Ruger LCR .38 Special
Model: 5401
Ruger LCR .38 Special
Model: 5401
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
The Ruger LCR is an aluminum-framed double-action-only .38 Special built for pocket carry. It has an MSRP of $759. Three materials do three jobs here, a monolithic 7000-series aluminum frame, a polymer housing holding the fire control parts and a fluted stainless cylinder in a PVD finish, and together they put the gun at 13.5 oz.
The hammer is enclosed, so there is nothing to cock and nothing to catch on a pocket. The front sight is a replaceable pinned ramp, which puts a tritium or fiber optic front within reach of a screwdriver, while the rear is a notch in the frame with nothing to adjust. A Hogue Tamer Monogrip comes fitted and the grip peg takes other styles. A transfer bar blocks the firing pin until the trigger is all the way back. The barrel is 1.87 inches turning 1:16, the gun is 6.5 inches long, 4.5 inches tall and 1.28 inches wide, and no dot can be mounted on it.
If you're cross-shopping, the Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight has an MSRP of $539 and weighs 14.6 oz, with its front sight machined into the barrel instead of pinned in. The Taurus 856 Ultra-Lite has an MSRP of $431 and fits a sixth round behind a 2-inch barrel on a frame 4.8 inches tall. A barrel this short on a frame this light makes a +P load about as sharp as .38 Special gets.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- Ruger's friction-reducing cam gives a pull that does not stack toward the break.
- The front sight is pinned, so a tritium or fiber optic blade is a swap and not a machining job.
- A fluted stainless cylinder with a PVD finish over a one-piece aluminum frame is a corrosion pairing built for a gun worn against skin.
- Double action only, so there is no hammer to cock for a careful shot.
- The rear sight is a notch in the frame with no adjustment, and five rounds is the ceiling.
- At 13.5 oz a +P load is sharp, so practice sessions are short.
Category Rankings
How the Ruger LCR .38 Special ranks among compact .38 Special handguns.
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Compatible Ammunition
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.38 Special Ballistics →Alternatives to Consider
Similar compact .38 Special handguns ranked by similarity.
| NAME | BEST PRICE |
|---|---|
|
Smith & Wesson Model 442 Airweight .38 Special
Smith & Wesson
|
$539.99 |
|
Smith & Wesson Model 637 Airweight .38 Special
Smith & Wesson
|
$507.99 |
|
Smith & Wesson Model 642 Airweight .38 Special
Smith & Wesson
|
$499.99 |
|
Taurus 856 .38 Special
Taurus
|
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is it rated for +P?
Yes. Ruger lists the chambering as .38 Special +P.
Can the hammer be cocked?
No. Every LCR is built with a trigger mechanism that permits double-action firing only, and the hammer sits inside the frame.
What grips fit it?
The factory grip is a Hogue Tamer Monogrip, and Ruger states the grip peg allows a variety of grip styles to be installed.
What is the twist rate?
A 1:16 right-hand twist.
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