Ruger Forum

Flipper66 · June 29th, 2012, 08:28 PM

I am new to the forum...I have read many mixed reviews about the LCR 38+P and quite frankly it is making me a little shaky about using it as a CCW. I have had no problems with mine and I have had it for a couple of months. I have about 150 rounds through it of standard white box ammo...It is very accurate...I shoot small rifle targets at 10-20 yards. Overall I like the LCR and plan to keep it for awhile uness someone offers the right price. I clean it methodically after use.

These revolvers have been out for awhile now..does anyone out there have updated - 2012 - information about reliability issues with the LCR? Has Ruger made changes in their building process or are problems persisting? Anyone have a long term durability assessment of their expereince - good or bad - with their LCR?

OR

Do all small revolvers suffer from similar problems - flame cutting, trigger issues etc...to a reasonable degree? Is there a certain percentage of units being returned in all cases with all firearms? I am going to continue to post as I put rounds through my LCR and update changes I see and feel through my experience.

I'd appreciate your 2 cents...Thanks...

Ashlander · June 30th, 2012, 07:35 AM

If your gun is fine -- then it's fine. Don't sweat the isolated problems you read about here -- they represent a tiny fraction of total production. The key point is that to keep costs reasonable neither Ruger nor any other mass manufacturer of firearms can fully inspect every gun going out the door (it could well become the most time consuming step in the production process from a labor standpoint if the inspection/s were thorough). Moreover, they need to get guns -- lot's of them -- out the door to keep the labor costs and other fixed costs per gun low. Therefore, the consumers do the "final inspections" -- if we find anything wrong, then we send it back and Ruger fixes it. And they do a good job at that most of the time. So, my main point again -- if your gun is fine -- it's fine. Shoot a couple hundred rounds through it and it there are no malfunctions -- then carry it without a worry.

I have a LCR357 and love it. After I got it I traded away my S&W 640 (a comparable but much more expensive gun). My LCR has a better trigger pull.

Cordially,

Ash

GilaMonster · June 30th, 2012, 08:33 AM

I've had my 38+P LCR since June '09, making it one of the early ones.

I have put 1000+ rounds thru it -- both .38 and .38+P -- with absolutely no problems. After I got it I traded away a S&W ported 642 (on which I had had a trigger job done) because I knew I'd never shoot that gun again.

The LCR is my every day carry. It is dependable, accurate at self-defense distances, easy to carry concealed -- whether OWB, IWB or on the ankle as a back-up -- and has a better trigger from the factory than the S&W did after $45 additional dollars.

As Ashlander said, keep it, carry it, shoot it. Don't worry about isolated incidents you see mentioned on the interwebs.

BearcatShack · June 30th, 2012, 08:56 AM

The LCR is actually one I have heard little about it terms of problems.

CJ9Dave · June 30th, 2012, 09:24 AM

When I got the LCR I was woried, because it was not the big hunk of Ruger steel I was accustom to. My LCR 38 and 22 have proven to be a fine little guns. I just had to get over that they don't "feel" like Rugers.

Timberbeast · June 30th, 2012, 05:36 PM

been hammering thru my KLCR....absolutely love it...no issues, great trigger and amazingly accurate.

JimB120 · June 30th, 2012, 06:04 PM

Hate to be the voice of dissent because I love the look, feel and especially the cam trigger on my LCR 38.

However mine was one of the ones which would complete the trigger cycle with the cylinder open. That's a catastrophic fail because it can fire with the cylinder being out of alignment with the barrel. It failed around the 300 round mark, or that's when I noticed it.

Ruger worked on it, and I am slowly using it some. Lots of dry fire and checking lockup with each round. I may hold onto it, but not sure I'll ever feel comfortable enough with it to carry it again.

I've only seen this happen to the 38 models. Anyone who owns one needs to try to open the cylinder and see it the trigger will still cycle. If it does, don't shoot it again, send it back.

Shame, it's a cool gun.

Flipper66 · June 30th, 2012, 07:03 PM

Thanks for the replies...I think you guys have some great points to think about. I'm going to keep trying to get better with the LCR...Guess I'll just have to suffer and go and shoot a little more...ha ha...Thanks again!

tgwillard · June 30th, 2012, 07:10 PM

My KLCR has performed without issue for me. I suspect that any problems with the LCR are few and far between.

Shadyw · June 30th, 2012, 08:25 PM

Welcome from the Heart of Texas.I have had no issues with my .38 LCR (even the issue Jim mentions above) and I like it fine. I did just get a .357 SP101, but that is just me thinking I needed another gun.

Enjoy it and add more if you like.

chup · July 2nd, 2012, 05:57 PM

LCR 357, 3000 trouble free rounds. Maybe 500 were 38+P. carried daily.

Timberbeast · July 2nd, 2012, 07:28 PM

Maybe the KLCR just has a little more beef....

andybothel · July 3rd, 2012, 05:37 AM

1000+ Rounds through my KLCR. I'd Estimate 800 38, 150 +p and 50 357.

No problems. It's my EDC. I'm hoping to get my wife to the range enough where she's comfortable enough to go for your CCW. With the kids and her going to the park, lake, etc, I would feel better if she had something with her. LCR will be the first thing I ask her to try out.

Hornet17 · July 3rd, 2012, 06:08 AM

I purchased .357 and .22 on same day. The .22 had to be sent back for a little extra love from Ruger but has been excellent since.

I recommended my daughter purchase one for herself -- which she has (.357). We love all 3 of them and take them to the range regularly.

Hornet17