Ruger LCR In 9mm - Anybody In For One?

It's also a 2" barrel, the excess blast and flash of the .357 really isn't necessary for terminal ballistic effectiveness.
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It's been discussed numerous times here on TFL, and with actual chronograph readings, short barrel 357 Magnum revolvers do have a ballistic advantage over 38Spcl. Even with +P 38Spcl. When I bought my LCR I chose lighter carry weight over the additional power of the 357.

Now, while we are mentioning top performance, and +P ammo, while standard 9MM SAAMI pressure is the same 35K as 357 Magnum, 9MM +P adds another 3,500 PSI to bring it up to 38,500. So has Ruger made any comment about the 9MM LCR being +P rated?
 
Not me, it falls short in three areas compared to my 38 LCR.

Weighs more.
Moon clips.
More expensive.

I can only think of two benefits over the 38 and that is 1. ammo is cheaper and 2. *slightly* more ft/lbs of energy, probably not enough to have any practical implications in a self defense scenario.
 
I bet this thing would be fun to shoot at the range, but for serious self defense I do not like or want a revolver that MUST use moonclips for a reload. To me, moonclips are great for competetion but not for defense.

Revolvers are fantastic because they don't really much on the shape of the rounds to feed properly, but add in the moonclips and things change. That thin sheet of stamped metal can be easily bent in a fall or just normal use, and when placed in the gun with cartridges the cylinder might not close or it will hang up. That frankly sucks.

Speedloaders might be a tad slower, but they don't have this issue. There have been many tests that have been survived by speedloaders that would have resulted in malformed clips etc. Heck, for carry of my J-frame .38 I like to use a Bianchi speed strip. That things is TOUGH, and it should be as it's just a strip of rubber LOL!
 
The weight difference must be because the 9mm version is based on the 357 LCR, opposed to the .38 model that is polymer. Check the stats on the 357 compared to the 38 and you will see what I mean.
I guess 9mm must kick pretty hard for Ruger to use the steel .357 frame.
 
I can't see replacing my .38 LCR with it.

That said, if I didn't have the .38 +P already, I'd be interested.
 
I'm super tempted. I only own one wheel gun and it's intentionally a 986. The LCR in 9mm would be a perfect companion gun. Also, it will stop me from wanting to buy a .22 LR "kit" gun.

I agree with others, though. An SP101 in 9mm would be way more tempting.
 
Yep, the .38 is built on an aluminum frame and the 9mm on a steel frame which accounts for the weight difference. I'm going to think seriously about this gun. When I carry a revolver, I'm usually not carrying a reload anyway so using moonclips is no big deal for me. The 9mm has better ballistics in common factory ammo from a short barrel than .38 spl. And it's just cool to have another 9mm revolver.
 
To answer an earlier question, the LCR is a very light revolver. There are a lot of reasons that people might prefer lighter recoil.

I've never shot 9mm from a revolver. I'm guessing it has a little more snap and hits a little harder than .38 special but how about .38 +p? Is this sort of a "middle choice" between .38 and .357? Why couldn't they just have made their new LCR a 6-shooter in .32 H&R or even .327 Federal?
 
Also, it will stop me from wanting to buy a .22 LR "kit" gun.
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Yeah, good luck with THAT reasoning Darker Loaf...

Usually just means it might take me a couple months more before I decide I REALLY need the other gun too.
 
I've never shot 9mm from a revolver. I'm guessing it has a little more snap and hits a little harder than .38 special but how about .38 +p? Is this sort of a "middle choice" between .38 and .357? Why couldn't they just have made their new LCR a 6-shooter in .32 H&R or even .327 Federal?
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I have a K-frame 9mm (SW Model 547). It has a bit sharper recoil than .38 spl +P but not close to a .357. As to 9mm rather than .327 or .32 H&R, they seem to be marketing the pistol, in part, as a backup in the same caliber as those who carry a 9mm semi-auto. And, without beating a dead horse, those calibers haven't had the large public appeal that most manufacturers want to cater to.
 
Re DaleA:

That's a good point. My list grows nigh daily. I really try to limit myself to only a few chamberings and purposes, as to curb the desire to grow my collection, but so far it's been pretty ineffective.
 
That's a good point. My list grows nigh daily. I really try to limit myself to only a few chamberings and purposes, as to curb the desire to grow my collection, but so far it's been pretty ineffective.
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Boooor.....Ing!
Like limiting yourself to only one type of food. Watching the same movie over, and over. Having only one TV channel to watch. Or going to the same place for vacation year after year!

as to curb the desire to grow my collection,
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:confused::confused::confused:
 
I'll get one to go with my 929 whenever that thing finally arrives.

Its a nice package too. 9mm probably gonna have a bit more bite outta that barrel then a .38 regularly or +P. Moon clipped reloads are a snap compared to speedloaders or strips. Practice cost is far less and we all know how subbies are a challenge.

Boooor.....Ing!
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Except its not. I do the same thing. Getting guns in the most popular calibers allows you to shoot more. I've put more rounds through Darkers 986 then I have any of my .357s which is sad because I have some that I really enjoy. after .38s hit the cost of .45s per hundred and .357s far exceeded it those guns have sat unused. I have no interest or time for reloading. I could simply afford to shoot MORE 9mm pretty much double the amount per dollar.

Dollar for dollar I would take thousands of 9mm to hundreds of another lesser used more expensive caliber thats 'cooler, better, etc'. Because at the end of the day, I am the last one @ the range when everyone else is outta ammo and gone and I still have to lug boxes of bullets back to the car. If money wasn't an issue maybe I'd feel different. If you can't afford to feed it what good is it?
 
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Except its not. I do the same thing. Getting guns in the most popular calibers allows you to shoot more.
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You discount another great diversion from firearms boredom........Reloading! That also includes bullet casting as well. I can reload for a vast assortment of calipers for near the cost of reinforce ammo. In fact, with today's prices, maybe even less.
 
I'd buy an SP101 in 9mm

I don't need an LCR in 9mm, but would immediately buy a new Ruger SP101 or GP100 in 9mm. Like others have said, the ammo is much less expensive. Also, I now enjoy revolvers more than semi-autos at the range; flying brass (and picking it up) is less fun than it used to be. And, it would be a better, more effective house gun for my wife than my current SP101 in .38. She doesn't like semi-autos, but loves the SP101.
 
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