Ruger LCR 22

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defjon

New member
Does anyone own one? I was wondering what the concensus is on this model. I know it is still pretty new but I was wondering if anyone was tacking up a round count, especially as store bought 22s are inexpensive relative to center fire cartridges.

Of the utmost concern would be durability. I handled one in a store and thought it had a good trigger pull. Can you dry fire this 22, or like other 22s is that a no no?

Hows accuracy? Any known issues with this model?

How do you suppose the LCR 22 would stack up over the long haul? If I run a lot of rounds through it, do you suppose I'll still be passing it down to my daughter?

Thanks in advance...
 
I like mine, and it does seem rugged enough to last quite a while. It may not be something to cherish like a classic K-frame Smith, but I think it's much better than many of the .22 revolvers in its price range in terms of trigger pull and overall quality.

I won't make a judgement of the gun's inherent accuracy since I only have my sample to go from, but mine is capable of excellent accuracy. I had to get past a trigger issue that had me pulling the shots left but once I overcame that the accuracy was quite good at the fairly short distances I've been shooting (15 - 25 feet).

The LCR-22 does a lot of things well, although it's a bit different than anything else out there. It's not a traditional kit gun or target revolver, but makes a good trainer or plinker, something the kids or grandmas can shoot without being intimidated by the weight of a 32-oz steel K-frame.

It also makes a decent carry option for pests and small predators in a rural or suburban setting. It isn't the ideal caliber for human predators, but 8 shots accurately placed is nothing to sneeze at.
 
I like mine. I have no complaints. I feel about the way Obambulate stated in his post above. I have a number of good DA revolver choices and this one is fun to shoot and remarkably accurate.
 
I have 6 .22lrs

Ruger LCR
Ruger Single Six
H&R 949
Beretta Bobcat
Colt 1911
Ruger MKIII

The LCR has become my most shot .22. It is a ton of fun to shoot. It also seems to be the perfect gun for the times my wife wants to carry. She doesn't want a larger caliber.

Plus it has given me an excuse to buy its big brother in 357
 
I also have an LCR-22. I consider mine a Practice/Training Revolver.

I have not been keeping a super accurate round count on mine, however I am over 1300 rounds on it. I have not had any issues at all with mine.

Accuracy: The LCR-22 is very accurate. The issue here is just how accurate is the shooter with a 2" J Frame size DA Revolver?

The LCR-22 is very economical to shoot a lot, so you can get very accurate with one. With almost non existant recoil you have another factor to help you get accurate with one.

If you conceal carry with an LCR-38, LCR-357, or a S&W J Frame. The LCR-22 makes an excellent Practice/Training Revolver. For me a J Frame Airweight 38 quits being fun to shoot pretty quickly due to recoil. I believe I could run a couple 550 PAK's through my LCR-22 in a full day of training without issue.

If you carry Speed Strips/Quick Strips for your 38 to reload it. You can practice reloading the LCR-22 using Tuff Products Model 1022 Quick Strips. Load the Model 1022 Quick Strips in Pairs leaving a shell out between pairs for cylinder clearance. Loaded in this manner you can put 2 shells in 2 chambers at once and strip them off, just like with the 5 shot 38 Special.
You can only get 7 rounds in the Model 1022 Quick Strip, so when using one for a Tactical Reload you will need to index the empty chamber under the hammer when closing the cylinder, which is no problem at all. This is what a correctly loaded Model 1022 Quick Strip looks like when set up to reload an LCR-22: OOxOOxOOxO You need to leave the shell out between pairs to get cylinder clearance to get the pair of rounds in the chambers smoothly.
Note: Tuff Products makes the Model 1022 Quiuck Strip in ORANGE. Not a bad choice, as you can locate them on the ground after a reload. You can order direct from Tuff Products and get the Orange ones.

Reloading the LCR-22 with Speed Strips/Quick Strips will greatly improve you speed and dexterity reloading your 38 concealed carry revolver using one.

Speed Beez also makes a Speed Loader for the LCR-22. I got the package that has 2 of the Speed Loaders as well as a 4-Banger Loading Block. It works slick. You will need to fabricate a speed loader carrier for it however. Either remodel a Safariland CD2 speedloader carrier to fit, or have a Kydex holster maker make a Kydex Speedloader carrier for them.

Sights: The XS 24/7 Tritium as well as the Hi-Viz Fiber Optic will work for a much more visible front sight. The LCR sights pin on.
NOTE: The LCR-22 front sight is shorter than the 38 & 357 LCR's front sight. What this means is, if you put a centerfire front sight on it, it will shoot low with a proper sight picture.
I put a Hi Viz GREEN Fiber Optic front sight on mine anyway knowing this. I find I can keep about half of the Dot above the rear sight trough, and it shoots plenty accurate for me at longer distances. For close in combat practice you are normally only picking up the front sight. I find at 10 yards and under you can just put the DOT on target and you are fine.
The trade off is worth it to me. I would rather have a front sight that I can pick up in a hurry, and need to hold a little high for long range shots. Than one that is Black and hard to see.

I carry my LCR-22 in a Lobo Model 1 Pancake holster. Having a holster just like you carry your 38 in is a big plus for Training and Practice.

I have been shooting in BUG Matches using the LCR-22. I have been turning in better scores with it than I have my 442 Pro. In the last match I was reloading with my Speed Beez Speedloaders on the clock.

I was considering a 43C Smith & Wesson when I picked up the LCR-22. The deciding factor for me was the Steel Cylinder on the LCR-22. The 43C has an Aluminum Cylinder that I was not all that impressed with.

The LCR-22 has a fair trigger for a J Frame size revolver.
It is plenty accurate.
It has a pretty fair factory grip.
You have a very good Speed Loader available for it with the Speed Beez
You can use Quick Strips to load it from Tuff Products.
It fits in the same holster as a centerfire LCR
It has a pinned on front sight.

I have ZERO Complaints with mine so far. It is doing what I got it for just fine.

Bob
 
Very nice review, Viper. The LCR would also make a nice companion gun for someone who has a semi-auto Ruger Mark II/III or 10/22 rifle. The nice thing about the LCR is you can shoot shorts, longs, and any type of LR cartridge - shots shells, CBs, colibris. The semi-autos usually require a certain energy range ammo to cycle the action. The LCR handles it all.
 
I very much like mine with 200+ rounds through it. Been so hot havn;t been at the gun range this summer much. Indoors is worse than outdoors, and outdoors is worse than indoors because you pay by hour. I carry it loaded with snakeshot for now its my snake gun, with me most of the times now. I really am looking at a smaller 22 so I can carry it in my pocket with less sag. Plus I have a thing for 22 revolvers.


I was amazing how well I shot with it being a DAO revolver, I really bought it for a 22lr revolver because I was having a hard time getting a hold of my S&W 617. This gun was an impulse buy and well worth it. It allows me to train with J frames better. I got mine for $349.99 :-) I couldn't pass it up when the others were $380++ on the tables.
 
Of the utmost concern would be durability.
Click to expand...

Durability should be a non-issue. It is the same make up as the 38 LCR, only with 8 rounds of 22 LR. I think the fire control/gripframe are identical (minus timing). I believe the cylinder frame is the same aluminum as the 38. And the barrel insert and cylinder are both stainless, just like the 38. If it is durable enough for 38+Ps it ought to handle 22 LR just fine. It is next on my list.
 
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