New-to-me SP101

[Quoheleth]

After a month of horse trading, wrangling, and negotiating, I finally got my SP101. It's the 3" model, about a year old manufacture date, and is politely used by the previous owner. It wasn't a smoking deal, but the seller and I are both happy, and that's what counts.

Got to go to the range today. Did some shooting with my MP9 first and then broke out the SP101 and its big brother, the GP161. I had a box each of standard .38 Specials, .38 +P Remington 125 JSPs, and 158 grain HP .357 Magnums.

What a blast - both figuratively and literally. It was about 42 degrees outside with a stiff north wind. The .38s were very pleasant to shoot in the SP101; the +P was noticibly stiffer; the Magnums were stout. I shot about 60 rounds, total, through the little Ruger and another 40 or so through the bigger GP. Obviously, there is a difference between the two revolvers in felt recoil (thank you, Mr. Newton), but the Sp101 is quite managable. I could certainly feel the heat and see some fire from the hotter rounds. Certainly not unbearable, but it was there. Even shooting the 158 Magnums was OK. WOuldn't want to do it all day long, but it wasn't like flaming slivers under the palms as some say.

Before shooting, I put a drop of RemOil into the action and dry fired it a bit. The action is pretty slick, for a Ruger - one advantage to a pre-owned gun. Shooting DA with the SP101, I could keep everything in the black of a standard 25 yard at 10 yards. Shooting SA, I cut the bull several times. I'm not as precise with the SP as I am the GP, but it is most certainly combat accurate. And, if ever in a jam, I wouldn't feel underpowered packing it in the woods where I know hogs to be.

I think I must be a revolver man at heart. I shoot my two revolvers pretty well - better than the new MP9 and better than the RIA 1911 that got traded off to acquire the Sp101. My first revolver experience was 20 years ago with a piece o' junk FIE .22; couldn't hit the broad side of a garbage barrel with it at 10 feet. Kinda put me off revolvers until I got the .357 fever last spring. Am I ever glad I did. I'm going to keep working on the MP9, but if it doesn't work out, I won't be too sad...I'll have good trade fodder for another wheelgun for my safe.

Thanks for listening.

Q

 

[crebralfix]

Would you post some pictures of your targets?

 

[rdrancher]

Quoheleth- Congrats on your trade, the SP is a great revolver.

rd

 

[19-3Ben]

Rock on. I am an unabashed, huge, and unapologetic fan of the SP101. Especially the 3" model.

You've got a great gun there. Congrats and Enjoy!!!!

 

[Brian Williams]

Nice gun, I would love to find a 3" SP101, but in 9mm.

 

[Quoheleth]

Only digi cam I have is my camara phone and I couldn't get it to upload the pics to THR. So no pics of gun or target...sorry...

Besides - if you've seen one well-perforated target, you've seen them all.

Q

 

[Gunz]

Those things are hidden treasures.

I replaced the factory grips with some Pachmayrs. I like the feel and fit better than Hogue grips.

Absorption of stout loads from 150 to 180gr is much better wiht Pachmayrs.

 

[Quoheleth]

OK...shooting this revolver and it's big brother is going to be a problem. It's too much fun. And, after a good cleaning, the DA on my GP100 is also coming along very nicely. For my "lunch break," I was shooting at 10 yards again today (the 25-yard line is a swamp with all of the rain; I decided 10 would do just fine) and between the two, I ran through two boxes of ammo lickity-split. Good thing my Lee Turret press arrived yesterday - not I gotta make some time to get it all set up and ready to roll. But that takes away from shooting time. But can't shoot without ammo. Ahhhh.....what a quandry <grin>

Q

 

[Legionnaire]

Quoheleth, welcome to the SP101 club! Seeing this thread and the SP101 picture thread on the same page is motivating me go go get my camera out. I bought another SP101 a couple of months ago, this time a 4" .22 LR. Need to get a pic posted here.

 

[stiab]

Nice gun, I would love to find a 3" SP101, but in 9mm.

Here's a 2 1/4" 9mm, which I will probably put on the sale/trade block in Feb...

 

[Quoheleth]

Update

Went to the range this afternoon after a couple of hospital calls and before getting the kids from school. Since I hadn't had lunch yet, and was past-due for a little down-time, I don't feel bad about doing it. Comp-time, I guess you could call it.

I had my SP101, a box of CCI Blazer aluminum .38 special, some Monarch .38 Special, and a box each of Remington's 125 Grain +p, 125grain .357 Magnum, and 158 grain .357 Magnum.

Obviously, the .38 Specials were pretty mild. In fact, the Blazer is extremely polite - anyone looking for good "learn how to shoot" ammo might keep some of this on hand for such a purpose. The Monarch (Academy's store brand) was a bit stiffer.

Then, wanting to try some of the stouter loads, I started on the Remingtons.

The +Ps were fun to shoot. Worked the double-action a bit, and shot well for such a short sight radius. Focused on front sight and was regularly hitting "purt durn close" to center.

I've shot Magnums out of the Sp101 before - the CCI blazer aluminum. Granted, those are arguably a mild magnum load, but they are inexpensive and accurate to shoot. I loaded up 5 of the 125 grains and let the first one rip.

...and while the guys down the line all turned to look at me, wondering "What the heck was that hand cannon?", a big smile crept across my face. I cocked it again, and let another one go. Bigger grin. I shot the remaining three, and by the final shot, I had a nice giggle going.

Man, that was fun.

But I do have to say, those fuller-house magnum loads to have a pretty sharp straight-back recoil to them and a good dose of torque - that surprised me. Reflecting back on it, I would say the 125 grains recoil sharper than the 158s. I'll have to try again to verify that thought. After shooting 20 or so of the 125s and another 15 or so of the 158s, I decided that was enough. I loaded a few up in my GP161 and shot for comparison; the heft of the bigger sixgun really makes a difference. As long as I was focusing on the front sight and trigger squeeze, my shooting the SP101 was pretty decent, even with the sharp recoil. Double action will need some work to become more than "minute of torso" but single action was reasonably accurate. Probably work up some moderate .38 loads to practice that double action.

That said, I don't know how you guys who carry the scandialumintitaniexpensiveium framed wheel guns weighing 9.3 ounces can stand it. The SP101 weighs about 27 ounces; the GP161 almost 50 ounces, and both have produce a significant recoil.

Which brings to mind - how on God's green earth can people handle, let alone "enjoy", shooting such howitzers as the .44 Magnum, .454 Casull, .480 Ruger, and .500 Smith? That CAN'T be any fun after the first shot and the whole arm is numb.

Thanks for listening to me brag about my revolver. One of these days I'll try to get some pics. When the Mrs. brings the camara home from school. When she remembers.

Gotta go.

Q

 

[Rexster]

Excellent little weapon you have there! I also find full-pressure 125-grain loads to be quite intense compared to some heavier-bullet stuff. Make sure you are holding high enough on the grip; I make sure the web of my hand is even with the very top of the rubber portion of the grip. That makes the recoil go into my palm instead of the web of my hand, and greatly minimizes kick.