My new daily carry firearm!

[spyderdude]

Two days ago, I went to a local gun shop here in Los Anchorage, to get myself an early Christmas gift. I knew I wanted a small frame 357 Magnum revolver. I wanted it to be well built, and not above 500 dollars. I got to the gun store, and went inside. The guy behind the counter, greeted me, and I immediately went over to where the wheelguns were. I found only two small frame revolvers in the case. A S&W Ladysmith, and a Ruger SP101. Can you guess which one I went for? That's right, the Ruger SP101 It was fifty dollars under my budget, and it was brand new too. I looked it over, and confirmed that it was in excellent shape. I filled out the BATF form, and waited for about 5 minutes while the background check was made, and I walked out the door twenty minutes later with this...



Speer Gold Dot 125 gr. JHPs for defense and WWB .38s for range time!

 

[Iggy]

Can't go wrong with that one!!

 

[19-3Ben]

Hooray for the SP101!!!!!!
I just got one too, but with the 3"bbl.

It's a great gun!!! Enjoy!

 

[Punkermonkey]

Nice. I got one last year for Christmas. Shopped around a few holsters and finely settled on a Don Hume Waistband Clip-On for under $30. Very happy with it.

 

[brett30030]

i love mine

 

[ronto]

Very good choice! I have the 2 1/4" DAO version that I carry IWB crossdraw and in my jeans pocket when out in the woods. For SD I use .357 Speer 135GR GDHP "short barrel" ammo and for the woods Federal 158GR (we do have bears around here).
If you practice alot with 38 Special, make sure you clean the cylinders well before using .357. I decided not to practice with 38's because I want to be accustomed to the .357 recoil and don't want to be surprised by the stiffer recoil when I really need a sure shot, but that's up to you.
I did find the factory grips too small for my hands leaving my "pinky" out in space. After considerable research, I put Trausch grips on and I'm very satisfied with them. Not "sticky" like Hogues and not too big so as to adversely effect CCW to any great extent.
Although it's not a "target" gun, I did paint the front site ramp with red nail polish so as to keep my attention on the front sight, although most SD scenarios will be "point and shoot" and I won't even be looking at the sites. Some folks install laser sights but I figure this is a 10 yard SD weapon and if I can't hit COM at 10 yards without a laser site I'd better lock myself in the cellar.
Good luck, stay safe and practice alot.

P.S. Dry fire it alot and the trigger will smooth out nicely.

 

[hpg]

I can't decided to get one or the S&W 60. I know both are great guns. Congrats on your new toy.......hpg

 

[TFin04]

Personally I like the lines of the S&W 60 a bit more. Just something about it in my hand feels better.

I would just compare them side by side at your gun shop, look at the price tags for each, and go from there. Both will give you everything the other would have.

 

[MCgunner]

I wanted a 3" .357 for IWB carry and was hot for the SP101 (I'm a Ruger guy), but I found a good used K frame sized Taurus 66 instead for a lot less money. It's a little heavier and bulkier than the SP101, though, but it totes fine and it shoots finer. I really wanted adjustable sights, too, because of the fact that I use a .357 revolver with light 38s as well as heavy magnum loads. I wish Ruger would offer the SP101 with a fully adjustable rear sight, but for CCW that's just something to break or snag on the draw. But, it's important to me for how I wanted to use the gun, so the Taurus seems like a good compromise to me. I'd like to have a Titanium Tracker, but that one IS rather expensive, over 500 bucks. the 66 will do, I reckon.

Those SP101s are rugged, accurate, and compact carry guns, though. I'm jealous.

 

[rj112275]

great buy

can't go wrong with a SP101. i just put a few hundred rounds through my 3" yesterday. great shooter. easy to smooth up. dry fire the heck out of it. after that i polished out most of the trigger parts with some flitz and felt. added a 10lb mainspring from wolf and left the return spring alone. great little gun that will last forever. good shooting!

 

[Ilovemyglock]

Yeah !!! Great buy, i would run low grain bullets to keep the recoil in check
Exellent short range defenceive weapon!!!!

 

[Ultraman]

Two thumbs up! I love the Ruger SP101 line. They are some of my favorites. I have several.

 

[camacho]

Congrats man. I just got mine about a month ago. Love the little thing. Have not shot it yet in.357 (only 38 spcl) but the box of ammo is awaiting my next trip to the range.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

spyderdude,
Nice revolver, congratulations...

If you are going to fire Speer Gold Dot ammo then I suggest using their 135 gr Short Barrel .357 rounds like rondo suggested. They are specifically designed for a short barrel snub and will preform better than standard loads.

 

[gp911]

Great gun!

I have the DAO model, and it just gets better with every trip to the range. I still need to file down the edge of the trigger (sharp edge = blood blister after 50 rds of .357) and of course it still needs cleaning... Initially it was rough on me with stout magnum loads, but I am getting adjusted to it so it doesn't punish my carpal-tunnel-damaged hand so much.

I would suggest shooting some magnums at the range, adding them in slowly. For example, trip 1 = 35 rds of .38, 20 of .38 +p, then 15 of .357, depending on how much you shoot and how many guns you bring. My SP101 shoots 357s more accurately than 38s, and I carry 357s, so the 38s are getting phased out of my regimen, except as a warmup.

Regardless, just get out and shoot that thing! +1 on the dry-fire recommendation, it made a difference with mine.


gp911

 

[Unisaw]

Congratulations! You won't be disappointed.

If you decide to replace the factory grips, check out the Pachmayr Compacs. They get a lot less attention than Hogue grips but I find them to be superior. YMMV.

 

[MrTuffPaws]

Congrats. The SP101 is a great gun, but IMO, it is the uglist snub out there.

 

[461]

Good job!! The SP-101 is a classic that will impress you for a good long time.

 

[James T Thomas]

stocking stuffer

"I had just settled down for a long Winter's nap, when up on the rooftop there arose such a clatter, I sprang to my feet, grabbed my SP101, so it didn't matter...

"Merry Christmas to all."

 

[norfdet893]

I picked up an SP101 (SPNY) model about 5 months ago. It is DAO and chambered for 38 special only. It seems to be built like a tank and while a tad heavy for pocket carry, I am searching for a clip on IWB to carry it in. I replaced the stock grips with a set of Eagle Secret Service grips that completely cover the grip area. They are probably the nicest grips on a 5 shooter that I own.