Ruger SP-101?

[Tim Schlosser]

Hi All,
I've ended up with a .357 SP-101 with a little quirk I need help with. The cylinder stop will slide out of the detent and allow the cylinder to rotate backwards to the next detent with slight pressure. This is with all cylinder detents, not just one or two. It will not do this with the hammer back any bit at all, only at rest. The lockup is quite solid otherwise and shoots wonderfully. Is this the result of the previous owner trying to play pistolsmith, or is this a regular trait to this revolver? I've never had an SP-101 before so I have no experience to base it on. My .357 Redhawk doesn't show this tendency at all. Help. Thanks.

 

[dfariswheel]

It's a defect. Could be wear, (which would be an unusual amount for an SP-101), "bubba" gunsmithing, or even a factory defect.

I'd send it in to Ruger for a free fix.

 

[Tim Schlosser]

Thanks for the reply. I actually went down to the gunshop I frequent today to check out their examples of the SP-101 and they all locked up solid. I'm thinking this was a homemade "Trigger Job" or a factory flaw, the revolver is in too perfect a shape to be from wear. I'll be having it checked out. Thanks again.

 

[45-auto]

I've owned three SP 101s and still pack one regularly.

They are uncommonly strong revolvers and I've never had a mechanical problem with any of them.

dfariswheel has it right: defect, maybe due to clumsy smithing.

A set of Wolfe springs, incidentally, will make that into a butter smooth, light action and a dream to shoot DA. Without doing anything bad.