RUGER SP101 4” 22LR: Pros/Cons

I had one for a year and a half. There were several issues with the gun, but the main reason I got rid of it was the garbage trigger. A small 22 needs a lot of hammer velocity to reliably set off 22lr ammo, because the hammer is physically shorter, and there is less leverage involved. Despite having several thousand rounds through the gun, the trigger always felt gritty and too heavy for my liking. I thought about polishing the internals and getting a spring kit, but there were enough other issues with the gun that I didn't feel it was worth the work. So I traded it away. It was a very contrasting experience compared to my 357 magnum SP101, which has always been great.

If I was going to get a 22lr revolver again, I'd go for a GP100, or an L frame. The larger frame and longer hammer is going to allow for a better trigger pull.

my early ruger sp 101 has been a sturdy dependable .22 revolver, built like a tank.

eastbank said:

my early ruger sp 101 has been a sturdy dependable .22 revolver, built like a tank.

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Looks very nicely polished.

Rimfire SP101's are not worth the price they cost and the 4 inch SP101's have no merits to their existence. The original selling point to the 4 inch SP's was as a "kit gun" but 30oz for a kit gun compared to 19oz for the LCRx and its superior trigger has rendered those 4 inch SP's obsolete.

Others have tried the .22 LCRx and were disappointed with the DA trigger, but I see them selling for $300-ish used and at that price it's not a dealbreaker if the DA trigger is the usual heavy rimfire weight.

it came that way from the factory, I don,t know if it was a special order or not.

Im quite fond of mine. Yes, the DA trigger is stiff, but so what? I dunno bout you, but I shoot 99% of my .22s in SA mode.....

It is heavy, accurate, and has never failed to go bang once.

I have disliked the triggers of the centerfire SP101's that I've owned. I would expect the 22lr version to be even more stiff.

I agree with 460, a bigger 22 revolver will generally have a better trigger and be more shootable. My S&W K22 is very, very nice.

The best trigger I have shot on a small-framed 22 is my Charter Arms Pathfinder; it is okay.

No small-framed 22 revolver has had anywhere near as good a trigger as my 4" Ruger Standard semiautomatic.

I have owned three DA Ruger Single Six revolvers, two in 22 and one in 32. They have all had very nice triggers.

Probably my most favorite 22lr revolver is my Smith model 18. Also have a Colt Diamondback in 22lr and two Smith kit guns. Still I shoot my Ruger SP101 eight round more than the others. Maybe I got a good one but I’m certainly glad they do exist. Mainly shoot single action but many folks shoot revolvers that way.

I looked at one of these a while back. I was surprised at how well it was fitted and finished. Rugers are hit or miss in fit and finish. You can look at one in the dealers shelf and it will be very nice and the one right beside it can look like a monkey put it together. I will not buy any Ruger without laying eyes on it.This little revolver was very nice. The double action trigger was heavy and the grips were too small. I ordered a set of bocote grips from Badger and a 13 pound spring from Wolff springs. This took care of both issues very nicely. I think this will be a nice little double action revolver.

I’ve never fired or even handled the old six shot SP101 with the full under lug barrel. Interesting that I also changed the grips and installed the Wolff springs. Also bought the Speed Beeze speed loader and loading block, it works great !

lincen said:

I’ve never fired or even handled the old six shot SP101 with the full under lug barrel. Interesting that I also changed the grips and installed the Wolff springs. Also bought the Speed Beeze speed loader and loading block, it works great !

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I have thought about the Speed Beeze loader. Do you like it? Is it worth the money. I used the 13 pound Wolff hammer spring and it made a lot of difference in the double action trigger pull. By today's standards 30 ounces is a heavy kit gun but I like steel and walnut much more than plastic and synthetic. 30 ounces for a woods bumming gun is about right by my way of thinking. I was very impressed by the fit and finish in this SP101. I bought a Ruger bisley Blackhawk in .480 online a few years back and the finish was ok but the grips were so poorly fitted, it was not shootable. I know grips are a simple thing to remedy but this gun should have never left the factory like this. I have since made a point to look over Rugers in dealers shelfs. I have seen quality from one being very good to one right next to it looking like a monkey out it together. I will not buy a Ruger anything without laying hands on it. I think that is a shame. Ruger makes fine firearms. I own quite a few and have always been happy with them for what they are. Rugers are very well made and will last two life times. I carry one of the newer ruger flat tops in .44 Special quite a bit. The quality seems to be inconsistent at best. Ruger can beet that. In times past Ruger was too notch. I think it is a shame to buy a revolver and the grips have big gaps at the frame, hang overs and cut in where metal is sticking out. All Rugers are not this way but enough are to make me want to see what I am buying. This S101 was very well fitted. I was surprised at what I was seeing. I wish they were all like this.

I have a 3+" 357, had it tuned and it is one of the best revolver triggers I've owned. I had the .22 and after two trips to the same 'smith it remained the worst trigger on a handgun I've ever owned. Many dozens to compare. Tried a few others and they sucked eggs too. I sold it and went back to my 63.

I like mine just fine. Heavy trigger, yeah. But rimfires need a heavy trigger. I know my 12 year old son can’t pull the trigger in double action mode and struggles to cock the hammer into single action. I’ve thought about changing my he hammer spring but some say it results in fails to ignite primer. What is the weight of the factory hammer spring? And is it necessary to change out the trigger return spring or just leave that stock?

I did just put rubber Hogue grips on. I like the rubber/wood combo factory ones but they are too small for me. Hogue grips fit my hand better.

I shoot my K17 DA quite often and it is the only 22 revolver I ever cared to shoot DA.

Any Taurus or Rossi are de facto single actions with a DA option if you are into self torture.

NIGHTLORD40K said:

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Im quite fond of mine. Yes, the DA trigger is stiff, but so what? I dunno bout you, but I shoot 99% of my .22s in SA mode.....

It is heavy, accurate, and has never failed to go bang once.

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Well, I actually shoot all my revolvers both DA and SA, so to me it mattered. The SA trigger break was acceptable IMO.

Mine, of the newer generation, was a total turd. Accuracy was mediocre even with CCI Minimags and Stingers. I had to have the rear sight jacked WAY over to the left to hit. There were a few tooling marks that I could've probably polished away eventually. The barrel was canted about 3 degrees, and I had to hand polish the chambers because they were rough from the factory and extraction was dang near impossible without a mallet.

But those are the result of getting one bad copy. The stiff trigger is just a preference thing and pretty normal on smaller framed rimfire revolvers. I learned my lesson. Only Lframe rimfires for me now. Though, I doubt I'll ever own another rimfire handgun. 9mm and 38 Special have become the lowest power rounds I shoot anymore.

I dig your older one over the newer ones.

Had a sp101, the trigger was terrible especially da.
Fit & finish was ok. Seemed heavy for a 22 pistol. Maybe I was spoiled by my k22, trigger on that is awesome.

I’d rather have a S&W Model 34 or a Model 63 than an SP101 .22.
More than a Model 17 or K22 too.

But I really like my centerfire SP101s (.327 Federal and .357).

Gave my Model 34 to my grandson 10 years ago. (Please pardon the wondow screen reflections on the gun. It is in 99% condition.

Fond of my Sp101 in 22. Since all my other revolvers are Rugers it only made sense to keep things relative.

PapaG said:

I have a 3+" 357, had it tuned and it is one of the best revolver triggers I've owned. I had the .22 and after two trips to the same 'smith it remained the worst trigger on a handgun I've ever owned. Many dozens to compare. Tried a few others and they sucked eggs too. I sold it and went back to my 63.

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Hard to beat the M63 / M34 kit guns.