Ruger SP101 9MMlast

[whatnickname]

I acquired on of these a couple of years ago through an on-line auction site. Initially the revolver had a tendency to perforate primers. It was also difficult to extract cases after a couple of cylinders of ammo had been fired. I corrected the first problem with a lighter hammer spring. The hard extraction was corrected by polishing the chambers. As is typical of Ruger, the SP101 is well engineered and should last indefinitely.

I’m looking for recommendations on ammo for concealed carry. Also looking for opinions on the effectiveness of the 9MM in a in a 2.25” revolver versus the same gun in 38 Special... (the 357 in a revolver that size is very uncomfortable to shoot...at least fo me anyway.)

 

[Peakbagger46]

I was in a similar situation looking for 3” 9mm carry ammo that would expand and ended up going with Federal 124g HST. Not sure how much velocity loss you are getting from a revolver but these or Speer short barrel might get you a good place to start.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

It’s a nice blend of power and economy. Neato gun. ME ME LIKEY.

 

[Pat Riot]

We’d be much obliged if there were photos…

I somehow missed that Ruger had an SP101 in 9mm. I would like to come across one of those.

 

[Tallball]

Pictures, or it didn't happen.

This one is a good shooter. Its trigger is decent.

Mine ended up with the Hogue Monogrip on it.

Hopefully the OP enjoys theirs very much!

Ruger SP101 9mm

• Tallball
• Mar 6, 2021

 

[cfullgraf]

I shoot the same ammunition in my 9mm SP101 as I shoot in my semi-autos. I never chronographed them to see what the velocity was.

 

[whatnickname]

View attachment 1080390

We’d be much obliged if there were photos…

I somehow missed that Ruger had an SP101 in 9mm. I would like to come across one of those.

Not much to show...just a plain vanilla SP101. The grip inserts are iron wood.

 

[Rock185]

I've had a 3" SP101 9mm for several years. It has proven to be trouble free with any and all ammunition I've used in it.

A favorite carry ammo of mine in 9mm semi-auto and revolver, is the Federal HST 124 +P. I have chronographed this ammo in a variety of guns. Federal lists this load at 1200 FPS, but it is surprisingly efficient in these little short barreled revolvers.

In a 2" S&W it averages 1195 FPS. In a 3" SP101 it averages 1291 FPS. I have tested this ammo in these little revolvers a couple times. Velocities were within a very few FPS each time.

FWIW, even standard pressure 9mm in a 2" revolver exceeds the velocity of any major manufacturer .38+P ammunition I've tested in a 2" barrel. Some smaller "boutique" manufacturers list some .38 Spcl. ammo with very impressive ballistics, but I've not gotten around to testing any of that yet.

 

[HPJeep]

I remember dad buying one in 9mm some 20 years ago. Will have to ask him if he still has it.

 

[TTv2]

Whenever concerns of hollow point expansion come up because of a short barrel, I always suggest using Inceptor ammo as it tumbles in soft tissue due to the light weight of the bullet and its higher velocity. An added benefit is the lighter bullet reduces recoil and with the 9mm revolvers should reduce the chance of a bullet jumping crimp, but he weight of the SP101 should eliminate that anyway.

9mm is better than .38 Special for general self defense. Against a bear or other big mammal the heavier weight of a .38 bullet would be preferable, but I doubt people are EDC'ing a .38 with 180gr bullets, that's just a recipe for over-penetration of a person and the exiting bullet could kill someone else who didn't deserve to get shot unless they were a Putin loving Ruskie, in that case you'd be a national hero and get flown to DC to meet with Joe Biden who would give you a medal and then whisper in your ear that he just did a poo poo in his diapers.

Not surprised to hear of issues with the SP101, that's typical out of box Ruger "quality" for that model revolver these days. I think the LCR is a better out of box revolver, but it does come off as too light for the 9mm. With the lack of ammo for revolvers, the itch for a 9mm revolver is growing on me and preferably in a snub which is making me grow more interested in a Taurus 905 as it has a similarly poor trigger as the SP101, but more heft than the LCR, and all for a lower price.

 

[Dan Forrester]

I picked up this SP101 9mm back in 2019 right before the Covid / riot panic. I think they were on sale for $399 at the time and then it had some rebate also. I think it was $360 out the door. Even back then when guns were cheap it seemed like a real bargain.

I keep it in my truck locked in a console vault. It stays loaded with whatever loose mystery 9mm I have hanging around at the time.

I like that even with out the moon clips it still works fine due to 9mm having a tapered case. As long as you have a pen or pocket knife to dig the empties out you are good to go with out the clips.

From everything I’ve read 9mm out of a snub nose revolver is at least as good as .38 special +p.

Dan

 

[Peakbagger46]

Ah, the pen reload. I thought my speed strips were slow lol.

 

[Dan Forrester]

Yes the pen reload is either last resort or just having fun at the range. Usually if you bang on the extractor rod a couple times the star will catch the rim on some or most of the rounds and get them out of the chambers.

You could also keep the gun loaded with 5 rounds in a moon clip and then a speed strip as your one and only reload. After the first 5 rounds are fired just hit the extractor rod as usual and reload from a 9mm speed strip. After that you better get your pen out though!

one more thing I would add about the moon clips is that they are easy to load. I was alway under the impression that moon clips are very difficult to load and some even required special tools. But at least with this particular gun and it’s clips they are easily loaded with no special tools.

Dan