News from Sturm, Ruger & Co. was a double-tap at the recent National Rifle Association of America show in Phoenix, Arizona. Most notable nationally was the introduction of the company’s entry into the AR-15 arena with the SR-556. And just before the show, the LCR revolver was approved for sale in California.
The SR-556 is a piston-driven AR variant with refinements that put it squarely into the highly evolved category. It will not become a factor in the Golden State in the near future.
The LCR, however, is a different story. That model, Lightweight Compact Revolver, incorporates innovations that give a glimpse of the kinds of things we can expect on the revolver front in the future.
It is modular in an ingenious way in that there are three basic components: stainless steel cylinder, monolithic aluminum frame and polymer (plastic) fire control housing. Translate fire control housing to mean handle that also contains the firing mechanism. That firing mechanism also contains a friction-reducing cam that is truly significant in a snub-nosed revolver.
The LCR is designed with women in mind. One of the challenges faced with snubbies designed to shoot double-action-only, as is the LCR, is to have a long trigger pull that is easy enough to use without pulling it off-target in the process.
This is important for anyone shooting such a gun, and particularly significant for people who have less power in their hands than the proverbial 800-pound gorilla.
The LCR is a five-shooter chambered to handle all .38 Special loads, including +P. Its barrel is 1.875-inches long and it weighs 13.5 ounces. Length is 6.5 inches, height is 4.5 inches and maximum width is 1.283 inches: a dresser drawer or pocket gun here – self defense.
Speaking of getting to know guns, the Southern California Women On Target (WOT) event last month was a resounding success. I’ll have more on that in the future.
Back to the LCR. Advancements in materials and manufacturing have resulted in handier and much more “shootable” firearms than ever before.
These models made largely of plastics and non-ferrous metals mitigate everything from heat to weight at less cost. Thank the interest in semi-auto handguns and AR-type rifles for this.
And the shotgun world is involved, as well. First, Benelli introduced the Nova, a plastic-based, pump shotgun that immediately became popular among waterfowlers who routinely get their guns wet and muddy.
Now there is the Remington 887 polymer pump shotgun and the Benelli Vinci semi-auto shotgun.
Although I am a steel and wood classicist regarding guns, for volume shooting and environmental imperviousness, these new high tech models kick the pants off anything that came before. So, rather than opt for one genre or the other, I just shoot “all of the above.”
