The current LCR line features a ramp front sight marked with a white line. The LCRx loaded with Cor-Bon .357 Magnum is . . . abrupt.

I became aware of the latest iteration of the Ruger LCR line in Kansas City last October at NASGW. Mark Gurney showed me the LCRx in .357 Magnum. I'm unimpressed by fly-weight magnum revolvers – except that I carry one every day of my life. It's loaded with .38 Specials so the Magnum chambering is no big deal to me. As frequent contributor, armorer and all-around good guy Mike Rafferty notes, " It's better to be able to use a variety of ammunition than to limit yourself." To him, a 12 gauge that doesn't have a 3-inch chamber isn't a good idea. For me, firing a 12 gauge with 3-inch Magnums isn't a good idea. Like the standard enclosed hammer LCR line, the 357 differs in weight due to fabrication: the actual 'receiver' is stainless steel – as opposed to aircraft aluminum in the .38/rimfire lines. The .38 is 13.5 ounces; the .357 version is 17.1 ounces. To say the weight difference is negligible demonstrates one hasn't fired the .357 version with .38 +P and .357. The remainder of the gun is practically same-same: a fire control unit made of polymers, Hogue Tamer stock, white-line front sight, a virtually snag-proof (so-far) exposed hammer, non-stacking smooth double action pull. I've been a fan of the LCR generally since the first units came out. I found the prototypes we tried at Gunsite to be remarkable guns and I spent the better part of two days using the .38 LCR on various ranges at the facility, including the Scrambler. I've trifled with a few that have wandered through as well as a rimfire version that belongs to a friend. I asked for the LCRx 357 as I'd never tried the .357 LCR. It also appeared to me that the LCRx was only slightly less snag-free than the old S&W Bodyguard: the profile of the exposed hammer is low profile compared to other double action revolvers that feature exposed hammers. The gun arrived at the licensee's premises on Friday and I made a rare (and short) trip to the range Saturday. It was great weather for a February morning. I set the "Dirty Bird" 12"x18" "ISU-" looking silhouette targets on a backer at 10 yards. I brought one .357 Magnum load – recent issue Cor-Bon 125 grain JHP, a .38 Special +P – also recently acquired Cor-Bon manufacture and the superb Black Hills 148 grain flush-seated wadcutter load. I bet you can guess how that ended up.

Holding on the number "8," the Cor-Bon .38 +P 125 gr. JHP rounds hit to point of aim. The low hit is shooter-induced. The Black Hills 148 grain flush-seated wadcutter load was mild and quite accurate.

The first five rounds I fired, double-action, were the Cor-Bon Magnums. There was a thunder-clap, a blast that created swirling dust around me, and I had to actually re-grip the Hogue Tamer. That's remarkable due to the design and composition of the stock. The finger-groove for the middle finger is angled down, the better to keep the muzzle flip down. I didn't shoot particularly fast but the 'pattern' was just bigger than the size of the revolver. As a You-Tube type was heard to say about the LCR in .357 Magnum, the blast would likely cause enough trauma even if you miss. The problem is that a miss on the street is an "unintentional hit" on something or someone. Down-loading to the .38 Special +P, it was up to Cor-Bon standards: it was hot. And the LCRx was up to Ruger standards: it didn't seem to care. The group was about half the size of the Magnum group – ignoring a sinker caused by the shooter anticipating recoil. Five rounds double action were followed by five rounds fired single action – using the support-side thumb to cock the hammer. While the single action trigger was light and crisp, it gave me no real advantage over the excellent LCR double action trigger – for me. I was practically raised on double-action revolver triggers. Notably, I was holding on the bottom "8" on the silhouette. The hits clustered around that number. When firing the 125 grain magnums, I held on the center of the '10' ring and the hits were all high. Likewise, it was no chore to put hits on the steel IPSC silhouette fifty yards downrange with the Cor-Bon 125 grain JHP +P loads. I loaded with the Black Hills target wadcutter load and, like the +P, I fired five rounds DA and five more single action on a fresh target. The group was even tighter and the recoil/blast were very mild. This load also hit to point of aim. That's the load the LCRx is currently filled with as it rests in a pocket inside the DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster. It's light, handy and handles well. More loads will be tried over time as I further investigate the Ruger LCRx .357. This is a good start. -- Rich Grassi