Ruger SP101

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JCook5003

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I have been considering picking one of these up to carry at time when my P239 wont work.........

I want to shoot 357's in it....

I would think 3" would be ideal but a little harder to conceal and the 2 inch may not give me a huge ballistic advantage over 38 special +P's

what do you guys think? How are something like a 357 CorBon DPX round in the 2 inch SP101? Should I go for the 3"?

If I get the 2 inch it will probably be carried at 1 - 2 O'Clock anyone else do this? the 3" at about 3:30 or so opinions on this?

I know its a lot of questions just interested in gathering opinions and suggestions.
 
This has been much discussed lately. Try looking at recent posts on this subject matter. It is no secret; I think the SP101 is a great little weapon. Mine are snubbies, and I do use magnum ammo, largely because they can share ammo with my bigger sixguns . I have at least one with me virtually all the time. I also try to have something bigger with me, usually a 4" .357 Speed Six or GP100. It is my opinion that the 3-1/16" SP101 would be an excellent carry weapon, perhaps as close to perfection as a .357 carry revolver can be for the urban/suburban environment, for most people. I am willing to put up with the extra weight and bulk of the larger-framed weapon, for now, so I don't yet actually own a 3+" SP101. I probably will, eventually. For now, I wear a police badge, and use the SP101 so much in the "back-up" role, the snubby length is handy. As for carry position, that can depend on body type and clothing worn, and how long a weapon can be tucked inside the pants at 0130 is a very individual matter. I have worn a 4" sixgun briefly IWB forward of the hip, but would not want to do it all day. I can wear a snubby SP101 in such a way all day, though my usual carry mode is more like 0300/0900, because I wear my duty pistol that way, and like to keep things in familiar places. I can only speculate how it would be to wear a 3" revolver IWB forward of the hip.
 
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I carry my 2 1/4" SP at 3:30-4:30 very comfortably. I don't think a 3" would be any more difficult to carry and, if I had it to do over again, I might very well buy the 3". Another option, I think, would be the 3" GP100 as I believe they have the same grip size as the SP.

Edit: The GP100 3" does not have the same grip size as the SP101.

My SP became a real joy to shoot with .357s after I put a Trausch grip on. I'd shot the Houge grip and much prefer the Trausch.
http://www.trausch.com/form/accueilA.htm

I sure like the SP.

Cloudpeak
 
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I have a 2.25", my son the 3.0625". I wouldn't turn my hand over for the difference. He and I use the same model of holster from Bianchi and that being the model 7 which is a pancake. His fills the holster where mine does not. So that tells you that concealment is not an issue either way. Neither one are pocket guns due to weight and physical deminsions. There are slight advantages in both. The longer barrel gives you .8125" most sight radius and an oz. or so more weight that would be on the muzzle. At defensive distances the increase length is not going to be a big factor and the weight is what it is. Tit for Tat. I've had mine five years and he has had his about 2. They are excellent, excellent revolvers.
 
I have both barrel lengths, in multiple examples of the .357 SP101.

I carry one of the 2.25" versions daily, loaded with Buffalo Bore 158gr JHP .357.
 
Sp 101

Much the same as the above posts - SP 101 is just about the best for CCW for .357 or +p .38. I meant to get the 3" model, but the spurless 2" was available, so got it. I think it is the superior model for CCW, as it is "slick", very unlikely to get hung up. I question the need for 3" for this gun, although I also carry a Ruger GP 100 in 4" for the "really serious stuff". After some training and practice, I find that the "point & shoot", for close in, works surprisingly well, and obviates any "sight radius". I finally found some Speer GoldDot .357 mag. "short barrel" #23917 - pricey - to see if they are worth it. Too much snow right now to go anywhere! I also would recommend Trausch grips, tho everyone has their own grip needs. They seem to be more secure in hand, and more "cushiony" for full house loads.
sailortoo
Semper Paratus (also)
 
I would think 3" would be ideal but a little harder to conceal
Click to expand...

Depending on individual, maybe.

and the 2 inch may not give me a huge ballistic advantage over 38 special +P's
Click to expand...

.38 Spl +P is nothing to write home about, .357Mag out of a 2" barrel will give much higher performance than .38 Spl +P out of a 3" barrel or even a 6" barrel for that matter.


:evil:
 
2 1/4" SP101 with magnum loads at 6 O'clock IWB

Or,

2" Colt Cobra LW. at 6 or 3 O'clock IWB

I don't even notice the little weight difference. As a small framed guy, I would not carry anything IWB forward of the hip any longer than a 2" barrel. -And that's pushing it.

-Steve
 
go for the 3" you get about 50-100 fps more out of it depending on the load. Also a "little" no much, less flash, as more powder is burned in the barrel.

as far as trying to conceal an extra inch? Remember it's the barrel not the grip or the cylinder width. I could conceal a 6-9" anything if it were thin enough with normal grips. I would love to see more carry revolvers in longer barrels 4-8" Past six though it becomes a little harder to draw with.

In addition the little extra weight at the front will help you with recoil.

gun.gif
 
Oh man...Like Rexter, it's no secret that I am a huge fan of my 3" SP101. Do a search using my name in the revolver forum, and i'd bet half my posts are about the 3"SP101. Long story short, it doesn't get any better.
 
I have a 3 inch SP 101. I really like it. My best friend has the 2 incher. Hands down (to me anyways) the 3 inch is superior. I really appreciate the 50% increase in bbl sight radius. Another factor that I've noticed is that, while that 1 3/16 inches of steel don't really weigh that much, because they are hanging out at the end of the gun, the weight really does give me an advantage in quick follow-up shots.

I put a tritium night (front) sight on mine, then did a few minor cleaning up items on it. Now I think it's perfect!
 
If you are going to carry IWB, the additional inch is no drawback. I carry a 3" Taurus 605 (5 shot) when I want something easy to conceal. (I carry a 45 otherwise.)

I agree with the other posters that a 3" will shoot better and with more velocity than a 2".

Ken
 
Get some new grips if you plan to shoot .357's. I shot 50 rounds of hot 158 grainers out of my 2 1/4 incher and my middle finger took quite a bashing from the triggerguard.
 
I'm in the minority, but, right now I have a 2.25" SP-101 in my front pocket inside a Mika round cut holster. I don't mind the weight. In a good comfortable pair of slacks it rides remarkably well and doesn't give itself away. Just a few days ago I was in the a local gun shop, where the owner knew that I carried and never suspected that I had the gun on me. We talked about it for a few minutes and I produced the gun to look at and the owner was mildly surprised. I think that I would have a harder time doing that with the 3" model.

just my $0.02
 
I carry the 2 1/4" DAO with Trausch Grips...IMO, I see no real advantage to an extra 13/16" in barrel length and a hammer spur for CCW.
Click to expand...

I think the advantages have already been noted:
--more velocity (which is why the .357 excels),
--less muzzle flash,
--less recoil and muzzle rise,
--better sight radius for better aimed accuracy.

The hammer spur is not a problem for those who carry on the waist (IWB or OWB) and gives the option of firing single action for more accuracy if needed (think of the mall shootings or Luby's). After all, if one only has 5 shots, one wants to make each one count.

I am not disagreeing with your choice, just pointing out the advantages of the 3".

Ken
 
The hammer spur is not a problem for those who carry on the waist (IWB or OWB) and gives the option of firing single action for more accuracy if needed
Click to expand...

I don't like the exposed hammer but bought a DA/SA SP101 2 1/2 with the spur. I then bobbed the hammer and still have single action capability which I wanted mainly for testing various loads for accuracy. This has worked out very well as the spur is very easy to grab and pull to full cock.

Cloudpeak
 
Regarding that extra inch of barrel, in the 1980's, I had two S&W Model 60 fiveguns, one 2" and the other 3", and the difference in shootability, as quantified on my agency's qual course, was dramatic. I cannot remember the point spread, but basically, out to 15 yards, the 3" shot right along with my larger-framed sixguns, and was still good-to-go at 25 yards. The 2" shot notably larger groups at all ranges, even in hip-shooting at 2 yards, where it was not so much barrel length, as the extra weight out front that helped pointablity.
 
Rexter,

Thanks for the experience data. That's sounds right to me but it's nice to hear measured experience to back it up.

Ken
 
2 1/4" vs 3 1/16"...

The minimal increase in ballistic performance at the typical CIVILIAN SD range (3 yards) will make little, if any, difference in what the BG feels plowing into his chest.
As far as accuracy at 25 yards, I don't care what the difference is since a CIVILIAN SD scenario at that range is highly unlikely. It would also make a very interesting and expensive civil ,if not criminal, court case that the ONLY course of action you had to defend yourself was to shoot someone from 25 yards away. If I reasonably anticipate a need for accuracy at 25 or more yards, a snub nose revolver would not be my weapon of choice.
 
I sold my 3" SP101 and bought the 2 " DAO. It fits my back pocket better. I like DAO for the legal aspect that I can't be charged with cocking the hammer and having an accidental discharge. At combat distance it is plenty accurate. I all so put the Night sight on and polished the finish with a dremil. I dry fired it till I couldn't stand it no more. This made for a nice smooth trigger. I carry 2-5 shooters and reloads, so capacity is no problem.
 
I like DAO for the legal aspect that I can't be charged with cocking the hammer and having an accidental discharge.
Click to expand...

You cannot have an "accidental discharge" if you keep your finger off the trigger.
 
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