Small, compact revolvers are an excellent, and in this day and age, underrated choice for personal protection. Today in this Ruger LCRx 38 Special Review we’re taking a look at what makes this gun great for concealed carry.
I want to start the Ruger LCRx 38 Special review off by establishing one thing: small revolvers aren’t for everyone. They can be difficult to shoot, they’re hard to reload, and often have unpleasant recoil. But if you’re willing to put in the hours necessary to master the platform, it opens up a world of possibilities. Small revolvers conceal easier than any other gun, and can be used in some unique engagements where a traditional semi-auto would fail.
Once we establish that small, concealable revolvers can be useful, let’s get into the Ruger LCRx 38 Special Review. First up – the caliber. People have asked “why not get the 357 Magnum instead?” The best reason to not get the Magnum version is that there’s no point to a Magnum round out of a gun this small. The gain in terminal ballistics from 38 Special to 357 Magnum out of a gun this size is almost insignificant, but the increase in muzzle flash, noise, and recoil is considerable. Get the 38 Special, save a few bucks, and don’t kill your hands.
The best feature about the Ruger LCRx 38 Special is the trigger. Most factory revolver triggers need some kind of help to get them where they need to be, but not the LCR lineup. It is the best factory trigger on any current production revolver regardless of size or caliber. This particular gun breaks at 9 pounds double action, which is phenomenal, because it’s also reliable with any primer. Because this is the LCRx, it also has a single action mode, which has a nice trigger pull, and is also irrelevant. These guns were designed to be shot double action. In fact, my only complaint about this gun is that it isn’t double action only.
During the Ruger LCRx 38 Special review, I fired the gun through various action shooting drills, as well as for accuracy. The 3-inch barrel gives solid accuracy, and the adjustable sights are robust enough for concealed carry, while allowing you to zero the gun for your carry ammo of choice. That’s important, because most fixed sight carry guns are regulated for slow, heavy bullets. If you want to run something like the Treasury load, a 110 grain +p JHP, the gun won’t hit to the sights if you’re using a fixed sight model. But with the adjustable sights on the LCRx 3 inch, you can tune it to whatever round you desire.
I liked doing the Ruger LCRx 38 Special review. I carry this gun on a regular basis, and since I initially reviewed the gun, I’ve put quite a few more rounds on it. The only thing that’s changed is I’ve added some Crimson Trace laser grips. I would unquestionably recommend the LCRx 3 inch 38 Special to anyone looking for a lightweight and compact revolver that’s also easy to shoot well. It’s a great little gun.
