[mm6mm6]

I picked up an LCR today. Ruger is starting to become my favorite gunmaker (next to S&W of course!). I was very impressed with the SR9, my only complaint being that it's a 9mm. The LCP .380 has become my daily carry pistol and I've equipped it with a Crimson Trace laser.

I think Ruger is going to sell a ton of these LCRs. The revolver is cutting edge. The polymer fire control unit (gripframe) is just plain cool. The super fluted cylinder looks very tough in person and the grey finish makes it look very purposeful.

The double action pull is smooth and easy to stage. You can take up most of the trigger's travel and the cylinder locks into position. Then you can fire the gun almost single action for a more controlled shot.

The sights are wide and easy to see. I like that the front sight is pinned on. Hopefully an aftermarket will provide neat options (red fiber optic, gold bead, orange stripe, night sights?).

The standard Hogue Monogrip has the Ruger emblem on the back and it's very, very grippy. If you carried this gun stuck in your waistband, the rubber grips alone will most probably keep the gun from moving around. They are also very comfortable for my big hands and they fit me really well. They also align my hand into the perfect position for double action shooting. Alot of thought and hands on interaction went into the design of this grip, I'm sure. I hope to fire it tomorrow if I have the time. If not, I will shoot it this coming Monday.

I think anyone looking for a compact, lightweight revolver for the first time will find the Ruger LCR fits all of a person's needs. It might not be as nice looking as a blue or nickel S&W, but it appears very durable for daily carry and the price point is going to be alot less expensive than the S&W.

-Steve

 

[Gizamo]

Re: Picked up a Ruger LCR today

Looking forward to the range report....I've read much hype and hoopla about this new gun. Be nice to see what your shooting impressions are. I'd believe your report before I'd trust the early attempts to build market share....So good, great, or so-so ~ it will be interesting to see what you think of your new gun

I'm liking the concept of something radically new in a revolver package and this gun definitely breaks new ground...

giz

 

[Hunter]

Re: Picked up a Ruger LCR today

Wow, I can't wait for your range report on this one.

 

[Sebago Son]

Re: Picked up a Ruger LCR today

First Obama Then This.... Whatta Year 2009 is turning out to be.... Think I'll go throw myself off a bridge....

 

[Cush]

Re: Picked up a Ruger LCR today

First Obama Then This.... Whatta Year 2009 is turning out to be.... Think I'll go throw myself off a bridge....

Can you let me know when...and leave your door unlocked?

mm6mm6, I didn't even know these were out just yet. Good for you. I really like the leather you've got her stuffed in. Is that made for the LCR, or any J frame sized wheel gun?

 

[mm6mm6]

Re: Picked up a Ruger LCR today

I've got court tomorrow, but if it doesn't go too long, I'm heading for the range to shoot this leight little EBR (Evil Black Revolver!)....

That's an old Clark Industries (Los Angeles, CA) spring loaded hip holster for a J-Frame S&W. I wanted to show that the most cutting edge, modern, carry revolver fits the same holsters as the classic little .38 snubnose from Smith & Wesson. That's why I threw the old ammo into the pic too. The modern DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster for the J-Frame works just as well.

I've been dry firing this Ruger all day long and carrying it around the house inside my waistband and opening the cylinder, mimicking a reload, pretty much just getting used to the whole package by monkeying around with it. The interesting thing is that there is no turn line on the cylinder at all. The bolt stop comes up early so it would normally leave a turn line. The "Advanced Target Grey" finish seems very tough and virtually unscratchable. I'm not sure what the name means and I wonder if it's some kind of PVD coating. It feels very slick too.

 

[Gizamo]

Re: Picked up a Ruger LCR today

About 3 years ago I did a April fools joke on another forum announcing the merger of Glock and Ruger. At that time I kiddingly went into great detail about a revolver on a polymer frame....it caught quite a few people and the discussion got pretty interesting....

Who'd a thought that 3 years later, Ruger would actually develope such a gun....

giz

 

[carl418]

Re: Picked up a Ruger LCR today

How do the sticky grips impact pocket carry? Do they hang up much, as compared to a set of wooden grips?

 

[mm6mm6]

Re: Picked up a Ruger LCR today

Giz, you're a prognosticating prognosticator!

Carl, they're very grippy/sticky. In the front pocket of my jeans, it's tough to get it out fast. The grips are thick as well so the rubber really grabs inside the pocket. Not impossible, but not as slick as my S&W 40-1. It would be great for inside the waistband carry because the grips would help keep the gun in place.

 

[xtimberman]

Re: Picked up a Ruger LCR today

I believe that it looks lots nicer in your photographs here than it does in the Ruger promotionals! They need to use a couple of your pix in their advertising. I wouldn't call it a pretty revolver - but it ain't ugly.

I've said this before - I hope they sell a bazillion of 'em!

xtm

 

[mm6mm6]

Re: Picked up a Ruger LCR today

The sun was out and there were puffy white clouds against a gorgeous blue sky today. I got out of court pretty early. The Conservation Club of Kenosha County opens at noon on Fridays and it's not usually very crowded. My wife and daughter are on Spring Break and they had nothing going on today (shocking because they've been constantly busy all week). So I said, "Let's all go to the range! Come on!"

It was a bit windy and therefore chilly but we had a great time.

Lauren started out shooting her Marlin 15YN .22 single shot youth rifle with iron sights at 25 yards. She was having a great time working the bolt and hitting what she aimed at. I told her where each shot went as I looked through the spotting scope.

My wife, Robin, tried out my Ruger 10/22 with a 4X Tasco scope, Volquartzen hammer, and Clark trigger. It breaks at 2 pounds even. She really liked it. With the scope, she could see her shots hit the center.

Then Lauren tried out the 10/22. She had never fired a rifle with a scope before (get her started with iron sights first, right?) and she really liked it. She pretty much just drilled the 10 ring with a shot in the 9 ring only if she hurried just a bit. She's so competitive, even against herself. She would fire several shots in the 10 ring and then throw one barely into the 9 ring and she'd be so disappointed.

Here she is with some the targets she shot at. The bunny and the top and bottom targets. The pink targets have about 25 rounds on each, most in the bullseye. Very fun!

The LCR is a handful. I guess it's just basic physics. The gun is super lightweight. No matter what load is fired through it, it's gonna kick...and kick hard. I shot some reloads that were pretty hot, some old Western Lubaloys and ten rounds of Federal Hydra-Shok +P's. The wide Hogue grip helps alot with managing the recoil. But no matter what, this little revolver kicks. I found I was shooting it low and left which I think was me anticipating the recoil. I staged the trigger until it locked up and then tried calmly pressing the trigger. This helped and was (obviously) much more accurate than trying to smoothly pull the trigger straight through double action.

I will shoot it again on Monday or Tuesday and I will shoot it at full size combat targets.

On a side note, a guy who was apparently not very informed fired a round through a shotgun with a scope mounted on it. He got one heck of a cut on his eyebrow line that's gonna need some stitches. OUCH!

-Steve

 

[Gizamo]

Re: Picked up a Ruger LCR today

Not a bad outing for the little LCR...imagine it will take a good many rounds to get use to handling such a lightweight gun. Thanks for the initial field report....

giz

 

[WendyZXZ]

I only own two Rugers, but they are among my favorites. I have a 4" GP100 SS and a 3" SP101 in .357. Great handling revolvers.

 

[Bob K]

There were many detractors of the lightweight S&W Scandium revolvers, when they first came out. What is the price on that Ruger? If it's light and cheap, as well as a good shooter, it may be my next carry gun. Ruger had to come up with something to compete with S&W, for that segment of the market. Bob

 

[Hunter]

Thanks for the update!! How is it to clean?

 

[mm6mm6]

It's really easy to clean Hunter. The front of the cylinder and inside the chambers won't let anything stick to it. I did take the grips off so my Hoppes 9 wouldn't get on them. The rest of the gun was soaked in it.

 

[Frank V]

mm6mm6, Thanks for the report, sounds like you & your family had a good time. Glad to hear you like your new Ruger. How does it seem to be for rapidedly getting back on target? You said it has a lot of recoil due to the light weight. Guess that's to be expected. Let us know more as you get to shoot it more. Thanks, Congratulations, & I'm really glad you like it. Frank kjdfjemnd

 

[mm6mm6]

I shot the LCR some more today and several others tried it out as well. Everyone gave it high marks for build quality, double action trigger pull, and the fact that the Hogue grips tame the recoil. There's one heck of a muzzle blast when you let +P .38's go off! But even after 50 rounds, my hands don't hurt....

 

[Frank V]

mm6mm6, now I just got the wants again. Sounds like a great gun. Thanks for the reports. Frank

 

[Firehouse]

Thanks for the range reports. I was curious as to how this thing shoots. I wonder how it would hold up 20 years from now. Say compared tooo.....a model 36?