When we reviewed the original Ruger LCR (Lightweight Compact Revolver) in 2009 we were very impressed. Our only lament was that the LCR was a double-action-only (DAO) revolver. DAO means that the gun can only be trigger cocked; there is no exposed hammer to allow thumb cocking for a lighter trigger pull and increased accuracy at longer ranges.

Ruger has now rectified that complaint with the introduction of the LCRx, a new version of the LCR concept with a conventional exposed hammer. This makes the LCRx a true double action revolver, with two ways to fire the gun. It can be thumb cocked and fired by a short, lighter pull of the trigger (SA), or fired without first cocking the hammer by a long, much heavier, pull of the trigger (DA). This maximizes the revolver's versatility, as it can be fired more precisely at longer ranges in single action mode or very quickly at near contact distances in double action mode. The best of both worlds.

Even better, the LCRx has been introduced in our favorite self-defense caliber for snub-nose revolvers, .38 Special. The .38 Special cartridge is effective, widely available in a huge selection of loads and reasonably controllable in a lightweight revolver. The LCRx is designed to handle standard pressure and +P .38 Special ammunition. More powerful cartridges, such as the .357 Magnum, put an unreasonable strain on both the gun and the shooter in small frame revolvers and cannot be controlled for fast repeat shots, even by the vast majority of experienced shooters. Actually, typical civilian shooters who purchase a handgun for personal protection, but are not already experienced recreational handgun shooters, cannot even deliver the first shot from a .357 snubby accurately, as they are thoroughly intimidated by the recoil and muzzle blast.

Having previously reviewed the original DAO version of the Ruger LCR, which uses the same construction and basic internal mechanism (except for the hammer) as the LCRx, we will try to be briefer here, hitting only the high points. Unlike most DA revolvers, the LCRx does not have a side plate to allow access to its internal parts. Instead, there are three modular sub-assemblies. These are the Frame sub-assembly, Fire Control Housing sub-assembly and Cylinder sub-assembly.

The polymer fire control housing, which includes the grip frame and trigger guard, contains all of the lock work, including the hammer. The mechanism is accessed by removing the fire control housing from the frame sub-assembly.

The LCRx's lock work is loosely based on previous Ruger DA revolver designs, but incorporates several innovative features, including e-nickel Teflon on critical engagement surfaces and a small concave camming surface on the trigger where it interfaces with the hammer sub assembly. The latter is primarily responsible for the LCRx's excellent DA trigger pull. The barrel, cylinder, crane, front sight blade and most of the internal mechanism are blackened or tumbled stainless steel; the hammer and trigger have been coated to increase their corrosion resistance and improve operating smoothness.

Like other Ruger DA revolvers, the LCRx features a transfer bar ignition system. This allows the revolver to be safely carried with all chambers loaded. At rest (hammer down), the hammer rests against the frame with the transfer bar lowered well below the firing pin. You could drop the LCRx, hit it with a hammer or throw it from the top of a skyscraper without any danger of accidental discharge. There is no external safety, or any need for one, because DA revolvers are inherently safe.

The LCRx has a wide, comfortable trigger with a smooth surface that minimizes the subjective force required to fire the gun. Straight out of the box, we measured the single action trigger pull at a clean six pounds. After a couple days of dry firing practice, the SA trigger pull had reduced to 5-3/4 pounds. This is a lot better than the estimated (our RCBS pull scale only goes to eight pounds) 11 or so pounds of pressure required to fire the LCRx by trigger cocking (DA), but not acceptable. There is no excuse for the SA trigger pull of any revolver to exceed three pounds.

The hammer spur is adequate in size and checkered for a secure grip. Like all Ruger revolvers, the hammer requires more force than it should to thumb cock, because of an overly heavy hammer spring. Why Ruger insists on installing such heavy trigger and hammer springs in their handguns is a mystery. They are not needed for reliable function.

The LCR's monolithic aluminum frame sub-assembly supports the barrel and cylinder. The stainless steel barrel is threaded into the frame, which surrounds the barrel. The frame itself is treated with a two element, "synergistic" hard-coat finish. This involves a hard-anodized bottom layer and a baked-on surface polymer. The result is an extremely hard surface finish (reportedly Rockwell C60) that is impervious to just about everything, including saltwater. According to the Instruction Manual, "This revolutionary new coating gives a very hard, very slick and abrasion-resistant surface to the aluminum."

The swing-out cylinder is attached to the frame by a crane that pivots around the front torx screw. The cylinder sub-assembly includes the cylinder, crane, cylinder lock pin, star ejector, ejector rod and associated parts. The cylinder is machined from stainless steel. The crane is a stainless steel investment casting. The center lock pin is made from titanium to reduce mass and inertia.

LCR series revolvers have the most heavily fluted cylinders we have ever seen. Only the back portion of the cylinder, where the locking bolt cuts are, is actually full diameter; it measures 1.283 inches. The entire forward half of the cylinder has been fluted and has a maximum diameter of about 1.230 inches; between chambers, the cylinder is much smaller. This radically fluted cylinder gives the LCR a distinctive look.

The cylinder is held closed at the rear by the cylinder lock pin and at the front of the ejector rod by a titanium spring-loaded latch imbedded in the frame's under lug. To swing out the cylinder for loading or unloading, press the cylinder release button, which is located directly behind the cylinder on the left side of the frame (the usual place on a DA revolver), inward. The cylinder gap of our test gun is tight and uniform. The cylinder revolves counter-clockwise, or out of the frame.

The standard, ambidextrous, Hogue Tamer rubber grip was jointly designed by Ruger and Hogue and is advertised to fit a broad range of hand sizes. The trigger reach is intentionally short enough to be comfortable for those with smaller hands, particularly women. Certainly, it seemed to fit everyone on the Guns and Shooting Online staff. There are pronounced grooves for the middle and ring fingers of the shooting hand; the little finger will normally curl beneath the grip, which is slightly concave to make this more comfortable. Even though most of us do not normally prefer grips with finger grooves, we felt that this is an excellent grip for a snubby revolver.

Ruger claims that the polymer grip frame and Tamer grip combine to deliver about 50% less felt recoil than other .38 Special revolvers of similar size and weight. That may be true, but any lightweight .38 Special revolver, including the LCRx, kicks pretty hard, primarily due to the very high recoil velocity inherent in lightweight guns firing powerful cartridges. It is because of the LCR's high recoil velocity that titanium, instead of steel, is used for the LCR's cylinder lock pin and front latch. Titanium reduces the mass and inertia of these parts and helps prevent the cylinder from unlocking at the moment of firing, which is testament to the excessive recoil velocity of super lightweight guns.

The stainless steel barrel insert, hammer and trigger are finished in a natural (dull silvery) color. The other external metal surfaces of the LCRx have a low-reflective black finish. Only the front surface (muzzle) of the barrel insert is polished, presumably to better let anyone at whom the revolver is aimed see (and be intimidated by) that big .38 caliber hole.