Ruger SP101 in .38 Spl

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Deaf Smith

Deaf Smith

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Found one for sale for $300.

It's an older one, short cylinder, in .38 Spl. and not .357.

2 1/4 inch barrel and stainless with original grips.

Sound like a keeper?

Thanks,

Deaf
 
I saw a new one today for $500, .38special only, and I thought that was a good price. I think 300 dollars for any quality revolver is a GREAT deal.
 
I have the same thing in SPNY guise. The short answer is "hell yes".

The longer answer is that the shorter frame is just slightly more svelte; it just seems to feel better and look more proportioned. As well, mine shoots to POA with 158s in either standard or +P loadings. It's probably my favorite revolver to shoot these days.

So far as $300, did you see my short answer, above?
 
Deaf,

If everything checks out I would buy that one and smile all the way home!! You could turn it
Pretty quick in today's market or keep it and shoot the bejeebers out of it. They are nice well made guns that stand up to hard shooting and ask for more.

It's your dough!!!.......:)
 
A LGS about 2 months ago had one for $350. I've been :banghead::banghead::banghead: for not buying it.
 
I did a.... lay-away.

Yes I'll have it in a week but that was just to tempting to pass up so I just had them sit on it for me.

I used to have one many years ago but a ex-girlfiend wanted a good compact gun. Mine I had the hammer bobbed and a good set of Houge combat grips,

Yes I'm married but this was before I met my wife! It was a mighty good .38 and I'm real happy to find another. I do have the SP101 .357 but these .38s are a bit shorter and lighter.

Kind of like my first CCW guns. A S&W 640 in .38 and 2 inch 64, also in .38. I still have them to.

Deaf
 
A year ago today my Dad passed. I inherited his SP 101 in .38. It's built strong and shoots well. It now lives in the nightstand. If you find that you do not like yours, please PM me immediately and I'll arrange to take it off your hands at a profit for you.
MR
 
I will be the odd man and say I wouldn't want one....I don't want a .357 strong gun only chambered for .38....However, I wouldn't pass up one for 300 bucks.
 
Trad Archer said:
A LGS about 2 months ago had one for $350. I've been :banghead::banghead::banghead: for not buying it.
Click to expand...
No need to :banghead: the original stainless revolver known as S&W Model 60 is not all that difficult to find.
 
ColtPythonElite said:
I will be the odd man and say I wouldn't want one....I don't want a .357 strong gun only chambered for .38....However, I wouldn't pass up one for 300 bucks.
Click to expand...

Same here, and I don't quite get why Ruger makes both.
Why would someone buy the .38 over the .357 for the same price, weight, size etc..I must be missing something:confused:
 
rhinoh,

I use hot .38s in my .357 SP101. Magnums are a handful. Most people shoot .38s out of their small .357s due to the blast and recoil. But the .357 version gives you options the .38s don't.

And yes gang, I'll post a side-by-side of the .357 and .38 versions (I get it Friday, yes this Friday.)

Deaf
 
Congrats Deaf. Not a bad deal at all.
I shoot mostly 38s in my SP 357. I used to buy 38 reloads from the highway patrol in Spokane through a guy I worked with. $4 for 50 back in the early 90s. The reason most of my reloads are 38 today.

The shorter cylinder should take a little weight off the gun, more appreciated after a long day of packing.
 
Whaddya mean "it isn't ALREADY in Deaf's Artillery Locker" ? ? ?

$300 for that isn't just a steal, it is more like robbing Fort Knox.. {GRIN!}

Ruger (I think) might have made both a .38 & .357 model to satisfy requirements of security, armored car guys, etc that could only have .38's
 
foghorn,

When the SP-101 first came out it was in .38 only. Cylinder length just right for .38s, as was the frame.

But the cry came from gun writers that it should take .357s, just as the S&W 640 .38 was found strong enough to take .357s and S&W just lengthen the frame and cylinder to make the 640-1 (and yep I have both versions.)

Well at first Ruger just chambered some strait to .357 but the cylinder was to short (and hence the '125gr only' stamped on the gun.

So then Ruger re-designed and made the frame and cylinder a bit longer and vola, the .357 SP-101 was born.

Yes it's a bit shorter and lighter than the .357 full framed SP-101.

I nab it Friday and I'll add it to the stable.

attachment.php


Deaf
 
Deaf:

I didn't remember that Ruger just made the .38 version at first; I was more of a single-action revolver kind of guy then.

If it is rated for the "+P" ammo, it should still be decently comfortable with those loads....not like those "Ultra-Light-Tanium" revolvers. Shooting Budd has one of those 'less than 16 Oz' guns in .357. Shot it with a full-house 158-Gr .357 load....ONCE.

Show us some pics when you get that Ruger in your hands.
 
Are the Ruger SP101's pretty sturdy, as far as reloading goes?

Just got dies ordered for 357, and bought a couple of boxes of bullets when I was out yesterday. :)
 
That looks real good Sgt.

I wish Eagle would make their Secret Service Stocks for the SP-101 thinner and a bit smaller. I have a pair on my DAO SP-101 but it's a bit thick. Not real thick but my Ruger Speed Six SS stocks are thin and slim! And after all, these are concealment guns, right?

Two days to go!

Deaf
 
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