Ruger LCR
I'm new to fire arms (5 months) so please forgive any thing really stupid while I ramp up. I just purchased a Ruger LCR rated for +P .38 Special ammo. It's just for target use. Can I load .38 Special instead? The +P version appears to be very expensive. Thanks!
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Looking for input on this revolver in the 38 Spc. +P. Any opinions, or input is appreciated. Function---Fit, and finish. over all quality? THX Keith 0 -
sure can 0 -
Never thought of an LCR as a "target" handgun [:o)]
CP0 -
I don't think .38 spec +P ammo is any more expensive than other .38 spec factory ammo
it's all expensive. That's why folks get into reloading. Of course, your reloading manual probably has a recipe for reloading up to +P velocities; you can load mild or hot loads, depending upon your preference.
Most folks buying an LCR are looking for a personal defense weapon. For target shooting, a gun with a longer barrel & adjustable sights is probably preferable.
Neal0 -
When you are practicing with your LCR you can use the lower powered ammo. But keep in mind one of the reasons for practicing is so you get no surprises if you ever have to use it for self defense. The +P has a higher recoil than ordinary 38 special. Make sure you practice with what you intend to use for self defense. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by RtWngExtrmst
When you are practicing with your LCR you can use the lower powered ammo. But keep in mind one of the reasons for practicing is so you get no surprises if you ever have to use it for self defense. The +P has a higher recoil than ordinary 38 special. Make sure you practice with what you intend to use for self defense.
How much will +P get you anyway on a barrel less than 2" ? I know Charter Arms states their revolvers will handle +P but the Techs will tell you to save your $$.
Just passing the information on...
Anthony0 -
A few points
-Yes, fire all the "ordinary" (ie NON +P) .38 specials you like through your Ruger.
-.38+P *IS* more expensive than ordinary .38s. . .usually a LOT more expensive. Consider that +P ammo usually comes in 20 round boxes, where as ordinary practice ammo comes in 50 round boxes, and the boxes are usually only a few dollars apart in price.
-Despite all the hype, the most important difference between +P and non +P .38s is actually the BULLET.
"Personal protection" +P ammo generally uses a premium hollowpoint bullet, where as "ordinary" .38s use an all lead or fully jacketed bullet.
-Yes, .38+P is more powerful than ordinary 38s. . .but not all that much more powerful and the difference is highly overrated.
The exact difference will be highly dependent on the exact load, but with a typical 125 grain ordinary load you can expect maybe 750-800 fps from a 2" barrel snubnose. The 125 grain +P load should give you maybe 800-880 fps. Velocities from either round will be higher, obviously, from a longer barreled gun.
Even from a snubnose, the +P load ought to give you 8-10% more velocity, translating into up to 20% more kinetic energy.
Also note that any way you look at it, .38+P rounds are fairly weak, when compared to the common "service" auto rounds, like 9mm luger, .40SW, .45ACP, etc, or more powerful revolver rounds like .357 magnum and up.
Personally speaking, I can barely tell the difference in recoil between ordinary and +P loads from my 14 ounce airweight Smith snubnose.0 -
Thanks, BTS. I have both a Glock 19 and 23... I was looking for something a bit smaller (originally a SIG Mosquito) but liked the weight and the grip on the LCR. Unfortunately, I went impulse buying when the Mosquito wasn't available locally and I hadn't done my homework on the LCR. Then I saw the price of the ammo! (Somehow, HP rounds and Dirty Duck targets just don't seem to be meant for each other.)
cpermd: A target gun is whatever you use to shoot at a target with and, I think at least, there should be some way to get reasonably priced "practice ammo" so, God forbid, when you're not practicing you still have enough money left to hire an attorney should one not be provided. [:D]
RWE: Excellent point! I don't think I'd mind running through a box of +P whenever I get to a range just to keep in mind what it's really like but the thought of going through 20 boxes at a session was a bit unnerving.
Thanks everyone. Appreciate all the input!0
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