Which one should I get?

Which one should I get, which do you prefer

  • SP101 2 inch barrel

    Votes: 19 32.2%

  • SP101 3 inch barrel

    Votes: 40 67.8%
  • Total voters
    59
  • Poll closed .
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3". It's too heavy for pocket carry anyway. More power and better accuracy at longer ranges with the 3".
 
I have both.
What do you anticipate using it for?

There's not a good enough reason to get the 3" barrel if it's for day-in, day-out CCW; the 2.25" is better in terms of ease of concealment, comfort and weight unless you're carrying IWB behind the hip or only occasionally, in which case it makes little difference.
If you carry OWB, "appendix" IWB or in a shoulder rig, the 2.25" barrel is superior.
IMNSHO the SP101 isn't suited for CCW as a "pocket gun" (or at least you can certainly do better), but for those few who do carry it so, the 2.25" barrel is again the better choice.
If it's predominantly or solely for home defense, practice and training, get the 3".
 
3". No question. More power (marginally, but hey, every bit counts). More sight radius. Better balance, and better recoil absorption. Not really any tougher to CCW. Better looking.
 
What do you want it for ccw or what? If for ccw a 3" with an iwb holster is just fine. Besides the longer bbl. will give you a little more m/v.
 
I am in the market too and I thought a 3 inch would be too much, but then I went and shot one. Its still pretty small. :) Not light though... just small.:p

I'm sold on the 3 inch now, if only for the fact its a bit easier to aim.

The difference between the two is small anyhow 3/4ths of an inch isn't much size wise. (OOOHH KAAAYY 13/16ths of an inch :rolleyes: lol) So, the fact that its kind of heavy for your pocket and will probably end up on your belt .75 " probably won't matter.

Side note.....I've always wondered why these two barrels were so close is length. Why not a 2 inch and a 3 inch? :confused:
 
Just bought the 3" today and am happy. Hope the Boss is as it is a
Christmas present.
 
magnumcarry- as I said before, my 3"Sp101 IS my every day carry gun. Yeah, it's a good sized hunk of steel, but you know what? The 2.25" model would be as well. The extra 3/4" doesn't to diddly in terms of concealability and carryability. What it does do, as I already said, is add MV, forward weight, and sight radius. All of which are decidedly good things.
I can shoot .357mags with ease with my 3". Could probably do similar with the 2", but wouldn't enjoy it nearly as much.
 
My 2" SP101 has been great for CCW. I didn't want a 3" model because it wouldn't conceal quite as well for me.
 
13/16" makes no appreciable difference in performance, but it makes a big difference in concealability for my carry method. I carry the DAO 2 1/4" in a Mika pocket holster every day.
As far as a longer sight plane, the fixed-sight SP101 is not designed to be a "target" gun. It's a 10-yard SD CCW belly gun. Some claim the 10 ring at 25 yards which is all well and good until you have to defend yourself in court for a 25 yard so-called "self-defense" shooting.
 
Well, I have three of the snubby length, and at least one of them is with me 24/7. I have been on the lookout for a 3-1/16", but there is no hurry, as I actually find my 4" Speed Six quite easy to carry, IWB or OWB. (Yes, that does mean I carry more than one handgun.) If, for some reason, a disaster took away all my sixguns, my first purchase just might be a 3-1/16" SP101, because it fills so many roles so well, and the only tme I really need the shorter length is with ankle carry, which I rarely use for normal CCW, and pocket carry, which is also not my normal carry mode. Why do I have three in the snubby length? Well, a local dealer used to get them in that length from noted gunsmith Jack Weigand, already slicked and polished on the inside, bead blasted on the outside, and with a Trijicon front sight installed. I bought one of those, then a second to make a pair, in the late 90's. I more recently bought a third one I found at a another dealer, because I wanted one with a hammer spur, in either barrel length, and this one was super smooth in its action, and just happened to have the snubby barrel, too. You can't really let a poll decide what barrel length is best, because only you can decide what is best for your needs, though there is certainly much value in discussing the issue, as someone may have an idea that will prove helpful or insightful.
 
While I carry at times a Ruger SP101 .357 Mag 2.25" in CCW mode I personally find a 3" revolver to be the perfect carry weapon for me. I would get the 3" SP101! :)


:evil:
 
I am going with the 2.25" for two reasons.

#1 For concealment purposes I want the the smallest amount of holster leather below the beltline as possible when carrying OWB.

#2 I carry IWB at 3:30/4:00, and barrels around the magic 3" mark put unwanted pressure on my sciatic nerve. I can carry shorter guns or a full size 1911 or BHP with no problem. It's a strange pressure point thing for me.

YMMV

rd
 
Today, 09:31 AM #15
19-3Ben
Senior Member



Join Date: 11-05-06
Posts: 618 magnumcarry- as I said before, my 3"Sp101 IS my every day carry gun. Yeah, it's a good sized hunk of steel, but you know what? The 2.25" model would be as well. The extra 3/4" doesn't to diddly in terms of concealability and carryability. What it does do, as I already said, is add MV, forward weight, and sight radius. All of which are decidedly good things.
I can shoot .357mags with ease with my 3". Could probably do similar with the 2", but wouldn't enjoy it nearly as much.
__________________
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My sentiments exactly!!! I carry the 2.25" my son carries the 3.0625 gun. I wouldn't turn my hand over for the difference as we carry in the same holster model, a Bianchi Pancake model 7. I do have an IWB but seldomly use it, Bianchi S3. The 3" would not do well in it. If I were going to buy again today, I'd purchase the 3".
 
At first I was going to get the 3", but my dealer couldn't find one with the spurless hammer. I looked on the web, He checked all his contacts. No Luck.
Since the spurless hammer was more important then barrel length, I chose the 2 1/4" barrel. I did have trouble finding the front sight, especially in dim light. I put a fiber optic front sight on.....Perfection. I am Very happy with the 2 1/4". It's my 24/7 carry.
I don't think you could go wrong with either length.
 
The 3-1/16" SP101 has always been offered only with the spur. A 'smith could certainly bob the hammer easily enough. I actually have a spurless hammer, bought in an online auction, that awaits my eventual purchase of a longer SP101. My Speed Six also wears a factory spurless hammer that I found in an online auction.
 
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