Talk me In/Out of the SP101 as my new CCW
- Thread starter Jotobo
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harmon rabb
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Talk you in to carrying one: it's smallest true 357. As in, it's actually designed to be a 357, to be controllable and shootable with 357, to fire a steady diet of thousands of 357 rounds. It can handle any hot rodded 357 round -- buffalo bore has some 125gr jhp loads that will hit 1450fps out of a 3" sp101. It's dead reliable, and if you run out of ammo, it would make a great club. A sp101 backhand would probably break a jaw and knock out half of the teeth. Due to the curves of a revolver, it's VERY easy to conceal for its size.
Talk you out of carrying one: well, it's heavy as heck compared to j-frame and LCR 357's. the trigger stinks compared to the LCR (but is nice compared to the j-frame). and a j-frame or LCR can still fire a decent amount of 357 rounds.
Talk you out of carrying one: well, it's heavy as heck compared to j-frame and LCR 357's. the trigger stinks compared to the LCR (but is nice compared to the j-frame). and a j-frame or LCR can still fire a decent amount of 357 rounds.
Buy it you won't regret it!! I prefer the 3 1/16 inch barrel, the extra length for me is still easy to conceal IWB or on the belt. I used Iowegans do it yourself trigger/action instructions and the trigger is as good as any Smith I own.
Like others have said one can shoot pussycat wad cutters to 180 grain blasters and everything in between. They hold up well and the fit and finish is superb, the modular design makes for easy disassembly and cleaning. The best thing is the price! New or used I consider the SP to be the best value .357 out there at the moment.
Holsters and accessories are plentiful and available from many sources and reasonably priced. The stock grips fit me like a glove and conceal well for me. The longer barrel is suitable for woods or street use and I have no negatives to report. They really are great little well built tanks and the stainless finish is easy to maintain.
Like others have said one can shoot pussycat wad cutters to 180 grain blasters and everything in between. They hold up well and the fit and finish is superb, the modular design makes for easy disassembly and cleaning. The best thing is the price! New or used I consider the SP to be the best value .357 out there at the moment.
Holsters and accessories are plentiful and available from many sources and reasonably priced. The stock grips fit me like a glove and conceal well for me. The longer barrel is suitable for woods or street use and I have no negatives to report. They really are great little well built tanks and the stainless finish is easy to maintain.
I would look at the others you are considering as well. While RIA has been building 1911's for a while and is also considered about the best budget 1911 out there I'm not sure I would trust my life to it. The 1911 can be very reliable but at $400 or whatever the RIA is going for these days I have personal questions about trusting it with my life. For a range gun I'd use one any day of the week. I've had other budget 1911's and at some point sooner or later they all had some issue pop up, beyond springs needing replaced. I would personally balk at the RIA.
Of the 3 that leaves me with the Kahr and the SP101. I like Kahr pistols for defense. They are well sized and carry a decent number of rounds. They seem to be reliable and favorite of the mid priced carry pistols. If the Kahr is a pistol you want to carry, I'd look at buying one.
The SP101 is a great carry revolver as well. It has trade offs and benefits from the autoloading Kahr. You have to determine which set of benefits you want, be that from an autoloader or a revolver. Of the two types, the Kahr and the SP101 are both good options for carry.
Of the 3 that leaves me with the Kahr and the SP101. I like Kahr pistols for defense. They are well sized and carry a decent number of rounds. They seem to be reliable and favorite of the mid priced carry pistols. If the Kahr is a pistol you want to carry, I'd look at buying one.
The SP101 is a great carry revolver as well. It has trade offs and benefits from the autoloading Kahr. You have to determine which set of benefits you want, be that from an autoloader or a revolver. Of the two types, the Kahr and the SP101 are both good options for carry.
788Ham
Member
Get the SP 101, you'll not be sorry! A couple have already stated, about the DA trigger being "stiff and gritty", mine was also. Some say you can dry fire them a couple thousand times, or just shoot them, I took mine to a very good smith here in town. For $60 OTD, he polished the hammer, a couple of trigger parts, put in a #12 Wolff hammer spring, the difference is now night/day! It actually shoots better DA than SA, smoother. I have the 3.06", get one!
kmrcstintn
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nice list of choices...
I have owned in the past & currently own an SP101; I feel they are too heavy for my style of CCW (in-pocket carry); in the past I started with a 2.25" used spurless that was 'ok' but didn't wet me whistle; a few years later I had a 3" that I liked better, but I thought I wanted a semi (seller's remorse after that mistake); my current is again a 2.25" spurless (better trigger than the previous one) that will be my belt-carry defensive revolver while woods walking & hunting under PA's new CCW while hunting provision -- this is the tricky part since wording in the stature suggests a firearm that doesn't meet criteria for a hunting handgun (eg: revolvers); I chose the spurless since it is DAO and trying to 'hunt' with it is a futile effort in my mind since revolver accuracy is highly improved with single action shooting
on the subject of CCW handguns, I chose the Beretta Nano in 9mm to accompany my S&W 642 in .38 spl +p; it is a bit heavier, but the dimensions are good for in-pocket carry
I have owned in the past & currently own an SP101; I feel they are too heavy for my style of CCW (in-pocket carry); in the past I started with a 2.25" used spurless that was 'ok' but didn't wet me whistle; a few years later I had a 3" that I liked better, but I thought I wanted a semi (seller's remorse after that mistake); my current is again a 2.25" spurless (better trigger than the previous one) that will be my belt-carry defensive revolver while woods walking & hunting under PA's new CCW while hunting provision -- this is the tricky part since wording in the stature suggests a firearm that doesn't meet criteria for a hunting handgun (eg: revolvers); I chose the spurless since it is DAO and trying to 'hunt' with it is a futile effort in my mind since revolver accuracy is highly improved with single action shooting
on the subject of CCW handguns, I chose the Beretta Nano in 9mm to accompany my S&W 642 in .38 spl +p; it is a bit heavier, but the dimensions are good for in-pocket carry
The SP 101 is a fantastic revolver. I've carried a 3" version since the mid 1990's and it's still going strong. Replaced the front sight twice with factory replacement parts as they became very shined up fom wear. It spent a lot of time in the lower left inside front pocket of a Filson cruiser's vest. Last replacement sight was a couple of nylon (I think they're nylon) sights, C-more from Magna-Port. Bought a bright green one and a flo-orange. Installed the orange one, filed it down to hit poa at 15 yards with a favored load and have been happy ever since. The green one's sitting in the loading room as a spare.
Tried Hogue and Pachmeyer grips, went back to the factory grips. Did replace the factory springs immediately to get a decent trigger. The newer 101's seem to have a better trigger than the earlier ones. Have more holsters for this 3" revolver than any other handgun I've owned. Settled on a Milt Sparks PMK for on the belt and their Versa Max II for iwb. Also have a 2 1/4" and 2 1/4" doa but the 3" is the one that gets used daily.
Tried Hogue and Pachmeyer grips, went back to the factory grips. Did replace the factory springs immediately to get a decent trigger. The newer 101's seem to have a better trigger than the earlier ones. Have more holsters for this 3" revolver than any other handgun I've owned. Settled on a Milt Sparks PMK for on the belt and their Versa Max II for iwb. Also have a 2 1/4" and 2 1/4" doa but the 3" is the one that gets used daily.
22-rimfire
Member
Good. I think you have made your choice. The SP-101 is too heavy for me. I would leave it at home. Carried a Glock 23 yesterday.... darn that thing is heavy compared to my S&W 442. But I wanted more fire power for the particular location I was at. I have considered carrying a Colt Detective Special however.
dprice3844444
member
sp101 is solid,or a sw model 65 3 inch hb,gives you 1 more shot
The SP101 2.25" DAO has been my daily CCW for a few years now. I highly recommend it. I have changed the grip on mine to a Hogue nylon grip and it's more comfortable to shoot now. It also hasn't cause any concealment issues for me. I'd love to change the front sight on it, but haven't looked into it yet.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Personally, I am staying away from Kahr's. I had 4 of their poly guns and had problems with EACH one. You can't beat the .357 for a manstopper and the SP101 will eat anything you feed it. I have an SP101 and it is a dandy. Tad heavy compared to an Airweight J Frame. Had the Ruger LCR 357...got rid of it! Sure it fired the 357's but, if you are not careful, if you don't let the trigger reset fully forward, it will let you pull the trigger and advance the cylinder and you will have skipped one live round. Since you only have 5 to begin with, that round is precious.
Deaf Smith
Member
I have both the SP101 2 1/2 inch .357 DAO and regular SP101 plus 2 1/2 inch 640-1 (as well as the 60-1) S&Ws.
I have to say the Rugers are excellent (as are the S&Ws.)
I'd say pack the SP101 and for your reload get a Ruger LCP .380 as the reloading times for any revolver are not as good as a simi-auto (forget Jerry Miculek.. he a good guy but uses large revolvers and ring clips.. not real practical for street carry.)
Just shoot often and gain skill. You only have 5 shots and thus skill is top priority!
Deaf
I have to say the Rugers are excellent (as are the S&Ws.)
I'd say pack the SP101 and for your reload get a Ruger LCP .380 as the reloading times for any revolver are not as good as a simi-auto (forget Jerry Miculek.. he a good guy but uses large revolvers and ring clips.. not real practical for street carry.)
Just shoot often and gain skill. You only have 5 shots and thus skill is top priority!
Deaf
Geezer Glide
Member
The SP101 is much heavier that the other revolvers the same size. In my opinion, they are too heavy to pocket carry. That said, I do own a 2 1/4 inch SP101 DAO. I love the gun, I just don't carry it.
Hoppes Love Potion
Member
Before going with the SP101, I would also look at the S&W Model 60 3" or 640 2". They are a little lighter, a bit nicer, have better triggers, and tend to hold their value well.
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