Ruger Sp101

[ArmedOkie]

I'm looking at ruger sp101 4+" barrel. I'm trying to decide between the 357 and 327. I only have about one more question. I have handled a 327 but not a 357.

Is the 357 the exact same size and near same weight as the 327, just 5 round instead of 6?

 

[Hammer059]

They are pretty much the same, except as you mentioned the difference in caliber and one more round in the 327.

Personally, I wouldn't go with a 327 because ammo is more expensive and harder to find for me.

I owned a .357 SP101 in 4" and I felt that a 4" barrel was too long for a revolver that only holds 5 shots. I also didn't like the green dot front sight. Otherwise I had no complaints.

 

[ArmedOkie]

I loved the weight, the sights, and the grip. I actually wish they had a 6" version, but 4 may allow it to conceal easy and be an all around good sidearm.

I like that the 327 can do near-357 power, 32 short/long, 32 hr magnum, and 32 acp. Still, 38 special and 357 mag is the ol standby.

 

[TruthTellers]

You can find .327 online easily enough. Use the Federal .327 for target and for self defense go with Speer's 100 grain Gold Dot.

In the sp101, .327 makes that a great all around gun. I'm not hating on the .357 or .38, but you can get a much smaller and lighter .38 and in .357 a bigger gun is better for recoil control and the extra round.

The only issue with .32 is you won't find it at Walmart or other sporting goods stores. You'll have to buy the ammo online to get a decent price and the best loads.

 

[LoneGoose]

I recently bought a SP-101 in .327 Fed. My local gun store has plenty of ammo for it, but no .32 Mag or .32 Long. I was surprised when I shot it, at how "snappy" the recoil is with this gun. The gun stays on target, but be prepared for the slap. I have a rubber Hogue grip on order for it.

To me it's a toss-up between .357 and .327. Go with what makes you warm inside.

 

[DLam]

I am a 357 junkie, but recently picked up a SP101 4" in 327. Great revolver, great cartridge IMO.

 

[Hondo 60]

Unless you reload your own, Hammer059 is correct.
The ammo for a .327 Fed is pretty scarce & expensive.

Although with that model, you can use 32 S&W, 32 S&W Long, 32H&R Mag & 327 Fed

With a 357 you can also use 38 Spl which is cheaper & available.

 

[grter]

Would go .327 magnum.

 

[old lady new shooter]

related dumb newbie question

Somebody in the other thread told me the Ruger I couldn't shoot the other day was probably an SP101. Besides the trigger being incredibly heavy, the instructor told me the gun was too small for my hand. My hands are big for a woman but certainly not bigger than an average man's, so my dumb question for today is how do you guys comfortably shoot them?

 

[TruthTellers]

ArmedOakie, what purpose you plan to use the sp101 for? If you're just looking for a target practice gun, I'd suggest the .357, but if you're looking to carry it, I'd say go with .327 mag. The extra shot can be the difference between life and death.

 

[khari]

Old Lady New Shooter, I replaced the grip on my SP101 with a Hogue grip. it made a huge difference and I have fairly large hands

 

[old lady new shooter]

Old Lady New Shooter, I replaced the grip on my SP101 with a Hogue grip. it made a huge difference and I have fairly large hands

Did you get the one with the finger grooves or without?

 

[stoky]

This is the grip I ended up with:

The factory grip was too small. I had a Hogue on it for a while, but it was too grabby with a loose fitting cover garment. P.M. me if your interested in trying the Hogue. It was a very tight fit on my SP101, some silicon spray might help with the install.

 

[old lady new shooter]

This is the grip I ended up with:

The factory grip was too small. I had a Hogue on it for a while, but it was too grabby with a loose fitting cover garment. P.M. me if your interested in trying the Hogue. It was a very tight fit on my SP101, some silicon spray might help with the install.

That looks beautiful! And just one finger indentation, that must be way more comfortable than the one with three of them.

Thanks very much for the offer to try the Hogue. I'm 99% decided on getting the Smith 686+ so I guess I have to get the grip that fits that.

 

[Ed Ames]

Is the 357 the exact same size and near same weight as the 327, just 5 round instead of 6?

I have handled both. I own a 3" .327.

I have read, but not tested for myself, that the .357 and .327 guns weigh the same. With the 4+" the weight is said to be 29.5oz. The same gun in .22lr goes up to 30oz.

 

[RugRev]

I have a SP101 like Stoky with the 1 finger groove grip. In the past had a Magnum Carry with a Hogue wood grip without finger grooves and it twisted in my hand when firing due to small size. I don't have that problem with the Hogue wood grips on my larger guns (GP100 and former 686). Also, the later 686's have a round butt so that offers another choice: round butt or round to square conversion grip.

 

[Tallball]

I have the 327. The original grips were too small and the trigger is ridiculously heavy.

Some 32 magnums will shoot 32acp reliably and some won't. It seems pretty random. My 327 SP101 won't, but I would bet there are some out there that will.

 

[TruthTellers]

I have the 327. The original grips were too small and the trigger is ridiculously heavy.

Some 32 magnums will shoot 32acp reliably and some won't. It seems pretty random. My 327 SP101 won't, but I would bet there are some out there that will.

That can depend on the .32 ACP ammo being used too.

 

[eldon519]

The SP101 does have a somewhat uncooperative trigger. I do not consider my hands to be large for a guy, but I do wear a large glove. Still pretty thin fingers, palms, etc. Anyway, I never had problems with any grip on the SP101 other than getting blisters with full-house loads. I've tried factory, Hogue rubber mono grip, Pacmayr Compac, and Badger bootgrip. Of the four the Hogue is probably my least favorite, but there is nothing wrong with it. I just think the geometry is too upright, the grip a bit long for concealment, and the texture a bit too tacky. They do make a nylon version which would solve the tacky part. The Pac and Badgers are both a little more hand-filling and are my favorites.

 

[Apple a Day]

A couple of Wolff springs and a tiny touch-up of the trigger return spring channel did wonders for my SP-101 trigger. It's still been 100% reliable.
I have big hands but the Hogue grips work just fine for me. The initial tackiness wore off with use.