Any reason to not get a Ruger SP101 ?

You've quoted a terrific price. Makes me say, DA&*!!!

I like SP101's, especially the 3 1/16" models, in .357. They look good, fit my hand and are accurate.

The trigger is a bit stiff, but a spring kit from MidwayUSA, or Brownell's, will fix that.

I'm entertaining that same thought...I shot one at the range over the weekend and was impressed...I don't really think it's all that much bigger than the J frame Smiths',at least it didn't feel that way to me...I don't think the extra ounce or two would matter to me either...My wife just got a new 642 and it shoots like a dream...I was considering a 638,or a 649,until I shot this SP101...Now I've been giving it some serious thought before I make my purchase...

The only reason I can think of is if you can get a Speed Six instead, but they're getting scarce on the ground.

I love the SP 101

The grip feels really good for a small grip, and that extra weight that so many people complain about does a great job of moderating .357 magnun recoil.

Its also very accurate for such a short sight radius with fixed sights.

I get great accuracy with most loads in my 2.25" barrel model.

2.25 barrel on mine and i carry it fairly frequently. The stock sights aren't great unless the target is well lit, but still an accurate gun. I agree that the weight helps when shooting hot loads. It was my first revolver and I bought it mostly because the thing is a tank. I've shot many other pistols and don't mind the trigger at all. I don't have much experience with high-end pistols, so I probably wouldn't know the difference anyways. good luck.

I don't think it gets much better than an sp101 when it comes to a solid, smaller .357 mag- They may not have as good a trigger as a S&W, but they are robust, well-designed (in my opinion) and well worth the money.

I had an opportunity to fire one recently set up in DAO mode; it had what for me was a very nice trigger; easy to shoot well; what's not to like?

As others have said it's an all around excellent weapon. It's tough as nails, accurate, reliable, and small enough to carry while being heavy enough to comfortably shoot magnum loads on a regular basis. I love my 3" model, and the price you quoted is quite reasonable.

You asked for some warnings, I have 2:

1. Be sure to check you barrel alignment. Some have had problems with crooked barrels where the factory either under, or over torques the barrel during assembly. The gun will still function fine, but since the front sight is also crooked POI will be either too far left or right. The good news is if this happens, Ruger stands behind their products, and will make it right.

2. Rugers (especially Ruger revolvers) tend to multiply. You have been warned

I'm picking up an unfired 1994 mfg SP101 3" .357 this week so I am very happy to see all of the positive comments. See the post above mine regarding multiplication.

Too big and heavy to be a pocket gun (unless you're a big guy with big pockets) and too small (capacity-wise anyway) for a belt gun. That said, I have owned one for almost twenty years and wouldn't part with it.

I find mine to be pretty accurate with magnum ammo, but not so much with specials. Speedloaders work a lot better with it than with my Smith j-frame, but once in a while an empty case will get stuck under the star when unloading. I wasn't too crazy about the trigger pull at first, but it smoothed up after about 200 cycles. All in all I think it's a great gun.

Order a Hogue Monogrip at the same time. Trust me, you'll want it. The grip was the only issue I have with my SP, but $20 solved that issue.

The only reason I could think of is if you don't have $449.
I love my 3"......makes a great companion to my 1894 .357 Mag.

I can think of no logical reason not to get a SP101 with the exception of my CFO giving me "The Look".....but then it would only be a few weeks in purgatory and you would have a SP101!

My "CFO" thinks it's cool. She calls it the 'cowboy gun'

I bought one. My wife has carpal tunnel and she shot mine with .38 Special loads in it. Because of the weight, she is able to control it without much pain. She can't handle the magnum loads so I keep it loaded with .38 SD ammo for her just in case. The only problem is, now I don't get to carry it because I leave it at home for her. Maybe you should consider buying two, I am.

It won't fit in a pocket, and for the size and weight you could carry something with twice or 3x the capacity... but you should still get one.

Why? I don't know if it gets more fun than shooting .357mag out of the sp101. It handles recoil better than the gp100, somehow.

If you were to carry it, it does hide very well on a belt. I carried mine all day saturday in a done hume iwb holster. It was invisible, even under a t-shirt, and my gun belt made the weight negligible.

More shootable than a J-frame, more carry-able than a K-frame. I think it's an excellent all-around revolver. If I hadn't found a pre-billboard Security Six 2 3/4" barrel revolver for a good price I'd probably own an SP also.

the security six is pretty darn sexy gun... that said, I have an sp101 and I like it. Picked up a 2.25(?) barrel with crimson trace grips for $400 and I don't think it had more than 20-50 rounds through it. The trigger is much more smooth than my S&W 442, but not my model 36. With .38's in it, it's incredibly easy to control. It looks cool and will definitely last. I have pocket carried in a jacket with it, but find it a bit too heavy (sagging).

I carry my 442 the most because it literally hides itself in just about any size pocket. I wouldn't hesitate to carry the sp101 though, as having a heavier revolver can definitely help with follow up.

No reason not to get one...

I carry the DAO in a Mika pocket holster daily with no weight problem and I'm not a big guy with big pockets.

I bought my SP101 at the end of July. I've probably got 200 rounds or so thru it. So far I'm loving it.

It 's a bit heavy compared to like a J frame S&W, but it also soaks up the recoil better than a J frame.

The construction is solid! It just feels like it's gonna hold up for 100 years or more. Unlike a Taurus or a Charter. I'm not knocking Taurus or Charter, (I have a Charter) I'm just saying the 101 is a beast. Something you can hand down to your grandchildren or great grandchildren.

Depends on the role you place it in. I like my Model 60 with the 2 1/8" barrel because I can slip in in the front pocket of my jeans. No, it isn't a quick draw from there, but I could ease it out and meanwhile it is well concealed. If I anticipate a higher level of threat, I pull it partly out and, since it is in a small IWB holster, I hook the holster on my jeans pocket with just the grip sticking out - it is now ready for a very quick draw while still being unobtrusive. It is a bit big for pocket carry, but on a hot summer day, there aren't a lot of places to conceal a weapon in southern AZ.

The SP101 would probably be too big for that, so that would be a drawback. However, my Model 60 heats up very hot very fast when shooting, and that can't be good for accuracy. I would think the heavier barrel and frame of an SP101 would make it a better compromise between a gun for carry and a gun for fun, while the M60 is best as a carry gun.

For daily carry in a hot climate, I'd recommend the 60. For cooler climates, or a compromise between carry and fun, I'd recommend the SP101 - but only in the 3". Short barrels are useful for carry only, IMHO (and I have a Ruger Alaskan, so I do like snubbies). The extra inch gives you better sight radius, a bit more stability, a bit less muzzle rise, and better ballistics for a 357.

Right now, I'm debating between a SA Ruger 44, an N-frame 44 special and an SP101 3" for my next gun. Since I have the Model 60, I expect it to be a home defense/fun gun, and a bit of extra size will be nice. The same applies to a 3" SP101...a bit more fun, a bit less carry. Both are great guns at great prices, so it depends on what you want the most.

They can't be pocket carried? I've been doing so for years. I once compared my sp101 to a friend's S&W 642. The sp101 wasn't much bigger at all.

I loved mine till some dirtbag stole it out my wife's car. There will be another one in my future.

They are great revolvers. The trigger is a bit rougher than the S&W, but that is easily fixed. Check out this thread on smoothing out the trigger pull a bit. Wolff has a kit that helps a ton with the double-action.

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-174831.html

I've found the newer Rugers to have fairly nice triggers out of the box.

IMO, the SP101 is a fantastic and well made revolver, BUT it certainly is...

a. Big for only holding 5 rounds.

b. not impossible to pocket carry , but definitely on the upper end , weight and size wise for that application.

c. better as a belt gun, but close enough in size where a full 6 shot mid frame revolver isn't really going to be any more difficult to carry. For that application, I'd consider a used Speed 6 or K frame with a short barrel myself, or better yet a Detective special if I were going to load with a .38 Specials.

Plus is that for a revolver that size, you can pound it till the cows come home with .357's without beating yourself or the gun to death. If you were looking to load .38's most of the time, I'd probably go with something else.

I also appreciate the interchangeable front sight. Wish S&W would offer that on more of their J frames.

All in all, a great revolver if it suits your particular needs.