Unsolicited Range Report...!! Ruger LCR

[dmcdonnell]

I took my Ruger LCR to the range on Sunday morning. I knew it was a light gun, and out of curiosity I wanted to see how it handled the run of the mill Hornady 158 grain and 140 grain hollow points.

So here is my range report...

Jesus Christ, I would rather be punched in the face... TWICE...!!

Ok.. in all seriousness, it was brutal recoil. I can't imagine trying to shoot accurate follow up shots in any semblance of speed and precision. At 17 oz., it was a handful. I can only imagine the hell that will be unleashed from the even lighter 11 oz. S&W 340PD

I have to confess, I LOVE the feel of stiff recoil, but it's definitely NOT practical for anything but close proximity "oh shit" scenarios...

I think I will grab some .38 Special +P for normal backup carry.

[Hokkmike]

I took my Ruger LCR to the range on Sunday morning. I knew it was a light gun, and out of curiosity I wanted to see how it handled the run of the mill Hornady 158 grain and 140 grain hollow points.

So here is my range report...

Jesus Christ, I would rather be punched in the face... TWICE...!!

Ok.. in all seriousness, it was brutal recoil. I can't imagine trying to shoot accurate follow up shots in any semblance of speed and precision. At 17 oz., it was a handful. I can only imagine the hell that will be unleashed from the even lighter 11 oz. S&W 340PD

I have to confess, I LOVE the feel of stiff recoil, but it's definitely NOT practical for anything but close proximity "oh shit" scenarios...

I think I will grab some .38 Special +P for normal backup carry.

My wife (first time shooter in 30 years) debated between the .38 and the .22. She picked the .22 after watching a video of both being fired. You have confirmed the correctness of her choice. I have also switched from a light .40 to a .32 magnum (different gun) and oh, so happy.

[dmcdonnell]

Let me clarify my earlier post. It is a Ruger LCR .357. I was shooting what I consider a good .357 round, but not a sledgehammer round like either a Double Tap, Buffalo Bore, or CorBon. These were either Hornady 140 or 158 grain hollow points.

I intend to carry .38 +P's for defensive use to mitigate the recoil. for fun at the range and the occasional recoil fix, I will also continue to shoot the hot .357 loads.

My wife (first time shooter in 30 years) debated between the .38 and the .22. She picked the .22 after watching a video of both being fired. You have confirmed the correctness of her choice. I have also switched from a light .40 to a .32 magnum (different gun) and oh, so happy.

[Hokkmike]

I intend to carry .38 +P's for defensive use to mitigate the recoil. for fun at the range and the occasional recoil fix, I will also continue to shoot the hot .357 loads.

Yeah, I got that. I shot a Walther PPS .40 for years. A similar scenario. It just was no fun to shoot. The clincher was when we had a church-wide gun shoot and took turns firing each others' weapons. Not a single person wanted second on emptying another magazine from the PPS.

But if you can handle it then so much the better for you.

[Orive 8]

The Ruger LCR is a light gun, even with .38+P it still kicks.

But with that said, the Gold Dot 135 gr +P .38 round has a pretty good track record according to those that "know something" about this stuff.

Happy shooting

[dmcdonnell]

As I stated above, I LOVE stout recoil for FUN stuff... actual defensive use, I like your idea of the 135 +Ps and also the 158 Grain +P in either SWC or Hollow point.

With that said, however, I am intrigued by this loading from Buffalo Bore. It is designed to maximize the power of the .357 in a low recoil low muzzle flash round...

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.ph...t_images&p=275

The Ruger LCR is a light gun, even with .38+P it still kicks.

But with that said, the Gold Dot 135 gr +P .38 round has a pretty good track record according to those that "know something" about this stuff.

Happy shooting

[Odonnks]

Similarly my wife shoots my heavier hand guns just fine, we saw and liked the feel of a S&W 642 Airweight.

She loved the feel until the fired a few rounds. It's light weight does make it more of a handful.

[DucatiRon]

I know the feelin. I have a S&W 360. At 13oz ya 357 mags are a real ass kicker. It has quite a different sting then the 500 mag but still not a lot of fun to shoot. I keep 38 +p in mine.

[Hokkmike]

I know the feelin. I have a S&W 360. At 13oz ya 357 mags are a real ass kicker. It has quite a different sting then the 500 mag but still not a lot of fun to shoot. I keep 38 +p in mine.

WOW - 13 ounces??? That IS light.

[dmcdonnell]

The 340/360PD is even lighter at 11.4 oz.
The 340/360 is as he stated 13 oz.

I can't imagine the brutal recoil of those especially after the punishing recoil of my LCR at 17 oz.

WOW - 13 ounces??? That IS light.