SP 101 sights/another first handgun post...

[happycamper374]

Hi all,

I've lurked here a while and just started posting. I've read through several first handgun posts and also SP 101 posts and still thought my question was relevant. If not, I apologize.

I've been in the market for a first handgun. Even though it's not exactly possible, I was hoping that it would be a "jack of all trades" gun. Ideally something I can have for the home, while I'm out in the woods, going plinking, and maybe to carry. I've tried a few Glock models, a Kimber 1911, Ruger Mark III, Ruger Single Six in .22 (I think that's the model), and a GP 100. As to my skill level, I can shoot 4 inch groups at 10 yards with the guns I've tried. I don't have much to compare to, so I'm not sure where I fall in the skill spectrum. I already own and shoot/hunt with several long guns.

I've enjoyed the revolvers the best, did some homework, and decided to search for an SP 101 with a 3" barrel in .357. The local range doesn't have one to rent, but I was able to handle one at another store. I liked it except I was really turned off by the sights. The rear sights were just too low and I couldn't see the front post very well. I know that I can replace the front post or put a dot on it.

How do you feel about the rear sights? Do you have any tricks to alter them or increase the visibility? And, since I don't have any "in person" guidance for this decision, what do you think about an SP 101 as a first (and only, at least for a while) handgun?

 

[Chuck Perry]

Someone (trijicon?) makes a replacement front night site, a self luminous dot. I am not aware of anything you can do for the rear sight. Ruger offers their 32 Federal Magnum SP101 with an adjustable rear sight; too bad they don't offer it on the 357 version.

 

[markallen]

Bowen has put a rear sight on the Sp101. See article link below.
Don't know the cost.
As for myself I have a Gemini Custom "Small Wonder" fiber optic front sight, on my 2" Sp101.
For myself, I have never felt an adjustable rear sight was needed for such a close in work handgun.

http://www.gunblast.com/Bowen-SP101.htm

 

[James T Thomas]

easy fix

I'm surprised no one has not recommeded first of all, just to place some bright color paint on that front sight.

There are many posts here on THR about that.

Whether the rear sight is a bigger; deeper or wider notch will not effect your accuracy. It may slightly effect how quickly your eyes pick up that front sight blade.

My procedure is to pick up or look for the front sight first; over the tip of the barrel, and then to raise or level the rear sight into alignment -all the while, keeping that front sight in visual focus.

The front sight should be your "main focus."

 

[David E]

You'd be better served with an adjustable sighted gun for "general purposes" than you would a fixed sighted gun.

If you liked the GP-100, maybe keep an eye out for a 4" or even a 2 3/4" Ruger Security Six.

 

[happycamper374]

Mark Allen, while that's a perfect fix, I found on their site that it's 500 bucks. At that point I may as well buy two guns, a plinker and one for more serious work.

And I'm keeping my eyes out for good finds at the local pawn shops. Though it's been hard to find one that carries handguns. Durham is not very gun friendly...

 

[RugRev]

As front sights go Gemini Customs offers both a gold bead and fiber optic fronts for the SP. Trijicon and Meprolight offer tritium dot fronts and the Mepro has a white ring circling the tritium to aid in daytime use. Express Sights offers Big Dot and Standard Dot sights with or without tritium inserts and they are very easy to pick up. To find the rear sight easier one can paint (e.g. neon orange or green) the back of the sight notch on the frame. Using one of the aforementioned front sights and the paint is way under a $100. For a small frame gun the SP is about as durable as they come and with tuning can rival any of the alternatives. As a first gun, though, I would be tempted to start with a "medium frame" revolver with a 4" bbl. as they are more versatile.

As to the the $500 price on the Bowen sights it probably includes action work and the taller rear sight requires a taller front. For considerably less one could have Jim Stroh (Alpha Precision) or about any other decent gunsmith fit an adjustable
S&W rear sight and new front.

 

[OrangePwrx9]

There's lots to like about the SP101, but the sights aren't one of them. I had major problems with the sights on mine. It was purchased new in the mid '90s, so they may be better now. AFAIK, the third party sight options weren't available back then either.

Back then I was kind of wedded to the 125gr. JHP over a full load of W296. It was what I used in everything else. The SP101 shot very low with this load, so I commenced filing on the front sight. Before long, I'd filed the front sight into near invisibility in certain light conditions...and the gun was still shooting low. Out of desperation, I turned the front sight around so that the steep surface was facing aft (had to redrill the rollpin hole through the front sight to do this). This helped visibility a bit, but the gun still shot low. Smartened up a bit and tried loading 140gr. and 158gr JHPs and found a 140 gr. load that hit to Point of Aim. The increased muzzle rise from the heavier slug raised the POI. But, even turned around, the front sight visibility was poor.

Liked everything else about the gun and hung onto it for another 12 years, not shooting it much. Finally put Crimson Trace grips on it, which made it a fun and effective shooter.

The point is that you'll probably have more trouble with elevation differences between POA and POI than left-right azimuth errors. You should experiment with different bullets and loads in an attempt to bring POA and POI together before you start filing on the sight. Having done all that, you may still end up with a gun that shoots only one or two loads to where you aim them. Taking up handloading might be helpful.

In your shoes, I'd be scanning the gun auction sites in search of a Ruger Security Six with a 4" barrel. It would have adjustable sights and be much lighter and more compact than the GP100. They're accurate and Ruger tough too.
FWIW
Bob

 

[snooperman]

For an all-in-one-gun .....

You would be better served with a different gun than an SP101. There are many you could choose from such as a 3" S&W model 66 or model 19. You can find them used in gun shops for the same price as thr Ruger SP101. Don't get me wrong, the SP 101 is a fine gun and I like mine, but for all the uses you want in one gun you would be better off with a different type of .357 magnum. I have the S&W model 66 in a 3" barrel and it is an excellent choice as an all-around gun. There are many others as well that I have such as my Dan Wesson 3" model 15 or even a 2 1/2" model 19.

 

[Cosmoline]

Ruger already made your gun--a short barrel Security Six:

It has fully adjustable rear sights with the same packability as an SP-101 or Speed Six. Plus it's tougher than a K frame magnum. Not too easy to find right now because people don't part with them very often, but they're worth scouting for.

 

[snooperman]

CORRECTION- my S&W model 66 is a 4" not 3"...

However it is still a good choice too. Cosmoline, that is a beautiful Ruger, and I wish Ruger was still making the sixes as I like them better than the new ones.

 

[goon]

I love my 3" Sp-101 and carry it most of the time. When I put the GP-100 on my hip it just feels so huge!
My Sp-101 also shot low so I fixed that with a file. Had the problem been beyond being solved by that, I would have quickly sent it back to Ruger to have the sights regulated. I had to do this with the GP-100 because I ran out of windage adjustment trying to get the sights zeroed and I was very happy with their response and turn around. They fixed the sight issue, fixed about a half dozen other things that didn't need fixing, and smoothed out the action to the point where it's better than any revolver I've ever handled!
So getting a defective Ruger resulted in the smoothest handgun I've ever owned.

For the sights, eventhough they are fixed I've found it's not as much of an issue as you might think. Mine shoots standard 158 grain loads from Federal, Remington, CCI, and Magtech and Speer 135 grain GDHP's right to point of aim at 25 yards. Most 158 grain .38 Special factory loads and my handloads shoot about 2" high at that range. I did have to do some careful filing to get the point of impact there, but the fact is you could fire a cylinder full of each at the same target and at the end, you'll have one ugly group. I've never tried 125 grain loads out of this revolver so I can't say what it would do with them.

 

[Cougfan2]

For a front sight replacement, check out the Small Wonder front sights from Gemini Customs.

http://www.geminicustoms.com/store/

 

[DMK]

Not sure why you'd need adjustable sights unless you want to shoot many different loads at different ranges.

I put a Trijicon Tritium night sight on my SP101. I love it. It's easy to see in the daytime and of course glows at night. Helpful to me, because it's my nightstand gun as well as a CCW and a woods gun.