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Ruger LCR Revolver Review (38 Spl +P) Over the years, I have been asked the question many times by first time gun buyers, "what type of handgun should I get?" Usually I always answer with the question, "What do you want to use it for?" More times than not, they want a handgun that is small, light weight, easy to use, easy to conceal, has high capacity magazines, requires very little training, can be used for target shooting, shoots cheap ammo, has little recoil, has great knockdown power, has rails for a light or laser, is not too loud, etc.. I think you get the picture. They want one handgun that can do it all. Typically this sparks a lengthy conversation on the differences between pistols and revolvers, variations of each and my views on the pros and cons for each. They usually end up with "information overload" and have that "deer in the headlights" look on their face, so in the end, I have to sum it up with, "let me tell you of some I have purchased and why" and it usually goes like this. Many years ago, my wife started doing real-estate appraisals. One day she took me on a job into downtown Atlanta and into an area that I thought wasn't safe for the police, much less her. That experience sparked much conversation that night and eventually led to her getting out of that business. The bulk of the conversation focused on the fact that the next day I was going to get her a handgun whether she liked it or not. She didn't have much of an opinion on handguns other than she wanted something easy to use. The next day I handed her a S&W Lady's Smith and have never regretted that purchase. This revolver was a small, light weight, hammerless .38 Special and she loved it. Over the years I acquired the S&W Airweight (men's version) of this revolver and it has traveled with me many miles. Today I have several different handguns and each has its purpose and venue, but in the end I am a firm believer that keeping it simple is the best decision for the first time handgun owner. It is hard to dispute the simplicity of draw, aim and pull the trigger.
When Ruger came out with the LCR revolver in January 2009, I had an immediate interest because this revolver matched the "keep it simple" criteria which I have grown to appreciate over the years. This criteria being a small, light weight, hammerless, double action only revolver in .38 Special. Over the last several years, Ruger has been adding new models to their line of LCR Revolvers which include revolvers in .22LR, .357 Mag and 38 Special +P calibers, along with versions of each that include Crimson Trace® Lasergrips®. I had my first chance to shoot a friend's LCR in .38 Special +P about 6 months ago and was impressed with the LCRs size, weight and smooth trigger pull. This sparked my interest in doing a complete review of the revolver along with fueling my desire to add another one of these types of revolvers to my collection. The MSRP on the LCR in 38 Special +P is $525, but you can find it at local stores or online in a range of about $390 to $460 so make sure you shop around. During my reviews I like to compare my results to the manufacturer's claims where possible so the following text in colored italics was taken directly from the Ruger website on 12/21/12 and gives an Overview, Key Features, and Specifications for the Ruger LCR Revolver. The , and are my way to keep up with details that I have covered in this review with either photos, commentary or both. Overview
Key Features
Specifications
This review is broken down into multiple parts with this page providing links to each part along with an overall summary of the specifications, pros and cons, and my final "bottom line" comments. Make sure you take time to checkout the other parts of the review because they contain many photos and lots of commentary. Also, there is an extreme amount of detail in those parts which are not covered on this page.
As you read these Pros and Cons below, keep in mind that it is hard to keep my particular preferences from creeping in the equation. Therefore, it is important that you take the time to look at the other parts of this review so you can decide yourself on items which may be more of a personal preference. Pros:
Pro/Con/Comment (you decide)?:
Cons:
Bottom Line: If you are looking for a good, simple, light weight defense handgun, then the Ruger LCR 38 Special +P Revolver is one that you should seriously consider. Weighing in at under a pound loaded, I found the five shot LCR to still be comfortable to shoot even with +P ammunition. Since the LCR is hammerless, there is nothing to snag on your clothing, pack or purse when drawing the revolver. Since the LCR is double action only, it is very simple to fire because the only thing you need to do is aim and pull the trigger (no safety). Overall I would say the Ruger LCR is a great first handgun for a person or family interested in concealed carry and/or home defense. If you consider that Ruger just introduced another model in 22 Magnum which currently makes 4 calibers for this handgun, the LCR has proven it's popularity in the consumer market. Or If you would like to be notified about future Gunsumer Reports reviews via Facebook, make sure "You Like This" by clicking the Facebook "Like" button at the bottom or top of this page. If it already says "You Like This" beside the button, clicking it again will uncheck the "Like" status and you will not be notified.
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