Ruger LCR .357 vs LCR .38: Is the Magnum Snub Worth It?

Two nearly identical five-shot snubs, one cartridge apart. The question is what the extra chambering is really buying you.

Two guns, one cylinder question

On paper, these two revolvers are close relatives. Both are Ruger LCRs: five-shot, compact double-action snubs, built around the design philosophy that put a polymer fire-control housing and a lightweight frame at the center of a carry revolver. Retail listings for the .357 version show a 1.87-inch barrel and five rounds. The .38 Special +P version shares the five-shot layout.

What separates them is the chambering and everything that follows from it. Buying the Ruger LCR in .357 Magnum means a revolver that can fire .357 Magnum and .38 Special. Buying the Ruger LCR in .38 Special +P means a revolver that fires .38 Special, including +P, and nothing more.

What actually differs

We have not weighed either of them ourselves. Ruger publishes weights for each, and you should read both side by side, but the direction is clear: the magnum model is the heavier gun. That is the price of strength for magnum pressures, and it has a surprising consequence for recoil.

The weight paradox

Heavier guns kick less. The additional mass in the .357 LCR does not just add ounces on a scale; it changes how the same .38 Special round feels. Fired from the lighter .38 LCR, a .38 +P load is brisk. Fired from the heavier .357 LCR, the same load is a gentler push.

That is the heart of the real answer to this question. A buyer who picks the .357 snub without planning to shoot magnums routinely can still have good reasons: the extra mass tames the cartridge you actually practice with, and the option is there if you want it. If you want to reduce recoil in a snub, that is a worthwhile trade. For more on the relationship between the two cartridges, see our .38 Special vs .357 Magnum guide and our +P guide.

Magnum loads in a five-shot snub

Full-power .357 Magnum in a light snub produces a sharp report, a large flash and a recoil that tests your grip. The ordinary approach is to treat magnum ammunition as an option rather than a default:

• Practice with .38 Special for fundamentals and volume.
• Practice with .38 +P if your gun is rated for it and you carry +P, so you know what it does.
• Fire a few magnum cylinders only to see what the gun does with them, and decide honestly whether you will practice with that load.

A load you will not practice with is a load you cannot rely on. If the magnum recoil in a light snub makes you flinch, the .357 chambering is giving you a theoretical advantage that you will not use. That is not a weakness of the gun, just a reminder to match the load to the shooter.

The case for the .38 LCR

Pick the .38 LCR if:

• You want the lightest possible five-shot snub with the cartridge you plan to shoot.
• You will only ever shoot .38 Special and .38 +P, and the extra chambering would go unused.
• You value a lighter gun in the pocket or on the belt over the added mass.

The honest drawback is that .38 +P is livelier in the lighter gun. If you are recoil-sensitive, you may find that practice with the lighter model is less pleasant than practice with the heavier one.

The case for the .357 LCR

Pick the .357 LCR if:

• You want the flexibility to fire .357 Magnum later if you choose.
• You prefer the extra mass for calmer .38 shooting.
• You want a single snub that can grow with you, from soft practice to heavier loads.

The drawback is weight, and the possible illusion that magnum capability equals magnum usability. Fire a magnum cylinder before you decide whether you will actually practice with them.

Ammunition

For both guns, the sensible ammunition plan is the same. Start with a plain, mild .38 Special for learning. Move to the load you plan to carry once you can handle it. Keep records of what you use, and check that the cartridge you buy is the one your gun is marked for. You can browse the .38 Special ammunition category at Ammunition Depot, and our .38 range ammo guide covers sensible practice choices. For a deeper dive on what the plus symbol means, the network's +P explainer is a good read.

How these compare with other snubs

The LCR is one among several. A steel snub like the Taurus 605 is heavier and recoils less with magnum loads, while a lightweight alloy snub makes magnums a short, snappy experience. Our Taurus 605 review and carry snub guide explain the field, and the network's LCR vs S&W 642 comparison looks at another popular matchup.

A short decision tree

1. Will you only ever shoot .38 Special and +P? Buy the .38 LCR.
2. Do you want the option of magnums, or prefer a heavier gun for .38 shooting? Buy the .357 LCR.
3. Is weight a deal-breaker? Buy the .38 LCR, or a different gun entirely.
4. Are you not sure? Handle both and shoot .38 +P from the .357 if you can. If the recoil feels fine, the added chambering is worth having.

Verdict

The LCR .357 is the safer long-term purchase for most people because it does everything the .38 does, plus a little more, and the weight penalty helps with the cartridge you will probably shoot most. The LCR .38 is the better pick if you want the lightest five-shot snub and you know you will not use magnums. Both are good guns. The choice is a question of honest self-assessment, not of which chambering sounds more impressive.

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications and publicly available information. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and legality for your own situation.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links to Ammunition Depot. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial choices are not influenced by commissions. Check current price, stock and specifications directly with the retailer.