Calling all SP101 owners

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LWYM425

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I'm curious about how these little guys handle with 357 mag. What I really want to know is how you would describe the grip angle. Just went through the pic thread and it appears these guns have less of a square angle- like if I were to pick one up and hold it like my smith I'd be aiming high.

When you first started shooting your SP101 did you feel this way? Can you compare the natural point of aim to another gun like a mid size S&W or GP100?

They look like great CCW pieces! Thanks for your input.
 
357 out of any snubby is stout but not bad out of these
I can't readily compare the grip angle to anything else but it does feel pretty natural (my 2 cents)
They do make a good CCW but because of their heavy weight aren't ideal for pocket carry.

Kevin
 
The grips are very wide, which I believe helps to displace the recoil.

The same .357 out of my wife's SP101 is more managable than out of my 4" K-frame.
 
I didn't really notice anything out of the ordinary with the grip angle, but a trigger job immediately came to mind after shooting my first few rounds. My sp101 required a lot of internal polishing and a spring changeover and it's still not as smooth as my gp100 or SRH Alaskan 44M.
 
They are great little pistols hands down. They are a bit rough and need a little touching up once you get them imo. Get better grips, change the main spring and trigger spring, file down the trigger itself and the trigger guard, and if you want to go further do some polishing of the trigger parts. You will get the trigger feel and pull of a Smith. You don't need to do this, its all personal preference. The weight is not bad at all so don't let the numbers and others lull you into thinking its HEAVY like a rock. This little revolver can be pocket carried which is a plus when wearing shorts in the summer. I should add depending on the type of shorts before others come in and wanting to start an argument over this.
 
Grip angle seems just fine to me. About the same as my S&W M10s.
Recoil is definitely more stout than my S&W M66-2 ( 4" ) though.

Didn't change any internals. Just upgraded the grip inserts.
 
I also like the grip on mine but..

I changed the internal spring and polished the internal parts and is very slick now. One fine little revolver for the money.
 
I changed the grips on mine to Hogue wood grips with one finger groove. With these the gun seems to point about the same as my 686 and GP-100 but they also have Hogues. As one can get a bit higher hold on the SP and it seems to sit lower in the hand the muzzle flip seems less, but due to weighing about 2/3 of the other two the physical recoil force is more. Basically, due to the grip stud allowing a multitude of grip shapes the pointing is very changeable.
 
I dont really have a problem with the factory grips,but would like to see other options if any one has any photos or opinions......I would probably like something in wood.....Thanks
 
Check out the Pachmeyer grip. It really fills the hand without being overly large. Much better then the factory grip or the Trausch grip.
 
I installed Hogue rubber grips on my DAO because the factory grips were too small for my hand (hanging pinky). Recoil is very manageable with Speer 357 135gr GDHP "short barrel" ammo.
BTW, I pocket carry in a Mika holster and do not find it to be "too heavy".
 
The only loads I ve found to be uncomfortable with them are the 180 and 200 grain corbon hunting loads- not really what they are designed for. All others including the standard weight bullets at the highest velocities are very manageable. I really like the original grips though I note that a lot of shooters went to aftermarket grips and ruger itself seems to have switched to pachymeyer. I dont understand this as the original girps with inserts absorbed and directed recoil in a very advantageous manner.

My thoughts after having used one for years is that it is the best possible 2.25" bbl snub nosed revolver tha can be had.
 
Beautiful gun right out of the box. I must have been lucky and got a good one. Never had to do any work on springs or polishing. Just loaded her up with .357 and shot away. I hit what I was aiming at and I guess that is why we buy a gun.
Feels natural in my hand. Shoots where I point it. It's not a target gun but for self defense and "center of mass", it is a straight shooting pistol.
 
Grip angle is basically the same as any other revolver. Revolver and auto grips are very different, and you have to compare by feel, not by pictures.

For me, 1911s point way low, Glocks a teeny bit high, and my old SP-101 that I sold was dead on. So it points less high than a Glock, for me at least.

In terms of recoil, I didn't like it at all. A 12 gauge AOW "pistol" with full power 1 ounce slugs hurts my hand less than the SP-101 did with full power .357 magnums. Recoil is highly subjective.

Snubnose revolvers are something that I believe are a must try-before-you-buy. Otherwise you're banking on luck.
 
Magnum rounds in my sp 101 used to HURT. After rounding the trigger and gaurd and installing Traush grips Magnum rounds are fun to shoot.
After shooting the sp101 if I pick up my 4" K frame Smith I will naturally aim high with the Smith.
I did a trigger job on my 101 and it helped a bunch.
Overall, I like the gun and if I ever had to sell it it would be replaced asap.
 
I had one, a 2 1/4" .357 with hammer spur. It was a pussycat to shoot with any .38 Special loads, tolerable with lighter .357 loads, but a bit strenuous (with thunderclap-like muzzle blast) with full power 125-gr. .357s. I doubt if all that noise was really pushing the bullet any faster. I do not recall it pointing especially high, but there was a difference in point of impact vs. point of aim with different loads.
 
I've never shot .38 specials in mine, just 158 grain .357's. Recoil is not abusive.

Grip Angle! I've tried them all. aftermarket and factory. I like the factory grips (but like to change insert panels), Hogue grips, and Pachmayr grips.

I do NOT like the Eagle and Badger grips. For me, the grip angle is really weird and doesn't feel or look right to me. I pick the gun up with those and its aimed at the moon.

The Uncle Mike's look great and people like them. I don't as they do not fit my hand right. I've got two sets of the Uncle Mikes...guess I should sell them.

The Trausch grips are way too big for my purpose which is concealed carry.

I like Pachmayr and Hogue rubber grips on mine, and the factory grips. Here's a pic of the Pachmayrs and Ruger factory with insert change. Don't have a pic of the Hogues.

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384771599.gif
 
Thanks guys. Each one of your replies has been informative on some level.

I am not attached to the factory grips and would probably prefer something in wood, maybe with the finger grooves like hogue has for their rubber ones as long as it doesn't make the gun too 'bulky.'

Are replacement springs easy to find or have to be factory ordered? For those of you who mentioned modifying the trigger are you looking for a shorter pull? smoother pull? lighter pull? I know its shooter preference but i can justify putting some money into a carry piece. any discussion on this type of work as far as cost and company/smith? I haven't found many gunsmiths in western washington
 
If you can find a better 357, buy it and I'll take your SP101!

I have a 3 1/16, early model, which can only handle 125 grain 357s, nothing larger. Perfect for self defense!

Recoils straight back into the hand. I've had mine for over 20 years...well, now my wife has it under her side. But it's still mine damn it!! I guess as much as anything else we share. If she only hadn't shot it so well....
 
I like something like this. After going back to look i think it was the badger grips that had the mysterious angle- these look pretty standard

sp101.jpg
 
Are replacement springs easy to find or have to be factory ordered? For those of you who mentioned modifying the trigger are you looking for a shorter pull? smoother pull? lighter pull? I know its shooter preference but i can justify putting some money into a carry piece. any discussion on this type of work as far as cost and company/smith? I haven't found many gunsmiths in western washington
Click to expand...

Wolff sells a full spring kit. I replaced the 10 lb trigger return spring with the Wolff 8 pound one, and the 14 pound mainspring with the Wolff 8 pound one. Ended up with a very smooth, even trigger pull that was about 7.5-8 pounds from start to finish. Never failed to fire with CCI primers (which are reputed to be the "hardest").

If it weren't for the vicious kick, I'd still have that gun.
 
Changed mine to the Hogue Monogrip and everything is peachy with it now. That's coming from somoene with larger than average hands.
As far as comfort and recoil, shoot .44 Mags and the .357, especially the SP101, won't feel like anything. Now if I could just figure out what'll make my 629 not abuse the hell out of me :D
 
They handle the .357 just fine. The older ones definately needed trigger work, no questions asked. The last two new ones I've been around were okay straight from the box. Not great but okay. I like the factory grips for carry, the Hogues are best for shooting comfort. I feel they're the best compromise in size and weight for a concealed carry .357.
 
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