New 4-Inch Ruger SP Announced

[MagnumDweeb]

I'm glad they finally did. I posted a long time ago asking if anybody knew of a smith who could modify a GP100 4" barrel to fit a Ruger Sp101. Bookoo bucks I'm sure if it could be done but now Ruger is coming out with this gun (after I already bought a 3").

Well I'll wait till the used ones start showing up in a few years at half-decent prices so I can sell off my 3" when it comes time.

Glad they finally did, just wish, and don't know why, they didn't do it sooner.

Plenty of folks will see it as an in between gun, and it is in my opinion. But I'm one of those odd ducks who carries two guns from time to time. Always one revolver and one semi-automatic when I do. A S&W Model 40 in my ankle holster(got it from an older neighbor years back) and my Glock 23 in my pockets(I have a size forty waist so it happens to fit in my suit pants and jeans). Or my Glock 20 or Ruger P345 in my right handed shoulder holster and my Rossi 462 in my left pocket.

With a Ruger Sp101 in 4" IWB I could still carry my Glock 23 in my opposite pocket with an appropriate Button Up Shirt where I have it untucked but couldn't get away with a shoulder holster.

Oh and the reason I carry two guns, I like to(because why not) because I have two hands and I don't see why I shouldn't so long as I'm abiding by the law.

 

[Bush Pilot]

Just doesn't make much sense to me either.

Now if they would bring back the .327 Magnum as a 6-shooter, they might be on to something

Something? As in something that isn't a good seller and sits on the shelves at the dealer?

 

[9mmepiphany]

I think the .327 Magnum in a compact gun like the SP-101 with a 4" barrel and adjustable sights makes a very nice backpack/trail gun.

Bowen did a pretty healthy business converting Single-Sixs to .32 before Ruger came out with their factory version for Cowboy Competition.

You might be right in that the market might not be there to support full production

 

[Bush Pilot]

I think the .327 Magnum in a compact gun like the SP-101 with a 4" barrel and adjustable sights makes a very nice backpack/trail gun.

Bowen did a pretty healthy business converting Single-Sixs to .32 before Ruger came out with their factory version for Cowboy Competition.

You might be right in that the market might not be there to support full production

A friend of mine owns a LGS and he has a hard time moving them. If ammo were more available and cheaper it might be a different story.

 

[DeMilled]

*Sigh* Guess I need to pick up a second job.

 

[Canonsue]

I also see this as a good kit gun. I only own a GP100 so I like the idea of a lighter gun for tramping out in the woods. I still want the 22lr version for plinking so I need to start saving up for one of these.

 

[lobo9er]

does anyone here no what the difference in velocity is between 4 inch and 3 inch?

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I also see this as a good kit gun. I only own a GP100 so I like the idea of a lighter gun for tramping out in the woods. I still want the 22lr version for plinking so I need to start saving up for one of these.

I handled one of the .22's in a Cabela's and it seemend like a nicely made gun. I just couldn't get past the fiber optic front sight and the adjustable rear sight though. To me, it sort of changes the entire idea of the gun, and ruins the lines on it. It's a carry gun to me, and always will be. JMO If I was in the market for a .22 revolver, I'd really be looking at it hard, but my Browning Buckmark is super acurate, and I see no reason to spend the money on it at this time.

Now a single six, with swapable cylinders for .22 LR and .22 mag.......... hmmmmm........ Very interesting............ BUT UNNECESSARY!!!!!

 

[dennis228]

I think its a pretty interesting gun. I give Ruger credit for being creative in offering some variations of their popular revolvers giving us the new Single 10, the 22LR SP101, and now the SP101 4" 357. They can't/won't please everyone but I bet they sell a fair amount of the new offerings. The SP101 3" has a very good repuation and high level of owner satisfaction (including me).

I have a S&W Model 60-18 which is the J frame 357 with 5 inch bbl. It weighs about the same as this new 4" Ruger and is only .4 of an inch longer. Fully adjustable sights and a fairly nice trigger out of the box. Very nice shooter. Great trail gun. I changed the grips to wood S&W RB/SB conversions I bought off ebay and it handles and looks great. But the 60-18 was never all that popular even though it was seen as a kit gun on steroids. It was eventually dropped from production. The 3" 60 remains popular.

So we will have to see how this new offering from Ruger goes. I think the biggest improvement upgrade is the fully adj. sights for the SP101. Personally would like Ruger to put those on the 3" too.

Still I give Ruger much credit for continuing to release interesing new firearms throughout the year. Wonder if the seemingly more conservative S&W will respond with any new ideas and then actually produce the gun?!

 

[Triggernosis]

I think the biggest improvement upgrade is the fully adj. sights for the SP101

I agree 100%. The lack of adjustable sights is the very reason I have not purchased an SP101 in the past.

 

[Ghost Tracker]

I've always liked the feel of my 3 1/16" SP101 better than the snubby. A 4" with adjustable sights should make it easier to take full advantage of the SP101 inherent accuracy between a wider variety of .38 spl. /.357 mag. loads. Makes perfect sense to me. I'll have one. But just for fun, I may trim that barrel underlug back a bit & make it look like an 7/8 scale version of the old-style Redhawk.

 

[rbernie]

I wish that they'd get rid of that full underlug - kinda makes it hard to call it a trim and light kit gun, what with all that extra metal out there....

 

[22-rimfire]

I agree on the undelug. For the masses, the Colt Python comes to mind as THE revolver with the underlug and both Smith and Ruger followed suit. I suspect it is a pure marketing thing. The full lug just looks good to me, but it is un-necessary for the most part.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

agree with rbernie, need an option for no underlug..

 

[deadduck357]

NEW Ruger SP101 4" .357 Mag

Ruger has released another 4 inch barreled SP101 revolver, this model is chambered in .357 Magnum – it was sent to me for T&E review.

With the 5 shot cylinder this revolver maintains a slim profile.

Remington, Winchester and Speer ammunition was accumulated for the test.

Head group is 5 rounds of Rem. UMC 38 Spl. FMJ at 3 yards, offhand.

All torso groups are 5 rounds at 7 yards, offhand.
Left: Rem. UMC 357 Mag – Right: Speer Gold Dot 357 Mag.
Center: Win. USA 38 Spl +P

20 yards from bench

While this is a handy sized revolver it doesn’t let you forget about full power .357 Mag. loads; the .38 Spl. ammo was quite pleasant to shoot. As for just 5 rounds, that should get you out of a bind while hiking on a trail or as a backup when hunting without the unessential weight.

for full review - http://lead-slinger.com/ruger-sp101-357-magnum

 

[Black Butte]

That's cool. I like it! A little more barrel heft and velocity for the.357.

 

[BP Hunter]

Very nice gun!

I have a one just like that on a hoigue grip and at 3". I have yet to shoot .357 through it.

 

[OldCavSoldier]

I wish the front sight was just a plain old-fashioned blade.....

 

[1KPerDay]

That's a handsome piece. I'd never buy one, but it's pretty...

 

[BBQLS1]

I like this idea! The .357 is not really itself when the barrel is shorter than 4".

We chrono'd some 1400 fps, 125 gr stuff out of a 2" barrel... it was clocking around 1250 fps.

 

[Triggernosis]

3 yards? Heck, with my basketball-player arms I could probably gouge an assailant's eye out without pulling the trigger...

 

[Triggernosis]

I wish the front sight was just a plain old-fashioned blade.....

I'm sure there will be aftermarket blades for it almost immediately. And you could always replace the fiberoptic tube with a gold dot from SDM Fabricating ....or just gouge out the first 1/16" of the tube with a small drill bit, fill it with some JB Weld and paint it black. That's EXACTLY what I did with my competition Beretta M9 (92FS) that I shoot. (It originally came with Tritium night sights which are not allowed in CMP competition).

 

[El Guero]

I'm interested in this for my wife. She's really tiny, and she can't really even shoot my GP100 double action since she can barely reach the trigger. She likes shooting my 22/45 though, and I've been hoping to get her some sort of centerfire, preferably a 38/357 revolver so we can share ammo at the range. For a mainly "fun gun" I thought all the compact revolvers were kind of lacking, and I was afraid the inaccuracy/recoil would put her off. This thing would be about perfect though, hell it is even deer-legal! I'll have to have her put her hands on it first though, just in case it's still too big...

 

[ThomasT]

I wish that they'd get rid of that full underlug - kinda makes it hard to call it a trim and light kit gun, what with all that extra metal out there....

I agree. Its a nice gun but the full underlug kills it for me. I doubt it weighs much less than the first year security six I own. Making it along the lines of the 8 shot 22 would have been a good choice.

I guess I will just stick with my new S&W model 631 32 mag with adjustable sights and a 4" barrel that only weighs 24oz. Now thats a trail gun.

 

[mj246]

I like it, and think it looks both better and more 'sp101-like' with the full lug barrel. Looks like a great fun/range/trail gun with possible winter CC capabilities.