Ruger LCRX??? Need Quick Feedback

[2ndamd]

Hello THR Members

I am at the gun show and am looking to buy a Ruger LCRX nib for a fair price.
Any feedback from anyone who owns one?

This is the LCR but it has a hammer.
i think the LCR is striker fired and the LCRX appears to have a hammer and transfer bar like traditional DA/SA revolvers.

Any feedback would be appreciated.
thank you
2ndamd

 

[Old Fuff]

The LCR isn't striker fired. It has a conventional hammer without a thumb-cocking spur that's fully enclosed in the frame. The LCRX is the same but the frame is slightly modified and the hammer has a spur so that it can also be thumb-cocked. Thus the LCRX offers both single-action and double-action options, while the LCR is double-action only.

The enclosed hammer LCR is advantageous for those who would carry it concealed and don't want the hammer spur to get snagged when they draw from deep cover. It will also eliminate any chance you will be charged with accidentally shooting someone because you unintentionally touched the "hair trigger" during a defensive incident. Unlikely, but it has happened.

If none if this matters to you, you may prefer having the optional SA/DA trigger pull.

With the exceptions I've pointed out the two revolvers are otherwise identical.

 

[HexHead]

It will also eliminate any chance you will be charged with accidentally shooting someone because you unintentionally touched the "hair trigger" during a defensive incident. Unlikely, but it has happened.

More internet crap.

The hammer allows you to make a precision single action shot should you need to. I have two revolvers I pocket carry. One is a Colt DS, and I put my thumb over the hammer when drawing it. Draws as smoothly as my shrouded hammer S&W 438.

 

[DNS]

Open the cylinder and see if you can pull the trigger.
If so the gun will fire out of time.
Several complaints on this.

I've heard issues with a loose cylinder release latch screw too.

 

[MCMXI]

I've got two KLCRs and neither trigger can be pulled with the cylinder open. No screw issues either.

 

[Old Fuff]

More internet crap.

Perhaps you may have noticed that most of the police trade-in revolvers from the late 1980's and 1990's are double-action only (with or without hammer spurs). This is because after having to pay out some major bucks in civil court awards many large police departments and federal agencies either had their current revolvers modified, and/or specified DAO on future orders.

You can place the tip of your thumb over the cocking spur of a conventional hammer while drawing, but in doing so you cannot take a full grip on the handle.

I'm not sure what you mean by "precision shot," but my Colt Detective Special has on occasion placed shots in the K-Zone of a B-27 a silhouette target at a mesured 100 yards when fired in the double-action mode. While quality snubbies are quite capable of excellent accuracy they are seldom called on to do so.

 

[RUT]

This whole hammer vs. no hammer thing falls into the "personal preference" category, but yet the arguments persist. I first bought the LCR because that was all they offered, but as soon as the LCRX came out I ditched the LCR in favor of it. Guess I'm just old fashioned, as I much prefer the "hammer" option. So, if you don't trust yourself with a hammered gun then by all means, go for the LCR. Whatever floats your boat....

P.S. And just because your gun may have a hammer that doesn't mean you have to use it. You can just as easily elect to fire it double action. At least you'll have the option.

 

[Old Fuff]

This whole hammer vs. no hammer thing falls into the "personal preference" category, but yet the arguments persist. I first bought the LCR because that was all they offered, but as soon as the LCRX came out I ditched the LCR in favor of it. Guess I'm just old fashioned, as I much prefer the "hammer" option. So, if you don't trust yourself with a hammered gun then by all means, go for the LCR. Whatever floats your boat....

Double-action only is not exactly a modern concept because cap & ball revolvers were being made in England with this feature well before the Civil War. Smith & Wesson introduced the current style in 1887. As they pointed out then, and is still true now, enclosed hammer revolvers were designed to be safe while carried in a pocket or other deep cover, and not get snagged when they were drawn. So you are right concerning personal preference, but intended purpose and use should also dictate one's choice.

As to the question of accurate shooting at longer distances then across a card table, in 1890 the U.S. Army considered Smith & Wesson’s Safety Hammerless .38 revolver with a 6” barrel for a replacement of the Colt model 1873 .45 Single Action. They eventually rejected it because the relatively delicate lockwork didn’t stand up to a corrosion test, but had no problems with its accuracy.

 

[Blueduck]

Most the DAO police revolver thing stemmed from the Alvarez case in Miami and subsequent riots. Interesting case with the most unlikely argument "Officer you did not intend to shoot my client!" Officer "Yes I DID!"

 

[herrwalther]

Hammer vs no hammer is akin to striker vs hammer arguments for auto loaders. SA on a DA/SA revolver makes it easier for accurate or longer range shots, but with practice it can be done on a DA or DAO as well. Outside of safety, hammers on revolvers have always been more about cosmetics to me. Personally I thought the DAO on the LCR was smooth enough to not need a trigger, but I was wrong because they made the LCRx. Oh well.

Back on topic. The LCRx has stayed close to the original design of the LCR with the addition of the external hammer. According to Ruger's website they are even the same weight.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I'm an owner and lover of the LCR in .38 Special. The trigger in DA is so good I couldn't imagine needing to add something to snag up to get SA. But that's a personal choice - I'd not trade our DA only LCR for a hammered jobbie but others with different skill sets might want it.

I have not a bad thing to say about the LCR series except that with less experienced or smaller shooters the recoil may sterilize you....the .38 we have kicks like a mule with full house SD loads. Once you get past that they are awesome.

VooDoo