I've said this before, but as one who had the unrealistic optimism to hope for the "ultimate compromise" in light weight plus maximal potency in a CCW gun, and who accordingly tested all available premium commercial .357 Magnum loads (20-50 rounds each, in bullet weights from 110gr to 158gr) in my two S&W 340PDs about ten years ago, I can say from experience that ".357 is not an optimal solution" in these little lightweight guns.
The better .38 Special loads proved more accurate than any of the .357 loads, with the Gold Dot Short Barrel .38 Special+P JHP coming out on top, which load of course also had less felt recoil than any of the .357 rounds.
So... IMNSHO, if you're going to carry a short-barrel lightweight 5-shot revolver, get one in dedicated .38 Special configuration if you can, rather than .357.
Why put up with the longer cylinder holes' fouling and the effectively-longer bullet jump from cylinder to forcing-cone, when shooting .38 Special+P is both probably a bit more accurate and faster for follow-up shots?
I think most guys who buy .357 Magnum rather than .38 Special lightweight snubby revolvers imagine that they're "maximizing their options", but then they never shoot anything through them but .38 Special loads, so in the case of the LCR, unless you really do want the extra weight of the .357, I'd get the dedicated .38 Special version, and that's what I have indeed done (two LCRs, both .38 Special), in fact almost all my .38 Special "snubby" revolvers are made of alloys, while all my .357 revolvers are solid steel.
The dedicated .38 Special version will be both lighter to carry and easier to clean, and maybe a bit more accurate.
"Therefore, since the world has still... Much good, but much less good than ill,
And while the sun and moon endure, Luck's a chance, but trouble's sure,
I'd face it as a wise man would, And train for ill and not for good." -- A.E. Housman
My .357 will hold 2" groups at 7y free hand with both standard pressure and +P .38 loads. I don't know how much more accurate a .38 only would be, but I figure it's immaterial for me and my uses.
Sorta around sometimes for some of your shitty mod needs.
So I modified my boot grip for carry. I like it much better that way,. Modified for my hand. Using a dremel. I figure if I messed it up it's only 20 bucks. Works fine for pocket carry too.
However I went back to the j frame. The LCR trigger was too long and while better out of the box, I occasionally had short strokes when running and gunning. Once I had my j frame gone over by Nelson Ford, the trigger is great. I prefer the j frame but carry the LCR 357 occasionally. I put a lot of rounds downrange on both of them to come to that conclusion.
I
Last edited by eb07; 06-18-2019 at 12:27 PM.
Yes LCR is a little longer and taller so the naturally the grip is closer to the pocket opening. With shorter pockets J frame is still gone. LCR bulges a bit at pocket opening.
I only pocket carry in my deep pocket shorts anymore, mostly it's AIWB so that is a moot point for me but yes the LCR is slightly longer and taller so it makes a difference.
Did not even know this existed...
https://www.tacticalwholesalers.com/..._p_160721.html