Ruger SP101

[spike404]

I often read these forums, but this is my first post.

I purchased a Ruger SP101 .357 stainless for home/personal protection. Are there any suggestions, or peculiarities about this weapon that I should know? The weapon will be kept at home, and only transported in my vehicle when traveling.

I do plan on firing about 100 .38 rounds in the next few weeks to become comfortable with the gun. I see no need in .357 practice, if I do not plan on loading .357's.

Again, any pertinent info on this weapon?

 

[fxstchewy]

All I know is I really like mine, bought it about 2 weeks ago and have run about 75 rds thru it without any issue, I keep Buffalo Bore 38+P in mine for carry and home.

 

[svxapeal]

I looked into these. Seemed like a great little gun. I had a GP100 and loved it. All the things I have seen people say,makes it seem like a wonderful gun. Congrats.

Caryn

 

[justadad]

Just remember to fully release the trigger when it returns in double action firing mode. If you ride it tight with your finger on the trigger during the trigger return, it won't fire again until you let up on it. It' a minor thing and once understood it's not an issue.

Other then that I can't think of any issues. You can shoot it till the cows come home. Don't be afraid to load it with some .357 maggies and let her rip. Life's short, have fun!

 

[J.R.W.]

Awesome gun, I've had mine about a month or two. Even heavy magnums are tolerable in this gun. Did you go 2" or 3" Barrel, DA or DAO?

 

[RusskiTexan]

I've installed the spring kit from Wilson Combat in mine (main + trigger return springs), and it had reduced the trigger effort quite a bit. I believe I chose 10# main. No FTFs and I like it a lot better than 14# stock.

Also google for IOK (Iowegan book of knowledge). It's has all you need to know about gunsmithing Ruger revolvers.

 

[XD9WBT]

I often read these forums, but this is my first post.

I purchased a Ruger SP101 .357 stainless for home/personal protection. Are there any suggestions, or peculiarities about this weapon that I should know? The weapon will be kept at home, and only transported in my vehicle when traveling.

I do plan on firing about 100 .38 rounds in the next few weeks to become comfortable with the gun. I see no need in .357 practice, if I do not plan on loading .357's.

Again, any pertinent info on this weapon?

Do you know the correct way to carry your weapon when it is in your vehicle state by state?

Do you have a plan if the six rounds do not stop the badguy?

Do you have a tactical flashlight in case the fight occurs on the street, in your bedroom, in your car, etc?

Do your wife and children know what to do if you start blasting during the night?

Lasers?

Have you practiced off hand shooting in case you lose the use of your lead hand at the beginning of the encounter.?

I could write about 100 more but I am bored. I am bored because I know the answer to the 100 questions.

Having the gun and bringing it home is just the start.

 

[Vonderek]

I found the factory grip to be uncomfortable and the gun moving about in my hand when shooting magnum loads. I changed to a Hogue monogrip and that solved the problem. The Hogue is larger so you sacrifice concealability. However, you state it is for home defense and will only be shooting .38s so it is not really an issue for you. Other than that, the trigger will smooth up after several hundred rounds. You need to re-think your 100-round idea. 100 rounds should be a starting point. It took me a couple hundred rounds to really master the fairly heavy trigger pull. Shoot as often as you can and dry-fire practise when you are at home.

 

[J.R.W.]

Do you have a plan if the six rounds do not stop the badguy?

-1=5

 

[SHOOT1SAM]

spike404,

Did you buy a new or used SP-101? I only ask because when these first came out, the barrels were marked "125 gr. only". Anything longer in .357 Magnum was too long and would cause the revolver to bind up. On later models, the cylinders were lengthened and this problem went away.

Just something to be aware of, IF, you happened to have bought one of the very early models.

Sam

 

[shooter429]

Excellent gun and caliber

100 rds is a good start. Make sure to keep it cleaned. You may want to do some dry firing to get practice and smooth the trigger pull a bit.

Congrats. An sp101 loaded with .38s should give a lifetime of great shooting. Awesome choice!

Shooter429

 

[spike404]

Thanks so much for all the heads-up and info. It appears I made a good choice.

I think I will try some .357 rounds.

Again, thanks!

 

[john1911]

Do you have a plan if the six rounds do not stop the badguy?

I could write about 100 more but I am bored. I am bored because I know the answer to the 100 questions.

You may not know as much as you think you do.

SP-101 is a great gun. I don't find magnum loads intolerable at all in mine. .38 Specials don't seem to recoil a bit.

 

[Glockman17366]

I really like my 3.06" SP101.
Since the OP isn't going to carry his revolver, I'd suggest getting the Hogue Monogrip to replace the factory grips.The Monogrip really tames the recoil so .357 rounds might be the better load.
The only negative of the Hogue's is they're more difficult to conceal if one carries the gun. Since the OP has no plans to carry on his person, reduced concealability isn't a concern.

BTW, although the OP only plan to shoot .38's, I do hope he tries a box or two of .357's to see how nicely the SP101 handles them.

I will add one thing...as much as I like my SP101, if I were to buy a house/car revolver, I'd go for a higher round count. Something like a Taurus Tracker .357 in stainless. The Tracker isn't too much bigger then the SP101 and holds 7 rounds. I've had one of these for close to 10 years..nice revolver!

 

[tomkatz]

Do you have a plan if the six rounds do not stop the badguy?

The sp101 is a great 5 ROUND gun LOL.

 

[Pistol Toter]

The Ruger SP101 is junk, crape, garbage, trash and a wothless paperweight!! That's why my primary ever day carry gun is a 2.25" SP101 loaded with 125 gr. med. vel. magnum Remington Gold Sabres. Like the fellow mentioned the trigger return is a bit different than a S&W in that yo have to allow it to return completely. You bought a top shelf gun fellow. You will wear out before it will. Do nothing to it but clean, lub and shoot. Become familiar with it READ THE OWNERS MANUAL!! If you ever take the trigger group out, don't pull the trigger with the group out of the gun; UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. Not yelling just emphasing. Enjoy your gun, it's a good one!!

 

[CDH]

I often read these forums, but this is my first post.

I purchased a Ruger SP101 .357 stainless for home/personal protection. Are there any suggestions, or peculiarities about this weapon that I should know?

The weapon will be kept at home, and only transported in my vehicle when traveling.

The SP101 will certainly work in that role, but it's really much better suited as a carry piece because it's small enough to conceal well.

For home or car use, I'd look at something along the lines of a high-capacity semi-auto with my highest recommendation going to the XD45 with perhaps the 4" barrel.
Of course it's a larger pistol, but for your stated use, concealment on your person isn't an issue. And the harder hitting .45 with triple the capacity of the SP101 isn't a bad thing either.

Keep the SP101 and get a good holster for personal carry, but it's nice to have more punch whenever possible.

 

[Monster Zero]

All I know is just take it out and shoot it and enjoy it. Then take it home and clean it. It'll last the rest of your life and you can hand it down to your granddaughter.

 

[OregonJohnny]

If you shoot a lot of lead .38 through it, clean the cylinder holes frequently as the next time you try and put .357 in, they might be sticky to load. The .38 rounds are shorter and leave a lead ring around the end of the cylinder holes. Then the longer .357s cram up against this lead ring and don't load or eject very well.

If you haven't already, do a ton of reading and research into home defense tactics, situations, safety considerations, bullet selection, penetration issues, etc. Keep in mind that .357 out of the same barrel as a .38 will be much harder-hitting and likewise, MUCH louder inside a closed room or hallway. Anything subsonic (under 1140 or so feet/second) such as average .38 Special rounds won't have the additional crack that faster rounds like the .357 have. Shooting any high-powered firearm inside a house can be deafening, but the .357 Magnum is particularly nasty. Just another thing to keep in mind.

Keep that Ruger cleaned and lubed and it will outlast your great grandchildren.

 

[spike404]

"..Like the fellow mentioned the trigger return is a bit different than a S&W in that yo have to allow it to return completely..."

Good bit of info. In other words, do not "ride" the trigger.

 

[Monster Zero]

Oh yeah one other thing

Shoot as much as you can afford, and even if you don't reload SAVE YOUR EMPTIES, and store them in a dry place.

They'll come in handy someday. The .38 special / .357 magnum cartridge is one of the easiest and most durable handgun cartridges to reload.

 

[James T Thomas]

good company

I've painted the front sight blade of mine with the flourescent orange paint that is available, and complement it with the HK #36 speed loaders.
-The front sight blade not being particularly outstanding.

And when ever I turn it over to any women to see if they like it; wife, daughters, etc., I always have to pry it out of their grasping little hands to get it back. A word to the wise on the peculiarity of that gun.

Oh, and another pecularity of that gun. It will not like to be just kept at home or transported about, but yearns to be your traveling companion.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

James T Thomas - What grips do you have on your SP101 that the women in your life like so much?

 

[moooose102]

well, there are probably about a hundred different things. but just a couple of words from me. 1) buy a box of GOOD "personal defense" ammo for protecting your self / home with. if it actually comes down to shooting someone, and i hope you never have to, you are going to want a bullet that will STOP the b.g. 2) buy lots of practice ammo, and practice, practice, practice. 3) at least once, shoot as close to dark as you can, to find out how big the fireball is out of the end of the gun. if it is quite large, you may want to change ammo brands (use you expensive p.d. ammo for this test. the reason behind doing this is you do not want to be blinded for 3-8 seconds after one shot. what if you miss? all that time, he has a chance to attack you! good luck and have fun! you bought a nice revovlver.

 

[XD9WBT]

You may not know as much as you think you do.

But at least I came up with a bunch of what ifs, all you did is find one little burp in a post I made while watching TV. Oh yeah, you da man.