Ruger LCRx 9mm vs Charter Pitbull 9mm

Same cartridge, same capacity, opposite philosophies. The difference shows up at the loading bench, not on the spec sheet.

A range session, start to finish

The most useful way to compare these two revolvers is to walk through a day with each, because that is where the differences live. Both hold five rounds of 9mm Luger. Both are double-action-first revolvers meant to be practical working guns. Both will sit comfortably alongside a 9mm pistol in a safe, sharing ammunition. The experience from open cylinder to cleaning rod is where they split.

We have not handled either, so what follows is built on published design information, documented behavior of moon-clip revolvers, and the choices the manufacturers have made. It is a way of thinking about the decision, not a report from the range.

Loading

LCRx 9mm. The Ruger LCRx 9mm is designed around moon clips: thin spring-steel stars that hold the cartridges by their extractor grooves. You press cartridges into the clip, drop the loaded clip into the cylinder, and close it. Retail listings show Ruger selling replacement clips in packs, which tells you what the gun expects to live with.

Pitbull 9mm. The Charter Arms Pitbull 9mm is built to hold rimless cartridges without clips. Open the cylinder, put rounds in, close it. It feels like loading any other revolver.

Verdict: the Pitbull wins on simplicity, the LCRx wins on speed once the clips are loaded in advance. If you only ever put five rounds in at a time at a bench, the Pitbull's way is easier. If you want to shoot a string, reload and shoot again, the clip is the faster answer.

Shooting

Neither revolver is going to feel like a full-size steel gun. The LCR line is promoted for its trigger, and the polymer fire-control housing and lightweight frame are central to its design. That is a documented design approach, though you should still verify it by dry-firing a sample before you buy. The Pitbull is a more traditional-looking, utilitarian gun, and its trigger reputation is more modest. Both benefit from dry-fire practice.

Recoil in a light 9mm revolver is manageable but not trivial, and neither gun removes the need for a firm grip. A longer barrel generally helps steadiness and sight radius, so note that the two listings we link do not use the same barrel length. Compare the barrel lengths and published weights on the exact models you are considering rather than treating the two guns as like-for-like.

Reloading

A moon clip is the closest thing to a revolver magazine, and they make practice efficient. But they can bend if dropped, stepped on or stuffed into a pocket with keys. If you pick the LCRx, treat the clip as part of the gun: store it flat, replace damaged ones and test any new ammunition in a clip before relying on it.

The Pitbull trades speed for convenience. It does not ask you to carry or protect any additional hardware, which is a quiet virtue when you are carrying a gun for months.

Ammunition and testing

Both guns benefit from the same testing routine. Run several brands of ammunition through the gun, watching for failures to fire, hard extraction and bullet jump. Light revolvers can pull bullets forward under recoil, which can tie up the cylinder, so read our crimp jump piece if you have not seen the symptoms. Choose a load that works in your gun, then stick with it.

Our 9mm revolver guide lays out why these guns exist and how the two approaches differ in principle. The Pitbull review goes deeper on that gun, and the convertible revolver article covers the alternative of a revolver that shoots .38/.357 and 9mm in different cylinders.

Carry and storage

If you are comparing these for concealed carry, our carry snub revolver guide and the network's LCR versus S&W 642 comparison are better starting points for thinking about weight, profile and holster. Whichever you carry, practice the draw and the reload with the same gear you use daily, and store the gun locked when you are not carrying it.

Upkeep

Moon-clip revolvers are not exotic to maintain, but you do have to keep the clips clean and straight, and the face of the cylinder is worth a look for debris that can stop a clip from seating. The Pitbull's extraction system depends on clean chambers and a clean extraction mechanism, which is a reason to follow the manufacturer's cleaning guidance. Both guns reward a regular routine such as the one in our cleaning guide.

Which one fits you

Pick the LCRx 9mm if:

• You want the faster reload and are willing to learn a moon-clip routine.
• You value a lightweight design and a trigger the LCR line is known for.
• You like the Ruger ecosystem of holsters, grips and aftermarket support.

Pick the Pitbull 9mm if:

• You dislike moon clips, or you want a revolver that loads like any other.
• You want shared 9mm ammunition without buying clips.
• You accept a more utilitarian finish and trigger as the price of simplicity.

Pick neither if:

• You want the broadest ammunition choice in a revolver. A .38 Special or .357 Magnum gun gives you far more cartridge options, and our .38 Special vs .357 Magnum guide explains why.
• You want a revolver for hunting or large-animal protection. 9mm is not the right chambering for that role.

Bottom line

The right answer depends on one question: do you want to carry a clip? If the answer is yes, the LCRx is the more refined and faster-reloading choice. If the answer is no, the Pitbull's design is its entire reason to exist. Both are legitimate. Try each at a range that rents them if you can, confirm the barrel length and weight of the version you are actually buying, and test your ammunition before trusting either.

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.