First revolver purchase.
- Thread starter Wheellock
- Start date
aarondhgraham
New member
Shoot one before you buy it,,,
Shoot one before you buy it.
The Ruger LCR is proving to be a fine handgun.
But,,, .357 Mags from a lightweight pistol can be brutal on your hand.
You will of course always have the option of shooting .38 Special or .38 Special +P ammo from a revolver chambered for .357 Magnum.
The LCP is not a bad choice at all,,,
But it's not the only choice in snubbies.
Rent some different guns if you have the opportunity,,,
Handle lots of guns if you can't rent them.
Aarond
.
Shoot one before you buy it.
The Ruger LCR is proving to be a fine handgun.
But,,, .357 Mags from a lightweight pistol can be brutal on your hand.
You will of course always have the option of shooting .38 Special or .38 Special +P ammo from a revolver chambered for .357 Magnum.
The LCP is not a bad choice at all,,,
But it's not the only choice in snubbies.
Rent some different guns if you have the opportunity,,,
Handle lots of guns if you can't rent them.
Aarond
.
Stressfire
New member
For a first revolver, I'd recommend something a bit heavier to get used to .357 - it's...juicy...even from a big, heavy GP-100 or an S&W
+1 to aaron's recommendation to rent and try a few - sucks to drop a couple hundred dollars on a gun you can't bear or stand to shoot
+1 to aaron's recommendation to rent and try a few - sucks to drop a couple hundred dollars on a gun you can't bear or stand to shoot
Crankgrinder
New member
Yes i would say heavier gun for .357. Id say youd be happier with an sp101 if you want one in that size. LCR would not be a bad choice though if it is primarily for carry.
And while you're at the range I'd suggest setting up labelled targets for each gun and keep a few groups to take home with you and examine. Being your first revolver and a short sight radius I'd expect the groups to be less pretty than you'd like (you WILL improve, don't worry). However if one gun just shoots horribly or fantastically well in comparison to the others that might help your decision. That may be a function of the ergonomics matching / not matching you, the trigger pull characteristics, or the sights that come with it.
Whatever factor you choose to give priority to is always up to you - I actually chose my last handgun because it felt better than another in my hand even though I shot better with the other gun. My current carry revolver has sights that are fast up close but difficult to make pinpoint shots at range with.
And whichever you choose, don't let yourself be overcome with buyer's remorse / doubt. Any time spent getting good with a snub nose revolver will help your fundamentals.
Whatever factor you choose to give priority to is always up to you - I actually chose my last handgun because it felt better than another in my hand even though I shot better with the other gun. My current carry revolver has sights that are fast up close but difficult to make pinpoint shots at range with.
And whichever you choose, don't let yourself be overcome with buyer's remorse / doubt. Any time spent getting good with a snub nose revolver will help your fundamentals.
A J-frame snubbie is not an easy revolver to start on.
Some people find even the steel frame .38spl versions to be too light for the chambering with defensive strength ammo. This can mean slower follow up shots and developing a flinch.
These guns are accurate themselves, but the short sight radius makes it harder for many shooters to shoot accurately. Just about any other gun will probably be easier.
If this is a first gun, avoid a snub. If you are experienced with guns and looking for a snub to fill a particular niche (there are few guns that CCW better, and few fit a pocket better than a lightweight snub), go for it.
If you really want a revolver, and it is your first gun (great choice to start with a revolver BTW), go with a medium frame revolver. They are simply more forgiving, and in 4" or shorter will just barely be small enough to consider carrying. Another option: get a used S&W K-frame or medium frame Taurus, and a used J-frame sized gun and for about the price of the Ruger LCR you'll have both a good range gun and HD gun with reasonable follow up shots, and a lighter and smaller gun for carry.
Some people find even the steel frame .38spl versions to be too light for the chambering with defensive strength ammo. This can mean slower follow up shots and developing a flinch.
These guns are accurate themselves, but the short sight radius makes it harder for many shooters to shoot accurately. Just about any other gun will probably be easier.
If this is a first gun, avoid a snub. If you are experienced with guns and looking for a snub to fill a particular niche (there are few guns that CCW better, and few fit a pocket better than a lightweight snub), go for it.
If you really want a revolver, and it is your first gun (great choice to start with a revolver BTW), go with a medium frame revolver. They are simply more forgiving, and in 4" or shorter will just barely be small enough to consider carrying. Another option: get a used S&W K-frame or medium frame Taurus, and a used J-frame sized gun and for about the price of the Ruger LCR you'll have both a good range gun and HD gun with reasonable follow up shots, and a lighter and smaller gun for carry.
Edward429451
Moderator
I agree with a medium frame steel gun, perhaps in 4" if you intend to carry it. The sp101s are nice guns, but are no fun to shoot with SD loads and you would want to practice a lot, so I would caution you to stay away from the SPs, nice as they are. Stay with at least a K frame size gun and you will be happy.
Obambulate
New member
It's good advice to suggest a larger K-frame as a first revolver - BUT - the op seems to need a dual-purpose revolver for both carry and home defense. Therefore, his own suggestion of the .357 LCR is a good one that meets all his criteria.
The LCR was designed first and foremost to be a carry gun. So, it's much easier to integrate into a carry routine than a larger and heavier revolver that may be nicer to shoot, but bulkier to carry.
It's true that shooting hot .357 Magnums from a lightweight snub nose involves a lot of recoil, noise, flash, muzzle flip, and slow follow-up shots. It may be too painful for many shooters and in an enclosed space such as a home defense situation, the noise and flash can blind and deafen you at a critical moment.
Still, that does not mean the OP has to carry hot Magnums in his LCR. There is enough variety of power levels in both .38 Special and .357 that everyone should be able to find effective loads for practice, carry, and home defense. You could do a lot worse than 148gr .38 Special wadcutters for practice and Speer Gold Dot .38 Special+P for carry and home defense.
The ability to shoot .357 is still always there if you happen to wander into bear country or maybe you just want a little more thrill at the range.
The LCR is also reasonably priced, widely available, and unlike the suggested used K-frames, you don't have to worry about the history and condition.
The LCR was designed first and foremost to be a carry gun. So, it's much easier to integrate into a carry routine than a larger and heavier revolver that may be nicer to shoot, but bulkier to carry.
It's true that shooting hot .357 Magnums from a lightweight snub nose involves a lot of recoil, noise, flash, muzzle flip, and slow follow-up shots. It may be too painful for many shooters and in an enclosed space such as a home defense situation, the noise and flash can blind and deafen you at a critical moment.
Still, that does not mean the OP has to carry hot Magnums in his LCR. There is enough variety of power levels in both .38 Special and .357 that everyone should be able to find effective loads for practice, carry, and home defense. You could do a lot worse than 148gr .38 Special wadcutters for practice and Speer Gold Dot .38 Special+P for carry and home defense.
The ability to shoot .357 is still always there if you happen to wander into bear country or maybe you just want a little more thrill at the range.
The LCR is also reasonably priced, widely available, and unlike the suggested used K-frames, you don't have to worry about the history and condition.
aarondhgraham
New member
Obambulate made a lot of sense,,,
Every point he brought up is extremely valid,,,
And elegantly put I might add.
Aarond
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Every point he brought up is extremely valid,,,
And elegantly put I might add.
Aarond
.
It really depends on what fits your hands the best...
Personally I would favor a S&W K frame in .357 mag ( like a model 19 or 66 ) in a 4" ....( and there are no frame issues if you're shooting a standard 158 gr bullet in a K frame S&W ). A J frame S&W to me ...is too small in my hands for me to manipulate it effectively.
Personally I find a snubbie ( 2 1/2" ) is difficult to shoot well beyond 21 feet or so ...especially quickly for double taps out of a holster.../ where the 4" in my hands ..is just more stable...and way more effective.
I also like the L or N frame ....357 mag's ( mod 686 or mod 27's ) but they're a little too big and heavy to carry ..even in a 4" ( and I'm a big guy )... lots of good choices.
Personally I would favor a S&W K frame in .357 mag ( like a model 19 or 66 ) in a 4" ....( and there are no frame issues if you're shooting a standard 158 gr bullet in a K frame S&W ). A J frame S&W to me ...is too small in my hands for me to manipulate it effectively.
Personally I find a snubbie ( 2 1/2" ) is difficult to shoot well beyond 21 feet or so ...especially quickly for double taps out of a holster.../ where the 4" in my hands ..is just more stable...and way more effective.
I also like the L or N frame ....357 mag's ( mod 686 or mod 27's ) but they're a little too big and heavy to carry ..even in a 4" ( and I'm a big guy )... lots of good choices.
What do you'll think? I honestly am not an expert on this.
But isn't .357 "overkill" for in home defense and quite dangerous to others on the street? And a round dangerous to fire in a home surrounded by other homes - not to mention it may deafen you and your child/children in the vicinity for life.
That's a great round for long distance outdoors and may to stop a Kodiak bear before he gets up the hill to you.
Should you be involved in a self defense incident, I understand you will probably have to defend your choice of ammunition to a jury.
And I understand a jury will want to know why you need to use ammunition more powerful than is common among police.
Just saying. Stuff I've heard.
But isn't .357 "overkill" for in home defense and quite dangerous to others on the street? And a round dangerous to fire in a home surrounded by other homes - not to mention it may deafen you and your child/children in the vicinity for life.
That's a great round for long distance outdoors and may to stop a Kodiak bear before he gets up the hill to you.
Should you be involved in a self defense incident, I understand you will probably have to defend your choice of ammunition to a jury.
And I understand a jury will want to know why you need to use ammunition more powerful than is common among police.
Just saying. Stuff I've heard.
Chuckusaret
Moderator
My wife's weapon of choice is the LCR-CT .38 carries with +P but she uses wadcutters at the range. Yes, as someone stated, the DAO does take some getting use to. I have fired the LCR .357 and it is rather snappy but what would the jury think, more powerful than what the police use? I have a .12 ga. shot gun loaded with OO buck for HD, and at ranges within the average home is more deadly than a .357. We have the Castle Law here in Florida and 99% of the true home defense incidents don't go beyond the investigation phase regardless of the caliber or gauge of the gun used, but this is the Gunshine state and could be different then other states. Just my opinion.
No, mollymomo, a .357 mag is not that big a deal to overpenetration...or deafening to shooter or others in the vicinity...
every caliber round has penetration issues / and you need to be sure of your target and what's beyond it...
( and a .357 mag is not the preferred caliber to put down a charging Grizzly - let alone a Brown Bear..../it may be ok - but its on the light side even for a North American Grizzly ...and its puny if you're in Big Brown Bear country....)
every caliber round has penetration issues / and you need to be sure of your target and what's beyond it...
( and a .357 mag is not the preferred caliber to put down a charging Grizzly - let alone a Brown Bear..../it may be ok - but its on the light side even for a North American Grizzly ...and its puny if you're in Big Brown Bear country....)