Ouch! Ruger LCR .38 Special is brutal

[Bang]

Bought this thing for the wife about 5 years ago. Maybe a few more. Had her to the range and she fired it with +P in it and seemed OK with it. Later I put a Crimson Trace laser grip on it, but it has since been a house gun residing in an "in case" status.

Got to thinking it's never been tried since the laser was installed. Last night I took 100 reloads and it to the range. These were lead semi-wadcutter loads.
After 15 rounds I had had enough. But I fired five more. They were just an exercise of trying to ignore pain, overcoming anticipating the next jolt, trying to get a group. Done. Made a mistake. Shoulda taken another gun to shoot when i gave up on this one.

I tried various two-handed holds. None worked at relieving the hard-hitting recoil.

Man....I can't imagine shooting one of these in .357 magnum! The laser needed to be held a little low. In other words, POA produced higher POI. It's adjustable but I hadn't taken the wrench with me. It's close enough for government work.

At home, I spent hours removing the lead from chambers, barrel, and front of cylinder. If there is a next time, it's gonna be at least plated bullets.

[Gunsnwater]

Incase you didn't figure it out, it's the grips. I love the crimson trace on my 640-1 but it's all steel. Ruger put shock absorbers in the LCR because it's so lite. My Ti-lite J is a stinger too. Try the Lewis lead remover to speed up the lead removal.

[R L Suehr]

Bought this thing for the wife about 5 years ago. Maybe a few more. Had her to the range and she fired it with +P in it and seemed OK with it. Later I put a Crimson Trace laser grip on it, but it has since been a house gun residing in an "in case" status.

Got to thinking it's never been tried since the laser was installed. Last night I took 100 reloads and it to the range. These were lead semi-wadcutter loads.
After 15 rounds I had had enough. But I fired five more. They were just an exercise of trying to ignore pain, overcoming anticipating the next jolt, trying to get a group. Done. Made a mistake. Shoulda taken another gun to shoot when i gave up on this one.

I tried various two-handed holds. None worked at relieving the hard-hitting recoil.

Man....I can't imagine shooting one of these in .357 magnum! The laser needed to be held a little low. In other words, POA produced higher POI. It's adjustable but I hadn't taken the wrench with me. It's close enough for government work.

At home, I spent hours removing the lead from chambers, barrel, and front of cylinder. If there is a next time, it's gonna be at least plated bullets.

It's an experience to say the least.


All joking aside, the factory Hogue tamer grips do a good job of helping control it. It barks quite a bit, but isn't that uncomfortable for me with them. As said above, maybe the ct grips just don't do as good a job of soaking up recoil.

[Nate7667]

Once you have your barrel lead free, swab it with type F transmission fluid before you shoot again. Lead can't stick to oil.

[brian]

never noticed anything like that with the 38spl.
the 9mm is snappy and barky however.

[bigandy1966]

I bought My S&W M38 airweight for my wife, she said it was hard to shoot, I shot it and agreed with her, then bought her a Ruger SR9c
But its not a range gun, its a daily carry or BU gun. I basically shot it to see where the sights hit then carry it. I shoot it a couple times a year to make sure I remember how uncomfortable it can be and where its hitting..

[Gun]

Made a mistake. Shoulda taken another gun to shoot when i gave up on this one.

You go to the range with only one gun to shoot?

[john9001]

I bought My S&W M38 airweight for my wife, she said it was hard to shoot, I shot it and agreed with her, then bought her a Ruger SR9c
But its not a range gun, its a daily carry or BU gun. I basically shot it to see where the sights hit then carry it. I shoot it a couple times a year to make sure I remember how uncomfortable it can be and where its hitting..

I agree, I have a J- frame airweight, it's not a gun you shoot for fun, it's a small CC gun for that time you need a gun.

[Bang]

Forgot the other satchel of guns I meant to take.

Yeah, got up this morning and as I was brewing coffee it hit me...the grips. So now the gun is purpose-altered and that is the trade-off. If employed against an intruder of ill intent, it'll be relatively unnoticed, I'm thinkin'.

[pacodelahoya]

Maybe some pamprin would help?


I had to.