Picked Up a Ruger SP101

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Stephen A. Camp

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Hello.

RugerSP101front1.gif

Picked this one up the other day and plan to wring it out thoroughly before long. It's initial range trip indicated considerably better than expected results.

Best.
 
Very Under Rated Pocket Rocket!

Hiya Steve, I'm looking forward to your testing results!
The 101s are the most rugged pocket sized maggies IMO, with a little tweaking of the springs and some polishing of the internals it'll almost feel like a custom S&W action.
IME they like the faster ammo and ya really can't hurt these tractor strength 101s.
OBTW, go head and "Bogart" the cylinder and drive the Smith purist nuts! ya can't hurt the thing..
Laters,
Monte
 
Hello. I've not messed around with the springs, just a tiny bit of polishing and about 300 initial shots, factory magnums and .38 Specials, about half and half.
Windage is dead on. With the .38's, mine hits right at an inch low at 15 yards.
Cut that in half for the full-power 125-gr. magnum JHP's and dead on with 145-gr. Winchester STHP's.

Recoil is there, but was considerably less than expected.

Best.
 
There is a small voice in the back of my mind that keps whispering, 3 inch Ruger SP101

3 inch Ruger SP101

3 inch Ruger SP101


3 inch Ruger SP101
3 inch Ruger SP101

3 inch Ruger SP101











3 inch Ruger SP101
 
I pick my 2 1/4 inch up today from my dealer. I too have been bitten by the 101 bug!
 
sp101

i love mine right out of the box. ruger revolvers rule! my stepson got my 6" security six.
 
I was all set to buy a SP-101 2 1/4" last week for a companion to my GP-100 but my eye caught a pinned and recessed M-36 under the glass, the Smith made it home with me, but I'll get a SP-101 when the funds get built back up, well the Smith cost me half of a new SP-101 so I am half way there.

Charby
 
I bought a clean 3" SS gp100 a month or so ago. It's a little heavy for carry. I'm taking it to a show this W.E. to try an trade it for a 3" sp101. I'd like to find a .32 mag., but that's unlikely so if I can find a .357 the haggling will begin.

Oh. Very nice gun Stephen
 
Picked it up and it looks great. Was thinking of changing the grip but the factory one is pretty good as it is. I may get the wood inserts just for looks. Then again a hogue or some other wood grip would be nice to have. I just dont want to add so much grip that I cant ankle carry. Thats right I said it!.....My sp101 is on my ankle right now and feels fine.

As for ammo....what do wheelgunners like in .357. I picked up a cheap box of blazer JHP just to have something to shoot tonight but I am thinking that something else would be good to carry for self defense. Any thoughts?
 
I know I should listen to the whisper, and yes my daughter also has a 2" sp101 for her sometime CCW.
My problem is $$$$$ for one.

I already have a S&W 9/642, S&W 60-4 3", and S&W 13-4 3", so a 3" sp101 would be kind of redundant. But I still NEED one.
 
I know I should listen to the whisper, and yes my daughter also has a 2" sp101 for her sometime CCW.
My problem is $$$$$ for one.
Click to expand...

Same here. My carry gun is a Kimber Classic Custom in .45 ACP. If I want to carry a snubbie, I already have a Colt Detective Special. When I get a little money ahead, I really NEED another Blackhawk in .45 Colt. And maybe I'll find a bargain in a Colt Woodsman. Or a Python. Or maybe a nice, classic SXS shotgun . . . but once those itches are scratched, I'm gonna get an SP 101 -- and another one in .22 Long Rifle to keep it company.
 
Have the 2'' bobbed version----a tackdriver with the Wally World 110gn JHP Win White box ammo------come to think of it---have never tried any other load in it.

The Hogue rubber grip seems to be the modification that a lot do----I did also----makes a nice gun great IMO.
 
Mine's in getting a Trijicon night sight installed. I'm thinking of putting laser grips on it, as well, though for now I'm going to get a better holster rather than hacking the hammer. It's an absolute tank, and a lot of fun to shoot.
 
I have 2 3inch SP101s. One is .357 and one is 9mm. I still need to get out for the 9mm, but I really like my .357. Full-power .357 loads through my SP are easily manageable compared to some of the lighter guns I have (my 642 will take skin off your hands after a few shots of .38+P). I'm content with the factory grips on my .357. I have Hogue rubber and wood monogrips for my 9mm. I might change the 9mm to factory or maybe Badger boots.
 
With the .38's, mine hits right at an inch low at 15 yards.
Cut that in half for the full-power 125-gr. magnum JHP's and dead on with 145-gr. Winchester STHP's.
Click to expand...
Not bad. If I toted a .357 SP I'd want the 145 gr Silvertips in it anyway.

The Hogue rubber monogrip is the choice for pure SP101 shootin' satisfaction. As it's a bit too large for carry, I like the Pachmayr Compac as a nice compromise.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=198084

Carryable, but big enough to keep all fingers on the gun.

I'm taking it to a show this W.E. to try and trade it for a 3" sp101. I'd like to find a .32 mag., but that's unlikely so if I can find a .357 the haggling will begin.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I've seen the .32 Mag SP101 exactly once on a store shelf. Had to have my FFL send for one from the local distributor. Great little six-shooters, though. I've rambled in praise of mine not infrequently on this forum of late.

Will probably need to get a 3" .357 one of these days.
 
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I love the SP101, The 3 inch 357 is my woods pistol, carry the Remington 158 gr. cartridge in it. like all Ruger revolver, tank tough.
 
I really like mine. Bought a Wolfe spring kit and smoothed a few things and it is righteous.Tried the Hogue Mono-Grip. Didn't care for it. Put the originals back on with the wood inserts from Ruger. Might get a set of wood grips someday. Oh yeah, it's the .357 model. Right now it's the only revolver I own. The only other revolver that I am interested in would be a stainless GP100.
 
Range Report....

Hello. Yesterday I was able to get to the range with the SP101. My ammo bin is low on .357 Magnum ammunition and I found only three factory loads, one of which I prompty forgot and left at home! Thus, I was able to shoot the gun with only two .357 loads. Several .38 Special loads were fired in addition to the the magnum rounds.

Firing was done at two distances, 7 and 15 yards. At the closer range, all shooting was done double-action with a two-hand hold and as quickly as a "flash sight picture" could be obtained. At 15 yards, all shooting was slow-fire. It was done in single-action and from a rest.

Chronograph figures are based on 10 shots fired approximately 10' from the chronograph screens.

38 Remington 130-gr. FMJ: 821 ft/sec

38 Remington 158-gr. LSWCHP +P: 906 ft/sec

357 Remington 125-gr. GS: 1189 ft/sec

357 Winchester 145-gr. STHP: 1207 ft/sec


RugerSP101Win145group1.jpg
My revolver hit a bit low with .38 Special ammuntion, but was dead-bang on with the Winchester 145-gr. STHP in .357 Magnum. It was also "on" with the mid-velocity Remington 125-gr. Golden Sabers.

RugerSP101combattarg1.jpg
The groups from both of the loads shown are about the same. The Remington was much more easy to handle at speed than the Winchester, more so than the paper figures might initially indicate. Felt recoil is subjective, but for me, such is the case.

For those interested, a more detailed report including more ammunition results can be found at the link below:

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Ruger SP101 Report.htm

Best.
 
sp101corbon.jpg
 
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