Used Ruger LCR .38 - Tips for Selecting?

[dustyvarmint]

I want to pick up a LCR .38. Local gun shop has a couple used ones. Would you buy a used LCR .38 and, if so, what kind of things would you look for in the gun to select one?

A search wasn't too helpful.

happy shooting, Jerry

[camsdaddy]

Many people love the LCR. Many have replaced j frames as a snub for many. People generally like the triggers as they find them smoother than many small stock revolvers.

There is the choice 38 vs 357. I would stick to shooting 38 out of either. If I could tolerate the additional weight of the 357 I would go that way. I figure the few ounces will help reduce recoil.

I have owned several my only negatives were its a little larger than a j frame and prefer the j for pocket carry. I didn't like trigger I would short stroke the reset.

[RJ]

I had a .357 and currently have a .38 LCR. I bought both new. They both worked well and I had no issues. If you want a comparison with a broken in, bought from new gun to the ones available at the LGS, let me know and I can get my .38 out if it will help.

I'm about as far away from a revolver guy as you can get (both my LCRs were my first and second revolvers, like, ever) so I am interested in the comments of the more experienced guys here as to input.

[1911Nut]

I have two. Both are in .38 and that is the caliber I would recommend over the .357. Nice trigger directly out of the box. Much more accurate at 15 yards than I expected, and hits to POA. Not much to go wrong with these pistols unless they have flat out been abused. I know I am in the minority on this forum, but I have never had much luck with "J" frame S&W revolvers, or for that matter S&W "K", "L", "N" frame revolvers either - going back to 1972.

[deputyG23]

I have two. Both are in .38 and that is the caliber I would recommend over the .357. Nice trigger directly out of the box. Much more accurate at 15 yards than I expected, and hits to POA. Not much to go wrong with these pistols unless they have flat out been abused. I know I am in the minority on this forum, but I have never had much luck with "J" frame S&W revolvers, or for that matter S&W "K", "L", "N" frame revolvers either - going back to 1972.

Question for you - what weight ammo does yours hit POA with?
I have zero experience with the LCR.

[mtnbkr]

I bought a used LCR38 this summer after more than 2 decades of owning and shooting j-frames. I see no reason not to buy a used one as long as it wasn't obviously abused or has some other obvious flaw. The guns are well made by a reputable company. I'd vet one like any other revolver.

Compared to the j-frame, the only negatives to me are the slight increase in size and the short-stroke issue mentioned. Neither have been a factor in actual use though. The benefits are much improved sights, much better trigger, and slight weight decrease compared to my airweight 38. I shoot the ugly little gun better than my S&W j-frame so much that I'll probably end up with a 3" 357 model and/or 22lr model.

Chris

[SAWBONES]

Question for you - what weight ammo does yours hit POA with?
I have zero experience with the LCR.

Though I'm not 1911Nut, I'll presume to reply as an owner of two identical LCRs in .38 Special, that they both hit right to POA with 148gr wadcutters*.

(I can't speak to other 148gr wadcutter brands than one since I had good luck with the first wadcutter brand tried [Delta Precision], and looked no further, after having first shot Gold Dot 135gr+P short barrel JHP [hit low and right] and Remington 158gr+P LSWCHP [hit high] with disappointing results, at 10 yards.)

YMMV, etc., and I'd wish rather that Speer's 135gr short barrel load had won the laurels, but it didn't, in my guns, in my hands, and for me POI = POA is paramount, since I don't regard snubbies as "belly guns only".



*To be specific, Delta Precision brand Premium is what's carried in both guns, since I have taken care to verify by trial & error than Delta Precision's 148gr HBWC remanufactured practice load and their Premium load both hit right to the same POA, making for less expensive practice.

[1911Nut]

Question for you - what weight ammo does yours hit POA with?
I have zero experience with the LCR.

I checked my notes on this pistol. Actual point of impact is 1" high at 15 yards with both the following loads:

Buffalo Bore Item #20C (https://pistol-forum.com/usertag.php?do=list&action=hash&hash=20C) Factory 158 gr. SWCHP. This is a very soft bullet and I only use it for EDC. This load provides 827 FPS MV according to my chronograph. ES is only 12 FPS and SD is 6 FPS.

Handload consisting of an Oregon Trail 158 gr. SWC with 4.8 grains of Winchester 231 powder, and a W-W small pistol primer in Winchester cases. This OT bullet is hard and does not lead much at all. This load provides 835 FPS MV with an ES of 37 FPS and the SD is 13 FPS.

Recoil is stout, but manageable.

[Whirlwind06]

I would look for excessive play in the cylinder. (Does it slide back and forth with the cylinder closed.)

Does the timing work well. (No hitches or binding while dry firing).

With the trigger pulled back is there lot of cylinder play.

Check the breach face and forcing cone for wear.

With that said. I did all that with a used Ruger Gp100 and once I actually got it to the range I did have binding problems. So I sent my used revolver back to Ruger and for a $30 FedEx shipping label they fixed it.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

[Totem Polar]

I bought a used LCR38 this summer after more than 2 decades of owning and shooting j-frames. I see no reason not to buy a used one as long as it wasn't obviously abused or has some other obvious flaw. The guns are well made by a reputable company. I'd vet one like any other revolver.

Compared to the j-frame, the only negatives to me are the slight increase in size and the short-stroke issue mentioned. Neither have been a factor in actual use though. The benefits are much improved sights, much better trigger, and slight weight decrease compared to my airweight 38. I shoot the ugly little gun better than my S&W j-frame so much that I'll probably end up with a 3" 357 model and/or 22lr model.

Chris

Once again, I don’t have to type a response. This, all of it, literally verbatim as written.

[RJ]

Question for you - what weight ammo does yours hit POA with?
I have zero experience with the LCR.

I’m getting good results w Federal Gold Medal Match 148 gr wadcutters. This was 5 yd with a Novak white aftermarket front sight.

46622

[Jared]

As mentioned before, make sure cylinder turns freely when dry firing and make sure there isn’t excessive play when the cylinder should be locked in place. Beyond that, buy with confidence. I have 4 LCRs now and will probably have a fifth soon. I’m another long time j frame user that ended up ditching the Smiths for the LCR.

[Totem Polar]

I’m getting good results w Federal Gold Medal Match 148 gr wadcutters. This was 5 yd with a Novak white aftermarket front sight.


That is good results at 5 with a 13.5 oz snub. No lie, Rich.

[dustyvarmint]

There was only one LCR left by the time I got there today. The barrel had internal scratches in the grooves. Also, some of the lands had spots that looked narrower than others. About 1/2" in from the muzzle. So, the land would look normal width, appeared to slim down, then appear to go back to full width. They had a new LCR .357 - the grooves were not scratched and the lands appeared full width throughout.

I'm not an experienced or savvy used gun buyer. Any advice?

happy shooting, Jerry

[willie]

I would not buy the one with obvious defects, though they may not interfere with shooting. Used guns can be great deals if priced right and if are in tip top shape. I am picky about bores.

[farscott]

Those spots and marks could be the result of the tool used to either bore or rifle the barrel chattering during the process. They could also be the result of leading in the bore. I would ask the shop if they are willing to clean the bore, either with a bore snake or patches and a rod. If the shop goes along, it says a lot about how the shop does business. The same if they do not.

In any event, with used guns, it is best to walk away if you have any doubts, especially in this market. There are other used LCR .38 revolvers, so no need to feel compelled to buy a gun in which you do not have complete confidence.

[Duelist]

There was only one LCR left by the time I got there today. The barrel had internal scratches in the grooves. Also, some of the lands had spots that looked narrower than others. About 1/2" in from the muzzle. So, the land would look normal width, appeared to slim down, then appear to go back to full width. They had a new LCR .357 - the grooves were not scratched and the lands appeared full width throughout.

I'm not an experienced or savvy used gun buyer. Any advice?

happy shooting, Jerry

If that’s the only place around to buy guns, get the new .357 and drive on.

[snubasaurus]

I’m another long time j frame user that ended up ditching the Smiths for the LCR.

Me too, I carried J's for years with no complaints but once I got my LCR .38 there was no looking back. I got a .22LR a few years later and love that one too. I quit shooting +P out of lightweight snubs and carry with 148gr wadcutters now. They're a lot more easy and fun to shoot.