Blkned

I am looking at getting the wife a CCW weapon before I go TDY in a few months. We live outside Fort Bragg so it is almost a must to carry! Anyway I was wondering how bad the recoil is on the LCR .357? I saw it is a little heavier than the .38. My plan was to get her the .357 and have her start with full power loads and if that is too much for her then to work down from there. I am not a small guy and not very recoil sensitive so I don't think it would be a problem from me. I'm curious how many ladies on here have shot the .357 or how many guys have had their lady shoot it.

WhiteBreadLife

IMO the 357s are not needed. I usually carry 38 Plus P's and as matter of Fact my Wife is taking over my LCR and thats what she likes as well. I simply bought the 357 because its 2 guns in one.

On a side note:

I run a Seasonal Business on Skibo Road in Fayettville for one week outta they year and I have never seen so many people Open Carry.

JimB120

I agree with WhiteBread, the .38 Specials, even a standard pressure SWC will do the job.

The weight of the 357 LCR will help manage the recoil in .38 Sp especially +P, but the tradeoff is it's also heavier to carry.

I settled on the 38 model. I can slip it in my pocket, carry all day and pratically forget it's there.

tgwillard

I recently fired factory load 158 grain .357 magnums inmy LCR and while recoil was heavy, it was not any worse than what I experience in my L frame S&W's. I also recommend a .38+P as a good compromise carry round.

terry_p

Why not take a peek at the SP101? It's 7 oz heavier than the LCR 357 so it will handle recoil a little better and will last a lifetime + and isn't that tough to carry in a decent holster. I have a 38 Sp LCR and the recoil doesn't bother me particularily with Buffalo Bore +P's but I can see how someone smaller framed would find it unpleasant.

If you go the 357 mag LCR (or with any firearm) route I would start easy and work up to the strong stuff until she feels that enough. Starting with the strong stuff could cause flinching and a general uncomfortable feeling about the revolver in general. If it is your carry piece you need to feel the love not feel uncomfortable.

Blkned

Good point about working up, I hadn't considered that. Might have to take a look at the so 101 as well.

WheelyGuy

I have read somewhere that ballistics tests of 357 vs. 38 +p show little extra penetration for the 357 rounds. Given that penetration is the 2nd most important aspect of self defense effectiveness (shot placement being #1), I don't feel under powered with just a good 38 +p round.

158 grain semi-wadcutter hollow points or the 135 grain gold dots (is that right?) designed for short barrels both get high marks in ballistics tests and real life scenarios.

Let her handle both types and see what her preference is. In reality that is the most important factor.

WhiteBreadLife

Perfect Plan. I would go that route. Get the 357 LCR for the added weight and work your way up till shes comfortable. She be out shooting you in no time.

gqucool

BlkNed I would strongly suggest to you like Terry P has stated start out with a
milder .38 special loading in the .357 LCR , otherwise your wife will not like to shoot it!! Then you are stuck, start with a load she feels comfortable with.
Then work up from there. Personally if I had a 357 LCR I would still shoot .38 specials in it there are plenty of great choices in ammo loadings! My more then 2 cents worth!!

Con 43

LCR and full bore 357 loads = Brutal for most women and a lot of men. My wife shoots CorBon 125 DPX in her SP-101 and feels they are no more then the 38+P's as to recoil....

sp101er

Yep... No need to scare her before she even warms up to the gun...

fungun

My wife has small hands and much prefers the sp101 grip, but likes the overall size of the LCR. Why Ruger put the larger (in circumference) grip on the smaller gun is a bit confusing to say the least, also contoured grips are fit to man hands, again no good for small hands. 7oz extra is nothing to me but for a petite woman it adds up quick. As for ammo she'd be shooting 38's from the 357 gun, still not sure which gun she'll get for carry, but has the 9 bedside. I pitty the fool who tries to enter our home, it will be raining 9's and 45's.

wheelgunman

Most ranges around here have LCRs for rent.I highly suggest seeing if there are any near you.So she can try them out.
Ditto on starting her out with smaller loads.Actually if she is not used to firing revolvers(especially snubbies) I would start her at the range with a larger frame 357 and a longer barrel with 38 target loads.Once she is comfortable with that have her try +Ps then 357s in that same gun.At that point she will have a better understanding of the different ammo and it's recoil.I would then repeat the process with the LCR.
Let us know how it goes.

jdwoods

I recently purchased a 357 LCR. The recoil is heavy with .357 Mag 158 JHP. I carry it with 38 special Hornady Critical Defense. With 38 Special the recoil was no worse than my wifes SW 642.

454alaskan

Me and my wife went shooting yesterday for my Birthday, and she shot my 380 and 357 with 38 loads. Also i rented a 9mm springfield XDM.

She didnt like the 38 in my LCR.. I guess too much recoil or her in this frame, Maybe if i had a Sp101 would have been better..

She did like my 380 round and its less recoil for her and 9mm was ok,she like the Grip, but 9mm was hard for her to shoot, it just 19 rounds of ammo in the mag was a bit much for her. She did very well.. Just flinching a few time..

IMHO, Have Her shoot .38's, If possible shoot 9mm, 327, 380, 22..

I like start small, get the tigger control down to where she can shoot it as good as she can.. The biggest thing is flinching .. that will take time


Happy shooting.