I gave my S&W 640 to a close friend for her help during my recovery from a five-vertebrae cervical spinal fusion. I acquired a Ruger LCR 357 Magnum, Crimson Trace 415 red laser grip, and OEM Tamer grip. I bought the LCR with the intention of using it as a "pocket carry."
I installed the Crimson Trace grip and futzed with it. Brutal weather prevents any range work for a while. I found out several things about the Crimson Trace. It works precisely as described by them - that is, almost transparent to use. All the user must do is turn its power ON or OFF. When ON, just use the LCR and red laser does its job. That's great, except for one detail. Not having a pocket holster, I just dropped the LCR into my front pocket. The grip is too long to be used in pocket carry, and I wear Bill's Khakis which have large, reinforced pockets. If the revolver is too tall because of too long grip when the pocket has available extra space that would be occupied by holster, the grip is useless for me. I'll sell it as quickly as I can.
I installed OEM grip and went through the same futzing. The LCR's OEM tamer grip will function, I think, with a well-designed pocket holster. But this grip is right on the edge of being too long - that is, a "panic draw" (would there be a different kind for CCW gun??) jams revolver-holster in the pocket. The jam or hesitation getting revolver out of pocket and pointed toward target is not more than a second or two. This doesn't really create much of a problem except for one thing. The pocket jam is manageable during practice. How about during a "panic draw?" Would the "not more than a second or two" become several seconds "too long?"
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So what I have is a good pocket revolver that needs a less tall grip and a pocket holster that mutes LCR's outline, stays where I want it to be, and takes up as little space as possible.
I've viewed graphics superimposing Hogue's "boot" grip on an LCR wearing OEM grip, but I've not seen or handled one. The boot grip appears to be sufficiently small to preclude hesitation jam. It also appears to be difficult to shoot with - the downside of being small. They're inexpensive enough to try out, though.
I know nothing about pocket holsters. I do wonder whether fastening holster to pocket with a large safety pin or two would be useful for keeping holster where it's supposed to be during a "panic draw."
Those who use pocket holsters with concealed hammer revolvers, please recommend the holster(s) you use.
Suggestions on satisfactory LCR grips for pocket carry might be helpful especially if the Hogue boot grip isn't what I want. And if someone has done unusual things to the boot grip, I would be interested in learning what you did. They're inexpensive enough to ruin one while learning how to make the next one satisfactory.
I installed the Crimson Trace grip and futzed with it. Brutal weather prevents any range work for a while. I found out several things about the Crimson Trace. It works precisely as described by them - that is, almost transparent to use. All the user must do is turn its power ON or OFF. When ON, just use the LCR and red laser does its job. That's great, except for one detail. Not having a pocket holster, I just dropped the LCR into my front pocket. The grip is too long to be used in pocket carry, and I wear Bill's Khakis which have large, reinforced pockets. If the revolver is too tall because of too long grip when the pocket has available extra space that would be occupied by holster, the grip is useless for me. I'll sell it as quickly as I can.
I installed OEM grip and went through the same futzing. The LCR's OEM tamer grip will function, I think, with a well-designed pocket holster. But this grip is right on the edge of being too long - that is, a "panic draw" (would there be a different kind for CCW gun??) jams revolver-holster in the pocket. The jam or hesitation getting revolver out of pocket and pointed toward target is not more than a second or two. This doesn't really create much of a problem except for one thing. The pocket jam is manageable during practice. How about during a "panic draw?" Would the "not more than a second or two" become several seconds "too long?"
***
So what I have is a good pocket revolver that needs a less tall grip and a pocket holster that mutes LCR's outline, stays where I want it to be, and takes up as little space as possible.
I've viewed graphics superimposing Hogue's "boot" grip on an LCR wearing OEM grip, but I've not seen or handled one. The boot grip appears to be sufficiently small to preclude hesitation jam. It also appears to be difficult to shoot with - the downside of being small. They're inexpensive enough to try out, though.
I know nothing about pocket holsters. I do wonder whether fastening holster to pocket with a large safety pin or two would be useful for keeping holster where it's supposed to be during a "panic draw."
Those who use pocket holsters with concealed hammer revolvers, please recommend the holster(s) you use.
Suggestions on satisfactory LCR grips for pocket carry might be helpful especially if the Hogue boot grip isn't what I want. And if someone has done unusual things to the boot grip, I would be interested in learning what you did. They're inexpensive enough to ruin one while learning how to make the next one satisfactory.
