Ruger SP101 3 inch Opinions

[SP1011984]

Just wanted to throw something out there about CCW on the Ruger SP101 3 inch. I had a hard time finding good info about this before I bought the gun. I CCW this gun everyday and I think its a great CCW for someone who wants to carry a revolver IWB.
I will start out by saying that I am 6 ft tall, 220 lbs. It does not feel heavy to me at all, however all of my prior CCW experience has been either a Glock 20 or a SD40VE so I guess I am used to heafty guns.
I carry it in an Uncle Mike's size 2, which I do not recommend because it is too big. It holds the gun nice and secure but it covers part of the grip. I have read a few posts where you can order holsters for 2.25 inch and they will custom build one for the 3 inch at no extra charger.
I chose the 3 inch barrel over the 2.25 inch because the 3 inch model is literally only .75 inches longer. No difference in the guns other than that and a couple ounces of weight. Since I do not consider the 2.25 model a "pocket gun," I see no significant difference. I do not see that this gun is any harder to conceal than the snubby version as I have previously read numerous times.
I have shot a few hundred rounds through this gun. I am not recoil sensitive whatsoever but I would definitely recommend shooting limited .357 rounds for range time. I have fairly large hands and the trigger guard really puts a beating on my middle finger knuckle with .357 rounds. That being said, I have stock grips on my gun and would assume that some larger, aftermarket grips would remedy this.
I have shot WWB .38 special 130 gr, Hornaday Critical Defense JHP 158 gr, Perfecta .357 158 gr, and WWB .357 110 gr JHP. The .38 special feel like a .22, you could shoot them all day. They have very little muzzle flash but I did have one FTF out of 100 rounds. The WWB .357 110 gr JHP had the most felt recoil as well as the most muzzle flash. The Perfecta were the most pleasant .357 round of the three to shoot but were very smokey.
At 7 yards I was shooting about 2.5-3 inch groups in double action, low light, and with the stock all black front sight so I consider that pretty good. I would definitely get a high viz sight or possibly a night sight, but bare minimum get some florescent paint and slap a dot on the front sight.
These are just my first impressions of the gun. Overall an awesome gun and I look forward to testing its long term reliability.

 

[chris in va]

I had one for a few years.

It's bigger than you think. It's actually the same exact size as the Sig 220 I had. To mitigate busting your knuckle, try a Hogue grip that fills in that undercut.

 

[samweller]

My SP101 2.25 SS .357 is my truck gun. The first time I took it to the range and shot .357 125 gr. JHP's, it looked like a blow torch and sounded like a jet taking off. Now, I have it loaded with .38's. Love the gun, though. I carry it in a waist pack when I go cycling up in the forest.

 

[Al Thompson]

Might be better in Revolvers. Welcome to THR!

 

[Crashbox]

I've had the same SP101 for a few years now and it's my go-to EDC side arm. With a good holster they are not at all uncomfortable to carry for long periods of time in my experience. I did put the Hogue wood grip on it because the rubber one caught my shirt on a regular basis.

This wheelgun is as tough as nails- I've shot quite a few 125 JHP's with 17.2 grains of 2400 through it and it seems to be very indifferent to such a load. However, the fireball that said load produces is a sight to see in this handgun and it is LOUD.

I refer to the SP101 as the "Iron Mouse".

 

[red rick]

I got one last year and have been carrying it more than my other pistols . My J frame is more comfortable to carry , but I like shooting the SP101 more and it carries about the same as my compact pistols do . My front sight is painted with orange fingernail polish and it really helps me see the front sight . I might put a Big Dot on it one day . I carry mine in a Don Hume OWB holster that is made for the 3" barrel . I like the holster a lot for OWB carry . It has a sweat shield and not many OWB holster have one , even custom makers . It did not cost a lot and it was in stock .

Welcome to THR .

 

[Zaydok Allen]

That's the first handgun I ever bought. It's a dang good little revolver.

 

[RJM]

I carry a 3" Sp101 in .327 federal mag if I'm going to carry a gun out and about. It makes a great carry piece and the platform is perfect for the .327. It's a really good choice in a ccw.

 

[Dan-O]

I've got both...if I only kept one, it would be the 2.25".

 

[Haywood]

I had a 3", still have a 2" DAO. I carry AIWB a lot. I put the Standard Dot XS Sight on and Hogue Rubber Grip.

 

[amd6547]

I owned a 3" SP101 for about a year. It was a nice revolver, and I liked it, but it did not shoot to point of aim.
In order to hit the bullseye at 25yds, I had to aim at the top right corner of the target sheet.
I've since replaced it with a 3" GP100 which does shoot right to POA. I'm glad to say the GP seems like a revolver I just can't miss with.

 

[tubeshooter]

I've had one of these for about 15 years now. Mine wears a Hogue Monogrip. On paper it is probably my best CCW in the stable.

I like it just fine and it isn't going anywhere.


That being said, it's not as pretty as it is functional and it's rather heavy for what it is. The low capacity might really bother some people also. Unless I really feel that I need the extra horsepower (for example, in the woods) I just carry a .38 snub instead 97% of the time for a LOT less weight. My relatively newer-to-me 642 weighs about half as much.

 

[scaatylobo]

Own one also

I find that the Ruger security six is MUCH more pleasant to shoot with magnums,than the SP101.

So if you want to shoot the full house loads,look at a Ruger GP100,they have a 3" barrel model now.

Yes,they are larger,but at your size ,that should not be noticed.

I am 5'4" and weigh a stocky 190,I EDC a Glock -23 all day in ALL weather.

And that is CONCEALED CARRY.

But being an old man, I don't dress for fashion .

 

[stoky]

I'm happy with mine. The sight radius on the 3" is approaching usefulness. I've no use for anything shorter in .357. I find it quite tote-able and concealable. It seems well balanced and fun to shoot.

 

[MIL-DOT]

....In order to hit the bullseye at 25yds, I had to aim at the top right corner of the target sheet.

The problem is that a weapon of this type simply isn't designed or intended to shoot "bullseyes at 25 yards". It's designed to hit torsos at less than 10.
My Marlin 60 .22 won't hit Coke cans at 350 yards, but that wouldn't be the fault of the rifle, it would be my fault for having unreasonable expectations and using the wrong tool for the job.
(BTW, my SP101 wears nicely in a little Don Hume JIT holster that costs next to nothing, I recommend them. But it's a pretty hefty load when pocket carrying, as I like to do with smaller pistols. I prefer my S&W Airweight for that.)

 

[Remllez]

I've owned a 3 inch, 9mm SP-101 for years and still carry it pretty often. I usually belt carry in a Simply Rugged holster and just like most any other gun I carry it takes a while to get used to it.

That little popper shoots so well that I'd keep it as my only carry revolver over the rest I own. IMHO it's close to perfection for a carry revolver. If you buy one have a good smith do a trigger job on it. Ohhhhh so buttery smooth.

 

[amd6547]

"...The problem is that a weapon of this type simply isn't designed or intended to shoot "bullseyes at 25 yards". It's designed to hit torsos at less than 10..."

Nonsense. I expect accuracy from my carry pistol. My S&W Model 38 snub shoots to POA at 25Yds.
With my 3" GP100 fixed sight, I can be "torso" accurate at 100yds.
Bottom line, I expect accuracy out 25yds at least, and practice out 50yds.
Too bad, the SP101 I had shot tight groups at 25yds using full power 357 mag ammo...just not where the sights were looking.

 

[gun_with_a_view]

I think it was Mas Ayoob who once testified a snub fired from Florida could hit a target in Kalamazoo, MI.

However, Mas failed to account for the curvature of the earth, which would cause a loss of the sight picture, thereby increasing the probability of a miss.

Otherwise, yeah.

 

[amd6547]

Here is what my SP101 3" did at 25yds....I was aiming at the very top right corner of the sheet.

 

[Tallbald]

My 3 inch SP101 has been essentially a constant companion for about 15 years. Early on, it was pocket (in a holster I made) carry for me. A few years ago, after several design changes I came up with my own AIWB rig and haven't looked back. With a cell phone case I made that carries a loaded Speed Strip, I feel pretty comfortable with my choice. I do debate a switch to my CZ75B at times though, given the scary upticks in multiple-offender crimes we hear about.
My Sp101 is flat out reliable and with its three inch barrel it balances well, shoots to point of aim at 25 feet. Nowadays too rough on me with full house .357 defense loads, I use .38 +P instead. SO very happy for so very long with my 3 inch SP101.
Here's a recent photo of my SP101 in my holster, on one of my custom made thick laminated leather belts. Exposed to the days events during carry, the cell phone case shows 4 years of wear, while my holster spends its day protected by my .....stomach....under an untucked shirt. Don. (Don S. Leathercraft on Facebook)

 

[GP Henry]

Hogue Monogrips made a world of difference for me and my SP 3". It is the funniest gun I have to shoot. Mine is fed mostly 158 grain .357 wadcutters. I have no issues shooting these loads with the correct for me grips on this gun.

 

[grter]

The bare minimum for a good barrel utilizing that caliber to obtain the bare minimun in acceptable power.

A compromise for concealability.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

My Sp101 is flat out reliable and with its three inch barrel it balances well, shoots to point of aim at 25 feet. Nowadays too rough on me with full house .357 defense loads, I use .38 +P instead.

Same here. I used to carry 158 grain Speer's in mine, but the last time I shot it I realized the recoil and hand slap was slowing down my follow up shots. Now I carry 38+P's or stick to 125gr bullets if carrying magnums.

 

[hAkron]

I have one in 327 Federal Magnum. It's beefier than my other 327 Federal Magnum revolver, a S&W 632 with a 4" barrel. The S&W feels a little undersized, the SP-101 feels more substantial.

If they were a little cheaper, I would buy a few more SP-101's. I don't often see them used, but would probably have more in the collection if I ran across them.

 

[redbullitt]

Excellent revolvers. One of my first carry guns was the short barrel version, and it was great. I still have a 3 inch barrel model with a hogue grip and XS big dot on it now and I like it even better.

Shoots great and carrys even better.