[SkaerE]

the weight of an SP101 2 1/4''?

i hear all over, the major problem of the SP101 is the weight. got curious and looked it up, and its only 1 oz more than a S&W 640!! i find that odd, as i rarely hear anyone complain about carrying around the centennial smiths.

anyone know? is it just the overall size of the snub and not just the weight?

i'm looking for a backup gun, figure lighter is better, but only to a point. maybe i should stick with an airweight?

thanks

[SnWnMe]

That's because they carry the 14 oz Airweights. Alot lighter than an SP101.

[V-fib]

I don’t get it either. I have the 3” SP and it’s my primary carry weapon. The weight of the gun has never been a factor with me. Since I try to practice a couple of times per week with my SP it’s likely a ultralight rev. would have my hand hurtin if I was shooting full loads. I like to shoot the SP and feel its weight an advantage due to less recoil resulting in faster follow-ups. And as far as concealing it, as I’ve said numerous times before I usually carry in a smartcarry and so I can have a pair of shorts on or even my swimsuit and no one’s the wiser.

Some other popular carry revs in the SP’s weight and size range:

Ruger Gp100 3” 36oz
Ruger Sp101 3” 27oz

S&W 60 3” 24oz
66 3” 35oz
649 2” 23oz
686 2.5” 34.5oz

Charter 2000 2.2” 24oz

Taurus 650 2” 24oz
605 2.25” 24.5oz
617 compact 2” 28.3oz
Rossi 461 2” 26oz

[VictorLouis]

or waistpack. Only an issue for pocket-carry, IMHO.

[priv8ter]

It just took me a while to figure out that my SP-101 was never going to be a pocket gun. Once I got that through my head, it was okay by me...

Like-wise, a 13 ounce Scandium .357 will never be as much fun at the range as my SP-101 is...just Saturday I put 50 rounds of .38 through mine, and another 100 rounds of 158gr Blazer .357's...

[twoblink]

Scandium .357 = can't type for a week..

For some reason, I'm not fond of self-torture, and I like to keep my hands intact..

[444]

People tend to go to extremes: more is better, less is better. If I can have a 27 oz gun, a 12 oz gun in the same caliber must be better. Right ?
In the process they tend to lose sight of things like practicality, and function.
I carry an SP101 in my pocket and don't think a thing of it. My SP101 is chambered for the .357 mag cartridge and it is stout enough to realistically handle that cartridge. It can handle as many of them as you want to feed it. It can handle a lot of them in one session while the shooter still maintains good form. It allows realistic follow up shots.
How many people have carried a S&W Model 36 over the years ? Many thousands for sure, the SP101 is only a few OUNCES heavier and shoots a more potent cartridge to boot. I never heard anyone discussing the huge unmanageable weight of the Model 36.

[355sigfan]

Steel framed revolvers sag too much in pocket carry. The only reason to own a snub is because of the light weight of the airweights that make them ideal for pocket carry. If I am going to carry 20 plus ounces I will carry a mini glock.
Pat

[SkaerE]

The only reason to own a snub is because of the light weight of the airweights

wow, betcha a few folks here will disagree with you :D

while a mini-glock may be the choice of a person who is more likely to get into an extended "fire-fight" the average citizen will fire only 1 to 2 shots in an encounter. i'd take a 357 mag or 44 spec over a 9mm for 2 shots any day.

besides, big snubbies are scarier :evil:

[355sigfan]

while a mini-glock may be the choice of a person who is more likely to get into an extended "fire-fight" the average citizen will fire only 1 to 2 shots in an encounter. i'd take a 357 mag or 44 spec over a 9mm for 2 shots any day.
END

Well the 26 has far less recoil than a simular weight 357 mag snub and about the same velocity with +p ammo. It holds twice as much ammo (10+1). As for the 44 special you can get a small 40 or 45 auto with more power and less recoil and more rounds. Everyone has an opinion but for me the snub only makes sence as an airweight that is easy to drop in a pocket.
Pat

[SkaerE]

Well the 26 has far less recoil than a simular weight 357 mag snub and about the same velocity with +p ammo. It holds twice as much ammo (10+1). As for the 44 special you can get a small 40 or 45 auto with more power and less recoil and more rounds

fair enough, but you cant limp wrist a revolver and have it malfunction. a lot of folks cant handle the small 40's, some even the small 9mm's, especially under stress.

[RON in PA]

I used to think the Glock 26 was the perfect CCW, carried it in a pants pocket holster and rarely on the belt. Then it started randomly and unpredictably malfuntioning (failure to feed) with several brands of HP. Went back to my steel Smith 640 in a pants pocket holster. Whats the big deal? weight wise. Are you all such a bunch of wimps? My 3" SP101 is too big for a pocket, goes on the belt, but a 2" version with a bobbed hammer would make a fine pocket gun.

[George Hill]

If an SP101 is too heavy... you seriously need to work out more.

[355sigfan]

ITs not to heavy to carry obviously. But if you stick it in a pants pockect it sags much more noticiably than an airweight. You stick it in a jacket pocket your coat lists to one side. Its simply too heavy to be a good pocket gun.
Pat

[Tamara]

My main gripe with the SP101 is more one of size, rather than weight. Being machined from a casting rather than a forging will mean that one ounce of Ruger is bigger than one ounce of Smith or Colt. The SP-101 is bigger than the current "magnum J"-frame and has an even larger disparity in size with the older J- and "Improved I"-frames. It competes more with the Detective Special, which has a sixth shot, and is almost the size of a 2"/2.5"/3" K-frame, which also has a sixth shot. I see the SP as more of a belt gun than a pocket gun, and if I'm going to hang it on my belt, I may as well go to the barely-bigger boot-gripped K-frame snubbie and pick up an extra round.

Just my opinion...

[farscott]

I see the SP as more of a belt gun than a pocket gun, and if I'm going to hang it on my belt, I may as well go to the barely-bigger boot-gripped K-frame snubbie and pick up an extra round.I have similar thoughts about the SP-101 and the S&W K-frames; however, I think the Ruger has a few advantages over the K-frame as a belt gun. Namely, the SP-101 "stud" grip frame allows for very concealable grips, and the SP-101 seems stronger than the K-frame. I am always a bit hesitant to put heavy magnum loads through the K-frame, but the SP-101 just goes and goes.

Of course, the K-frame has a better action than the SP-101, at least in terms of double-action shooting for me. And that pesky additional round sure is nice. No wonder I have several samples of both. :)

[DennisE]

IMHO it ain't the weight of the gun, tis the weight of the trigger. Even after cleaning the triggers up Smiths have better triggers. Dennis

[Litlman]

A while back I sold my sp101 to fund a vintage k-22. I liked it alot and used to carry it on a inexpensive Liberty belt holster. I recently picked up a 2.5 in m-19 and I am currently looking for the right rig to carry it in. I would like to eventually find a 3 in. sp101 in the future. If I want to pocket carry a revolver I carry my 442 in an Uncle Mike's pocket holster.