Ruger lcr .22lr vs lcrx .22lr

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CharlieM.

CharlieM.

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I really want a .22lr revolver. S&W is a bit too expensive for me. I have a Taurus Ultra-lite 9 that has given me tons of grief. So I'm looking in between these two at the Ruger. Can someone tell me what I'm sacrificing, if anything, with the shorter 1.87" LCR vs the 3" LCRx? Also, should I be concerned that the short barrel lcr will have significantly less range than the 3" lcrx. Should I be concerned about DA only vs DA/SA? The purpose of my revolver will be a kit gun for the trail and possibly needing to hunt small game for survival. Thanks gents.
 
CharlieM, welcome to the forum..... always great to see new new folks on here....

I have had a Ruger single six (5.5") SA, for over 40 years and have not been able to wear it out. For hiking it is an easy carry and a very effective stopper when using the magnum 40 or 50 grain fed ammo. For tin cans and targets i just use whatever 22 lr i can find, loads of fun and cheap to boot.... Sorry i got no info on the guns u listed and likely would not carry either on a hike as i like a longer barrel, more for aiming at small game. I do tend to carry a small 1.5" 22 mag stinger as back up in town but that is a different situation.... There are alot of good used guns out there mostly reasonably priced..... good luck
 
dirtman said:
CharlieM, welcome to the forum..... always great to see new new folks on here....

I have had a Ruger single six (5.5") SA, for over 40 years and have not been able to wear it out. For hiking it is an easy carry and a very effective stopper when using the magnum 40 or 50 grain fed ammo. For tin cans and targets i just use whatever 22 lr i can find, loads of fun and cheap to boot.... Sorry i got no info on the guns u listed and likely would not carry either on a hike as i like a longer barrel, more for aiming at small game. I do tend to carry a small 1.5" 22 mag stinger as back up in town but that is a different situation.... There are alot of good used guns out there mostly reasonably priced..... good luck
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Hey, dirtman. The single six looks like a fine gun. I prefer the more modern looking revolvers though. Plus I like the 8 round capacity of the lcr and lcrx. I appreciate your input.
 
I have the LCRx .38 Spl +P model with the 1.875” barrel. There is less pull required when shooting in SA. If you plan on shooting small game, it allows for better aim/control. It carries well in your pocket and I had no problems with the hammer preventing extraction.

A lot of innovation went into the design of this revolver. The lightweight will not be an issue for .22lr but with .38 +P loads, you feel the recoil. It’s an excellent revolver and has good value for its price.
 
You'd be sacrificing some velocity, gaining some flash and possibly noise depending on the ammunition, and some aiming ability.
Maybe not much, and the gun isn't mechanically any less accurate, but it's easier to aim precisely with a longer sight radius.
The DA/SA is easier to shoot if you have the time to pull the hammer back; a much shorter, lighter pull than DA.
Honestly, if it doesn't have to be small enough to slip in a pocket, I'd go with the 3". For a woods gun, even a 4" or longer if something else catches your eye.
 
I have the LCRX in 38 spl and the LCRX-3 in 38 special and 22 LR. For a Kit gun, I think you would be happier with the 3" barrel. Not just because of the increased sight radius, but because of the larger grip and the adjustable sights. It makes a great belt carry, and you can almost forget you have it on. You will appreciate the hammer s well. The LCRX 22 has a heavy double action trigger, you will likely use it in single action mode most often.

If you like a "modern" double action revolver with 8 round capacity, take a look at the SP101 - 22 long rifle. It has an extra inch of barrel, and is a really nice looking revolver. It needed a set of Hogue grips to fit my hand better. It too has a stiff double action trigger, but the single action mode is good. Both the SP101 and the LCRX are equally accurate.

Ruger also makes a 10 shot GP100 in 22 LR, but the SP101 is about as heavy a 22 as I want.
 
CharlieM. said:
Hey, dirtman. The single six looks like a fine gun. I prefer the more modern looking revolvers though. Plus I like the 8 round capacity of the lcr and lcrx. I appreciate your input.
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CharlieM, That eight has a real nice bang to it....... but for a woods gun i would still like a longer barrel..... just an old guy lament.
 
I would opt for the 3 inch LCRx. It's only a couple ounces heavier than the snub nosed version and the better sights, ability to shoot single action along with the longer sight radius would make for a much more viable hunting gun than the snub nosed version. You would also gain some velocity
 
CharlieM

I have had a number of Kit Guns over the years and found that the sights on the longer barrel (3" or 4"), are easier and a bit faster to acquire than those on the shorter barrel model. It also handles and balances better to me. Having the SA option is something to consider too for more precise shooting.
 
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I'd personally rule out the snubby LCR unless it was to be a purely pocket carry defensive gun.

Otherwise, I'd go for the longer barreled LCRx, or more likely an SP101 with a 4" barrel. A longer sight radius is going to help you tremendously if you intend to ever try to shoot rabbit or squirrel sized game. Same with having SA capability.
 
greg_r said:
I have the LCRX in 38 spl and the LCRX-3 in 38 special and 22 LR. For a Kit gun, I think you would be happier with the 3" barrel. Not just because of the increased sight radius, but because of the larger grip and the adjustable sights. It makes a great belt carry, and you can almost forget you have it on. You will appreciate the hammer s well. The LCRX 22 has a heavy double action trigger, you will likely use it in single action mode most often.

If you like a "modern" double action revolver with 8 round capacity, take a look at the SP101 - 22 long rifle. It has an extra inch of barrel, and is a really nice looking revolver. It needed a set of Hogue grips to fit my hand better. It too has a stiff double action trigger, but the single action mode is good. Both the SP101 and the LCRX are equally accurate.

Ruger also makes a 10 shot GP100 in 22 LR, but the SP101 is about as heavy a 22 as I want.
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Hi Greg. I really like that SP101's extra barrel length. Unfortunately it's a bit out of my price range. Its about $175 more than the lcrx on Buds right now. I think a 3" will be okay as a minimum length. I shoot well with my snub nose Taurus. 22lr. If only my Taurus would function properly after 30 rounds :) Thanks!
 
I have(well had.My wife has snagged it) a .22 LCR. I have used it as a trail gun....but the longer barrel LCRx would be a better trail gun due to the longer sight radius and single action capability. Honestly, double action practice and the good DA of the LCR makes the single action of limited importance to me but longer sight radius helps a lot.
 
I had both the D/A only LCR .22 and the LCR .22 WMR. As an elderly gent I found the rim fire trigger on both to be extremely heavy which resulted in difficult follow up shots. Sold both and bought a 3" LCRx in .38 SP +P. Great pistol. My LGS has has a rental program for their range. I would like to try one of the 3" LCRx .22 & .22 WMR before I make a decision on buying one but they seem to trickle in to the store one or two at a time and are sold pretty quick so none available at the rental counter yet. Probably a good sign.
 
Kit gun = lcrx to me. I have a 22lr snubby. Not nearly as accurate in my inexperienced hands as SA only on my lcrx in 9mm or my 22lr rough rider.
 
I have a LCR in 22, with the double action trigger design, it is rather easy to shoot accurately without having a single action.
 
Can someone tell me what I'm sacrificing, if anything, with the shorter 1.87" LCR vs the 3" LCRx? Also, should I be concerned that the short barrel lcr will have significantly less range than the 3" lcrx. Should I be concerned about DA only vs DA/SA? The purpose of my revolver will be a kit gun for the trail and possibly needing to hunt small game for survival.
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Short barrels, short sighting radius and DA trigger pulls don't usually make for much of a kit gun... You can't eat what you can't hit... Adjustable sights are not mandatory but they are a plus. Based on what you described I get the 3 inch LCRx 5435....

Kit gun = lcrx to me. I have a 22lr snubby. Not nearly as accurate in my inexperienced hands as SA only on my lcrx in 9mm or my 22lr rough rider.
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Actually, for the money it's hard to beat a Rough Rider as a kit gun.... I have the 6 inch, adjustable Millett sight version, 22LR/22 Mag cylinders.... Shoots great....
 
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For some reason, Ruger decided that the rimfire LCR needed a much heavier trigger pull than found on their centerfire offerings.
I think you'll be happiest with the LCRx 3" for this reason.
 
My 38 caliber LCR has a great DA trigger, but I know that 22 triggers are typically stiffer. For a kit gun I would much prefer the 3" barrel of the LCRx, and especially its larger sights. The grip is a bit longer and more comfortable, too.

Do they make an LCRx in 327 magnum? If so, it would probably have a better trigger than the 22 version, and you could shoot 32 S&W long out of it for varmints and plinking. Plus you would have the option of 32 magnum loads for SD.
 
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CharlieM. said:
Hey, dirtman. The single six looks like a fine gun. I prefer the more modern looking revolvers though. Plus I like the 8 round capacity of the lcr and lcrx. I appreciate your input.
Click to expand...

Single Ten is an option, too, if you can handle having a “cowboy gun” instead. Then you have even more little bullets. ;)
 
CharlieM. said:
I really want a .22lr revolver. S&W is a bit too expensive for me. I have a Taurus Ultra-lite 9 that has given me tons of grief. So I'm looking in between these two at the Ruger. Can someone tell me what I'm sacrificing, if anything, with the shorter 1.87" LCR vs the 3" LCRx? Also, should I be concerned that the short barrel lcr will have significantly less range than the 3" lcrx. Should I be concerned about DA only vs DA/SA? The purpose of my revolver will be a kit gun for the trail and possibly needing to hunt small game for survival. Thanks gents.
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A kit gun should be accurate. You might be shooting small game, or a snake, and so on. A short sight radius would be a poor choice. DAO would also be a poor choice. When I carry a .22 revolver on the trail, it's a Colt Officers Model Target with a 6" barrel.
 
If you don’t have a 38 or 357 lcr I would probably go with the 3” lcrx. I wouldn’t want to hunt with the short barrel.
 
Ruger does indeed make the LCRX in 327 magnum, but only the 1.87 inch barrel version. When they release a 327 LCRX with a 3 or 4 inch(4 inch please Ruger) barrel, I will be purchasing one.
 
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