I don't understand this odd affection for the Ruger SP-101 5-shot revolver..
only 5 shots.. difficult to shoot accurately, slow to reload, makes more noise than it's worth...loads weren't going as fast as the muzzle blast indicated.
Of course, that's why there are Fords and Chevys.........
really, I think you answered your own question at the end there, David
no shortage of people right here on this forum satisfied with five, reloads or no reloads
difficult to shoot accurately, no, not really, any/all "snubbies" require a bit more practice, practice, practice to hit well with, but in IMO the 3" SP101 is easier to master than most snubbies
all compacts/snubbies make a lot of noise, no short barrel is going to yield velocities that full size barrels do (same load), all shorties are flamethrowers when throwing a stout load
SP love is, I think, is partly because it stands out from the over crowded display cases of "too light, too small"
and in significant part because the mega marketing trend for lighter/smaller ignores the core basic fact that weight is a shooter's
friend, always was
and in some part because that SP-101 shouts right out loud "indestructible", "built like a tank"... leaving zero doubt that this "little" gun can handle all the muzzle blast you can powder in
(though me being me, I think 357 out of anything less than 5" or 6" wastes too much powder anyway, but revolver folks can choose a wide range of loadings, to suit their personal taste.. 38+P mostly gets me where I want to go, even with a 6" k-frame... any j-frame thread you read here, most go 38+P vs 357 in snubbies, but it's purely optional, as it should be)
SP for everybody, no not hardly
for IWB or pocket carry, no, not for me
but nonetheless the most shootable small frame 357 revolver in the marketplace, weight counts, stands out from the crowd
and mighty handy nightstand decoration, for those who don't plan on having to shoot BGs but one or two at a time
sure will make a mess of ol' possum
diversity in firearms, wonderful stuff, enjoy it all