Should I go Ruger LCR in .38 or .357?

LCR for Carry

I carry the LCR in .38 cal with Crimson Trace laser grip in a Lobo offset belt clip IWB holster. It's horse hide and I usually wear it at about the 1:00 ("appendix carry") position. I have a collection of holsters (pocket, OWB, x-draw) and much prefer this one. To supplement the CT I installed a Hi-viz front sight.

I initially carried it with the same Speer Gold Dot 135gr +p hp that I was using in my S&W K frame, but have since switched to the Federal 110gr low-recoil hydrashock because the LCR is so accurate that I feel that if I can get back on target faster, I can get away with the lighter round.
 

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I replaced a 442 with an LCR in 357. There is no comparison between the 2 triggers, the LCR trigger is far and away better. For my girlfriend and I the .357 is very controllable in it. We use .38 special for practice most of the time due to ammo cost, but have fired about 200 rounds of .357 in it.
 
Get the .38

Yes, there's a significant weight difference between the .357 and the .38. And no, there's no advantage to using the .357 because it will rip your arm off and stick it in your...um...ear. My sister bought the .38; I bought the .357. It didn't take me long to realize that there were definite advantages to having the .38. The weight and balance of the .38 is perfect. The .357 was okay, but no cigar.

Having said that, I understand there may be situations where you may have to aim and shoot one shot, counting on that to stop someone. The .357 is fine for that. Unless you train for that, however, you may be distracted by the heat and blast. Many +P .38s will work far better for repeat shots, and the Model 60 S&W .38 is an almost perfect self defense gun. I did read an account of someone who uses a 60 for self defense in a bank robbery, and his brother said he went out and invested in a better gun.

You want a .357? Get a Ruger SP-101. Dry firing it several hundred times will smooth up the action quite a bit. The next step up is a S&W 66 snubbie, or a Ruger Speed-Six. But just because the technology exists to shoot .357s out of a hybrid plastic gun doesn't mean it's a good choice. Besides, even though the .357 LCR may be a bit stronger than the .38 model, strength really isn't the issue. I could tell a distinct difference between the two, even if I were to use nothing but .38s.

Nutnfancy has a couple of videos on the LCR. You really need to watch them before you plunk down your cash. Here's the first, and here's the second.


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The Ruger SP-101 and Speed-Six.


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S&W Model 60 .38 is probably the best balanced and comfortable
pistols available for self defense. I fell in love with it and it's blued
brother, the Model 36 while watching "Get Smart" back in the 60s!
 
Get the .357. If you handload you may want something inbetween a full powered mag load and the run of the mill .38 spl.

Even if you don't roll your own white box 110 grain mag loads wouldn't be too bad in a gun like that.
 
I recommend the .38+P LCR.
Sure, the .357 magnum is more powerful, but the .38+P will afford quicker and more accurate follow-up shots.
And the .38's are a lot easier on the ears than those magnums.

The size difference is significant when carrying inside the pants pocket.
The .38, while large for pocket carry, is still manageable, especially with the slimmer boot grips.
But the .357 is just a tad too bulky.


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Baccus,

I know I am certainly in the minority when I comes to not liking the trigger on the LCR. I completely appreciate it and think that making a snub nose with a trigger pull almost anyone can handle is long over due. Over the years, almost every new shooter who shot one of my J-frames all had the same complaint; the trigger is too heavy and long. That was always after the recoil complaint which the LCR kinda helps with the comfy grips.

I think the LCR is a neat little gun with some practical features. However, I've spent too many years shooting S&W's so the LCR trigger just feels weird to me. They don't have the same positive return on the reset, something I've gotten used to and come to love over the years. Who knows, maybe I'll pick up the .22 version for a kit gun one day. Until then, I'll continue to admire them from afar.
 
Usually I would say get the 357 but in a aluminum framed firearm the 38 would suffice. I would also say look at the SP before going to the LCR if you want a cartridge in 357 Magnum.
 
I'm just not a big fan of the .357 in smaller firearms. Used to have a model 60 in .357 and traded it off for a 640 chambered in .38. The .357 doesn't really shine out of short barreled revolvers, so in anything under 3" I stick to .38's.
 
.38 spl +p 135 gr. speer gold dot short barrel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VWD...DvjVQa1PpcFOG_AU40wZt18cix6WVgmu1wUIpbT5fkIE=

.357 mag. 135 gr. speer gold dot short barrel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_BP...DvjVQa1PpcFOG_AU40wZt1_xuoUVqfd3z5CIVQd8EKu8=

im also thinking about the ruger lcr in .38 or .357. the .357 seems to do a bit more damage and more penetration which is needed for a big muscled up bad guy. imo this means a lot when using a 5 shot revolver. i can't help but feel under powered carrying a 5 shot .38spl. in a 2" snub nose i think the extra power of the .357 is a must.

now my question, would the lcr in .357 mag loaded with fmj be effective on louisiana black bears? i have to walk in the woods sometimes over a mile and i currently carry a .44 mag s&w model 29 which gets real heavy.
 
Well, I have a couple SP101's in .357 magnum. I carried one every day, in a high-ride, strong-side pancake holster, for 8+ years. I'll never part with them.

But, when the LCR's came out, the first one I could find was the .38 special. So, I bought it. I like to carry it, in a pocket holster, in my right side pocket, when I dress up & tuck my shirts.
But when I found an LCR .357 magnum I bought it. It is heavier, about 4 oz. I do not like it as well, in my pocket. So, I carry it in the same pancake holster I carried my SP101 in. It fits perfect.
I carry it loaded with Win Silvertip .357 magnums. I never carry .38's in my, .357 magnum pistols. Yeah, the .357's, in the LCR are pretty snappy. But, they're stoppers. I do practice with .38's in it sometimes, though.
It's a lot cheaper.
Most times, around the house I carry the .38 LCR in the same belt holster.
When I leave or go out, I switch to the .357 mag.
 
I would do .38 in a light/short barrel gun like that. .357 won't get you a ton of gain in it but will get you a lot of blast and recoil.
 
I've held the 357 & 38s side by side and don't remember any difference in size. Ruger specs claim they are the same size too.

As for weight, 4 oz is a 30% increase over the 38spl. It is definitely noticable when comparing the two guns. I don't know if it would be noticable when actually carrrying.

I go back and forth, I'm leaning towards the 38 spl...today. Tomorrow...who knows.
 
I was at Cabelas a couple of days ago. Looked again at the LCR and KLCR side by side. I still didn't notice the size difference a couple of people mentioned. Just a bit heavier is all.
 
I've been on the same fence for a while. One question I have is what makes the 357 heavier if it the same size?
Still leaning to the Magnum just 'cause!
 
I've been on the same fence for a while. One question I have is what makes the 357 heavier if it the same size?
Still leaning to the Magnum just 'cause!
Click to expand...

The .357 has a steel frame, while the the .38 has an aluminum frame. The cylinder is also less aggressively fluted on the magnum.
 
My 2p...

Get the .38spl.

Being now usurped by the .357, I'd expect prices to come down so it should be a better deal.

Yes, the .357 can shoot two calibers, but really, I wouldn't want to shoot a .357 out of that light frame, and the distances a LCR should be accurate to, I think a .38 in +p should be plenty!!

Ultimately, try both if you can in all applicable calibers and decide from that!
 
The .357 has a steel frame, while the the .38 has an aluminum frame. The cylinder is also less aggressively fluted on the magnum.
Click to expand...

While I don't have a problem with aluminum frames, or plastic for that matter, wouldn't the steel frame make the 357 more durable?
 
I own a Taurus Total Titanium .357mag snubby I bought nearly 10 years ago. I wanted it to pack while running & hiking, and for it to be good against tough 4-legged critters, too. That meant I wanted a load with serious penetration.

I found that .357mag loads of less than 158gr get downright nasty in a snubby. That muzzle blast and cylinder/forcing cone gap blast are just as hard on me as the recoil. Like someone taking a ball bat to your open hand while simultaneously setting off an arty simulator at your feet.

Bringing the bullet weight up to 158gr+ brought down the blast and subjective recoil. My happy medium was the Winchester Partition Gold 180gr Nosler Partition round, 1000fps out of the snubby. It expanded at 1000fps and penetrated anything I was likely to see with that Partition pill. But, they no longer make it. When I shoot up my stock, it is gone.

My next carry load will likely be from Buffalo Bore, since they make several .38spl +P with ~158gr pills in the neighborhood of 1000fps and non+P .38spl loads that penetrate like crazy (hardcast ~150gr DEWC). Bullet & power tech has had a flowering in the last 10 years or so, so that I can get mild .357mag performance out of a .38spl while staying within pressure guidelines.

If I had to buy today, I'd buy a somewhat lighter .38spl+P snubby and be happy as a clam.
 
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