Range Report - Ruger LCR .357

[B2Tall]

Sold my Glock 36 (terrific gun, just redundant for me) and picked up the Ruger LCR .357 at a gun show over the weekend. For a while now I've wanted a pocket gun with some wallop.

Link Removed

The Hogue grip is excellent. I love their grips and have them on 3 of my guns. I put 50 rnds of .38 FMJ through it. Not surprisingly it was a pussycat with this load. Very little recoil and very accurate. Then I went through 50 rounds of .357 FMJ. Also not surprising was the much nastier recoil with this round but not as bad as I expected. Huge muzzle flash that's typical of a magnum snubbie.

When taking my time in between shots I was able to put the rounds pretty much wherever I wanted to at ranges of 22-25 ft. (I practice pistols at what I believe to be more realistic ranges of 10-30 ft.). Very tight groups.

I was pleasantly surprised with the results of my double-taps. With the .38 I could get off 2 accurate shots in about 1/2 a sec. while the .357 was more like 3/4 of a sec. With the exception of a couple of strays, every round hit the 6" target (also in the 20-25 ft range).

My only gripe is that I would have liked to see a night sight on it. I've ordered a Trijicon to remedy that issue. One of the .38 +P models that Ruger offers in the LCP comes with a night sight but for some odd reason the others don't.

Overall I'm very happy thus far and I plan on carrying it tonight to work.

 

[thebrez1]

Sweet new toy! I have the .38 and the LCP, both are well built pistols. I have been looking at the .357 and may even consider trading in the LCP to get one. I appreciate your report as I have been curious how much it would kick. The +p is quite manageable so I figured the .357 would not be to much worse.

I thought about putting a Crimson trace laser on the LCR, but it is for close up work so why bother? Rather use the money to buy more ammo and practice hitting what I want with no assistance I agree the Houge grips are really good on the LCR and that was the final reason for not getting the Crimson Trace. they are much harder and the soft rubber is what makes the LCR so comfortable to shoot. Even that gun would be a bit much without the Houges

Have fun and give us a follow up after a few hundered rounds. Thanks again.

 

[svrivera]

Sold my Glock 36 (terrific gun, just redundant for me) and picked up the Ruger LCR .357 at a gun show over the weekend. For a while now I've wanted a pocket gun with some wallop.

Link Removed

The Hogue grip is excellent. I love their grips and have them on 3 of my guns. I put 50 rnds of .38 FMJ through it. Not surprisingly it was a pussycat with this load. Very little recoil and very accurate. Then I went through 50 rounds of .357 FMJ. Also not surprising was the much nastier recoil with this round but not as bad as I expected. Huge muzzle flash that's typical of a magnum snubbie.

When taking my time in between shots I was able to put the rounds pretty much wherever I wanted to at ranges of 22-25 ft. (I practice pistols at what I believe to be more realistic ranges of 10-30 ft.). Very tight groups.

I was pleasantly surprised with the results of my double-taps. With the .38 I could get off 2 accurate shots in about 1/2 a sec. while the .357 was more like 3/4 of a sec. With the exception of a couple of strays, every round hit the 6" target (also in the 20-25 ft range).

My only gripe is that I would have liked to see a night sight on it. I've ordered a Trijicon to remedy that issue. One of the .38 +P models that Ruger offers in the LCP comes with a night sight but for some odd reason the others don't.

Overall I'm very happy thus far and I plan on carrying it tonight to work.

:biggrin:
nice, I think the 357 is an over kill for the LCR, I have been selling the 38spl. over the 357..but with the tamer grip. great piece..good luck.

 

[thebrez1]

Not to hijack the thread, but what tamer grips? who makes em and how much? Better than the Hough? This sounds interesting....

 

[handgonnetoter]

I think if I had one of those, I would put the XS big dot sites on it. Nice gun though.:biggrin:

 

[stingray2100]

Awsome little snubbie...!

 

[KoB]

Got my .38 LCR w/ the XS Big Dot, and CT laser grip. I agree, the LCR is an "up-close & personal" weapon, but you never know when the need for the beam might present itself!

 

[liquidr1]

i love my lcr .357. i put the xs sight on it. makes a huge difference. i highly recomend it.

you know whats funny, i ordered my sight straight from XS website, It arrived in an XS package but on top of the sight it has the Trijicon logo and date and stamped on the side is a very tiny XS logo.

 

[B2Tall]

I just put a Trijicon XS on it. Big difference although it requires an adjustment in how I aim as it's larger and sits a little higher than the stock sight. No biggie considering it's a short range weapon and I haven't shot it enough to really get used to the original sights.

 

[liquidr1]

Sweet new toy! I have the .38 and the LCP, both are well built pistols. I have been looking at the .357 and may even consider trading in the LCP to get one. I appreciate your report as I have been curious how much it would kick. The +p is quite manageable so I figured the .357 would not be to much worse.

I thought about putting a Crimson trace laser on the LCR, but it is for close up work so why bother? Rather use the money to buy more ammo and practice hitting what I want with no assistance I agree the Houge grips are really good on the LCR and that was the final reason for not getting the Crimson Trace. they are much harder and the soft rubber is what makes the LCR so comfortable to shoot. Even that gun would be a bit much without the Houges

Have fun and give us a follow up after a few hundered rounds. Thanks again.

I didint like the feel of the crimson trace. Just felt to skinny and hard. The houge fit my hand perfect and i can wrap my pinky around the bottom for more support to.

 

[Bighouse Doc]

The CT grips were too painful!

They are slightly softer than a bowling ball!

Now with the Tamer grips, it was great to shoot.

-Doc