Ruger Polymer-Framed Revolver

I saw that a while back (online), it's an interesting concept. I'd like to handle/fire one in person to see how it feels. Obviously longevity/strength testing will be of interest for lots of folks too. Either way, it takes a lot to justify getting something more than a Taurus 85 for a little .38 pocket/backup pistol..
 
looks like a brutal little f*cker to fire.

can't imagine getting much practice time in before needing to see a physical therapist :D
 
I first saw info on that a while ago. Ruger makes some damn good revolvers and this looks like an interesting concept, although it might be brutal to shoot +P ammo with. I'd imagine that, good or bad, between the "new product" sales rush, and the ongoing panic buying of firearms in general that it will be quite hard to get ahold of for a while.
 
Wow... if you believe the hype. I hope the hype is fact. I want one with the CT grips, but I hope they don't sell for $792!:eek:
 
The Guns & Ammo review was pretty complimentary; no worry of brutal recoil, they say.

Interesting to me that these Hogue grips follow the same idea as the old Herret "Jordan Trooper" (designed by Bill Jordan) grips I had on my duty revolver many years ago.
Transfer the recoil to the meaty part of the palm rather than the web.
I've had a small-frame Taurus for many years with the similar Pachmayer grips; quite comfortable to shoot. (of course, it's a stainless model as well).
 
GUNS&AMMO article said:
The LCR is different. Ruger states that with the LCR (with the same loads), you can expect up to 50 percent less felt recoil than with any similar-size revolver. There are two reasons: first, the standard Hogue grips are effective at distributing recoil throughout the grasping hand's entire surface, instead of just hitting the thumb/triggerfinger web. Second, the inherent elasticity of the polymer lower frame/fire control housing/grip stud extension diffuses the recoil impulse in a fashion unlike that of any metal fabrication.
Click to expand...

so the FRAME also acts as a recoil pad (of sorts)?

i dunno...
 
TR Graham said:
Why not? The Glock (and most other polymer framed guns) do this as well.

TR Graham
The Glocksmith
Click to expand...

The Glock is a much larger frame.

The little bit of plastic that's interfacing between the action and the aluminum frame on the Ruger is small by comparison.

Not saying it doesn't work. I question the durability.
 
ExMachina said:
The Glock is a much larger frame.

The little bit of plastic that's interfacing between the action and the aluminum frame on the Ruger is small by comparison.

Not saying it doesn't work. I question the durability.
Click to expand...

A good point, but "plastics" have come a long way in recent years. I remember folks saying the same thing about the Glock. And Ruger has historically always made their guns much stronger than they needed to be.

Well, I said the same thing myself when I heard about it - a "plastic revolver?!?" I guess only time will tell.....

TR Graham
The Glocksmith
 
TR Graham said:
Well, I said the same thing myself when I heard about it - a "plastic revolver?!?" I guess only time will tell.....

TR Graham
The Glocksmith
Click to expand...
This Ruger revolver, like the Glock pistols, actually have quite a bit of metal in 'em.
 
Huh, well it looks like the link I provided to downrange.tv isn't currently working, but there used to be a video of someone test-firing it for review and information. If I recall correctly, he didn't really buy that the recoil was scientifically less, just that it was a different type of recoil impulse that felt perhaps more manageable than traditionally found in small revolvers. I could be off, but that was the observation I remember him making.
 
I found that the Google cache of the Downrange page will still let you watch the video I tried to link to before. You guys should check it out:
http://74.125.93.104/search?q=cache...1735+ruger+lcr+video&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

ExMachina said:
can't imagine getting much practice time in before needing to see a physical therapist :D
Click to expand...
From the video:

"There's a difference in the nature of recoil with the lighter frame guns and with the polymer. You know, I'm not prepared to say that it recoils less, but it recoils at least to me differently: I'm feeling the gun absorbing a little bit of the hit. You know, it still barks: it's thirteen and a half ounce gun! You can never beat physics."

He then shoots a regular J-Frame followed by the LCR...

"It's not less recoil: it's different recoil. And I really do believe that it's easier on my hand because that's ultimately what comes down to the breaking point is how many times can you shoot the little things?"

Mongo said:
Wow... if you believe the hype. I hope the hype is fact. I want one with the CT grips, but I hope they don't sell for $792!:eek:
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Not cheap, but not horrible either when you consider that one of the closest current comparisons would be the S&W M&P 340 CT with an MSRP of $1,232
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...d=10001&productId=53913&langId=-1&isFirearm=Y
 
Have one here, but have not had time to shoot it yet.
Fits the hand well, and the DAO trigger is much lighter than I was expecting.

And, as always, plastic guns do work but they're just a passing fad. :D

Denis
 
Speaking as a gunsmith, I would wait on the new Ruger for a few months and see how it shakes out. There have been many recalls to fix problems with new models rushed to market. The latest Ruger hi cap 9mm and its firing pin being a case in point.
 
Old CW4 said:
Speaking as a gunsmith, I would wait on the new Ruger for a few months and see how it shakes out. There have been many recalls to fix problems with new models rushed to market. The latest Ruger hi cap 9mm and its firing pin being a case in point.
Click to expand...

...and the .380 auto also by Ruger, and the newly reworked PPK by Smith and Wesson...
 
This pistol strikes me as a silly answer to a question that nobody was asking.
 
Yeah, I think I would wait on the first run to hit the streets, be put through the wringer, and see what breaks first. While Ruger has the reputation of being pretty upfront and fair about recalls...you still have the recall hoops to jump through. Their "it might go off if dropped" SR9 recall comes to mind where they installed a glock-like trigger to fix the issue. I enjoy mine very much, though:)

A couple things come to mind. I have never handled a Ruger where I said to myself, "Man, I think I could break this." However, new tech is new tech. Who knows.

I have never picked up a steel snubnose and said to myself, "This is just too heavy to carry." I thought the very nature of a chopped down revolver that tucks away was compromise enough. I am glad to hear the DA is a lighter pull than expected. I know the DA on my antique S&w 36 is pretty dang stiff.
 
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