Boy Howdy, forgot how that little bugger stings. Just picked up a ruger SP101 with a 2 3/4 inch barrel with 5 shots of .357 mag. I had one of these but times got tuff and I had to sell it. When I started looking again I was shocked to see how high the prices have gone with these guys. Picked this one up for 450 out the door new in box. I love this lil guy.
New SP101!!
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threefeathers
member
My son loves his but at the advce of Marty Hayes uses 158grain LHP, the so-called FBI load in his. You gain nothing but recoil and loud sound by using a 357 Mag in a short barrel, but you do gain controlibility with a hot 38 Spec.
Magnum rounds have never really bothered me with recoil. If I had concerns about recoil management I would have gone for something small like a 380 or something of the sort. I grew up shooting my dads .357 mag and my grandpa's .44 mag. The only thing I cannot manage is the flash off of those rounds. Good god that short barrel shoots fire. For that reason alone I will probably be packing .38. I always have to squint or close my eyes when firing mag rounds outa it at a well lit indoor range. So I can only imagine in a darken setting what it would do to me.
76shuvlinoff
Member
Even the 4" SP is not a heavy gun. We primarily shoot 38s out of my wife's. I think the .357s would be easier with a set of shootin grips instead of the carryin grips.
After a minor trigger and spring job she really likes this revolver and it took so long to find something she likes I am not changing anything or questioning her loads now.
I shoot some 158 gr, 357s out of it once in a while just to get the full effect. I have not tried it at night yet.
After a minor trigger and spring job she really likes this revolver and it took so long to find something she likes I am not changing anything or questioning her loads now.
I shoot some 158 gr, 357s out of it once in a while just to get the full effect. I have not tried it at night yet.
You still get a lot of velocity out of the short barreled .357 Mags. A lot more than what you get from any .38 special load. I chronoed some 1400 fps (from a 4" barrel) in my snub and was getting well over 1200 fps.
788Ham
Member
Ahh, but these little SP 101's are really good firearms! I have the 3" model, had an action job done on it, whew, that DA is the only way to go now!
Cocked & Locked
Member
The 1st SP101 I bought was one of the early .357 ones with the short cylinder that was limited to .357 cartridges loaded with 125 grain maximum bullet weight (length issue.) It was OK but I moved it on.
My 2nd one is a DAO one with the longer cylinder. I have had probably 2.5 years and it is a keeper.
My 2nd one is a DAO one with the longer cylinder. I have had probably 2.5 years and it is a keeper.
tightgroup tiger
Member
Houge grips do these sp101s wonders on recoil management. 788Ham helped me with mine. You take the bite out of them and the accuracy definately improves.
I didn't really think mine kicked that hard but I couldn't hit anything with it. After I put better grips on mine, mine group tightened up from about 6" at 7yds to about 2" at 7yds.
Alot better control and the recoil was reduced dramatically as a side benefit.
I didn't really think mine kicked that hard but I couldn't hit anything with it. After I put better grips on mine, mine group tightened up from about 6" at 7yds to about 2" at 7yds.
Alot better control and the recoil was reduced dramatically as a side benefit.
Tony_the_tiger
Member
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phoglund
Member
I have one of the 3" models as well and find it to be a very handy size gun to carry and I feel it packs a lot of 'wallop' for its size. It showed Ruger's willingness to buck the status quo and not make it's small .38/.357 the same size as the J-Frame. Definitely a 'keeper'.
rswartsell
Member
No offense intended, but just what the hell is 125 gr. maximum bullet weight?
rswartsell
Member
You are saying that the Sp101 was made in a version that accepted only 110 and 125?
rswartsell
Member
Wow, learned something. In a way that is counterintuitive. The rounds with these bullet weights can be the hottest found.
Cocked & Locked
Member
Short SP101's
Yep...the cylinders were short. Any cartridge with a bullet weighing more than 125 grains was too long to work. The guns were roll marked accordingly.
Yep...the cylinders were short. Any cartridge with a bullet weighing more than 125 grains was too long to work. The guns were roll marked accordingly.
newbuckeye
Member
I have an Sp101, and that will probly be the one they pry from my cold dead hand.....
Snake Plisskin
Member
I just got me a sweet deal on a 4 " GP100 .327 federal magnum , $400 NIB, sweet little gun, I like it alot.
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