When my girlfriend was looking for her first defensive firearm, I steered her straight to Ruger’s LCR. (Note: steered, not bullied.) It’s comfortable, concealable, easy-to-use, reliable, accurate and there isn’t a better out-of-the-box trigger on the market (save some high-priced Smith & Wesson Performance Center model.) Before now, the Lightweight Compact Revolver was available in .38 Special +P, .357 Magnum, 9mm Luger, .22 Magnum and .22 Long Rifle. My main squeeze opted for the .38. But now Ruger’s offering the LCR in .327 Federal. Wazzat you say? According to gun guru Dick Metcalf (yes, that Dick Metcalf) . . .
From a 3 1/16-inch revolver, the 100-grain Soft Point .327 Magnum load develops 100 fps more velocity than a 125-grain .357 Magnum from a four-inch revolver, and delivers only 35 ft/lbs less energy. The recoil of the .327 Magnum 85-grain Personal Defense load is less than half the recoil of a 125-grain .357 Magnum.
H-h-h-h-hold it. While the LCR .38 Special +P is available with a 3″ barrel (as specified above), most folks buy it as a snubbie, sporting a 1.875″ barrel. Even so, an LCR loaded with .327 Federal Magnum rounds offers similar amounts of oomph as an LCR loaded with .357 Magnum rounds, with a similar sort of reduction in felt recoil. Keeping in mind that you can buy .327 Federal Magnum 85-round hollow-point rounds.
Which is a BIG deal in a gun weighing a scant 13.5 ounces. Especially when you consider recoil’s importance for encouraging or discouraging practice. And, perhaps more importantly, the need to place follow-up shots with some degree of accuracy. [Note: our Ralph and others recommend aiming snubbies low to start, so that follow-up shots move upwards on the perp’s frame. This is somewhat indelicately called “zipping-up” the bad guy.]
OK, back to our man Metcalf (all isn’t forgiven on the 2A front, but c’mon, the guy’s a serious expert):
There is nothing “small” about the performance of this deceptively diminutive-looking round. Hard-hitting and entirely comfortable to fire, the .327 Magnum should be very appealing to anyone seeking high effectiveness and moderate recoil in a compact defense arm—especially those who want a handgun all responsible members of a family can readily learn to use effectively.
Convinced? Not a lot of folks opt for “strangely calibered” guns. For good reason. Midway sells the aforementioned hollow-points for $1.07 a round. That said, you can buy a box of Federal American Eagle .327 Federal Magnum for “just” .53 a round. Oh wait. Midway’s out-of-stock with none on backorder.
Maybe that’ll change, at some point, if and when guns like the Ruger LCR in .327 gain commercial success. What are the odds? Press release:
Nashville, TN – Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE-RGR) introduces the Ruger LCR in .327 Federal Magnum, the newest variation of the revolutionary Lightweight Compact Revolver (LCR).
Chambered in .327 Federal Magnum, this six-round LCR has an additional round of capacity compared to other centerfire LCRs. This double-action only revolver also features a concealed hammer to minimize snagging during concealed carry.
“The LCR in .327 Federal Magnum combines the proven design of the LCR with the performance of the .327 Federal Magnum cartridge to create a great revolver for both concealed carry and home defense,” said Chris Killoy, Ruger President and COO.
This new LCR maintains all the features of the critically acclaimed original LCR. Its double-action trigger pull is uniquely engineered with a patented friction reducing cam fire control system. The trigger pull force on the LCR builds gradually and peaks later in the trigger stroke, resulting in a smooth, non-stacking trigger pull that feels much lighter than it actually is. The LCR in .327 Federal Magnum utilizes a compact Hogue Tamer grip with finger grooves, which is highly effective at reducing felt recoil. The LCR in .327 Federal Magnum has three main components: a polymer fire control housing, a blackened 400 series stainless steel monolithic frame and an extensively fluted stainless steel cylinder.
When originally introduced, the Ruger LCR revolver was one of the most significant new revolver designs in over a century and it has since been awarded three patents. In addition to the .new 327 Federal Magnum caliber, the LCR also is available in .38 Special +P, .357 Magnum, 9 mm Luger, .22 Magnum and .22 Long Rifle. Other variations of the LCR include Crimson Trace Lasergrips models and .38 Special +P, external hammer LCRx models with a 1.875″ or 3″ barrel. All LCR models feature a replaceable white ramp front sight and an integral U-notch rear sight.
For more information on the Ruger LCR in .327 Federal Magnum or to learn more about the extensive line of award-winning Ruger firearms, visit Ruger.com or Facebook.com/Ruger.
To find accessories for the LCR or other Ruger firearms, visit ShopRuger.com or your local independent retailer of Ruger firearms.
About Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.:
Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. is one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of rugged, reliable firearms for the commercial sporting market. The only full-line manufacturer of American-made firearms, Ruger offers consumers over 400 variations of more than 30 product lines. For more than 60 years, Ruger has been a model of corporate and community responsibility. Our motto, “Arms Makers for Responsible Citizens,” echoes the importance of these principles as we work hard to deliver quality and innovative firearms.
For more information, visit: www.Ruger.com.