The Ruger SP 101 .357 Mag

Nairbedaw,

I think you mean figuratively

Welcome to the club. I am picking up my custom ordered sp101 on Friday. I already measured the clyinder gap at the shop. Came in a .003. I was pleasantly surprised at the fit and finish. Very high quality. I am taking it out to the desert to shoot a week after I pick it up and I can't wait.

 

Love mine

Put crimson trace on and now even shakes the clown can bring it home! It's got a 3" and with 125 jhp it's a hoot.i'm crashing the club.

 

Yep. Use Speer 135 grain GD's and Hogue rubber grips on mine.

 

I got this on Father's Day.



I agree with whoever said it, "I should have got one of these long ago!"

It shoots .357s far better than it would seem from it's small size.

I love mine.

 

I just got me one will shoot it this weekend hopefully. My GP100 and Super Redhawk needed a little brother to keep them company.
Love the feel of this little guy better than any other snubby I have felt. The little airweights are brutal to shoot so I think this one will be alot better.
roc1

 

I know. One of them is not a ruger but its the only pic I had.

 

Hey I wanna join the club too!
Love this pistol!

 

Those Hogues look right at home on the SP. Do they print badly, or catch on clothing? Sure do look comfy!

 

Q1, Ruger GP100, stainless, 4" brl Q2, Hogue Walnut, finger grooved grips, Q3, Hornady's new .357 round.

I have tried a few S&W .357's, they might be a bit more sophisticated but, not nearly as rugged as the Ruger. After firing hundreds of rounds through it, its well broken in and the action is nice and smooth. It's very accurate and while its weight makes it a bit of a club, that weight and 4" barrel give it nice ballance and low recoil.

 

I had one of these in .357 mag w/ 3" barrel (one of the few I regret trading off for the 'latest-n-greatest'); I was getting better with it (even with the teeny tiny grip) when I went onto something else (probably one of the hicap 9mm's thinking I needed more bullets on board); I'm getting really, really itchy for another one, but this time I'll throw a Hogue grip on it for increased control (intended purpose would be SD during hunting, woods walking, car, and bedside)

 

I got boot grips on mine. Got a trigger job done on it and its smoooooth and light. It was my CCW for a long time. I went to a 1911 for CCW and bedside gun. Now the SP101 is my truck gun.

 

No they don't print too bad, although more than the small factory grips. Basically I can't wear tight shirts, it does pretty well. It is the only way to go for shooting 357's though.

 

Good to know, thanks Wankerjake.

 

membership application

I apologize at the outset for what will be a long post, but this is my Qualifying Post to the SP101 Club thread and I want to be sure to respond to all of the original poster's questions.

I'd hate to have my application rejected. 8^)

One 2.25" .357 "Satin Stainless." Just picked it up yesterday.

Hogue Monogrip[tm]. I put a few rounds through with the factory grips, which were fine w/.38 Specials but bruisers w/.357. I like to get all my fingers on the grip, as well; and the Monogrip has room for them.

I fired Sellier & Bellot 158gr full metal jacket .357s and and International "Green Elite" 110gr frangible .38 specials yesterday. They work. I'm not equipped provide technical commentary.

I plan to use

• International "Green Elite" 110gr frangible for home defense (and zombie outbreaks).
• three Federal 125gr Nyclad hollow point .38 special mixed separated by two CCI #9 shot shotshells for backwoods hiking and trail riding.
• Federal 125gr Nyclad hollow point .38 special for urban hiking, trail riding and general concealed carry.

But I'm open to suggestions on those logistics.

I've just taken delivery on the Trijicon tritium front blade for the SP101, but haven't gotten it installed yet. (In the meantime, I've dabbed a little "White Out"[tm] on the front blade, visible in the attached photo (see thumbnail below).

I'm also seriously considering the "action job" described in this thread.

And I'll probably upgrade the grips to the smooth Hogue Pau Ferro Wood Grips. I honestly like the Coco Bolo better, but Amazon's got the Pau Ferro for $59 and the prices I'm seeing for Coco Bolo are in the mid-90s, so ... another box of ammo or my first choice in wood for the grips? What would you do?

I'll second your 9mm suggestion. In fact, it would be nice to see an SP101 convertible .357&.38/9mm, like they do with the Blackhawk (another fine Ruger revolver, IMHO). But more than that, I'd like to see an SP101 in .45 ACP. A lot.

Actually, the posters and postings to this thread have been extremely helpful in leading me to the selection of what I'm confident is one of my best choices yet in sidearms, and I want to thank you. (Thanks.)

I had used semi-autos my whole shooting life, but bought a Blackhawk convertible as my first wheel gun on a whim using a fine Massad Ayoob article from Backwoods Home as my rationale. Two trips to the range convinced me I also wanted a double-action in the same caliber that would be small enough for concealed carry. But which one? That's where you guys (and gals) came in; I'm very happy with my choice; thank you.

None yet.

I've bought a High Noon Split Decision in-the-waistband, tuckable holster for just about every pistol I've ever owned (with the somewhat obvious exception of the Blackhawk), and I've never been disappointed. It's reasonably priced, built to the gun, wears discretely, etc. For the SP101, however, I'm thinking the Split Decision's near-twin brother without the butt-forward cant, the Hidden Ally. I generally carry a Walther PPS in the small of the back, where the butt-forward cant eases presentation. The SP101, I'm thinking, will carry more comfortably just forward of the hip and straight up-and-down. That will likely be the holster I use nine times out of ten when I carry this sidearm.

But just because it's a "snubnose" and just because it looks so damn cool, I am also thinking seriously about a FiST verticle shoulder rig. My only concern about that rig at this point is that I fear it might cause me to talk like Dan Akroyd in Dragnet ... or maybe Nick Nolte in Mulholland Drive ... and maybe wear baggy suits. So if any of you guys (or gals) have experience, especially negative experience, with that holster, this would be a Really Good Time to save a brother a few bucks.

I also like the FiST #5 pocket holster, one of which I have and use for the PPS. I may get another for the SP101.

Not using any of these yet. With a safe full of semi-autos with extra mags and not much experience with revolvers, I'll probably stick with what I know best if I see a situation developing in which reloading would be an issue. But I'm sure I'll try my hand with speed loaders at some point, just 'cause I can. So I'll keep the experience of the thread in mind when I go looking for one (or more) of those.

Nope. Not yet. But that brass looks pretty good coming out of the cylinder. And the prices on ammo are high. And then there's availability ... hmmm.

So that's it. Honest responses to all nine questions. When do I get my membership card? Do you need a photo for it? Does it have to be of me? What about instructions for the secret handshake? And can I be treasurer?

 

Nah, I really did mean literally. MY SP101 is less than a month old. By 3 days to be exact the build date was 6-20-09. Its still a baby, but at least its not a lead virgin anymore,
I did put about 200+ rounds through it last weekend and cant say enough good things about this gun! BTW, on a different note, wheres a good place to get speedloaders for it and what size are they? Am I right to think theyre the H&K 36A?

 

I won't spend too much time here since I'm not a Ruger owner.

That's not because I don't appreciate Rugers. I do. Fine revolvers.

I plan to buy a Blackhawk.
But right now, I am a Smith owner.
(Mod 65 in .357m and a J-frame snub.)
That's just where I started for subjective reasons.

But I just wanted to stop in here for a minute and applaud the existence of another "club". I love the idea of club threads. (I belong to several, and have started two; see sig line for one.) They facilitate a homey feeling, lead to such incredible sharing of information, camaraderie and friendships.

I hope this one lives a long, long life.

Carry on. Long live the SP101 club.

Nem

 

I think they complain about the DA trigger. Mine was also heavy, but the single action was crisp and light. I think almost all of them are this way.

I had the 3" version and if I ever bought one again I think it would be the 4" model.

I thought they used to make a 4" barrel model, but I couldn't find any on Gunbroker.

 

GREAT THREAD!!!

Shouldn't die.

I had a 3" SP once.

Considering a 2" model now.

 

This thread is the one that lead me to THR forum. I had just purchased a 3" SP101 and wanted to improve the gritty trigger pull. Just a bit of dremel work, and a 11 lb mainspring did the job in fantastic fashion.

I'd LOVE to see this revolver in a 10mm!!! 40 S&W would work through it as well for a less expensive option. I would add a bit more of a rear sight also.

In my view, the SP is an all business revolver. I bought it for self defense, primarily.... from 2 and 4 legged predators. The size an ideal mix of concealability and brawn. Not as large as the 686, but larger than the 642. It now fancies a Meprolight front sight. The pic is of a leather backed/kydex IWB holster I made for it.


Gary is right... this thread should never die!

 

My little gem. Wolff springs, tritium front, hammer bobbed, cylinder bores chamfered, bead blasted, Hogues.

 

Dang Rob... that is a Sexy revolver! The bead blast looks great.

 

OK, I can't join yet, but I will soon! For some reason, I got bit by the SP101 bug, and I'll cure it with my next purchase/trade! Checked them out at a couple of shops, and they fit my hand, even with the stock grips. I'll probably lean towards the Hogue grips to get used to the gun, then we'll look for a hand filling wood grip. Any recommendations?

I've been looking for an SP101for a little while now - thought I had my 7600 30-06 pump traded for 1 locally, but the deal fell thru.... I really do need to trade/sell something before I get the next 'tool'!


Gun show this weekend -wish me luck!

 

kdstrick

kdstrick, Nice Holster.

 

Sign me up

Have a 3" with ct and love it . Got a bianchi in the belt holster and a cross draw belster from bandera leather i had made. Like them both. Shoot 38+p 125jhp and 357 in110fn or 125jcp. Good clean fun with function in mind.