SP-101 Durability

[Halv]

I've been looking at a smaller revolver for awhile. Liked the J frames, but I hear they can't take a steady diet of full .357, and are inteded to be practiced with .38. Is the SP 101 able to take full load .357 or would you want to mix .38 in with that too?

If I have to, I'll get a GP100. But id rather have the smaller gun if it can take constant use of .357.

 

[chg]

Mine's 11 or 12 years old and has had about a thousand rounds of .357/yr through it with no problems.

 

[Halv]

Wow, that sounds great! thanks. My local shop had one in .327 fed, and I liked it, I assume it would feel the same in hand as the .357, I think I'll have her order me one!

 

[BlindJustice]

I have a J-frame MOdel 60-15 Chiefs Special 3" bbl. in .357 Mag.
it's 24 oz. empty - about 2+ oz lighter than an SP-101 I've shot
.357 Mag in it but not many cylinder full in a row - perhaps a custome
grips would help. The 3" Bbl. model comes with an adjustable rear sight
and I have the plain ramp front. In .38 SPecial it's a delight to shoot
DOuble or Single action. I do like the option of .357 Mag in case I was
camping / hiking My carry load is .38 SPecial +P 125 gr. Gold DOt at
1100 fps from DOuble Tap. I also have .357 Mag cases loaded down to
.38 SPecial +P and a bit more for hardcast 158 gr. SWC.

The J-frame all stanless steel J frame the 60 and 640 frame was beefed up for .357 Mag in the mid 90s. The frame in front of the cylinder is longer and more robust than the previous .38 Special +P capable models.

Randall

 

[WNC Seabee]

My 3" SP101 has had a steady diet of .357 with no ill effect. If you do 1 thing...go buy the Wolff Reduced Power Spring package from Midway. It makes the trigger pull super smooth.

 

[Naybor]

The SP101 in either caliber will probably outlast your lifetime and your kid's lifetime.

.357 and .38 Special are found everywhere, with .38 special target and range practice loads very reasonable ($22 - $24 for 100 rounds), but .327 may be harder to find and may actually cost more than the bigger caliber.

Ruger says it's SP101 is designed for a FULL CONTINUOUS DIET of .357 (and .327), and has more steel in all the right places than lighter J frame Makes and models.

Unlike some makes, you can practice dry firing your Ruger all day with no ill effects.

I like the ease in which the SP101 can be disassembled for cleaning.

 

[nonseven]

Why not just buy the 327 Federal version?

This round does better in short barrels than the .357 - I'm getting 1430 fps with the
115g Speer Gold Dot load. That's over 500 ft lbs of KE!

If the 357 125g load in a 4" barrel at about 1400 fps is the all-time best man-stopper, than the 327 can't be too bad!

 

[19-3Ben]

But id rather have the smaller gun if it can take constant use of .357.

You're gonna run out of wrist long before that SP101 runs out of ability to take .357mag.

 

[funkeecowboy]

Lots of people say the Ruger's are ugly but I think they look great. I'm on the lookout for SP101 in .357 with the 3" barrel myself.

 

[leadcounsel]

Love mine and it's a tank. 9.5 out of 10 stars. Only issue is that it comes with a very vanilla grip. No compliants, but it could be better. Depending on your hand size you may want to buy an aftermarket grip.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Even firing a steady diet of magnums, your hand will give out before the revolver will.

 

[Creature]

I like the 101 but its just too heavy for me to carry. I have a Model 36 that is a as old as the hills and is still my daily carry. I feel VERY VERY well armed with that little snubby. Especially when it is stoked with standard pressure Buffalo Bore 158gr LSWCHP. After years of thinking that 357 was the "end all" round, I have found that shooting .357 out of a snubby just too dang brutal on my wrist. The beating it dished out to the shooter just isn't worth it to me. I was even developing a flinch because of it. The .38 Special is plenty potent at close distances and perfect for belly guns...especially when shooting Buffalo Bore ammo... the standard pressure load is heavy hitting. My advice is look for a j-frame.

 

[chg]

Good catch Seabee, a $10 spring kit will make alot of difference for the trigger pull. Other than the spring kit there's not much to do to it. I'm on my 3rd front sight but that's just me looking for something better. Same with the grips, gone full circle and am back to the factory grips. The Hogues were the most comfortable but the factory grips carry the best for me. There are more holsters available for the 2" than the 3", there's no real difference in ease to conceal with a good IWB holster between the two barrel lengths. You will do good by either.

 

[mesinge2]

Mine has been great. I don't even shoot 38s in mine. Since I use it for self defense, I only shoot my carry load in it. I buy the Fiocchi 158gr. load that uses the Hornady XTP bullet. It is a 50 round box for about the same price as most 20 round boxes of self-defense ammo and I prefer the heavier weight bullet.

Here's my SP101 and a link to a video showing the accuracy the weapon is capable of, and yes that's me doing the shooting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKEKrJMAQV8



Click Image to Enlarge

 

[Drail]

The only real problem with the Ruger GP and SP revolvers are the razor sharp corners the factory machines onto the edges of the trigger. I would fix that before even thinking about spring changing or action work. If Ruger designed and made hand tools all of the handles would have 90 degree sharp corners on them. They are GREAT revolvers though. Overbuilt to the max.

 

[RugerFirepower]

The only real problem with the Ruger GP and SP revolvers are the razor sharp corners the factory machines onto the edges of the trigger.

I've heard about that several times, but my SP101, which I bought earlier this year, has the nicest feeling trigger on any revolver I've ever held (I'm talking about the actual trigger, not necessarily the trigger pull, although I have absolutely no complaints about that either). Very nicely rounded edges.
Would this be just because it's a newer model and Ruger & Co have heard the complaints about the sharp edges? Or does there seem to be no real consistency in sharp/well-rounded edges, and was I just lucky?

 

[Peakbagger46]

I picked my 2.5" SP101 up used (great condition) last winter for $300 and LOVE it. Trigger is a bit heavy for the wife, but I shoot it just fine. It did have some sharp edges... several hours with very carful dremel work and an emery board to the back of the trigger fixed that problem though. Put a set of crimson trace laser grips on her and feel pretty good with it as a CCW, with the exception of having only 5 shots.

It is wonderful for woods carry with the first shoot being for snakes with the next four loaded with 180g flat nose rounds over a good dose of 2400. My carry load is some old 180g Winchester Ranger (think black talon) rounds that expand very well, at least in water.

 

[JEB]

the sp-101 is a five shot stainless steel tank......but its an elegant tank!

currently its my favorite handgun of the rest that i own, and one i will never sell (just to see if it is even possible to wear one out! )

 

[whitecoyote]

My Ruger SP-101 is working just fine. Handles well, shoots well, but I can't get over all the scratches!
Seriously you'll never wear one out.

 

[Jamie B]

the sp-101 is a five shot stainless steel tank......but its an elegant tank!

currently its my favorite handgun of the rest that i own, and one i will never sell (just to see if it is even possible to wear one out! )

Excellent description - mine is perfect!

Jamie

 

[Vern Humphrey]

If Ruger designed and made hand tools all of the handles would have 90 degree sharp corners on them.

Actually, William Battersea Ruger did desgin and make hand tools -- that's how he got his start in manufacturing. His hand tools were noted for their ergonometric designs -- in an era before ergonometric was "cool." Take a look at the Ruger MK I Automatic to see how Ruger viewed grip angles and similar matters.

 

[357 Terms]

I was one of the unfortunate souls that used Blue Dot and 125 grain bullets. shot a 2.5 686 loose right along side a sp101. that lil Ruger shows no ill effects

 

[cackalak]

That is the very revolver that I'm going to purchase next (357 2 1/4"). If the gun is anything like my GP, I'd have zero concerns.

 

[LeonCarr]

You will find Jimmy Hoffa before you wear out an SP-101.