I keep beating around the bush about getting a Ruger LCR chambered in .22 mag. It is a nice small size and lightweight and has an enclosed hammer. Downside is the barrel is 1.75 inches which is right at about the minimum you want for the .22 mag to get up enough speed to start mushrooming. Well Ruger just released the LCRX and they have a 3" barrel version but it also has en exposed hammer.
https://ruger.com/products/lcrx/specSheets/5437.html

So now i am wondering about hammerless vs exposed hammer. I realize that the hammerless is going to be better at drawing from a bag or something because there is no hammer to get caught. I also know that it becomes double action only and cannot cock the gun. Well outside of that I am not sure if there are any other serious advantages or disadvantages to either system. I am thinking of this gun as one the wife could use easily at home in an emergency so any revolver experts I would be curious of your opinions.

On a side note I just saw they have a LCR in .327 Fed Mag and when I read into that round it perked my interest.

 probably depends mostly on what you plan on using the gun for?  If for primarily defensive/concealed purposes, I'd imagine you wouldn't be doing much hammer cocking.

A benefit of having the NRA ... monthly magazines/online magazines (not clips) ...

https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/3/9/clapp-the-case-for-hammerless-revolvers/

A benefit of having the NRA ... monthly magazines/online magazines (not clips) ...

https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/3/9/clapp-the-case-for-hammerless-revolvers/

Thanks!

The 3" looks cool and I want one...
But what is the intended use?
Consider 38 spcl?
With the polymer frames recoil is really negligible.
Also the DA trigger action on the hammerless (enclosed hammer) LCR's are awesome.
(I wanted a LCR but got a S&W bodyguard .38 due to circumstances of opportunity and love it.)

Plus the short barreled ones are flyweight and it doesn't print at all in a pocket holster in my cargo shorts.

Just thoughts.
And good article from Flapp.

The 3" looks cool and I want one...
But what is the intended use?
Consider 38 spcl?
With the polymer frames recoil is really negligible.
Also the DA trigger action on the hammerless (enclosed hammer) LCR's are awesome.
(I wanted a LCR but got a S&W bodyguard .38 due to circumstances of opportunity and love it.)

Plus the short barreled ones are flyweight and it doesn't print at all in a pocket holster in my cargo shorts.

Just thoughts.

I really like the .22WMR for the extremely low recall, that is why I was consider it. I think the ammo is a bit cheaper than .38 as well.

I keep beating around the bush about getting a Ruger LCR chambered in .22 mag. It is a nice small size and lightweight and has an enclosed hammer. Downside is the barrel is 1.75 inches which is right at about the minimum you want for the .22 mag to get up enough speed to start mushrooming. Well Ruger just released the LCRX and they have a 3" barrel version but it also has en exposed hammer.
https://ruger.com/products/lcrx/specSheets/5437.html

So now i am wondering about hammerless vs exposed hammer. I realize that the hammerless is going to be better at drawing from a bag or something because there is no hammer to get caught. I also know that it becomes double action only and cannot cock the gun. Well outside of that I am not sure if there are any other serious advantages or disadvantages to either system. I am thinking of this gun as one the wife could use easily at home in an emergency so any revolver experts I would be curious of your opinions.

On a side note I just saw they have a LCR in .327 Fed Mag and when I read into that round it perked my interest.

I wouldn't count on .22mag in a self-defense situation

I noticed that in addition to the 3" barrel and hammer spur, the LCRx has an adjustable rear sight which could also hang up on clothing.  The short barreled LCR would have the advantage of a fixed rear sight which would be less prone to snagging.

Placing one's thumb on the spur as the revolver is drawn is often touted as the "proper" technique--I wouldn't know as I don't carry a pocket (or in this case a purse) gun but one could consider practicing such a draw.

I have shot the KelTec .22 magnum pistol and I've found it to be about as loud as a .38 +P, so I would imagine that the LCR (in either barrel length) would be very loud.

I would choose the LCRx for plinking or as a trail/kit gun.  The LCR in .38 would be my choice (of the Rugers) for a defensive revolver.

my .02, for what it's worth.

22WMR, You get the extra round but rimfire reliability.

I'm with Mac and JC.
If self-defense gun. Ammo cost difference is negligible.
But a lot of people have been killed with .22s.
As for recoil, the polymer snubbys are a joy to shoot, even in 38

DAO revolvers require a bit more experience/practice to shoot well. But one should practice with their SD weapon anyway.

If the DAO is the way you want to go a good gunsmith can bob the hammer on the 3" barrel revolver so it essentially becomes DAO. Chances are if you are going to be drawing a SD revolver in a SD situation you won't be thinking about cocking it first anyway. I think that revolver with a 3" barrel is pretty cool. IMHO

I have a S&W model 10 (38 SPL) with a 3" barrel that has a bobbed hammer and a reworked trigger making it a pleasure to shoot. However, I don't practice enough with it to be good with it.

The .22 WMR is a pretty anemic cartridge but obviously better than the .22 LR. The .327 Fed Mag is a nice cartridge. Still a little anemic but better than the .22 WMR. Obviously though the recoil, while mild, is still more than the .22 WMR.

You have been talking about the LCR in .22 WMR for a while now. And with th advent of the 3" barrel I would think it would be a serious contender for what you are looking for. Have you ever shot the .22 WMR round before? I think Hornady makes some good SD rounds for this cartridge. I am sure there are others.

I have a .22 WMR revolver (All steel with 6" barrel) that is DA/SA that you can try out if want to put some rounds down range.

I have a LCR in 38 sp and in 22LR.  both DAO.  I got the 22 for a practice gun
LCR is very good for concealing.  very light weight too.

you ever consider the Ruger SP101?  its a little heavier than the LCR, but may help with the recoil some.
it has various lengths and hammer/no hammer choices.  can also get in 327magnum, but they dont come in 22WMR.  the only thing with the 327 is the ammo, Idk whats available here and for how much
https://www.ruger.com/products/sp101/models.html

both are very good revolvers.  S&W is good too
for CCW I would go with no hammer.  JMO

You gotten some great feedback from the “revolver guys”. I’ll just add to be careful if the wifey (or you too) is used to shooting autos, particularly striker fired or DA/SA handguns. I’ve seen many people short stroke the longer and heavier DAO revolver triggers when shooting with pace. Hopefully practice with the SD gun will help alleviate that.

I’ve seen the above mostly with calibers like .38 SPL and the like and not with .22. However, caliber is another discussion. 

DAO revolvers require a bit more experience/practice to shoot well. But one should practice with their SD weapon anyway.

If the DAO is the way you want to go a good gunsmith can bob the hammer on the 3" barrel revolver so it essentially becomes DAO. Chances are if you are going to be drawing a SD revolver in a SD situation you won't be thinking about cocking it first anyway. I think that revolver with a 3" barrel is pretty cool. IMHO

I have a S&W model 10 (38 SPL) with a 3" barrel that has a bobbed hammer and a reworked trigger making it a pleasure to shoot. However, I don't practice enough with it to be good with it.

The .22 WMR is a pretty anemic cartridge but obviously better than the .22 LR. The .327 Fed Mag is a nice cartridge. Still a little anemic but better than the .22 WMR. Obviously though the recoil, while mild, is still more than the .22 WMR.

You have been talking about the LCR in .22 WMR for a while now. And with th advent of the 3" barrel I would think it would be a serious contender for what you are looking for. Have you ever shot the .22 WMR round before? I think Hornady makes some good SD rounds for this cartridge. I am sure there are others.

I have a .22 WMR revolver (All steel with 6" barrel) that is DA/SA that you can try out if want to put some rounds down range.

I have a ruger single six which can shoot .22LR or .22WMR when you swap the cylinder. One of my favorite guns.

One reason I am thinking of this is something extremely easy for the wife to shoot. I realize the downsides of .38 special to .22 WMR but have sort of set my mind on WMR and just been hesitating to pull the trigger. I am sort of leading to the snub nose though. One of these days I will get around to buying one.

I have a ruger single six which can shoot .22LR or .22WMR when you swap the cylinder. One of my favorite guns.

One reason I am thinking of this is something extremely easy for the wife to shoot. I realize the downsides of .38 special to .22 WMR but have sort of set my mind on WMR and just been hesitating to pull the trigger. I am sort of leading to the snub nose though. One of these days I will get around to buying one.

One other thought I had is if she is going to carry in a holster, then maybe bobbing the hammer is not the best choice? A revolver that can be shot single action (as well as double) can be more fun and easier to practice with. If she is going to carry in a pocket, then bobbing the hammer makes good sense. So maybe making the choice of the style of carry first might help you make the decision for whether you want to bob the hammer or not?

Don't they make the LCR in a 9?  If not, I would buy the wife something in 9.  It's cheaper to shoot and practice with.  I don't have confidence in a 22 for self defense.  But if your wife is like mine, we gotta let them choose what they want, if not they may get demotivated.  So a 22 is better than nothing.

There is also a way of holding the trigger to make it sort of like SA.  Instead of the finger tip on the trigger, you would over extend the index finger so that the tip of the finger is touching the pistol grip.  This would allow a shorter trigger pull, but not the full weighted pull.  So it's more "half cocked".  But all depends on how long the wifes index finger is also.

If national reciprocity passes, I was looking at the LCR for my ankle gun.

If the purpose of the gun is for your wife at home, then hamerless doesn't have any advantages.  In addition there's little reason to get a LCR which advantage is its small and light for CCW.

I'd go for a 38spl in a regular revolver or 9mm semiauto.  Women can handle handguns just as good as guys with practice.

Smallest caliber I would use for SD would be .223 Rem. In a handgun, .38 spl.  My daughter loves shooting my S&W Model 686 Plus with 4" barrel using .38 spl ammo. Will be moving her up to magnum rounds when she is more confident. I don't think my daughter would like shooting my J frame .38 spl revolver unless she trains a lot with it.

BTW I like shrouded small frame revolvers like the S&W Model 638 and Model 649. Best of both worlds.

Sent from my HTC6545LVW using Tapatalk

Don't they make the LCR in a 9?  If not, I would buy the wife something in 9.  It's cheaper to shoot and practice with.  I don't have confidence in a 22 for self defense.  But if your wife is like mine, we gotta let them choose what they want, if not they may get demotivated.  So a 22 is better than nothing.

There is also a way of holding the trigger to make it sort of like SA.  Instead of the finger tip on the trigger, you would over extend the index finger so that the tip of the finger is touching the pistol grip.  This would allow a shorter trigger pull, but not the full weighted pull.  So it's more "half cocked".  But all depends on how long the wifes index finger is also.

If national reciprocity passes, I was looking at the LCR for my ankle gun.

do you mean staging/loading/partial pulling of the trigger? Or are you talking about more when the trigger resets?   

DA/SA really depends on what you're using the gun for.  Self defense, you want to practice straight DA pulls.  Target practice, it's ok to 2 stage the trigger or SA.  After shooting it for a while, you know when the trigger is going to break.

Since you mentioned .327magnum, Ruger has a new SP101 with 3" barrel in 327mag
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2018/1/23/shot-show-2018-new-ruger-gp100-and-sp101-models/#.WnjLUaviTho.facebook

do you mean staging/loading/partial pulling of the trigger? Or are you talking about more when the trigger resets?   

DA/SA really depends on what you're using the gun for.  Self defense, you want to practice straight DA pulls.  Target practice, it's ok to 2 stage the trigger or SA.  After shooting it for a while, you know when the trigger is going to break.

Talking about pressing the trigger half way.  And by over reaching on it, the tip of your index finger would touch the grip.Which would allow more control and not go bang.