New to Me Ruger SP101 2.5" 357

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Tallball

Tallball

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It was late at night and I'd had a couple of drinks. I broke my own rule and purchased a "new, old stock" Ruger SP101 for a $405 Gunbroker bid from a seller that had only had a handful of sales. The description said that it had "some scratches" and the pics were taken at odd angles.

Long story short, it had obviously been fired quite a bit. The seller refused to respond to my messages. Since I wasn't willing to pursue a refund (I would have been out over $100 in shipping fees and FFL charge), I just gave the seller an F review with detailed comments.

On the plus side, the trigger is way better than my 327 SP101, and I don't care about the scratches. I got a very nice leather OWB holster from an Amazon seller called "Cal38 Leather" for only $28. Since I have XXL hands I also got a set of eBay Thailand hardwood grips.

I am tired of weekend weather and/or activities interfering with me going to the shooting range, so I will probably take Thursday off from work and go to the range that morning (the weather is supposed to be nice). I haven't shot the SP101 yet, and I also have a Walther PPQ M2 and a S&W M&P 45acp that have only been to the range once apiece.

If anyone has favorite 38 special or 357 loads to recommend, just let me know. I know I have some old 357's and 38's to use up, but they will be kind of random. After I put 200+ rounds through it in a few sessions, the SP101 may make it into my OWB carry rotation. I'm looking forward to shooting it. It will doubtless be a different experience than my 4.2" SP101 in 327 magnum.

View media item 2191
 
Congrats on your new Ruger!
Ruger's are known to be lacking in the fit and finish Dept. especially when compared to S&W, Colt and the likes. Looks aside, their toughness and dependability are right at the top.
I bought my SP101 new and it took two to get one that was acceptable....and the keeper still has fit and finish issues but shoots real sweet.
Enjoy your new gun!
 
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Mothers Mag polish and some time in front of the TV could really shine it up and probably remove some of the scratches.

I find mine pretty shootable with 158 gr mid range 357 ammo. I'm looking to developer some low end 357's that are pleasant out of that gun.

Nice grips. Being larger handed and a lack of good wood grips is one of the biggest issues I've had with mine. Looks like you did good.
 
633F8D50-F51D-41C9-8EF0-71FC58C28C51.jpeg You made a wise choice in your purchase of a SP101!
I bought a new one a number of years ago after a close encounter of the worst kind. A time when my 24/7 job had me out after midnight weekly. Mine has been good to go since day one!

Reloading:
Mine leads badly with .358 bevel base boolits, but then ALL my Rugers do!
I have found .359 is better and .360 is best for my revolvers. Of course flat base boolits are best!
I use 4.5 gr Universal under a 160 WFN or 177 Kieth for my range load. Easy recoil, very accurate.
Pic of above load shot yesterday pm.
Good luck!
 
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Good guns....I bought one in 94/95. I have carried it a lot. A couple of times I have freshened up the finish with a buffer, Mothers, and a sanding pad.
 
Nice shooting Catpop!

Mine was apparently manufactured in 2016.

I got the eBay Thai grips for my other SP101, too. Each pair was around $40 shipped and arrived within a couple of weeks. In each case I got the largest ones I could find. The original grips are too small for me to feel comfortable with.

I should add a picture of the holster this afternoon. I am very pleased with it.

Looks like I can't get off work on Thursday. Hopefully I can take it out this weekend. It should be amusing with the 357's I need to use up. IIRC, they may be on the stout side. If so, I will be grateful for the larger grips. :)
 
Tallball said:
If anyone has favorite 38 special or 357 loads to recommend, just let me know.
Click to expand...

Enjoy your new revolver.

I load mid range 357 Magnum for the most part these days, 158 grain SWC in 357 Magnum cases to run about 950 fps plus/minus a bit in a 4"-6' barrel. Pleasant to shoot in my 3" S&W Model 60.

I use Unique but similar performance powders would work as well.
 
I like a mid range 357 load myself. I use 6.6 grs of Unique with a 158 SWC lead bullet. They are a 38/44 reproduction load that gets around 1100fps from a 4" barrel. They don't have the blast of a full bore 357 round. But with the hard cast lead they do penetrate. And they are great out of my 357 Marlin.

You are really going to like that gun. I have one just like it and both of my son's are fighting over who gets it when I croak. What they haven't figured out is that I am taking it with me. Where I am going you gotta be armed all the time.:evil:
 
Tallball said:
It was late at night and I'd had a couple of drinks. I broke my own rule and purchased a "new, old stock" Ruger SP101 for a $405 Gunbroker bid from a seller that had only had a handful of sales. The description said that it had "some scratches" and the pics were taken at odd angles.

Long story short, it had obviously been fired quite a bit. The seller refused to respond to my messages. Since I wasn't willing to pursue a refund (I would have been out over $100 in shipping fees and FFL charge), I just gave the seller an F review with detailed comments.

On the plus side, the trigger is way better than my 327 SP101, and I don't care about the scratches. I got a very nice leather OWB holster from an Amazon seller called "Cal38 Leather" for only $28. Since I have XXL hands I also got a set of eBay Thailand hardwood grips.

I am tired of weekend weather and/or activities interfering with me going to the shooting range, so I will probably take Thursday off from work and go to the range that morning (the weather is supposed to be nice). I haven't shot the SP101 yet, and I also have a Walther PPQ M2 and a S&W M&P 45acp that have only been to the range once apiece.

If anyone has favorite 38 special or 357 loads to recommend, just let me know. I know I have some old 357's and 38's to use up, but they will be kind of random. After I put 200+ rounds through it in a few sessions, the SP101 may make it into my OWB carry rotation. I'm looking forward to shooting it. It will doubtless be a different experience than my 4.2" SP101 in 327 magnum.

View media item 2191
Click to expand...
Id rather have a older SP101 .. Especially with a good trigger ...
400ish bucks is good on your end ...
You done great !!!!
 
Tallball said:
It will doubtless be a different experience than my 4.2" SP101 in 327 magnum.
Click to expand...

Did you have a less than stellar experience with the SP 101 chambered in .327 Magnum? I've been considering getting one for my wife and the nature of the da trigger pull is very germane to our decision (and yes, my wife will pull triggers on different revolvers before we commit).
 
I got a 4.2" SP101 in 327 magnum a few years ago when they first came out. The DA trigger is annoyingly stiff. My friend bought a brand-new SP101 in 357 a couple of months later and his trigger was fine. I am guessing it's more "luck of the draw" than the 327 triggers being worse than the 357 ones. I would imagine that the parts are all the same to save on expenses. Someone will certainly correct me if I'm wrong. :)

Other than the stiff DA trigger, it's a comfortable revolver for me to shoot. 327's are NBD to me, and 32 S&W longs feel like 22's. The front sight is particularly nice.

Ruger SP101 327

Ruger SP101 327

 
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I shot the new SP101 today, not very well. My main problem was seeing the grey-colored (stainless) front sight.

I'll put some orange or white fingernail polish on the sight and try it again next time.
 
Tallball said:
I shot the new SP101 today, not very well. My main problem was seeing the grey-colored (stainless) front sight.

I'll put some orange or white fingernail polish on the sight and try it again next time.
Click to expand...
Try flourecent pink or orange. Worked for me!
 
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