Ruger’s .22 Magnum Light Carry Revolver (LCR) was well received when it made its debut at a 2013 industry trade show, and it’s easy to see why. When fired from a lightweight snub-nose revolver, the .22 Magnum cartridge (also known as the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire, or .22 WMR) offers a 30 percent increase in power over the .22 LR with only 20 percent of the .38 Special +P’s recoil. The relatively low price of .22 Magnum ammunition compared to that of centerfire defense loads is another plus. The .22 Magnum fits nicely in between the .22 LR and centerfire calibers when it comes to power, recoil and cost, and it’s a seemingly perfect chambering for recoil-sensitive people living on a budget.

Single-action .22 Mag. handguns have sold well since the 1960s, but double-action guns in this caliber haven’t been as popular because they generally have heavy double-action trigger pulls. The extra-thick rim on the .22 Mag. case requires a gun with a heavier-than-average mainspring for consistent primer ignition. Therefore, it’s common for the DA trigger pull on a .22 Mag. revolver to be over 15 pounds. This is too heavy for the many older or small-statured people who might otherwise choose a light-kicking .22 Mag. handgun for personal protection.

GUN DETAILS
Four versions of the ultra-modern LCR have made their way to the American market. The first was chambered for .38 Special and .38 Special +P. This LCR was well received, and Ruger soon produced two new versions of the LCR in .357 Magnum and .22 LR. Then, just before the 2013 trade show, Ruger announced a new six-shot LCR in .22 Magnum. All LCRs have the same dimensions: a 6.5-inch length, a 4.5-inch height and a 1.87-inch barrel. And regardless of caliber, all LCRs are built according to the same basic design, which includes a cylinder and barrel insert made of stainless steel, a metal, monolithic frame, a polymer fire-control housing that has a grip peg, a pinned front sight that can be replaced with an XS Standard Dot Tritium sight and a DAO fire-control system. The peg fits a number of grips, including Hogue Tamer grips, Crimson Trace Lasergrips and aftermarket grips made of wood or other materials…

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