[Monkeybear]

So I went to the High Caliber Gun Show in Houston today to pick out and maybe purchase the perfect 1911 for concealed carry. If you have ready any of my recent thread you already know I spent alot of time looking for a good CCW and finally decided to give the 1911 a try.

How dose this relate to revolvers? Well I saw and fondled a little something called the 3" SP101 at said gun show and immediately knew I had found what I was looking for. Its the perfect size and comes in my favorite caliber of all time. Ever. Not only is it all that but at $410 it cost only as much as the ammo I would have needed to break-in my 1911 and check my carry ammo for reliability. 500 rounds of cheap practice ammo to break it in and 200 rounds of SD ammo to see if it feeds reliably, and thats a "best case scenario" estimate.

So I almost purchased one on the spot but I decided to look around and see if there were any offerings of similar size that I should look into.

Anything of similar size, with a barrel no shorter than 3" and no longer than 4" that I should look into?

Any suggestions?

[yongxingfreesty]

hey chris, that revolver is sweet.
my friend purchased that one while I got the s&w 638.

it is so much fun to shoot. first thing to change are the grips.

here are pics my friend took.

My first wheel gun :2cooleek:
Ruger SP101 in 357Mag

http://www.hi-upload.com/upload/uploaded9/Ruger01.JPG

http://www.hi-upload.com/upload/uploaded9/ruger02.JPG

I liked Orlando's so much... had to get one, but mines DA, no hammer.

[DistantHorizon]

I think the S&W model 36 & model 60 are similar in size & available with 3" barrels. (Someone please correct me if I'm wrong!) They are lighter constructed, and will have better triggers.

I have the 3 1/16" sp101, recoil is surprisingly manageable when shooting .357. Partially due to weight, partially due to low bore axis (bore is low in relation to grip, which makes the gun recoil back into your hand instead of muzzle flipping up).

Little booger is built like a tank; it would take some serious effort to wear it out. I think I will drop a set of lighter wolf springs in it to improve the trigger a little for now, and when I find someone I trust to work on it, it'll get a trigger job. I think the grips it comes with are fine - it points very well with them.

But I imagine the S&W's are great guns too.

[Cosmoline]

The Speed Six is of similar size. It's the precursor to the SP-101, but IMHO it's a better revolver. It doesn't weigh much more but has an extra round of capacity. The triggers are also smoother. I don't know many who've parted with one after shooting it.

[Jim March]

The SP101 is a bit of an oddball, but in a good way.

It's "sorta" the same size class as the S&W J-Frame 357s such as the model 60, but beefier in every direction. Both can use the same speedloaders, so the five-shot cylinders are in the same size class, but the Ruger is tougher and at least 5oz heavier.

The 3" SP101 is a GREAT gun for those that want a daily-carry CCW wheelgun yet still have the ability to shoot really serious, full-house 357 mega-loads. It's ability to digest wild-child monster loads and still be (barely) controllable makes it a favorite of backpackers or anybody else that might face "critter threats" short of a grizzly :).

Put another way: most of the time you're going to want to carry 357 loads in the 400 to 450ft/lbs of energy range, but the gun can cope with 700ft/lbs+ monsters.

One more thing about 3" barrels. Let's say you need to carry mild ammo, 38Spl+P fr'instance down around 250ft/lbs energy. You've got wrist damage, or your off-hand(/arm) is broken, or you're loaning the gun to your wife or something. A lot of good ammo is designed to barely work out of a 2" barrel. Fired from a 3" barrel, you get just a wee bit of "extra goodness", a speed safety margin that might make the difference between a round expanding or failing.

The SP101 in a 3" barrel is a damned good gun. The 2" barrel version is not really easier to conceal in most cases.

[BikerRN]

When I carry a Revolver off duty, which is most days, I prefer my 3" GP100. I like having the extra round and I love the 3" Barrel. It carries like a 2" and shoots like a 4" has been said often.

BikerRN

[Brian Williams]

3" barrels are my favorite, I have a S&W 13, 36 and a 60-4 all in 3". I am getting a 581 and I am really contemplating having the barrel cut to 3" and round butted.

One of the guns I am looking for is a 3" SP101 in 9mm.

[Uglyoldpoorman]

I just bought a model 60/3" s&w after checking out the sp103/3". IMO the 60 was just a bit smoother and more refined if you can use those terms. The 60 came with adjustable rear sights which is what I wanted.

I felt bad because the sp101 lost out so I bought a 2" sp101???

[19-3Ben]

I LOVE my 3" SP101 so much I sent her to Gemini Customs to get worked on. I tried to attach pics, but I'm apparently incompetent. Go here for pics:
http://s263.photobucket.com/albums/ii131/geminifan/

Here's the deal. The weight and the 3"bbl will tame the recoil of hot rounds very nicely. I find that many times I carry the gun all day, and then put her down on the night stand when I go to bed. I don't feel under-armed at all with this gun for HD (of course it is just a back up for a 12ga pump).

If I were only allowed to have one gun ever, this one would be it, and this is why:
1)Perfect caliber. Everything from HEAVY .357 to MILD .38.
2) Handles perfectly. The balance is absolutely spot on and it points very naturally.
3)The weight helps to soak up recoil.
4) the extra barrel length makes it more accurate than a snub, and gives better velocity.
5) easily concealable.
6) great value.
etc.... I could go on all day.

But this is a do-it-all gun. CCW, HD, and even hiking. I'm one of those hikers Jim March mentioned who carry wild loads. My load of choice is the Double Tap 158gr. GD .357mag.

http://s263.photobucket.com/albums/ii131/geminifan/?action=view&current=101_0567.jpg

[Jim March]

My load of choice is the Double Tap 158gr. GD .357mag.

That load is rated at 1,400fps from a 4" barrel and won't be too far off that mark from a 3" SP101.

There are hotter 357 loads, but not by much!

That load from a 3" SP101 is barely controllable. Shoot it in anything lighter and you'll swear somebody took a baseball bat to your hand afterwards.

I shoot loads like this in my Ruger New Vaquero 357, which is a lot heavier than an SP101 and soaks up recoil nicely. Even then, I had to ditch the sharply checkered factory grips as these loads would cause the grips to rip my palm up.

It's hard to convey just how serious "lowly 357" recoil can get. The 12.5oz ultralight S&W is just not a real 357 because controlling these monsters just isn't possible period. Even S&W's all-steel snubs aren't heavy enough.

The SP101 is at the sweet spot in weight and size where they ARE controllable.

Barely :).

[Diamondback]

The only other revolver that I can think of that would be close in size to a 3" SP101 and hasn't been mentioned is a 3" Detective Special...and of course is no longer manufactured, collectible, and therefore often costly. They are great revolvers though, and worth seeking out if you can find one that is afford-ably priced and in good condition. I have a 3" DS-II from the last batch made by Colt just before they shut down their revolver machinery for good....it's a nice handy carry piece. I also like my 3" S&W M60-4 with the adjustable sights. It too carries well ! I don't feel under-gunned with it when it is loaded with Buffalo Bore 158 gr. +p in territory not inhabited by brown bear.

3" barrels are my favorite, I have a S&W 13, 36 and a 60-4 all in 3". I am getting a 581 and I am really contemplating having the barrel cut to 3" and round butted................ ...a 3" 591 would be sweeeet Brian ! Several years ago I passed on a nice 681 that had been altered to a 3" barrel; I still kick myself for letting that one slip through my hands. Oh well...they come, they go.;)

-regards

[Huddog]

I have an SP 3in that I love dearly. Had a trigger job and put on Hogue grips it is one fine revolver and good for carry. Not my daily but gets its share. Don't know what caliber you want but I am able to control it in 357. One other thing I had done was to have the sharp edges of the trigger ground to a rounder shape, it helped to reduce the sharp strike to the trigger finger from the recoil.

[rdrancher]

I have a 2.25" SP101 in .357 magnum, but would love a 3". To me it just "feels right" just like a 1911. If I'm not pocket carrying my 642, the little Ruger is what I choose to wear on my hip.

I myself like the stock grips just fine, but I do like to spruce it up now and again with a little color by changing the inserts.

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee37/rdrancher/SP101_03.jpg

Good luck with your decision.

rd

[BlindJustice]

The grip of a SP-101 is slightly larger than the Model 60 S&W. This applies to the later Model 60s. In 1997, the J-frame was beefed up enough to
chamber it, as well as the 640 - both with stainless steel frame and cylinders
to .357 Magnum. The new model 60s with the 3" Bbl. have adjustable rear sights and weigh 24 oz. - a SP-101 3 1/8" Bbl only weighs 3 oz more.

I have a S&W Model 60-15 3" Bbl. with the adj. sights and it's great to shoot with .38 SPecial +P 125 gr. Speer Gold Dot that clock around 1,000 fps
I also have a good amount of .357 Mag ammo around and a S&W 686P 4" Bbl. so I like haveing the 60 chambered for .357 Mag just in case I grab the wrong box of ammo for one reason.... but if I wanted to travel light hiking I
wouldn't hesitate to carry the .357 Mag loads along for the 60. It is a smooth trigger pull although not light but I find I shoot it DA about 90% of the time I'm shopping for a model 63 with a 3" Bbl. to go with it so
my grand daughter can have a nice pair of revos in about 19 years - she's only 15 months but Gramps is prepping a nice 21rst B'day present for her.

I'll be sending the 60 off to Cylinder and SLide for a trigger job one of these years along with the 63

looking for a LH holster as my daughter and son-in-law are southpaws
so Janie will also probably be a lefty.... heck my sisters are and I'm the monority righty

Anyway try a 60 or 640 the 640 has the DAO non-exposed hammer for CCW but a 60 in the right carry rig will also work be it strong side or
cross draw.





.

[MCgunner]

A SP101 is an awesome revolver, very strong, but it's heavy for a small gun. That's good, though, when shooting heavy loads, but I find the grip a might uncomfortable. A Hogue cured that. However, it's not a LOT lighter than my 3" Taurus M66 which is even easier to shoot, slightly heavier at a little over 30 ounces, and a larger grip. A 2.5" M19, similar in size to my M66, is a good choice, also. ALL these guns carry well IWB and NONE of 'em are pocket revolvers. The SP101 is by far the strongest design, like a little chunk of billet steel in the hand. It is hard to argue against the SP101 if you are looking at controlling what the .357 Magnum is capable of ballistically. And, with those hotter loads, it's a FAR stronger gun than a J frame or even a K frame.

[ice monkey]

If it felt right in your hand, and it’s your favorite all time caliber … don’t over think it! From what I have seen/heard, you just can’t go wrong with a SP. I am about to order one myself.

Unlike you, I just can’t figure out if I want .357, or the new .327. I dumped my ride last weekend, and have discovered how useless semis are when one of your hands is out of commission - as someone already mentioned.

Taurus, Charter Arms, Smith & Wesson, all have competing revolvers. But if the Ruger felt “right” – buy it.

Well that's my 2 cents anyway.

[MCgunner]

In .327, I'll wait for a scandium J frame to chamber it. With the SP101, why mess with pea shooters? Get a .357 and maximize the the exit wound. :D This is a robust gun and in .357, you can handle the HOT stuff and God knows the gun can handle it.

[ice monkey]

Not sure a J frame can handle the pressures of the .327 – well that’s what I have heard. It’s killing me to be honest lol. I want something I can have “fun” with. The 327 looks great on paper. Flat shooting, good on recoil, bla, bla, bla … Never really been a fan of the 38. Love the 357 but it’s no plinker. I have no doubt that the 327 would be just fine for SD with exception of bears lol. :)

Either way that’s my dilemma, don’t want to highjack the thread.

I will say this – I found the Smiths to dear, never had luck with Taurus, and I find the Charters a bit ugly. The Ruger seems the best of all worlds to me … Plus it fits my hand well too.

[Rexster]

There may be other stuff out there in the same size range, but IMHO the SP101 is as good as it gets in this envelope, in current production. My 4" Speed Six, with compact grips and a factory spurless hammer, carries just about as well, for me, but then I find anything smaller than an N-frame easy to carry, because I did indeed conceal a 4" N-frame quite a bit in the 1980's.

I urge anyone thinking of an SP101 to NOT assume that an S&W offers better triggers from the factory. I bought my third SP101 after being spoiled rotten by the excellent trigger jobs in my first two, which had gone through Jack Weigand's shop before being delivered to my dealer. Well, the newer one has a trigger just as smooth as my customs, though of course it is heavier. Yes, I have handled some gritty SP101 triggers, but most seem quite sweet, from the factory. Why the third SP101 snubby? Well, I wanted one with a spur on the hammer, this one has a sweet trigger, and it coincided with me having money in my pocket. I will almost certainly end up with a 3-1/16" SP101 someday, though the Speed Six fills the non-snub role very well for now.