Ruger SP-101 Questions

[Cool Hand Luke 22:36]

A few SP101 questions for you Ruger owners:

Is the 3" barrel too big for concealed carry, would I be better off with the 2" barrell?

Does the 3" barrel give better control to the extent that it's worth the extra weight and size?

Does Ruger make a hammerless SP-101 with the 3" barrel?

 

[Hkmp5sd]

I find the 3" very easy to conceal. No real difference from the short barrel. I feel the extra length and weight helps on balance and recoil. Not a lot, but some.

Looks like they make a spurless hammer model but not hammerless.

Ruger SP-101 Models

 

[Ed Ely]

Mistake by me.

 

[The_Shootist]

Ruger SP 101 Questions

Mine's a 3" barrel and have never wanted the 2". The 3" is still easy to conceal and I think you have better accuracy with the sight picture. I bet its not much heavier than the 2" and you probably have marginally better velocity with the round being shot.

 

[gggman]

I can't speak for the 3", but I carry a 2" SP101 daily for CCW, and it's very easy to carry 15 hours a day. It's light and conceals very well. It also is a very accurate shooter and recoil is manageable for such a small gun, even with full power magnum loads. 3" might be OK if you are carrying IWB, but I don't like IWB carry, so for me the shorter barrel conceals easier on my belt.

 

[Marshall]

CHL 22:36

I am sorry for butting in, truely. But another SP-101 thread seems a tad rediculous for a simple question. BTW, I had the same question you did.

Do they make a 4" with adj sights in .357 or just .22 and .32? Anyone? I might like that better than a GP100 4".

Thanks CHL 22:36

 

[magsnubby]

I have the 2" SP101 and haven't fired the 3". I put a pair of Hogue grips on it and it's a really nice shooter. It's not really any harder to concel a 2" than it is a 3" anyway.

 

[gulogulo1970]

I have a 3" SP-101, its a dream to shoot. Very well balanced, seems much more accurate than some 2" snubs I've owned in the past. Maybe its the longer sighting radius.

Marshall: No, I don't think they make a 4" one, only a 2" and 3" w/o adjustible sights.

 

[Cool Hand Luke 22:36]

Thanks everybody,

I am thinking that based on what you all have said that the 3" is the way to go. I handled one at a gun show down in Bealton (Sp?) VA this weekend and it felt well balanced and not too small (to me) like the S&W M60.

I was thinking of an ankle rig since most of my time in public where I feel the need to carry is in the car.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

I opted for the 3 inch. It is no harder to conceal than a 2 inch. The butt (grip) is the most difficult part of any handgun to conceal. The SP101 grip is minimal and conceals quite well. Now, if you walk around in skin tight clothes you might have a problem. Just make sure you buy a good holster (it really does make a world of difference).

As for the DAO (con)version, you really don't get a better (smoother) trigger pull unless you have a hammer made for that purpose (i.e., no single action notch). Just grind the spur off and you don't gain anything. The double action cleans up considerably when you have the proper hammer (and you can get a spring kit to lighten things up a bit).

 

[V-fib]

The 3†SP is my carry piece. For a small fee any competent gunsmith can bob the hammer for you. I do think that it is a little heavy for an ankle holster however. For auto carry I like the vertical shoulder holster better.

 

[one45auto]

I'm very fond of my own 2" SP101 but truth be known were Maryland to allow CCW I'd probably rely upon my Smith&Wesson 642 for EDC. Of course as always your mileage may vary, and for some the Ruger may actually seem a featherweight.

 

[James Bondrock]

For the purposes to which a snub revolver is usually put (a hideout or backup gun), I think the 2" (actually 2.25") is a bit more useful. If you wish to carry the gun solely in a belt holster, the 3" (actually 3 1/16") is just fine. However, there is a relative dearth of ready-made holsters for the longer tube.

"Hammerless" really applies more to S&W and other revolvers, and is actually a hammer wholly concealed within the frame. The Ruger "hammerless" is actually a non-spurred hammer whose contours match the rear of the frame. There is also no single action cocking notch, so they can only be fired double-action.

I am not aware of the 3" barrel version being available with the spurless hammer.

 

[Jim March]

My opinion: the ONLY thing you get out of a 2" barrel is the ability to pocket-carry, if you run a small wood grip and go hammerless (or cut off the thumb-spur on a standard hammer).

For any other carry method including IWB, shoulder, fanny pack or belly band, the 3" is fine. It'll be a bit more controllable and accurate (longer sight radius) and will give a little more heat on your 38+P fodder if you shoot that.

 

[JNewell]

The original poster mentioned using this for ankle carry a few lines above. If ankle carry is in the picture, I would put the 2 1/4" option back on the table again.

 

[Gus Dddysgrl]

I absolutely adore my Ruger SP 101 in 2". I am 5'5" and weigh 135 pounds. So you can imagine how hard it would often be for me to conceal it, but I pull it off. Often my dad doesn't even know I'm carrying.

I love to shoot it. It's a ton of fun. I haven't gotten too good at aiming since I just have to much fun putting lead down range into something other than a target. (posts, cans, etc.)

I don't know how much of a difference the 3" would make, but I love the 2". It's a great carry gun and a great fun gun.

That's about all I can help you with. I'm not quite as experienced with the difference in hammers and all that. I just know what feels right and fits in my hand.

Wouldn't SP101 be a little heavy for ankle carry?

Today all I have is opinions, and no facts.

 

[c_yeager]

I gotta tell ya. The SP101 even in 2" is a bit heacy for pocket or ankle carry anyways. It's pretty much a gun-leather proposition. SInce you need a holster anyways i'd say the three incher is the way to go.

 

[gggman]

A 2" SP101 with 5 rds. of .357mag ammo is close to two pounds. I wouldn't want to carry that around on MY ankle.
I carry my S&W 342PD in an ankle holster, and that only weighs less than one pound fully loaded.
I love my SP, but NO WAY would I want that sucker strapped to my ankle all day.

 

[JNewell]

Ya got me thinking...when I was in high school, we did some workouts with 1# ankle weights. An SP-101 goes up around 24, 25 oz, right? Half a pound heavier than the ankle weights...

 

[Ben Shepherd]

2 1/4" Sp101 in a Lou Allesi ankle rig daily(12+ hours/day) for the last 3 years.

No complaints, very comfortable, 100 bucks well spent.

 

[who me]

I carry a 3" SP101 in a Milt Sparks VM2 with no problems.

 

[461]

I've got the 2.25" and shoot the heck out of it. For my money, the SP-101 is the snubby for shooting, now for carry I might be tempted to get an airweight Smith, but I sure wouldn't enjoy shooting it.

For Marshall- the .22 and .32 are the only models available in 4" with adjustable sights, they are also six shot. All others are five shot and 2.25 or 3" and fixed sight.

 

[mec]

I spent several years carrying an sp101 in an uncle mikes ankle holster and sometimes in one of the uncle mikes sholder holsters under a sports shirt. While the ankle holster was open at the bottom and would hold a 3" barrel, I found my 2.25" less likely to show under the cuff.

I have no complaints about the shorter sp101. It shoots much better than generally expected from a snub, holds up well under heavy loads and is not painful. Of the loads below, only the 180 grain hunting load approached an uncomfortable recoil level. I would consider the SP101 way out in front as a defensive weapon for people who are not particularly enthusiastic about guns but are interested enough to learn how to shoot well

The 110 grain load shoots significantly low at 25 yards while the others are usefully close to the sights.

 

[mec]

I spent several years carrying an sp101 in an uncle mikes ankle holster and sometimes in one of the uncle mikes sholder holsters under a sports shirt. While the ankle holster was open at the bottom and would hold a 3" barrel, I found my 2.25" less likely to show under the cuff.

I have no complaints about the shorter sp101. It shoots much better than generally expected from a snub, holds up well under heavy loads and is not painful. Of the loads below, only the 180 grain hunting load approached an uncomfortable recoil level. I would consider the SP101 way out in front as a defensive weapon for people who are not particularly enthusiastic about guns but are interested enough to learn how to shoot well

The 110 grain load shoots significantly low at 25 yards while the others are usefully close to the sights.

 

[Cool Hand Luke 22:36]

Thanks for all of the info folks. I went ahead and bought a 2.25" DAO.

The SP seems reasonably accurate out to about 7-10 yds based on the 3 boxes of 38 and 357 I've shot out of it so far.

Having never shot a snub nose of any kind before I have to say that the muzzle flash and noise using 119 grain 357 is pretty impressive. More than my 12 guage shotgun. Sort of like USS New Jersey letting go with a broadside, lots of fun.