I have owned the 38 version for several years. The cylinder release button is pretty stiff and small, especially since I am used to S&W's. The cylinder has both a little end shake and rotational play also, but I don't know how to compare it to yours. Mine functions quite well so far. If you are concerned can you go back to where you purchased it or even to other stores and compare it to like guns?

 

Ah, sounds exactly like mine, thanks for the feedback. I will also take your suggestion about going back to my LG and compare it. I am not sure why I didn't catched it earlier, maybe I was so tickled with the great tigger pull...lol.

 

Most revolvers don't lock up the cylinder for circumferential play until the hammer is cocked.

The LCR, being DA only and having a shrouded hammer to boot, makes this really hard to test.

A little end play is also normal. Load 5 cases in the cylinder and check again.

I have about 1000 rds of 38spl through mine and it hasn't gotten any looser.

 

Ok, i will try that, thanks for your information. Appreciate it.

 

The cylinder in my .38 LCR pretty much rattles. It shoots well and doesn't shave any lead, so it doesn't concern me. As stated, they don't lock up tight til they're cocked.

The cylinder release would concern me, I don't find mine objectionably stiff at all, but it's been a long time since I had anything to compare.

 

Thank you. Mine is really uncomfortably stiff so I think I will run it for a while and if I still have problems contact Ruger. One of the several reasons why I bought the LCR is that I have nerve damage in my hands and the double action was ideal for my situation.

I am a shooter and nothing I have stays unused for very long. However, with this said, this handgun’s main purpose is a reliable and simple bedside companion that can be used by anyone in the household with minimum training. Although not a game changer, a difficult cylinder release is an obstacle that I didn’t expect or need.

I could kick myself not catching this at the time of purchase, but I still love that double action pull and always appreciated Ruger’s quality.

 

I have the LCRX with exposed hammer. Testing lockup with the hammer cocked there is no excess movement on mine and it has right at 500 rounds of +P 38's through it already.
My cylinder latch was stiff at first also but has loosened up through use to an acceptable point. I'm developing arthritis in my right hand/wrist so I understand your issue. I'd keep it lubed and work it a while before sending it off to the mothership.

 

Ok, some more good advice. I will do that exactly. Thank you all for the great advice...all good.

Michael

 

OK, I went down to my LG and checked out other LCR's cylinder release buttons; they are about the same stiffness as mine. The S & W airweight was pretty good. One for the old timers.

The cylinder does lock up tight at the very tip of the trigger release. Thats a relief. The end shake is evident. The cone to barrel gap at its smallest is .006; the largest is .009. That seems a mite excessive for end shake. However, I get acceptable spacing anywhere from .03-.06 and even up to .0010 on various sites.

So, I am not sure if it a concern; or concern enough to send it back to Ruger for adjustment.

What do you guys think?

Michael

 

It's certainly worth a phone call to Ruger to find out if they think that much variation in the barrel/cylinder gap is within specification. They may fix it for you, and pay for shipping. If Ruger won't help, just about any competent gun smith will know how to reduce revolver end shake.

 

Thanks,I e-mailed them last night about it and will see what they say. The only problem with e-mails to Ruger is they seem to respond with a cookie cutter advice to sent it in for them to look at. I really do not want to do that unless I really have to.

I will see what transpires and will let you all know.


Michael

 

OK, I received an e-mail response from Rugger today. They stated the end shake of 3 percent was within specs for a measured range of -006-.009. Well, they just said it within factory specs.... period. They did not provided me with the acceptable ranges or specific specs.

I have been working that little release button like an rabbit having sex..its starting to loosen up somewhat but so far not as much as I like.

So, I am thinking although the end shake and the stiff cylinder release button is not to my total satisfaction, it might its what I have to live with for this particular handgun...period.

 

Michael,

From what I've heard, the LCR's are a bit "looser" than comparable S&W revolvers. I suspect that your stiffness will improve somewhat after you've fired a few hundred rounds through it. For revolvers that do not have an exposed hammer or are otherwise DAO, you can check for cylinder lockup and tightness by (carefully!!!!) dry firing the gun and holding the trigger back completely, then checking for endshake and lockup tightness. Obviously the cylinder should be locked at that point since it would have already fired. Holding the trigger back will maintain the locked condition that existed at the time of firing. For me, I don't mind a small bit of end play (within acceptable tolerances of course, but I like the cylinder to have very little play when it's locked up. A tiny bit is OK. If things are too tight, then that can be a problem as well, especially as the gun gets dirty while firing. I'd rather have a bit more space between the face of the cylinder and the end of the barrel as opposed to too little, as long as that measurement is within factory tolerance. I would be concerned if the present state of your revolver changed noticeably from tight to loose any time soon. Of course, any revolver will have normal wear over time and thousands of rounds fired, especially if a large percentage of those are higher pressure loadings. I'd be surprised if you find much if any difference between your example and others like it. Of course, anything is possible, and if you find a noticeable difference between your gun's condition and that of another one from the dealer's shelf or compared to a friend's gun, then it might be worth contacting Ruger about it. Good luck!

 

Ok, thank guys. Nice to have all the information provided. I believe, that it is wha it is and just shoot the heck out of it and enjoy it..waves

 

I'm just curious, is that with snap caps in or out, when you checked the clyinder gap? How is one supposed to check that? Because it seems like with ammo in is when that dimension is important.

 

The measurements were taken without snapcaps.

 

I had a .38 spl LCR that had a fairly tight lock-up and virtually no endshake. However, Ruger's tolerances can be pretty wide and, in truth, a little slop won't affect a snub-nose's performance as long as it doesn't shave lead.

That said, the LCR might be one of the most difficult guns for an untrained person to shoot effectively in a tense situation. I've shot medium and full-frame revolvers for 10 years, much of it in USPSA competition and can say that the LCR with its ultra small grips was both difficult and unpleasant to practice with even with standard strength .38 ammo.

I'd suggest a 3" barrel SW K frame or a SP-101 for use as a house gun.

 

The release on mine is very stiff also. It does have a little bit of play in the cylinder, but nothing major. It has not caused any problems in the 500 plus rounds that I've shot through it. Great little gun.