Ruger SP 101 .357 mag for women?

[Fishman777]

If CCW isn't an issue...

You might want to consider a GP100, instead.

You could always go with a GP100 with a 3" barrel and then get one of the older compact grips that used to be offered by Ruger. I bought some of these from Midway USA, for my GP100, about a year ago. The grips aren't actually called compact grips. I heard about them on one of the Ruger forums. I didn't realize that they could still be purchased.

Anyways, I haven't shot the gun with them because I haven't gotten around to buying the wood side panels for the grip. I wanted to get some balck laminate ones custom made. Anways, the 3" model would give her an extra shot and be a little heavier, if she struggles with the SP101 recoil. The grips are a little less than an inch shorter than the hogue grips. I bought them for my wife.

 

[NMGonzo]

Gf dry fired the SP101 at home last night.

She feels like it is a better fit for her small hands, and the finger reach with the stock grips is about as perfect for her as is it going to be.

 

[Elmer]

That's the way to go. Having an SP 101 doesn't mean you have to shoot full charge .357s out of it. And the weight and other features that make .357s shootable for most of us will make .38s shootable for those with less recoil tolerance.

Exactly.

When I hear about guys loading their wife's gun with .357 ammo, and she's not an avid and accomplished shooter, I just shake my head and hope she never really needs to use it.

The amount of people that can really control a small frame .357 for self defense, even a heavy one like the SP101, is a fraction of those who claim they can. Firing single action, slow fire, while keeping most of your rounds on a silhouette target, doesn't mean you're ready for a gunfight.

 

[rellascout]

Exactly.

When I hear about guys loading their wife's gun with .357 ammo, and she's not an avid and accomplished shooter, I just shake my head and hope she never really needs to use it.

The amount of people that can really control a small frame .357 for self defense, even a heavy one like the SP101, is a fraction of those who claim they can. Firing single action, slow fire, while keeping most of your rounds on a silhouette target, doesn't mean you're ready for a gunfight.

I agree 100%. I am a fair shooter but I prefer 38 spls in the smaller framed wheel guns. You have to really enjoy recoil to shoot .357 a lot out of those little guns. Not saying you can't but I have seen way to many men and women be handed a little .357 and after just a few rounds holding their hands trying to wring the sting out of them.

 

[tackstrp]

it is hard to beat the 5 shot standard 38 special at about 19 to 21 oz

 

[dodgecity]

We have made our decision. We are going with the SP 101 .357 mag. 3" bbl. .38 and 38+P for her if she is OK with it and whatever I choose to load it with for carry for myself. Thanks for all those that had resonable feedback and did not take it beyond the scope of my question.

 

[Elmer]

We have made our decision. We are going with the SP 101 .357 mag. 3" bbl. .38 and 38+P for her if she is OK with it and whatever I choose to load it with for carry for myself. Thanks for all those that had resonable feedback and did not take it beyond the scope of my question.

I think you'll be happy with it.

You can improve the trigger pull on the SP101 greatly with an inexpensive spring kit like the Wolf.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=16531/Product/17113_RUGER_reg__SP_101_reg__KIT

I put one in for a lady friend just this week. I did a little work with a stone. I wouldn't recommend doing that unless you have some gunsmith experience, but the spring kit is an easy, cheap improvement.

 

[lexjj]

My wife picked out the Ruger SP101 to be her gun. She loves it. The revolver has roughly 2,000 rounds through it (most of which she shot), but only 30 rounds of that has been .357. She definitely dislikes the .357 rounds.

I reload and make her soft shooting .38's, but she doesn't have any problem shooting true +P loads.

However, it is a mistake to assume that all women are the same or even particularly similar. I took one woman to the range several times to teach her to shoot. She hates that SP101 and loves all my autos. She cannot pull the SP101's trigger in double action. She just is not strong enough. Oddly enough, her favorite is a 1911 in .45. Easier, shorter trigger pull.

 

[Dogguy]

Good decision. In standard load .38 Specials, give the Federal Nyclads and Hornady Critical Defense rounds a try. In +P, look at Speer's 135 gr Gold Dot HP (it was designed for snubbies) and CorBon DPX. These are all excellent defense rounds with controllable recoil that she should be able to master with practice.

 

[rugerman]

My wife has a DAO sp101 in .357 that has gone from a carry gun to a house gun due to the weight. She started out by adopting my ppk but is was heavy and the sights were small. Then she got the sp101 which she carried for a while but also decided it was too heavy (she didn't like it at all with .357 but did pretty well with 38's) and she had trouble with the sights in low light. So I got her a LCR with laser grips, light weight, good trigger and the sight thing in low light went away. But if she doesn't want to carry a purse she still takes my keltec p3at and slips it in her pocket.

 

[dodgecity]

Elmer, lexjj, dogguy,rugerman,
Thanks. I will probably do most of the above. I am looking forward to this purchase.

 

[harrydog]

dodgecity,
I only just discovered this thread but what you ended up buying is exactly what I would have recommended. I think there are some very good .38 Special +P rounds out there that will be easy enough for your wife to shoot while also being plenty good enough for self defense. Like the Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 38 Special +P 135 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point.
I also second the suggestion that you buy the reduced power hammer spring from Wolff. It makes the gun much easier to shoot accurately, I think. Just don't go too light on the spring weight or you could have light primer strikes.

 

[dodgecity]

harrydog,
Yes, that is also on the horizon. Also would like the crimson lazor grips with the rubber but need to see if this feels good and how the stock grips work. Simplicity is good for.
Thanks

 

[Dirty Bob]

Great choice!

I love the SP101: it can be anything from a soft-recoiling pussycat with mild .38s, to a snarling tiger with .357s.

I suggest either the Nyclads or Buffalo Bore's standard-pressure wadcutters. These last are not the super-light target rounds, but are easier to shoot well than heavier loads. Wadcutters don't have to be softball loads, as the pic below shows. This WC -- fired from a 642 -- went completely through four gallon jugs of water and was found in the fifth.

I find .38+P pleasant in my SP101, with a hard nylon Hogue Monogrip. It's not much more recoil than standard-pressure .38s. If she can handle them, the good ol' FBI Load is a great choice in a 3" SP101.

Finally, consider grips that fit her hands. The factory grips are likely to fit pretty well for her, but Hogue Monogrips in nylon or rubber are very inexpensive and a popular alternative. In wood, a Monogrip can be customized by you to fit her hand perfectly. You might find a set for a great price at the Hogue Auction site.

All my best,
Dirty Bob

 

[HelterSkelter]

wait what? sp 101 too heavy for carry? unless you're wearing very very loose pants the sp 101's weight shouldn't be a problem for carry.

the best way i could describe how the .357's recoil feels to me is with this analogy:

22 lr is to bb gun what .357 is to 9mm

i still don't understand how people think it's unmanageable, i'm 145 lbs, don't have telephone poles for arms and i can rapid fire my sp101 with hot and heavy loads into a silhouette at 15 yds and get some goods hits. i think you guys are exaggerating a little bit lol. not just here but everywhere i see someone say that you should carry .38 specials because of the "huge" recoil of the .357 i lol.

 

[dodgecity]

Dirty Bob,
Thanks, I am hopeful she can handle the .38+P. There is some good ammo out there. I use Corbon 110gr. jhp +P and I am sure she has fired it out of my daughters gp100 without a problem, but then that is a heavier gun. We will just have to wait and see, but I am confident she will do fine. As far as grips go, yes that is a given. They need to fit her hands not mine. I can get by fine with any of the grips. My hope is that she will be comfortable with the Crimson trace rubber grips. I believe they are larger and I also believe they are quite cushioned for recoil. A little spendy but I have heard nothing but good about them and can improve a persons shooting skills.
Thanks again for all the good feedback

 

[CAgunowner13]

I own a 3" barreled SP101 with the crimson trace laser grips and they are an awesome addition to the gun. My only issue with the grips is that no one makes a holster for the 3" SP101 with the laser grips. The laser sticks out from the grip enough to cause it not to fit in any holster. I have called Ruger about it and they are aware and have no fix. The only option I have heard of is to buy a Fobus holster and dremmel out a notch where the laser gets stuck. So if you wife is going to carry it you may want to think twice about buying the grips since there aren't any holsters for the gun.

 

[CAgunowner13]

BTW my wife has no issues shooting the full load .357's but we usually run 38 special through it and have 38+P hollow points loaded in it for HD. The weight of the pistol helps offset any muzzle flip and recoil

 

[357mag.]

My son was shooting my sp when he was 6yrs old (38 spl's)The weight of the gun really tames the recoil,even with the full-house 357mag loads.

 

[dodgecity]

CAgunowner and 357mag, thanks for the info. CA, I did not know this about the lasor grips/holster issue. This is the first I have heard this, suprising since I have read many forums on this gun and no one mentioned this important piece of information. Definately something to think about. It sounds like you have not done the dremmel thing yourself, I guess it is something I need to research more. I have no problem with making a minor adjustment to a holster barring it does not effect the integrety of the holster. If I find out something solid on this I will pass it on as this is a big deal. Why have a good carry gun if you cannot carry it.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

dodgecity,
The SP101 is a fairly heavy revolver for it's size so I wouldn't worry much about your wife firing .38 Special +P ammo from it. Also, choosing a 110gr bullet like you did will aid in reducing the felt recoil. You might want to look at Hornady Critical defense ammo.

I was about to recommend the GP100 with a 3" barrel before I realized you already made the decision to buy the SP101. Does you wife like the feel of the grip angle on the SP101? I know a few who love it and a few who don't. If she's not sure you could always look at a S&W M60 which is just a little smaller and the grip frame is at a slightly different angle. It's 23 oz. so it's not too light like those Airweight J frames S&W sells. It's still heavy enough as to be fine with .38 Special +P ammo. Just a thought before you commit to the sale. (not trying to change your mind, just adding information)

Welcome to the forum. Also, congratulations on your wife deciding to go shooting with you. I hope I can get my wife to shoot with me some day!

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The only option I have heard of is to buy a Fobus holster and dremmel out a notch where the laser gets stuck. So if you wife is going to carry it you may want to think twice about buying the grips since there aren't any holsters for the gun.

Holsters are easy to make. But if you have a leather holster all you need to do is soak it (in either warm water or alcohol) and force the gun with the lasergrip in. Use your fingers, a tooth brush handle or something similar to shape the soft, wet leather around the laser. Then let it dry and rub Sno-Seal or a similar leather protector into the holster.

 

[Cemo]

If your wife finds the trigger too heavy, you can put a lighter hammer spring in it. The hammer spring lies just below the grips and is simple to change out. MidwayUSA.com has Wolff spring kits for the SP101. My wife shoots .38 and .357 both in hers and loves it.

 

[dirtykid]

Galco makes a couple nice leather holsters that fit the sp-101 perfectly wit or without the crimson-trace grip,, i carry this gun for my personal-defense, of course im 6'2" 225# so the recoil isint an issue for me ,, my wife DOES NOT like the heavy self-defense loads i usually shoot (.357) but she dosent mind most of the regular .38-target loads ,, i would start her off there,, and remind her the laser may not always work or be visible in daylight so get her used to using the marginal-at-best iron sights they come with,,

 

[sansone]

the sp101 is a great choice with .38's in it.. She will be mad at you if you make her fire magnums