What to expect for accuracy out of an SP101 2 1/4" .357?

[jbauch357]

Just wondering here what would be considered a good group from an SP101 2 1/4" .357 magnum at 25 feet?

I am just recently getting back into shooting and probably have less than 250 rds through the pistol - but this is what I have been seeing at 25 feet with S&B 158grain. No doubt I can do better - but what should my end goal for a group be? I know it's going to be pretty subjective, just wondering what overybody else aims for...

 

[BoneDigger]

I don't have the Ruger, but I do have a Smith and Wesson 686, which has a 2.5 inch barrel. My first trip to the range yesterday I was shooting a group similar to yours from 50 feet, and only slightly larger at 75 ft (25 yards). However, what is your intent with the gun? If it is for defence, then you are doing fine. A little more practice and you'll have a nice tight little group.

Todd

 

[SAWBONES]

I shoot my several SP101s, two of which have 2.25" barrels, only at short distances, that is, less than 10 yards, and more frequently at 5 yards.

If I'm careful, I can put all 5 rounds (a cylinderful) of Buffalo Bore .357 Magnum 158gr JHP through a single hole at 5 yards, slow-fire.
"No brag, just fact" as Will Sonnett used to say , and of course the gun is innately (mechanically) easily capable of that degree of accuracy and precision at such close range. Once the sights are regulated (meaning in this case that the front sight height is correct for vertical POI for the given load), placing a single round on target and then using the hole so made as the subsequent aiming point will readily demonstrate this.

 

[jbauch357]

The pistol is for self defense, and is my daily carry weapon. The biggest hinderance to my accuracy is the corner of the trigger digs a hole in my finger and I start bleeding after about 75 rds. This not only limits the amount I can practice (cause I am always waiting for my finger to heal back up) but tends to kill my accuracy cause the more I shoot the more my finger hurts and then start compensating. I am having the local smith do a custom grind job on the trigger and guard, then will come back with results - hopefully superior to what is above. My end goal is to be confident that I can hit center of mass at 25 yards with all 5 rounds

 

[OLD DOMENION]

Expected Accuracy of 2 1/4 inch SP-101

If you haven't already:
Get a main spring kit from: www.gunsprings.com
and
A pair of HOGUE Grips for the little gun
I get a 3 inch double action group at 7 yards with the above changes.

 

[jbauch357]

What is different with the aftermarket spring, and what advantages does it offer over the stock one?

 

[Sulaco]

The mainspring kit replaces the mainspring with a lighter one. It offers less resistance when firing the weapon double-action. I used to play with the mainspring in some of my revolvers but found I would occasionally get light primer strikes which worried me. So, I replaced them with the original springs.

 

[jbauch357]

I'll talk to my gunsmith on that one - with every mod I make to car, gun, computer, etc. I always err on the side of reliability - rather have a slightly stronger pull than the chance of a light tap and misfire...

 

[.45&TKD]

what would be considered a good group from an SP101 2 1/4" .357 magnum at 25 feet?

Hitting paper.

 

[.45&TKD]

My mistake. I thought you said 25 yards.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

At that distance on a good day, slowfire, with good ammo? 1 hole of about 40 caliber out of my little sp101.

 

[rcupka]

Jbauch357, My SP101 did the same thing to my finger. I spent a little time with a file and a stone smoothing edges and corners and now it does not damage my finger. I routinely shoot 200-250 rounds almost each weekend and no problems

 

[ArchAngelCD]

At that distance on a good day, slowfire, with good ammo? 1 hole of about 40 caliber out of my little sp101.

Ben Shepherd,
Can you really put 5 rounds from an SP101 through 1 hole at 25 yards?? (really, 75 feet and 1 hole?)

 

[Ichiro]

Get them all in the orange circle, assuming you're shooting double-action.

With careful shooting, I can do that at 25 feet, but I have a 9-lb main spring and a well broken-in gun.

As for the shooting feats of others, I'd really like to see it. Many of the guys I see at the range would miss that entire target at 15 feet with a Glock 19. Recently, I saw a guy shooting a .44 magnum at a paper target at that distance, in single-action, who hit the paper only two out of six times. I really don't understand that activity; it seems like a complete waste of time. He was absolutely unable to fire without jerking the gun.

Use light loads and get good with them. Then increase your loads or increase your distance while maintaining the same discipline. Shooting snubbies is hard!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Well said Ichiro...

 

[Ben Shepherd]

ArchAngelCD: He said 25 FEET, not 25 YARDS.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

One of our moderators did the one hole thing with MY DAO sp101 at about 20 feet. In front of several witnesses. My gun, blazer aluminum cased 158 jsp ammo. First time he had touched my gun (It's in print a year or so ago in concealed carry magazine.)

So with my gun, slowfire, in my hands, and using my handloads, 1 hole is indeed possible at 25 feet on a good day.

This is not me saying "Looky what I can do." Jbauch357 just wondered how accurate that particular gun can be. So I posted what I have been able to get it to do. Average group is around 1 inch.

 

[clipse]

These two groups were shot at 7 yards.