New SP101

[Mitlov]

My first introduction to revolvers! I know the SP101 isn't generally considered sexy and certainly isn't new or fancy, but I'm over the moon about it. I've got smaller hands and unlike the 1911 I sold, it doesn't feel a size too big for me. At the same time, I didn't want an ultralight snubby that would be punishing every time I went to the range. The SP101 seemed like a perfect fit.

 

[Richard Head]

You're going to love it, even the heaviest loads are tolerable with the little SP101.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Nice choice! An SP101 is the first handgun I bought also, and it's a great little gun.

Welcome to the wonderful and addictive world of wheel guns.

 

[CPLofMARINES]

You'll never go wrong with a Ruger revolver.

 

[DMK]

The SP101 is a great gun. Handy, versatile and built like a tank. Congratulations!

I just had mine at the range last week with some HKS speedloaders. It was great fun drawing from the holster and shooting steel from 15 to 25 yards.

 

[Mitlov]

It was between this and a Smith Model 60 for me. I didn't want the size of a GP100 or 686, or the recoil of an LCR or a 642 (I've shot both). I personally liked the heft and the trigger on the SP101 better than the M60, though both seemed to be very, very well made.

 

[bikemutt]

I tried hard to like the SP101, it seems like the perfect handgun, sadly, it doesn't fit me well, glad to see it fits someone who can appreciate it, congrats!

 

[maxxhavoc]

I don't know about that. The SP101 is a pretty sexy revolver. Built strong, and has an excellent finish to boot.

Mine didn't fit my hands either, but I think it was because my fingers are too big. The trigger mechanism would draw blood after only 40-50 .357 rounds fired. Smaller and lighter Taurus and Smiths don't give me this issue. I wanted to like it, because it was the best looking and felt right in the hand.

 

[Dan-O]

Every gun enthusiast should own at least one SP101.

 

[Mitlov]

I tried hard to like the SP101, it seems like the perfect handgun, sadly, it doesn't fit me well, glad to see it fits someone who can appreciate it, congrats!

Fit is so important. I sold my Remington 1911 R1 because our just didn't fit *my* hand right, even though it's by all accounts one of the best of the inexpensive 1911s.

 

[TreeDoc]

Enjoy, I sure do, one of my favorites

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I bought a new one in 1995. I carry it nearly every day.

 

[Desertrat357]

Congrats on your SP! I've had mine for a while now and it is one of my favorites. In fact I put 50 rounds down range just yesterday. This trip I shot double action only. It's hard to be a SP-101

 

[hAkron]

The SP-101 fills a gap in the revolver world for guns that are lager than S&W J frame size, but smaller than K frame size. I wish S&W would have gone this route when they made their short lived model 632 in 327 Federal Magnum. The J frame is just too small to make that round fun to shoot. My SP-101 327 is a blast.

 

[Bill B.]

Mine didn't fit my hands either, but I think it was because my fingers are too big.

Simply change out the factory grips. I have never liked the factory grips on either the Ruger SP 101 or the GP 100 but they are several better grips available. Mine still has the the soft crimson trace with the Ruger emblem as it came from Ruger but it has a much different feel than the grips on a regular SP 101. It is longer and gives something better to hold on to when shooting .357's but you give up the ability to conceal it as easy so there is a trade off.

 

[DMK]

I can't even remember what the OEM Ruger grips felt like, but I've had a Hogue Monogrip on my SP-101 for years now and I love it. It fills your hand nicely and definitely takes the bite out of recoil when shooting 357s.

 

[Trent]

I use hogue grips as well on my SP101. Definitely a better fit to my large hands.

 

[johnjohn]

+1 on the Hogue grips. My wife likes it now.

 

[Haywood]

SP101 and a J-Frame are must have guns.

 

[Mitlov]

Real consensus on those Hogue grips. Just bought one to give it a try. If I like it, I'll keep it; if not, I'll swap it back to the stock grip. It's cheap enough that I don't feel bad buying one just to see if I like it as much as you guys do.

For context, my hand is small enough that I can get my pinky on the stock grip, albeit just barely.

 

[wankerjake]

Nice! Love the SP101. The Hogue grips are nice but I prefer a good set of grip panels. I get mine from Chig: http://chigsgrips.com/?page_id=7

 

[Brett Byers AKA Slow]

My wife bought me a spurless version for Christmas, looking forward to the range visit.

 

[Catpop]

Ive got Hogue on both my sp101 and m60.
I love both guns and grips. Sp101 is much more fun to shoot at range now with Hogue mono.

 

[RealGun]

You're going to love it, even the heaviest loads are tolerable with the little SP101.

Nonsense. As a 357 Magnum it is a little brute, way smaller than the original Smith N-frame deemed suitable for that power level. You have to pick ammo with consideration or just shoot 38 Special. The original SP101 was 38 Special only, which was a sound concept.

As a SP101 owner, I have a 357, a 32 H&R, and a 327 Federal Magnum, all 3+" barrel. I also have a 4" 327 Federal Magnum. It took me awhile to discover a reload for the 357 that seemed to match the gun. For SD I would carry Speer Short Barrel 357. That reduces velocity to subsonic but still in the range to produce bullet expansion performance.

 

[Mitlov]

Nonsense. As a 357 Magnum it is a little brute, way smaller than the original Smith N-frame deemed suitable for that power level. You have to pick ammo with consideration or just shoot 38 Special. The original SP101 was 38 Special only, which was a sound concept.

As a SP101 owner, I have a 357, a 32 H&R, and a 327 Federal Magnum, all 3+" barrel. I also have a 4" 327 Federal Magnum. It took me awhile to discover a reload for the 357 that seemed to match the gun. For SD I would carry Speer Short Barrel 357. That reduces velocity to subsonic but still in the range to produce bullet expansion performance.

Candidly, right now I don't even have any .357 Magnum in the house at the moment. I might get some for camping trips, but I think 99% of what I shoot with this will be .38 Special. The selling point for the heft and build for me was "makes .38 Special comfortable to shoot," not so much "is capable of firing .357 Magnum." I've shot the LCR and Airweight at the range and both were physically unpleasant. I'm not going to practice as regularly as I should, and my wife certainly isn't going to practice regularly, if practicing is painful.