Anyone changed their EDC from J-Frame to SP101?

[Dollar An Hour]

I don't have a SP101 in the collection. I do have a GP100 3", but it's bulkier/heavier than I want to carry. Also have J-Frames in Steel, Airweight & Air Lite models. The alloy guns make nice pocket guns and I shoot them quite well as I practice with my J-Frames a lot.

I owned a .22 SP101 so I'm familiar with how solid it feels. I think I could put shots on target much quicker with an SP than any J-Frame, as follow-ups would be quicker with .38's or .357's. Shot placement is everything afterall.

I guess the caveat is I'd need to belt-carry the SP, whereas my J-Frames see pocket carry, except the steel 649.

Just curious for those of you who own both SP & J-Frame, do you find the SP much more shoot-able, and do you prefer it for your daily carry to a 'J'?

 

[SAWBONES]

I think I could put shots on target much quicker with an SP than any J-Frame

Yes, but IME followup shots are just not fast with any .357 Magnum load, whether from an SP101 or J-frame, whereas shooting any .38 Special load in either gun can be done fairly quickly.

Some observations: I've been carrying either a pre-lock Smith 649 loaded with Remington .38 Special+P 158gr LSWCHP or a 2" SP101 loaded with Buffalo Bore 158gr .357 Magnum JHP, more often the latter, for the past couple years, most of the time in AIWB mode.
The SP101 is both heavier and bulkier than the 649, of course, but nothing approaching difficult, though the difference is noticeable.
An 11 oz. 340PD with Speer Gold Dot "short barrel" 135gr .38 Special+P JHP goes in the pocket to make up for the slow revolver reload issue.

After recent extended comparative practice shooting of .357 in the SP101 and .38 Special+P in the 649, I may just switch from the SP101 to the 649 for daily CCW, the followup shots are that slow with .357 in my hands! I'm no Bill Jordan.

There are those who would consider carrying .38 Special loads in the current .357 SP101, but I personally prefer not to carry or shoot .38 Special in a gun made for .357.

 

[esq_stu]

I own an SP101 snubbie and a 642. Each has its place. I view the Ruger as more of a holster gun that sometimes goes in a pocket and the 642 as a pocket gun that sometimes goes in a holster.

The Ruger IMO is way more shootable, even with .357 loads. The weight helps stabilize it and after a lot of rounds through it, it is smooth as camel snot. I worked the 642 action a lot, smoothing the rebound slide surfaces, putting in a slightly lighter rebound spring and hammer spring and C&S extended firing pin. It's 100% reliable and smoother, but still harder to shoot than the all steel Ruger.

 

[Doug S]

I've tried the S&W 642, and 340 M&P. Both of those were nice in the pocket, but neither was very fun to shoot with self defense loads. I picked up a SP101 in 357 to compare, and yes, I think the SP101 is a world apart, when it comes to shooting it comfortably. I can shoot the SP101 with any load, much easier than the smaller J-Frames. The SP101 is downright pleasant to shoot with many loads. I have a Mika pocket holster on order. I've walked around with the SP101 in my pocket, and it doesn't feel nearly as bad as I expected. I'm used to pocket carrying a Glock 26, and the SP101 actually feels a little better in my opinion. They are close in size, and weight, so it may just be the Mika holster than is making it more comfortable. Still, with an untucked shirt, I think it would be fairly easy to carry this way.

 

[fastbolt]

Well, I went from a couple of steel J-frames to a SP-101 DAO .357 ... and then back to the J-frames ... AND going even lighter than when I first started carrying J-frames as off-duty weapons, meaning I decided to carry an Airweight 642-1.

I now own 3 lightweight J-frames and 1 steel-framed model. I still like my stainless steel Bodyguard ... and I've even occasionally carried it as a 'second' off-duty J-frame ... but the Airweight models get the greatest amount of use.

Now, don't mistake me, because I really like the SP-101. I think it's a fine belt gun when you want an acceptably 'shootable' steel-framed 5-shot .357 Magnum, but you don't want to carry around a larger 6, 7 or 8-shot revolver. Nice compromise. Reliable. Durable. Good balance, heft and 'liveliness' in the hand for a short-barreled revolver.

I still shoot and qualify with mine ... but it really doesn't see much off-duty usage.

It's not really fair to discuss the 'shootability' of my SP-101 DAO, though, because mine has been Ported and has virtually no discernible muzzle rise/whip when shooting Magnum ammunition. It really amazes some of the other folks, especially folks familiar with revolvers, when they discover the controllability resulting from the Porting. It still has the full felt recoil transmitted directly into the web & palm of my hand, though. Just lacking the torquing, twisting whip experienced without the Porting.

Porting introduces its own factors and concerns, however, especially for dedicated defensive handguns, and is really another subject.

Suffice to say that even though I can controllably and accurately fire my own SP-101 as fast as I can cycle the DAO trigger, even when using 125gr full-power Magnum ammunition ... it still doesn't get all that much off-duty usage anymore.

While I've fired around 100 rounds of .357 Magnum ammunition through my M&P 340 Centennial, it's MUCH less enjoyable of an experience than shooting the SP-101 , and I've been carrying one or another of my preferred .38 +P loads in the M&P.

The J-frames are simply easier to carry and suit my personal off-duty preferences better ... albeit they do require more practice and trigger time in order to shoot as controllably and accurately as I feel is necessary for my needs.

It's a compromise, and involves some careful consideration by each individual.

I have no plans to ever get rid of my SP-101 DAO, if that matters, and I wouldn't mind owning a 3" version someday, comes to that ...

I may not carry it much anymore, but that doesn't mean I dislike having the option to do so, should I choose.

I used to select the SP-101 for some 'backwoods carry' situations, loaded with suitable Magnum ammunition for what I felt might be required. Didn't really anticipate anything other than perhaps feral dogs. Handy to carry.

 

[cprher]

I have just starting using the SP101 mostly because my hands are too big for the J frame and I'm big enough that the size difference between the two is not an issue. In my opinion, the SP101 is a far better design which only gets better the more power you add to the ammo. I just added a tritium front sight and had the trigger polished and rounded. With the standard grips I just can't think of a better small gun to carry.

 

[revolverman357]

I switch between the two, depending on what I feel like on any particular day.
Sometimes I carry the 3" SP101 and sometimes I carry the 649 bodyguard.
But everytime I stoke each one with 158gr Speer Gold Dot .357 Magnum JHP's.

I carry each inside waist band, thay both carry very comfortably especially in the right holster. SP101 - AKJ Concealco ; 649 - Don Hume IWB.

 

[Run&Shoot]

I owned a SP101 2" and then a 642. The 642 is great for pocket carry whereas I could never figure a way to pocket carry the SP101.

However, I am finding that the SP101 seems to be the perfect size for the ladies in our family so if I can find a nice 3" one I would get another SP101. It would be easy to IWB carry, or just have for ladies home defense.

 

[Haywood]

I carry the SP IWB and a Mdl.37 in a back pocket.

 

[gggman]

I carry both. The SP101 rides in a Fist #12 holster on my belt, and my 342PD is either in my pocket or ankle holster.
The SP101 is MUCH more shootable than my 12 oz. J-frame. Even with mild .38 spl. ammo, the airweight is violent to shoot. I find the SP101 more pleasant even when using full power .357 ammo.

 

[Rexster]

Since adopting SP101 snubbies as my 24/7 guns, my J-Airweight has only left the safe a very few times in the last 5+ years. I rarely need something so small and light

 

[Katana8869]

My very first CCW gun was a SP-101 2 1/4" purchased back in 1991. After awhile I began carrying a Glock 27, then moved on to other guns from there. My SP ended up back in the safe. After my Dad died, the I put a set of crimson trace grips on the SP and gave it to my mom to use as a bedside gun.

Recently I picked up a S&W 640 .357, but even though it was a nice little gun, I never could shoot it very accurately. Also, it was nowhere near as nice to shoot as my SP. Like alot of J-frame owners, I quickly switched to .38 +p's.

Last weekend I came back to the SP fold. I traded the 640 on a new SP-101 2 1/4" and I am as pleased as can be. Like others have said, it is a better belt gun than a pocket gun. Despite that, I carried it all day today in an Uncle Mike's pocket holster in a pair of loose jeans with no trouble. The weight is noticable in the pocket, but I can put up with it occasionally. Also, I burned up 50 125gr .357's through it sunday and it shoots them just fine. No need to step down to .38's with this gun.

 

[roscoe]

I carry a 3" Sp101. We got problem pitbulls around the neighborhood and I want the extra power of the .357, and to be able to control it. Yeah, it is a little heavy IWB at 3:00.

 

[Frenchy]

My primary carry is the SP-101 with the 2 1/4" barrel in .38 Special (hammerless).
There is a slight sacrifice with the size but I wanted something that comfortably fit between the J and K frames.
I find it not to be a problem for concealment.

 

[calaverasslim]

Oh admit it. Your just looking for an excuse to buy another pistola. I am the same way

just buy it and have fun

 

[GunNut]

Buy one if you want/"need" it.

For me a lightweight j-frame is a much more useful gun for EDC than a SP101, depending on dress and level of concealment of course.

 

[bub]

Myself, I find the SP to be much more shootable than the J Frames. I have a 2 1/4 SP and a pre-lock .357 M649. I carried the 649 for several years for backup and off duty use. Then, after buying the SP, the 649 got put in the safe and rarely sees the light of day anymore. For me, the slight added size and weight of the Sp are it's advantages. It's MUCH easier to control and shoot well with Dept mandated .38+P 125gr Win Silvertips and, on the odd occasion I shoot .357 out of it, the difference between the SP and 649 is night and day. The SP just kinda hangs there, the 649 had to be regripped after every shot. In fact, I think I might just take the 649 to the next gun show I can get to and see if I can sell or trade for another SP, I like them so much. I carry IWB so the weight difference is a non-issue, for me anyway.

Bub