Ruger SP-101 and Hogue Grips

[Confederate]

I just got a Ruger SP-101 and need to decide on grips. I haven't shot it yet, but I've been told the Ruger grips are el sucko when firing .357 ammo. Are Hogue grips a good replacement or are the grips that come on the Ruger okay?

 

[Monster Zero]

Nothing wrong with those Ruger grips on mine. Just be sure to get a good grip and you'll be fine.

 

[skidder]

I like the hogues better.
The factory grips left no place for my pinky. Much more comfortable to shoot.

 

[chuckdeez]

The Hogues make a huge difference with .357s. Mine looks just like skidders, but with a meprolight front post. Easy to install, and ergonomically awesome. It gives me the warm fuzzies when I gaze longingly at it on my nightstand.

 

[Remllez]

I much prefer the stock Ruger grip, unobtrusive, non sticky and allow a strong grip on the gun. I feel they dampen recoil quite well and look good to boot.

 

[whalerman]

Skidder, what barrel length is that beauty? And did you give any thought to buying the double action only model? How bout you, Confederate? That gun might just be my next purchase.

 

[eldon519]

I would definitely recommend at least trying the SP101 with the stock grips before going Hogue; it may work for you. I thought it was pretty comfortable to shoot cushion/recoil-wise with .357 magnums, but after 100 or so rounds, it opened up a blister between my thumb and index finger. I tried out the Hogue and it is probably equally as comfortable recoil-wise but does not rub blisters for me which is nice. I don't really like the shape of the grip though as it sort of tapers off at the bottom a little like a birdshead-style gun and changes how it points for me. It is also kind of long.

That said, I have a Pachmayr Compac on the way. I think it is supposed to feel more like the factory grip but hopefully will not cause blisters.

 

[Alaska444]

I like the Hogue grips for my SP101 so my pinky has a place to go as someone already said. This is not just a little pop gun with full power .357's. You need to hang on tight with that little hand cannon. A lot of my friends turn down shooting it. I can't say it is "fun" to shoot, but it ain't that bad either. I do find the recoil on this gun with full power .357 just a shade lower than the recoil on my .44 magnum in Ruger SRH for comparison. It is right up there since it is so light at 25 oz.

 

[Cemo]

I too prefer the factory grips. As Ramllez stated in his post "I much prefer the stock Ruger grip, unobtrusive, non sticky and allow a strong grip on the gun. I feel they dampen recoil quite well and look good to boot", although I don't agree with the "look good to boot" part. The Hogue grips adds too much lenght to the grip IMO, and although it is not my prefered choice for pocket carry, I do on ocassion carry it that way, mostly coat pocket. I guess I've gotten use to my pinky not being supported as I never notice it. I bought a set of Hogue grips about 15 or more years ago and they hardly ever ride on the SP. My wife's SP is bone stock too. A 26 oz. .357 is going to be a kicker. As for improving the looks, a set of wooden grips would be my prefered choice IMO. Winchester White Box 110 gr HP's are a low recoiling factory load that I carry in it sometimes.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

I like the looks and feel of the factory rubber grips but with the ribbed plastic inserts relaced with wood or elk horn inserts.

my SP101



I've tried Hogue wood and rubber, Uncle Mikes, Eagle wood, Badger, etc. I don't like the angle the Badger and Eagle grips position the gun. Its muzzle high every time and I have to turn my wrist downward to line up with the target.

I'm not really wild about the way the Hogue rubber grips look...but, Hogue rubber grips are my all-time favorite SP101 grips and thats whats on mine. My hands are on the big side and the Hogues on the little Ruger place it in my hand perfectly every time.

Factory grips (different inserts) are my 2nd favorite.

 

[MCgunner]

I LOVED the Hogues on my SP101. They felt great and they protected my middle finger from that DAMNED trigger guard when firing hot, hot handloads with 180s particularly. It was a sweet revolver, quite accurate, and the Hogue has a great round butt profile so that it melts away IWB or OWB, very easy to conceal. If I get another in the future, it'll be a 3" gun as this gun is NO pocket revolver. It's like carrying a brick in a pocket. The Hogues are too big for a pocket, but hey, they make the gun SO much more pleasant to shoot! The thing is no pocket revolver, anyway. The thing is torture to shoot with the stock grip on it IMHO and the stock grip is blocky as hell, don't like the feel. Main thing is, it tortures my middle finger with hot loads and why carry a 27 ounce .357 with .38s? The Hogues solve this problem and conceal well to boot.

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Exactly !

 

[Giterboosted]

Factory here with aftermarket panels but thats just for looks

 

[RugRev]

I agree with MCgunner. I have a Hogue wood grip with single groove. The grip keeps my knuckle from getting beat up by the trigger guard. I went for the single groove as multiple grooves don't work with my hand and I had a no groove Hogue on a Colt Magnum Carry that didn't give much to hang on to. As every hand is different what works for one might not for another. The Hogue works for me and I have fired 200 rounds in a session.

 

[Chuck Perry]

I run the Pachmayr Compacs on mine. Very comfortable grip.

 

[sidheshooter]

Anyone found issues with the hogues and speedloaders?

 

[Waywatcher]

Hogues work great with speedloaders. No interference.

I picked the Nylon (polymer) Hogues for my SP101... now hopefully it comes back from Ruger fixed...

 

[skidder]

whalerman-- My SP101 is 2.25". 17 years and counting, it's been through the ringer and than some. I still take it on my hunting trips for my SD gun (light and still packs a punch). I've shot several whitetail in the head with this baby to finish them off if they were die-hards (cheaper than a second shot with my 30-06). My wife takes it huckleberry picking for self defense (black bears like the huckleberry patches). These guns are tough and the recoil is manageable with 158 XTPs. I can't say enough about the versatility of this gun.

 

[willypete]

I actually prefer the factory grips with .357 ammo, as well. The Hogues are nice, but too tacky for CCW use, and while they look better than the factory option, the factory option works better.

 

[Jim NE]

Confederate, I just bought a SP101 recently, and I can definitely say that, for ME, changing to Hogue grips helped improve the feel of the gun and my shooting. I like the looks of the originals, but they're just too small.

Keep in mind:

- You can get the Hogues in either vinyl or rubber. I got rubber because it's my impression it improves recoil. A lot of people like the vinyl (maybe less "sticky"?)

-You probably want to hang on the the original grips because there's a take-down tool hidden in the panel that aids in the disassembly of the gun.

Good luck. It's a great gun.

 

[788Ham]

I have to agree with MCgunner on the Hogue grips! My SP 101 was a torture to shoot .357's out of! Mcg told me about the Hogue grips, made a totally different revolver out of it, no more trigger guard beaten fingers! Got a set 2 weeks ago, now a pleasure to shoot!

 

[tubeshooter]

I got rubber Hogues back when they didn't have the vinyl. No complaints, makes the gun more pleasant to shoot for me.

I tried the factory grips for awhile, felt average to below average about them. To be fair, I was much newer to shooting back then. Some of the inserts look great, and probably feel much better than stock. If I had to have mine in a pocket I would probably do the insert thing, but I never pocket carry this gun.


The rubber is indeed a little grippy. If the vinyl doesn't feel weird, I'd probably go that way if I was starting out.

 

[pete950]

I'm with Chuck Perry!! Thats what I have 2.5 and 3 inch SP 101's..

 

[Thunderstick]

I dropped some elk horn in my SP too!

 

[MCgunner]

A picture for my previous post.