me, the LCR wins in this segment. Ruger offers an alternative grip as an accessory. It's not quite as comfortable as the standard grip, but it makes the gun a lot easier to carry. LINK It shoots reasonably well, and I tend to forget I have it in my pocket. I'd guess my round count is somewhere in the 300 range. .38s are easy, but .357s aren't very pleasant in this package. The recoil is sharp and snappy. I chose the 357 so I could use the same die settings and pool of brass I use for other guns to make practice loads. Aside from the basic chambering, I'd say there are two major differences between the .38 and the .357. The .357 is built a bit heavier (different metal and finish for the frame), and it is really difficult to find. If you don't find one online, you may be looking for months. |
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Local shop was having a Ruger sale day. Walked out with one with a CT laser for $670. I'm figuring the laser oughta help her do a simple point & pull.
Now to find a source for practice loads. The store only had defensive loads instock, and over a buck a bang is a bit steep. Thanks for the feedback! |
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Like the poster above, I have an LCR in .357 and it is my main carry.
If your wife has "man hands" (very large hands) she might be uncomfortable with it. I have a finger hanging off it while shooting. Some other folks who have shot it that have big hands have complained about the finger hanging off, but coming from an LCP - it doesn't bug me at all. My wife has small hands, and it fits her hands great though Also as the above poster said, the trigger is fantastic. .38s are very comfortable to shoot, .357s are snappy but not unmanageable. It carries extremely well in my pocket, and my wife has carried it in an interior pocket of her purse with no problems. |
| A friend of mine's dad purchased a .357 LCR about a month ago so we took it out for a range session. I've carried a j-frame for about four years now and I found the LCR to have a pretty good trigger, but, for me, shooting magnum loads was unpleasant and overkill. Save yourself some money and just go with the .38spl model. Carry Speer Gold Dot 135grn +P short barrel rounds and call it a day. |
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Local shop was having a Ruger sale day. Walked out with one with a CT laser for $670. I'm figuring the laser oughta help her do a simple point & pull. Now to find a source for practice loads. The store only had defensive loads instock, and over a buck a bang is a bit steep. Thanks for the feedback! If you don't already reload and you've been considering it, .357mag might be the best caliber to start with. It's easy, and there's a wide range of options. Do you have any fun guns in .357mag? |
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If you don't already reload and you've been considering it, .357mag might be the best caliber to start with. It's easy, and there's a wide range of options. Do you have any fun guns in .357mag? Quoted:
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Local shop was having a Ruger sale day. Walked out with one Thanks for the feedback! If you don't already reload and you've been considering it, .357mag might be the best caliber to start with. It's easy, and there's a wide range of options. Do you have any fun guns in .357mag? This. Lee single stage kit is $99. Dies another $40. $25 for powder, $45 for primers, $40 for lead swc. $250 to get you started, provided you've been saving your brass. Get fancy once you learn it. |
| I got one for my wife. With the laser grip. Seems pretty nice. But if you get a Fobus paddle holster for this model the laser won't quite fit into the holster. Going to have to trim the brim of the holster to fit the laser. Probably no big deal. Haven't got a chance to shoot yet. |
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This. Lee single stage kit is $99. Dies another $40. $25 for powder, $45 for primers, $40 for lead swc. $250 to get you started, provided you've been saving your brass. Get fancy once you learn it. Quoted:
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Local shop was having a Ruger sale day. Walked out with one Thanks for the feedback! If you don't already reload and you've been considering it, .357mag might be the best caliber to start with. It's easy, and there's a wide range of options. Do you have any fun guns in .357mag? This. Lee single stage kit is $99. Dies another $40. $25 for powder, $45 for primers, $40 for lead swc. $250 to get you started, provided you've been saving your brass. Get fancy once you learn it. No other .357 (as yet). This is actually my first ever revolver, I have several other calibers in the safe. We've been thinking about getting into cowboy action, but have too many hobbies already. An umberti cattleman and lever action in .357 are appealing, though. A nearby friend does reloading and has offered to let me use his setup. |
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Having owned both, I found it much easier to carry a little airweight J frame. That said, the LCR is soooo much nicer to shoot. It doesn't disappear as easily, but at the same time you wont dread practicing. The grip I linked above makes a world of difference. but the Crimson Trace grips are probably a really good step in the right direction. |
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No other .357 (as yet). This is actually my first ever revolver, I have several other calibers in the safe. We've been thinking about getting into cowboy action, but have too many hobbies already. An umberti cattleman and lever action in .357 are appealing, though. A nearby friend does reloading and has offered to let me use his setup. Quoted:
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Local shop was having a Ruger sale day. Walked out with one Thanks for the feedback! If you don't already reload and you've been considering it, .357mag might be the best caliber to start with. It's easy, and there's a wide range of options. Do you have any fun guns in .357mag? This. Lee single stage kit is $99. Dies another $40. $25 for powder, $45 for primers, $40 for lead swc. $250 to get you started, provided you've been saving your brass. Get fancy once you learn it. No other .357 (as yet). This is actually my first ever revolver, I have several other calibers in the safe. We've been thinking about getting into cowboy action, but have too many hobbies already. An umberti cattleman and lever action in .357 are appealing, though. A nearby friend does reloading and has offered to let me use his setup. Do you have any experience shooting larger service or target revolvers? It''s blissful. Better examples have fantastic triggers, you can use a wide range of loads without worrying about cycling, and your brass stays in the cylinder instead of getting beat up and thrown over the ground. Single Actions are cool, but you can't be in a hurry. Extracting the empties takes some time compared to most guns. 
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| Consider going with the LCR in .38spl+P. Frankly, from a <2" barrel you are not going to see any real difference between .38+P and .357mag performance. However, the LCR in .38+P weighs almost 4oz less (13.5 -v- 17.10). The huge feature for this gun is concealability and carryability (I make up words). For me, that almost 1/4 pound difference was more attractive than the option of loading .357mag (which I am not likey to do anyway). However, this is not a right or wrong choice, just something to consider. As always-YMMV. |
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Quoted:Do you have any experience shooting larger service or target revolvers? It''s blissful. Better examples have fantastic triggers, you can use a wide range of loads without worrying about cycling, and your brass stays in the cylinder instead of getting beat up and thrown over the ground.
Single Actions are cool, but you can't be in a hurry. Extracting the empties takes some time compared to most guns. I have very little experience with revolvers, I've shot a few owned by friends, but not much. I've always been partial to semi-autos (I'm an engineer). I plan to try a few more out as I can, but most of my shooting friends tend to be engineers as well... |
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Consider going with the LCR in .38spl+P. Frankly, from a <2" barrel you are not going to see any real difference between .38+P and .357mag performance. However, the LCR in .38+P weighs almost 4oz less (13.5 -v- 17.10). The huge feature for this gun is concealability and carryability (I make up words). For me, that almost 1/4 pound difference was more attractive than the option of loading .357mag (which I am not likey to do anyway). However, this is not a right or wrong choice, just something to consider. As always-YMMV. Thanks. You very well coulf be correct. I was thinking the 1/4 pound didn't feel that significant when I handled both (without shooting). I plan to try a variety of loads to see how they feel. +P included. Who knows - if, as you say, I can't tell much of a difference, I might get a second one in .38 and have that one for the wife. Or me... since a 1/4 pound in her purse is less likely to be felt than a 1/4 pound in a cc holster. :) |
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Thanks. You very well coulf be correct. I was thinking the 1/4 pound didn't feel that significant when I handled both (without shooting). I plan to try a variety of loads to see how they feel. +P included. Who knows - if, as you say, I can't tell much of a difference, I might get a second one in .38 and have that one for the wife. Or me... since a 1/4 pound in her purse is less likely to be felt than a 1/4 pound in a cc holster. :) Quoted:
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Consider going with the LCR in .38spl+P. Frankly, from a <2" barrel you are not going to see any real difference between .38+P and .357mag performance. However, the LCR in .38+P weighs almost 4oz less (13.5 -v- 17.10). The huge feature for this gun is concealability and carryability (I make up words). For me, that almost 1/4 pound difference was more attractive than the option of loading .357mag (which I am not likey to do anyway). However, this is not a right or wrong choice, just something to consider. As always-YMMV. Thanks. You very well coulf be correct. I was thinking the 1/4 pound didn't feel that significant when I handled both (without shooting). I plan to try a variety of loads to see how they feel. +P included. Who knows - if, as you say, I can't tell much of a difference, I might get a second one in .38 and have that one for the wife. Or me... since a 1/4 pound in her purse is less likely to be felt than a 1/4 pound in a cc holster. :) I think you will feel a difference between shooting .38+P and .357mag but you will not see a big difference in terminal performance (in a <2" barrel). There are quite a few online ballistic comparisons that illustrate this. However, if you go with .357mag, check out the loads offered specifically for snubbies. Supposedly, they are engineered to make the most of the short barrel. Currently, I keep.357mag PDX1 loaded in my S&W model 60 with a 3" barrel which I think is a good combination. |
| i would have bought a 357 if there was one in the shop when i got my lcr. but with the 2'' tube i do not dislike the 38 i ended up with. it is even actually fun to shoot, not painful or uncomfortable and i do have large hands. very controllable, 15 yard x rings?not a problem. i carry it with 158gr lead round nose rounds ruin and thats enough to ruin anybody's day. |
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I bought a LCR in .357 back in August as my CCW while I'm working. While not at work I CCW either a G30 or a G36. They LCR with full house magnum loads is quite the handful, but manageable. The flame this thing puts out is VERY IMPRESSIVE. For years I carried a P3AT while at work, but decided MOAR firepower was in order. While the LCR is a few more ounces than the Keltec I really don't notice it as I carry it in one of those sticky type pocket holsters.
I carry a Bianchi 6 round speed strip in the little pocket inside the larger front right pocket of my jeans. It's a perfect fit in that pocket. I had been on the hunt for an LCR for over a year without any luck. I'd been looking for the .38 version, but my FFL received a .357 in and I jumped on it. $490 OTD and I couldn't be happier. |