Revolver help!

I carry a 2.25" SP in a leather pancake nearly every day. While it is hardly a target pistol, I do find it to be about as accurate as my 4" guns.

The spurless dao snub sp101 will be far easier to carry... and if the first five magnums don't do it, you've either done it wrong or a sixth won't help no how. At that point, just throw the gun at the bear's face and run screaming.

I have the 3" SP101 and it would serve your purposes very well. The 3" GP100 would give the extra round, but be heavier to carry, but certainly not overwhelmingly so.
If you don't mind a used revolver, a 2.75" or 3" Ruger Speed-Six would split the difference between the two current Ruger offerings, as would one of the S&W 3" Models 13 (blue or nickel) or 65 (same gun in stainless).
Adjustable sight models are also available: 2.75" Ruger Security-Six and 2.5" S&W Models 19 and 66. Closer in size to the GP100 would be the S&W 585/686 available with either a 2.5" or 3" barrel.
With any of them, I highly recommend the superb holsters offered by Rob Leahy at Simply Rugged.
www.simplyrugged.com

Cooldill

Between the two models you mentioned I would think an SP-101 with a 3" barrel and weighing 27 oz. might make for the best all-around gun for both CCW and HD. The 2.25" barrel version, with the spurless hammer, would be my choice for primarily CCW use. Likewise the GP-101 with a 3" barrel weighing in at 36 oz., along with its larger frame and cylinder, would be better suited for HD and range use rather than CCW. Of course if you want to go to the other end of the spectrum, for dedicated CCW use, there would be the LCR which has a 1.9" barrel and weighs in at 17 oz.

S&W alternative

The 3" S&W model 60 with adjustable sights is an excellent choice. Small and light enough to carry well, large and heavy enough for pleasant practice. Ruger's 101 is an excellent product; S&W's sights and DA trigger pull break the tie for me. Handle them both before taking the plunge and see what suits you best.

I bought an sp101 2 months ago. high quality gun, fun to shoot at the range also cheap if you use 38's for the range. Stock up on 357 pdx for home defense though. seems like it would be a perfect carry gun also. it does have some weight to it though so you should look and hold some different pieces before buying. I am buying the wife a 380 for carry. lite and easier for her to put some lead down hill with little kick and high results.
Good luck

LuckyDerby

Thanks also for the link to Simply Rugged Holsters. I really liked the old George Lawrence Company holsters and I think the Leahys have recreated it perfectly with their Model 120 holster.

I picked up an SP 101 about 6 months ago, 3" version, one nice revolver! I shoot mine DA mostly, just trained that way. To smooth out the trigger, I had a smith do an action job and changed the hammer spring 2# lighter, 90% better. This is used CCW here, don't even know its on my hip, have a Bianchi pancake holster, like I said, doesn't interfere with driving or sitting. Good luck with your quest!

Cooldill said:

Hi, so it seems my beloved (sometimes) home (sometimes) Illinois may finally be getting the right for concealed carry. I've been hunting for a revolver lately before I found this out. Originally I wanted the gun for mostly range use but to double for home defense as well.

Now since we hopefully will be getting CC, I am looking for something that will be good for that as well as home defense, range use, and possible vehicle carry. Basically I'm looking for the most well-rounded revolver I can find. I need something small enough for carry but large enough for better effectiveness in those other areas.

I'm 5' 7" so not that tall, and 175 lbs. so not particularly big. I would like something with .357 magnum capabilities.

I've been thinking on a Ruger GP100 with a 3" barrel. I also like the SP101 with a 3" barrel but like the extra shot in the GP100.

Anyway maybe you all could help me on my path? Thanks!

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Ruger has much to offer to gun buyer. Many excellent products to choose form: LCR, SP101, SP101.22, GP100, LCP,...... I like the fact their products do not require guarantee because they almost always work and Ruger stands behind what they make. They have taken over the "flag" from S&W and Colt Firearms. They have one tremendous advantage over company like S&W. It is their customers who realize that candy bar no longer costs 5c, good house $30,000, car 3,000......Many Colt and S&W fans do not seem to understand that.

Bill Ruger offered us something truly remarkable for short time. It was round action SxS game gun called RGL. Ole' farts complained that it did not have: 16ga 2&3/4", fixed chokes, case-colored reciever, double triggers.....you know something only few of them would buy. My advice to old gents was to contact David McKay Brown and he will be able to make them whatever they desire. Hey for the price of entire Ruger they could get entire trigger guard suitable for Scottish game gun. The rest of the gun would require many tens of thousands of dollars.

Cooldill. I'll add my two cents. I have two ruger sp101s in .357, and carry one quite often. They are easy to do a trigger job, and make them smooth as butter. Most rugers that I have tried from the factory are a little tough, too heavy to pull in double action for self defence.
But don't let that stop you. You can easily do it yourself with a set of Wolff springs, take the trigger assembly out, and smooth all the rough edges. Very easy, and a ton of fun!! You can find how step by step on the internet.
Have fun and good luck on the concealed carry.

Don't hold your breath waiting for any kind of CCW license in IL or Chicago. The state and city governments will have the whole school population killed if they have to in order to prove the need for stronger laws.

Jim

Jim K, you obviously are not aware of what the courts have told IL. They have 180 days to come up with a fair CCW issuance system or they get constitutional carry.

Jim probably knows this; his point is to wait for the scheme they create before you buy. My guess is it'll be loaded with so many regulations and fees to make it difficult to get and/or keep. But we are rooting for you!

I honestly think that you should think in terms of a range gun (home defense) and the 4" GP-100 is an excellent choice. The 3" GP's are nice, but you have to decide if adjustable sights are important to you.

Get a dedicated carry piece when the law changes. I am not holding my breath that IL will change especially since Chicago politics dominate the state and we had the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy. They will make it very restrictive and probably like NYC where essentially only weathier people get permits. But on paper they will be complying with the court order. Hope that is not the case.

The SP101 is great. The GP100 is great too, and I mean no offense to it. But if you were to buy a GP100, I'd go with a 3" 686+ instead. Then you get 7 shots out of the same size gun.

GP is a great choice though.

Consider the Federal .327 magnum if the 6th shot is important to you in a small form factor. I believe the SP101 is available chambered in .327, and some Smiths too.

Older charter arms bulldog in 44 special

357 Magnum is weak and girly. 44 Special is much more manly.