On this defensive revolver, the sights are not adjustable. The ramp front sight’s large white bar would be easy to pick up even in low light. It is retained by a cross-pin, so I assume different heights could be used for a match to any cartridge. The rear sight is a square notch at the top rear of the frame.
The cartridge clips are easy to use, and work just as they should. You get three of them with the LCR, and if needed, more are available at nominal cost. In an emergency, without a clip, you can load and fire the LCR clip-less, as the 9mm will seat properly on the mouth of the case. Then, of course, you’ll have to pluck out the empties one at a time.
Even with +P loads from CorBon and Black Hills, that nicely-shaped rubber grip kept the felt-recoil mild. With a DAO-only defensive handgun, I think serious target work at 25 yards is a little goofy. My shooting was at the classic 7 yards, standing, and two hands. Will it keep 5 shots in the 8-inch black of a VisiShot target? Yes, and well-centered, most around 4 inches.
Suggested retail price for the 9mm LCR is $619. For a perfect back-up, house, or car gun, along with the Ruger quality, that’s not bad at all. Along with the three 5-cartridge clips, you get a nice black nylon zipper case and a good owner’s manual. The manual has numerous warnings, and notices from a few states seemingly no longer in America, but you should read it anyway.
The “Star Clip” Revolver
Ruger’s LCR Is Now Chambered In 9mm
The 9mm LCR comes in a handy nylon zipper case for transport
Over the past few years, Ruger has made the neat LCR revolver in .357 Magnum, .38 Special, and .22 LR. Now, I am pleased to note, they are offering it chambered for one of my favorite cartridges, the 9mm Parabellum. To adapt it to the “rimless” case, they used a “full-moon” clip, holding 5 rounds. If I were naming them, I’d call them “star” clips, because that’s what they look like.
All of the old-hands will know this idea had its beginning nearly 100 years ago, when both Colt and Smith & Wesson created the Model 1917 revolvers for the military. To use the .45 Auto round, the “half-moon” clip held three, for a 6-round total. In more recent use, makers of revolvers using auto-pistol cartridges have gone to 5- or 6-round “full-moon” clips.
In the LCR, the 5-round capacity is sensible, as it keeps the cylinder width smaller for good concealment. The clips offer another obvious advantage—in effect they are “speed-loaders.” And when ejected after firing, your reloadable cases are neatly packaged for pick-up.
With the exception of the cartridge clips, the 9mm version of the LCR is essentially the same as the other calibers. High-grade steel where it matters, high-tech polymer for the grip-frame, and some aircraft alloy. It weighs in empty at just 17.2 ounces. A 1-piece grip of soft rubber with finger-recesses at the front keeps the felt-recoil mild.
The action is DA-only, with a fully-enclosed hammer. On my LCR, the trigger pulls averaged 8 pounds, smooth and quick. The surface of the trigger is nicely rounded, with no annoying vertical ridges. Both take-up and over-travel are extremely small. There is, of course, a transfer-bar in the action, so the hammer can never impact the firing-pin unless the trigger is all the way to the rear.
The LCR comes with three, 5-shot “full-moon” (or “star”) cartridge clips. If unavailable, the revolver
can be loaded with five loose rounds, but you’ll have to pluck them from the chambers individually.
The star clip loads 5 rounds in one movement. It is, essentially, a self-contained speedloader.
The double-action-only LCR is made from steel, aluminum and polymer. The front sight is pinned in place,
so it can be changed if your preferred load shoots too far off point of aim.
The Ruger LCR cylinder latch is conveniently located in the middle of the left-hand recoil shield.
LCR 9
Maker: Sturm, Ruger
411 Sunapee Street
Newport, NH 03773
(603) 865-2442
www.ruger.com
Action: DAO revolver
Caliber: 9x19mm (tested), .38 Sp, .357 Mag, .22 LR
Capacity: 5
Weight: 17.20 ounces
Length: 6.50 inches
Height: 4.50 inches, Width: 1.28 inches
Barrel Length: 1.87 inches
Price: $619
