The pluses and very real minuses of a snubby are well known to most of us. I actually own 2 M&P compacts and they are fantastic. Carrying one in a pocket holster is not in my comfort zone however; for myself, I want a real holster and a clean draw for any gun with such a short/light trigger pull. There was a certain NFL player who probably wishes he hadn’t stuck a Glock in his pocket (I’m just sayin… ). Some things only a snubby can do and for those there’s the J frame Smiths and maybe the LCR. I don’t want to encourage subject drift, just find out if this is a cheaper and perhaps even a better snubby then the market standard. Sadly, my two experiences with improving the trigger pull on a J frame were 1) underwhelming and expensive or 2) a much too weak trigger return action. I know the LCR is ugly and I honestly think that and a prudent desire not to jump on the latest fad is some of the resistance to it. So… does it work well for what it is?
A friend of mine bought an LCR and we took it to the range and tried it out. The trigger was very good as was accuracy. Recoil seemed a bit stouter (similar but not quite as bad as shooting 357 out of one of the S&W scandium revolvers) than my Smith & Wesson 38Spcl snubby, but the Ruger is lighter and more controllable than the 357 Smith snubbies. It feels to me like the area behind the trigger should be relieved a little more to allow for a different grip.
That’s my impression after only about 15 rounds.
I have about 650 rounds through my LCR, mostly 158gr .38sp. practice rounds but also some +P hollow points that I got just to test recoil with +P ammo. No functional issues with the gun so far. I seems to be holding up well, although the breech face has some dings on it. The trigger is great and the gun is more accurate than a tiny, light revolver has any right to be. Recoil is light with regular .38sp loads but fairly brisk with the +P ammo – similar in feel to 125gr .357 rounds through my SP101 snubby. Overall I’m pleased with it.
For those who wonder why someone would carry a revolver rather than a SA handgun, maybe it is because some folks are just more comfortable relying on a revolver. Do you really need a better reason than that?
The LCR weighs 13.5 oz, a 642 is 15oz. An ounce and a half is substantial?
FWIW, the LCRs I’ve fingered have had MUCH better triggers out of the box than 642s or 442s. I’d put them on par with a slicked up 642 trigger any day.
Maybe they don’t carry a 15 to 17 shot pistol to begin with.
Maybe they use a larger revolver.
Maybe they are concerned with reliability of smaller semi-autos (esp with the smaller 1911s).
I can think of lots of other reasons. Important thing is they are comfortable with what they carry and it will work when needed.