Alte Schule
Member
Ordered it last week. Came in yesterday.
Ruger New Model 3" SP 101 in .327 Federal Magnum
- Thread starter Alte Schule
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Zaydok Allen
Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2011
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- 13,274
Nice! Looking forward to hearing your impressions of how it shoots. Looks nice to me.
Still debating getting one to go with my 357 version. I'm worried they are going to go out of production again.
Still debating getting one to go with my 357 version. I'm worried they are going to go out of production again.
RealGun
Member
Do you reload and have the items needed for 327 Federal? I have some recommendations on loads for that size and model gun.
OP
OP
Alte Schule
Member
Used to reload years ago when I had a place with a detached garage but sold everything when we moved. With the cost of .327 I may have to reconsider.
Bought the DA only LCR in .327 as an EDC a couple of years ago but found that with full magnum loads it was a hand full for this old dude and accurate follow up shots difficult. .32 H&R a little better and .32 S&W too anemic for SD but good practice ammo. Sold it with all ammo I had including several boxes of Gold Dot .115 gr., which is no longer manufactured, and 100 gr Gold Dot that is now extremely difficult to find. I'm hoping that the heavier platform and some Pachmayr grips will tame it some..
RealGun
Member
Yesterday I tested loads for 327, one of which was subsonic for the SP101, 3" carry gun. My load source was Brian Pearce's article on loading the 327 Federal. Power Pistol is the main ingredient, all lead bullets. I also tested a midrange load in my Single Seven, again Power Pistol. The point is that 327 Federal does not have to be thought of as full power, demanding downgrade to lesser power cartridges that fit the gun, any more than other "magnums" in the hands of reloaders.
Armybrat
Member
Got mine 2 weeks ago but haven't shot it yet.
il.bill
Member
A Hogue rubber grip that extended the cushioned area to the trigger guard made my .327 Fed Mag 3" SP101 feel like a different revolver when shooting the magnum loads. The original Ruger grips looked nicer, but not having my middle finger stung by every shot was a game changer.
Get some dies and have some fun. I like everything I have tried from Trail Boss to H110.
Get some dies and have some fun. I like everything I have tried from Trail Boss to H110.
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OP
OP
Alte Schule
Member
Can you wrap all four fingers on that Hogue grip? Could barely get my pinkie on the originals and I have medium size hands.
If1HitU
Member
Seen one at my LGS,didn't care for the price they are asking for it right now.Congrats to you on your buy.
il.bill
Member
I have small hands and I can get all my fingers on the grip, but just barely. It is way better for me than the wood inlay original Ruger set. Like I said, shooting full .327 Fed Mag loads is MUCH more enjoyable with the Hogue monogrip. I never have tried Pachmayr grips on the SP101 - my local distributor had the Hogue #81000 and I was happy!
Hondo 60
Member
I am so jealous!
I've been looking at that 3" gun for several weeks now.
I have brass & bullets on the way.
Now I just have to save up to actually get the gun.
I've been looking at that 3" gun for several weeks now.
I have brass & bullets on the way.
Now I just have to save up to actually get the gun.
Armybrat
Member
$499 + $7.99 shipping at GrabaGun - $10 less than I paid for mine:Seen one at my LGS,didn't care for the price they are asking for it right now.Congrats to you on your buy.
https://grabagun.com/ruger-sp101-327fed-3-ss-fs.html
lincen
Member
Now have two of these. The second one is headed back to Ruger. It shot low and to the right. The barrel was visibly not indexed properly. That seems to be a random problem but they will promptly correct it at no charge.
il.bill
Member
That is a GOOD price! I just looked it up & current dealer cost from a distributor is $497 ...
OP
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Alte Schule
Member
Last Sunday, after considering your recommendation about Houge grips, I ordered a Houge Monogrip through Amazon and some ammo through J&G. Grip arrived earlier today and UPS said hey will deliver the ammo, today, before 8 PM. Installed the grip in about 15 minutes. Hoping to get some range time tomorrow. Original grips look better but I bought this as a shooter not a safe queen.
js8588
Member
FotoTomas
Member
I plan to get one as my .32 cartridge disposal device. 
expat_alaska
Member
I have a SP101 3" .38, first year of manufacture (1989) that I bought new. It had the green plastic grip inserts which I am keeping as a collector item. I installed the Hogue Monogrip as I did not care for my pinky hanging in the breeze with the small original grip. As it is built like a tank, with the 3" barrel it is not exactly a CC piece and the Hogue works great for me as I shoot .38+P ammo. My wife is 5"-2"/120# and she loves the Hogue.
The cylinder was reamed for .357 Mag 125 grain HP cartridges decades ago before Ruger lengthened the factory frame and cylinder to accomodate standard .357 ammo as a production gun, but mine is quite a handful to shoot with .357 ammo.
How is the trigger pull on your gun? Mine was very heavy (both DA and SA) and I bought a set of Wolff springs for it. The factory mainspring is 14# and the trigger return spring is 10#. I replaced them with the 10# mainspring and the 8# return spring, checked the operation to make sure all of the cartridge primers were struck well (and they were), and that the trigger reset after every shot. What a difference in trigger pull! The spring kit also comes with a 9# and 12# mainspring if one chooses to use that. When disassembling the pistol, be forewarned that most internal edges are very sharp and can easily cut skin on the hands. I used some 1600 grit paper and just touched up all internal edges except for the sear/hammer interface.
https://www.gunsprings.com/revolvers/ruger/sp-101/cid3/mid52/did234
Congrats on your pistol!
Jim
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Alte Schule
Member
What a disappointment! Took the new SP 101 and a couple other pistols to the LGS indoor range yesterday. I shot .32 S&W Long first just to get a feel for the gun. Trigger was light with a nice clean break in double action and accuracy at 20 feet was, for me, acceptable with a new firearm. The problem reared it's head with the next 6 when I could not eject the .32 H&R or .327 spent brass. Came out just far enough for me to get my fingernails on them and pry them out. I left two in the open cylinder and when I finished shooting took my new Ruger into the shop, where I have been doing business for twenty years, and showed it to the manager. After he was able to get the brass extracted he contacted Ruger, wrote up a work order and boxed it to be mailed off today.
I own and have owned many Rugers in my long life. Never had a problem with one. Hoping Ruger will make this right.
I own and have owned many Rugers in my long life. Never had a problem with one. Hoping Ruger will make this right.
RealGun
Member
Next time don't create a crud ring in the chambers with short ammo first. Also you might brush out the chambers between cartridge changes.
I have no doubt they will.
RealGun
Member
They might not do anything except verify chamber dimensions. However, most of my Rugers have been back for new cylinders.
expat_alaska
Member
Hi Old School,
I hope they do good by you. Rugers are basically good guns, but like many other makes, sometimes things slip through the cracks these days. It might have to do with the ammo you are shooting.
Good luck!
Jim
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