The only Ruger LCR w/a 3" barrel has snaggy "target" sights. The rest are all 1.85" barrels using grooved rear sights like the SP101. With a <2" barrel. a .357 round is going to have an appreciable increase in muzzle blast/noise over a .38 Spl +P 129+/- grain bullet, and not an appreciable effect on a target that is 7 yards away or less (in a SD/HD sit).
http://www.ruger.com/products/lcr/models.html
I noticed that all of Ruger's LCR Hogue grip models have a 2-finger groove grip. That leaves the pinky waving around with nothing to grasp, and thus no advantage over the factory short grips on an SP101.
I have average hands with long "piano-player" fingers, and I needed to have a larger (length and width wise) grip in order to press the trigger with just the pad of my index finger (aka, the 1911 finger press), rather than wrapping it around the trigger with my trigger-finger JOINT on the trigger, which usually causes the shot to go low and to the left from POA.
That is why I went with this:
I still vote for the 3" SP101. When I got the gun, the DA trigger pull was VERY hard/stiff and cocking the gun single action was worse than any Smith (or Ruger SA BH/SBH) I have ever handled. No manner or frequency of dry-firing altered that. I have since replaced the mainspring and the trigger spring with Wolff parts (9# trigger spring and 12# mainspring) The gun reliably ignited the primer and fires the cartridge, notwithstanding some folks who advise against doing such modifications. Sweet!
If one buys the .357 version, one can still fire .38 SPL cartridges of one's choice.
It still prints (concealed) somewhat smaller than the more flat-sided 1911 Government Model .45 stainless clone that I carry and is much lighter. And, to much consternation from some, I use a Clipdraw on both firearms rather than an IWB holster. I'm 62 and don't run anymore. These inexpensive units work well for my purposes.
[I guess 8 rounds of 230 gr. lead is a bit heavier than 5 rounds of 129 gr. lead. Both rounds are (I'm old school) Federal HydraShoks.]
Jim