Ruger SP 101

[seldomseen]

Is it unrealistic for me to expect to be able to hit a 100 yd small bore rifle bullseye target with a Ruger SP 101. It has a 3 1/16 inch barrel. I am shooting from a bench at 25 yds. I have tried 38 spcl ammo, +p and regular. 125 gr .357 ammo, 158 gr .357 ammo. Everything I shoot with it patterns about a foot below the target. Don't have any problems placing shots into the bullseye with a Browning buckmark, or a .45 semi auto, or a 9mm semi auto. I have tried standing up, sitting at the bench, one handed, two handed, using a rest, using my elbows as a rest. Nothing seems to make a difference. At first I thought it was me, but I am starting to wonder if it is not the gun. I don't have access to a range with a shorter distance than 25 yds, so I can't tell how it shoots up close. I bought this gun as a carry gun, but I am quickly losing confidence with it. I realize I would not need to defend myself from 25 yds away, but none the less, it does not give me a lot of confidence in my abilities with this revolver. I am wondering if I shouldn't just get rid of it.

 

[P95Carry]

Well, sighting is pretty rudimentary but I suspect you'd have similar results with many snubs actually. Surprised the 158's didn't hit higher - many snubs are pretty much close to POA with that bullet weight.

There are folks who can hit at 100 yards with a snub once they find the aim-off but POA and POI will not of course match! I cannot see this as an inherent gun fault at all - in effect all SP's are the same. Mine with the 2 1/4 barrel is probably not too hot at 25 yards but never really pushed the envelope. At 7-10 yards and with my CT's to assist too if wanted - it is dead on accurate sufficient for carry. It was my carry in fact for over a year.

This is where somehow you want to test it - so until evaluated at this closer range don't rule it out for carry IMO.

 

[RON in PA]

You obviosly ARE hitting the target but too low. How's your group?, if it's 3-4 inches at 25 yards with a snub you're doing OK and will get a bit better with practice. SP101s are known for shooting low and you may have to file down the front sight. Settle on a round that you want to use for self-defense and sight in the gun with that round. Don't give up on that fine revolver.

 

[TX_RGR]

I had an SP 101 a while back and it was the same thing. Couldn't hit crap. Oh, it was just me, you say? All snubbies are like that, you say? I beg to differ. My .44 special has a 2.5 and I can hit the 9 ring at 25 all day long standing offhand. I have to think it's the ruger. I don't care what a firearm's primary purpose is, just "hitting the paper" ain't cuttin it. I sold it a while back and haven't regretted it.

 

[duckjihad]

I have a SP101, 3 inch, 357. From the bench, it routinely hits 5 inches low at 25 yards. I have S&W models 642 and 60 also, each with 2 inch barrels that print where aimed. I've tried several different brands and makes of ammo, and all hit low with the 101. Gave up on it for a while and made it a safe queen. However, I'm probably making more of this than it's due. I shot it at about 10 yards a while back, and of course found it to hit closer to point of aim, and close enough a bad guy probably wouldn't know it was off at all. 10 yards is probably more realistic for personal defense purposes. That said, I'll contradict myself now by saying, like you, I like the confidence of a good performing gun. I'm going to do some range work soon and slowly file the front site until it centers up the groups with a good defense load. It's too nice a gun to leave in the safe. I'm also about to contact a wellreputed gunsmith and see what we can do about polishing the action. It's all perspective. Be glad it hits low. If it hit high, it would be tougher to resolve with fixed sights.

 

[bruss01]

I rented a SP-101 at a local range. The grip was too small for my large hands, but I was able to hang on to it though it was not comfortable nor natural. To align the sights, I had to raise it to shoulder level and then point down, down, down - gee, will my wrists even go that far? - down... finally pulled the trigger, expecting to see a hole in the floor appear. Nope, right in the bullseye. Huh? Tried the same thing again, same result. Not a bad group, but after two cylinders my wrists were sore (ow) and I'd had enough of that nonsense. Love my GP-100 though, it seems to point pretty naturally for me, and I can shoot it all day. My only conceivable use for a SP-101 would be as a back-up gun, and I can't see it in that role because of the unnatural position it forces me into. I'm sure there are others whom it suits fine, Mas Ayoob is a big fan, for instance. But it's not for me.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

If a revolver (or any fixed sight gun) shoots low, that's easy to fix -- with a few file strokes on the front sight.

In fact, some revolvers were deliberately made to shoot low, so as to leave a bit of excess front sight -- after all, you can't file metal ONTO a front sight.