Sp101= Sweeeeet!

[gggman]

Yesterday I bought a used but like new SP101 .357 at the Lewiston, Maine gun show for $280. I could not pass it up, seemed like a good deal.

I just got back from shooting it for the first time. WOW! What a sweet shootin' little wheel gun. Very pleasant to shoot, even with full power magnum loads. And surprisingly accurate for a snubby. The trigger breaks at a very crisp 4 lbs. even.

I don't know why I never bought one of these before. I didn't know what I was missing.

I'm sure many people will say "Where have you been, on the moon?", but I really never considered one of these before. I only bought it because the price was right.

I'm going to buy a good concealment holster, and this baby is going to be on my hip on a regular basis from now on.

Can anyone recommend a good outside the waistband holster for the SP101, that will keep it high and tight? I don't really care for IWB carry. (I'm kind of bony at the hips )

Also, are lined holsters quieter than unlined? I've noticed some holsters are kind of noisy when moving around.

 

[tc300mag1]

They are sweet shooting for sure i shot one and was surprised how easy recoil was on the 3" barrel with magnum loads.. I want a 2 1/4 for carry myself

 

[BJPARKER]

Bought one for myself for Christmas, the 3in and I agree- What took me so long!?

 

[denfoote]

I got to get me one of these!!

 

[V-fib]

I have the 3†also. Changes include bobbed hammer and CT grips. For OWB I use a Uncle Mikes high riding paddle holster strong side at about 3:30. The SP is my primary carry piece.

 

[Ringer]

As far as the holster I have been using a Galco Concealable Belt Holster and have been very happy with it. It keeps the gun pretty tight against the body and gives a good presentation of the grip, for me anyway. The concealable model is only molded to fit the gun on the outside and inner side towards the body is flat to snug up to you. I'm sure there are others as good or better but this is the only one I have tried. I can wear it all day and hardly know it's there.

 

[Lancel]

Wednesday is the estimated delivery day for my new fun gun, SP-101 3" .32 H&R Magnum.

 

[P95Carry]

Ringer ... your rig is fairly similar to my Jim Burke .... can't find a pic of it right now. That configuration tho sure suits me too. Hardly know it's there and yet ..... there is that ''comforting'' slight pressure from grips against ribs. Excellent carry set-up IMO.

I can also recommend the CT grips ... thay feel good and do not snag on clothes like my Hogues did .... plus they are a joy to use once light reduces.

 

[Ringer]

P95Carry - agreed that the Hogues do snag a bit but they have helped me adjust to this small gun. I couldn't seem to get a comfortable grip on the originals. With the Hogues this gun fits my hand pretty well. I may try one of the wood monogrips to avoid the snagging, not sure how much recoil bite they might add.

 

[45-auto]

Everything noted above is true.

I love mine.

A Wolff spring kit and a lot of dry firing will improve the action, incidentally.

I did lose the first one I had: my wife appropriated it for her own use, forsaking a perfectly adequate .38 special snub. So I had to buy another one.

 

[Heraclitus]

Congrats on a winning purchase, gggman! You won't regret it.

 

[Nick96]

Ringer,

Before shelling out big bucks for Hogue wood grips, try their nylon grip. Same color, dimpeling & shape as the rubber grips - but no snagging problem.

I've got two SP's (a .22 & a .357) & three Hogue grips. Started out with the rubber to replace the factory grip on the .357. Felt great, much more comfortable to shoot, made it a more natural pointer - but snagged like crazy on clothing.

So I got some wood grips. Same size & shape, but no dimpeling - and they felt too slick for me for concealed carry. Felt recoil is more pronounced. Not too noticable while shooting - but you notice the difference in your hand a few hours after shooting several cylinders of .357's. In other words, no real difference in an "emergency" situation. Just not the most comfortable for target practice.

I finally got the nylon grip for the .357 (the wood set went on the .22). The nylon has the dimpeling, so it's not slick feeling like the wood - but doesn't snag on clothing like the rubber does. Here's another plus too - the rubber & nylon grips use the same mounting stirup & screw (it's different for the wood grips). So both are easily interchangable (nylon for carry - rubber for shooting).

As I recall, the rubber & nylon are the same price - under $25 shipped to your door from Hogue. The wood grips are beautiful, but expensive - starting at about $60 as I remember.

The .22 SP gets shot more & is more of a fun gun (as well as a trigger control & sight picture understudy for the .357) - so the good looking wood grips are great for it. The .357 is a "work gun", and actually I prefer the black grips on it anyway. The rubber & nylon are almost identical in feel & appearance - so the ease of swapping them out for target vs. carry is an advantage.

BTW, my typical carry holster is an Uncle Mikes Sidekick - size 36 IWB with a slight forward cant. Under $20 and as comfortable as any IWB I've seen. I did a little cutting & stitching at the muzzel end so the gun would ride a bit lower & more securly (so the cylinder rides at about belt level).

 

[Lancel]

Nick96,

How thick are the Hogue nylon grips compared to the Ruger factory grips?

Larry

 

[Ringer]

Hmmm, wasn't aware of the Hogue nylon grips. Might have to give them a try.

Thanks

 

[Marshall]

Might check Eagle Grips as an option too. I didn't check to see if they make these Secret Service Polymer grips for the SP-101 but I would imagine they do. If they don't, I'm sure they would.

 

[twoblink]

#1) Make sure gun is empty
#2) Turn on CSPAN
#3) Practice dry firing everytime a Senator says they would like to raise taxes or take away your guns...

By the end of an hour of CSPAN, you'll have pulled the trigger at least a few thousand times The trigger becomes REALLY smooth after you dry fire a bit.

I have the Hogues and they seriously reduce the recoil, but they do snag like crazy as everybody else attests..

 

[riddleofsteel]

Here's mine;

The Hogue coco bolo mono grip is a little over size for CCW but the control it gives more than makes up for it. Same with the Hybraport, I would not want to fire it much close in a close retention posistion but I can fire five 125 grain full house magnums double action, keep them in the target and under control. A Wolff spring kit and polishing internal fire control parts does wonders for these little rockets.

 

[gggman]

Thanks for all the replys. Actually, I like the factory grips on the SP. It's one of the few handguns I've purchased that I didn't want to switch out the grips. I like the feel of them, they absorb recoil well, and they fit my hand. Also I like the utilitarian appearance of them. It's a no nonsense, no frills weapon and the grips have a very businesslike appearance.

 

[Nick96]

Lancel

All of the Hogue Mono-Grips are basically the same size & shape for the SP101. Compared to the factory grips, the Hogue's incorporate some added ergonomic features that the factory grips don't - like:

- The Hogue grips are highly contoured while the factory grip is somewhat blocky. There are palm swells on both sides to give a more hand filling grip. They are actually a little thinner at the bottom - and about the same width at the palm swells & top as the factory grips. You can view pictures of them on the Hogue web site (getgrip.com).

- They are about 1/2" longer than the factory grips, so you can get most of your pinky finger on it. But they are rounded so there's barely a thumbnails worth of actual added bulk.

- There is considerably more fill behind the trigger guard - but this doesn't alter the overall length. This feature was actually what made me go with them initially. With the factory grips my middle finger would take a beating from the back of the trigger guard slamming it while shooting .357's (no problem with .38's). The fill also works like the "Tyler T-Grip" adapter that's popular on revolvers with skinny wood grip panels. Just a more solid & comfortable feel (for me anyway).

- The Hogue has finger groves - but again this doesn't add anything to the overall length. I happen to like them since they give me added control.

As far as I'm concerned, the SP isn't well suited to be an ankle or pocket gun. And in every other concealed carry mode I'm likely to try, the small bit of added grip size doesn't matter. The added comfort, control & pointability the Hogues provide over the factory grip are a much bigger plus than any negative due to a small increase in size. Also, there is no appreciable weight difference either (maybe an ounce or two).

I realize this may sound like a sales pitch for Hogue. But honestly - I have no vested interest in the Hogue company. I do have their grips on four of my handguns though - and I have been very satisfied with the design, quality and craftsmanship of all of them.

 

[Lancel]

Thanks for the grip info.

Larry

 

[TonyB]

I just recently put a MONOGRIP on my SP.....I love it....dosen't seem to snag for me...I wear loose clothes.....as for a holster I use a Desantis Thumb break...and I put it BETWEEN my pants and belt...holds it tight and never moves......
www.desantisholsters.com

 

[Sisco]

SP with Hogue monogrip.
I have pics of it with Uncle Mikes boot grips and Eagle Secret Service wood grips too but I'm having problems posting pics.

 

[sidearm]

Congrats on the purchase! GOOD CHOICE. I enjoy my 101 - it's actually my main CCW. It's carried in a BladeTech IWB. Can't recommend a OWB (as I don't have one) but others here will know their stuff. I'm sure you'll be pointed in the right direction. My SP is the 2.25" varient. I'ts a wonderful carry gun. I still have the original grips. However, believe it or not, I bought Hogues at the local Ventura gunshow but left it on someones table. Too much beer? Hahahaha nah not really, just the way it goes I guess. I do however plan on getting another. They seem to be a better fit overall.

Sidearm-

 

[Sisco]

Let's try a different way to post 'em.
Uncle Mikes grips

Eagle grips