Happy with your LCR?

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Dollar An Hour

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I've been a J-Frame guy until now, but I'm thinking of getting an LCR in .357. I think the extra 3.5 oz over the .38 just helps soften recoil a bit, and I have the option to shoot mid range .357's like Golden Sabres or Gold Dot SB loads.

I do like the XS sight version, but it's only available in .38.

Anyway, I just wanted to hear if LCR owners are happy with their purchase so far.
 
I have the .357 LCR and an S&W 642 (wife's carry). I'm having a hard time warming up to the LCR. Everyone says the trigger is superior to the J frame, but I don't really see that in practical use. The LCR trigger guard tends to bite me during recoil. I've tried various changes to my grip, but always walk away with some mild pain from the guard slamming into me.

That being said, many many folks love their LCRs. If you can, find one to shoot before you buy.

I added a Hi-Viz fiber optic sight to mine, only took a couple minutes and is a great improvement.
 
I have not shot the .357 LCR and have no desire to do so, the .38+P is painful enough. I went with the .38+P to save the weight and still be able to control the gun. Those small ounces add up when the gun is carried day in, day out.

Strongly urge you to rent or borrow one before you commit.

FWIW, I can dream up at least one reason to sell or trade every gun I have, except the LCR :)
 
My wife has one. Her eyes lit up when I gave it to her, so I guess she's happy with it :D

My impressions are that it has a GREAT trigger. Infinitely superior to the j-frame trigger. It's a little more difficult to conceal than a j-frame though due to the big ass grip.
 
Absolutely love mine in 38 with the boot grip. I originally wanted the 357 but tried to find a lot of info on velocities for both calibers in that barrel length. From what I found, you won't see enough gain in velocity to justify even the slight increase in weight, let alone the recoil. I've CCW'd a handful of guns in different sizes and calibers. I would rather have a CCW gun that I can hide in anything but a speedo than one that was a pain to carry. And the recoil from my particular gun isn't too uncomfortable either; the grip is spongy where it impacts the web of your hand. I've shot a few lighter weight snubs that I had to put down after about 10 shots. The LCR in 38 doesn't fall into that category.
 
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Yes. I've been very happy with my LCR (38 spl). So far, I still like the trigger more than any S&W snubby I've owned.
 
Very happy with my LCR .38+P. I bought the XS night site model for the very reason of the big dot which helps my aging eyes. Its very accurate for a snubbie. The recoil doesn't bother me as it does other posters.
 
I'm actually leaning toward getting the heavier (but same size as .38) .357 LCR and carrying .38's in it most of the time. Range sessions should be a little more comfortable with the extra weight of the gun.

I do wish the .357 came with the XS sight, but it should be easy enough to install.
 
I'm actually leaning toward getting the heavier (but same size as .38) .357 LCR and carrying .38's in it most of the time. Range sessions should be a little more comfortable with the extra weight of the gun.
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That is wise.

Anyway, I just wanted to hear if LCR owners are happy with their purchase so far.
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I am going to sell my LCR. It is a superior snubby to the S&W airweight, but I moved away from it to an auto--G23. If I want another snubby, it will be an SP101, because I can disassemble it for cleaning and it has no ILS.
 
Anyway, I just wanted to hear if LCR owners are happy with their purchase so far.
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I've been well pleased with mine. I also have a J-frame. My LCRs are .38 specials. When I bought them Ruger did not offer the .357. I likely would have purchased it for the reason you mentioned had it been available.

XS offers the big dot sight for sale. I don't know but I'd imagine it can be installed on the .357 version. http://www.xssights.com/index.php?nID=sights&cID=Sights&pID=sights&sID=handgun

I find the trigger on the LCR to be better than my other snubs. Some of how one views the trigger will certainly be based on one's preferences for how a trigger should feel.

It's a little more difficult to conceal than a j-frame though due to the big ass grip.
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One can get smaller boot grips. Personally I like the tamer grip but if one doesn't you are not stuck with it.
 
Love the 357 LCR. The Tamer grips allow for "stout" but managable recoil in 38 + AND 357
 
I was very pleased with mine. I put about 4-500 rounds through it before I sold it. The only reason I sold it is because I came to determine I prefer bottom feeders for a carry gun. If I'm going to keep a 38 snubbie around to shoot, I'd rather it be an all steel model that I can shoot for 1000's of rounds and fire 357 from it (mine was 38 +p model). It did have the most fantastic out of the box trigger, though.
 
I love both of mine. I bought the .38 special, before the .357 mag. was out. And bought the .357 as soon as I could get one. For pocket carry I think the .38 is better because it's lighter.
I'd been carrying an SP101 for over 8 years, in a Galco highride pancake holster. Now, I just shove the .357 mag. LCR, in the same holster. Lots easier to carry, all day.
 
I love both of mine. I bought the .38 special, before the .357 mag. was out. And bought the .357 as soon as I could get one. For pocket carry I think the .38 is better because it's lighter.
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Have you noticed if there is a difference in recoil between the .38 & heavier .357 with the same ammo?

Agree that 3.5 ounces is a noticeable difference when it comes to pocket carry. My 340 MP was easier to carry than my 442 and that difference was < 3 oz.
 
Is the LCR, with factory Hogue Tamer grips, bulkier to pocket carry than a J-frame with factory grips? I'm guessing yes.
 
Maybe I just got lucky because I chose my S&W M637 over the Ruger because of the trigger pull. Got to admit the LCR's trigger is nice, though.

It's just me, but I won't buy a lightweight .357 Magnum because I won't have a gun that I am reluctant to practice with and practice includes the ammunition I plan to carry. The Ruger SP101 or a Smith & Wesson Model 60 is as light as I would go. Some folks have posted that they don't have a problem with the recoil. That may or may not be the case with you. I would strongly suggest you find out if there is somewhere you can try out the LCR in .357
 
Dollar An Hour said:
I've been a J-Frame guy until now, but I'm thinking of getting an LCR in .357. I think the extra 3.5 oz over the .38 just helps soften recoil a bit, and I have the option to shoot mid range .357's like Golden Sabres or Gold Dot SB loads.

I do like the XS sight version, but it's only available in .38.

Anyway, I just wanted to hear if LCR owners are happy with their purchase so far.
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The LCR .357 is to LCR .38 what 4WD pickup is to 2WD pickup. The choice should be obvious.
 
Well, I don't shoot .38's in my .357's. I shoot .357's in them. And, obviously I don't shoot .357's in my .38's.
When I want something "light" in my .357's I go with 110 gr. LSJHP's. According to the M&S Report, the 110 gr.'s give about a 90% stop rate, IIRC. That's good enough. Better'n .38's anyway.........If you believe in M&S Reports.
 
My LCR357 is my favorite 357 snub to shoot. I rather shoot it than my SP101 or my 4 in guns. The Tamer Grip is sweet. I put the XS Night Sight on it. I practice with 125G. 357 JHP and have over 500 rounds through it. I carry it all the time to back up my SP101.
 
As you are thinking of doing, I got the .357 LCR as a .38 cal. weapon as I wanted a bit more weight (4 oz.) to lessen recoil with the .38+P rounds. I don't ever intend to shoot .357. The 4 oz. don't make enough difference to me where I would want the lighter .38 for carry. In the pocket or on a Mitch Rosen OWB holster I don't even notice it, and it is very comfortable to shoot for a 2" snubbie. I also have a Glock 19 for winter carry as here in Wisconsin, we get to wear a layer to two (or ten!) when winter approaches, so concealment is not an issue.

I intend to install the XS sight also.
 
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I really like my .357 LCR. I also bought it to run mostly .38 +Ps, but it's not *that* bad with .357 if you're a recoil junkie. The gun points naturally for me and although the grips are somewhat bulky, they do a great job of reducing felt recoil.
 
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