Why I love my SP101.....

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TonyB

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This gun is the most accurate snubby I've ever shot...used it at IDPA last night...while having reload a million times,I realized that I shoot this gun as well as my full size guns.
It's a 357mag snub that doesn't kill your hands and wrists.......
You can actually SEE the front sight......
The stock grips are small enough to conceal,but big enough to hang onto...
The gun will probably outlast me.......it's a tank.....
Only cost me $350.....new
Hard to beat..............:cool:
 
Here's to the SP. I have been toting mine quite a bit. Haven't felt like getting my Colt out and doing the loading the mag thing, and clearing the weapon when home for the day.
 
Overall ... amongst the ''snubbie greats''. I am a tad bothered right now that mine seems to be shooting a bit too high and left ... but i must explore all loads and find what is best.

One thing that irks me .. only a little ...... the outer rim of cyl and inner rims of chambers are real sharp, oh and the cyl stop projection too ........ unnecessarily so IMO ... that's down to finishing .... or lack of it! i intend to use some 600 grit emery on a dowel to just smooth those surfaces a little.

The cyl stop is sharp enough to remove small fragments of leather from holster.
 
I like mine, too. It's utterly reliable and there is no concern about shooting it loose.

One thing I did to increase the visibility of the front sight: I went to an auto parts store and bought some red pin striping that was the same width as the front sight. I degreased the front sight and spent a few minutes getting the striping on straight. It is highly visible and has lasted several months already without any sign of wear.
 
I would like to get the 2 1/4 inch pipe and swap out the factory grip with Hogues. Glad to hear the postitive coments.
 
Mines always been very reliable, and I enjoy shooting it very much. I used a dab of bright florescent green nail polish on the front sight. I also have some CT grips on it which are very nice! :cool:
 
Loads

What is the load limit for the 357 SP101 that is still safe? Or for that matter manageable to shoot. Also do all 357 loads fit in the revolver, I heard that some were to long.

If you have ballistic data that would be great too.
 
2.25"...For plinking any 38's......CCW 38+p+ 110 gr.jhp(summer)357 hydra-shok 158gr(winter).......at normal SD distances I never see any shot placement problems....at 25yrds...a little low
 
Load limit

Giese,

Some SP-101's had a 125gr bullet weight limit on them, but the newer ones have no limit other than what the operator can handle.

This weekend, I put 50 rounds of 125 gr .38+P through mine as warmup, and then did 100 rounds of 158 gr CCI Blazer.357.

My hand was stinging by the end, but the gun didn't seem to mind.

Most of the shooting was done at 25 yards, and while I wasn't making groups at that distance, I was hitting the torso of a human-size target...it seemed to be hitting about 5 inches low with the 158grs...

In truth, when I carry it, it's with .38+P loads...with the .38 loads, I have a much faster recovery time than with the .357 loads...that is with stock grips though...maybe some Hogues would help me out.
 
My 2 1/4" SP101 .357 is certainly the one gun I will never sell.

What a GREAT little HD revolver!
Mine was EXTENSIVELY 'smithed to be the smoothest shooter around, and I'm looking forward to putting a set of Lasergrips on it.
 
Campusninja

I added the Hogue rubber grip to my SP101, feels and handles superb! Only thing is the distance from the grip's back to the trigger's a bit short for my hands, needs some adjusting of the trigger finger or I'll block the double action stroke before the hammer is released.

Hogue's Kingwood grip(s) would look sharp on this gun! :cool:



priv8ter

I think the 125gr limit has to do with the shorter cylinder of the early production guns, targeting the COL of the cartridge, not the strength of the gun which will be the same as the regular model, thus no big deal if you're a handloader. :)

Quickloader
 
Quickloader, glad to hear the Hogues are nice. I might have to pick up 2 SP101s instead of a SIG.
 
Campusninja

you're right on that one! Though your SP101 should last a lifetime, one never can have enough of them, right?

SIGs are nice too, eventually you'll end up with the urge to have both of them! :D

Quickloader
 
I agree, nice looking gun for sure, and it's a Ruger!!!;)

49L.gif
 
The way I take it here is I could slap some Corbon 200gr HCFP in the cylinder and let er rip as long as my hand can take it. This sounds a bit crazy to me...... But it might server my purpose.
 
I bought a used one last year & taught me step daughter how to shoot with it.

It is a nice revolver. Built like a tank, & mine is accurate. The trigger could be a little smoother & lighter, & the cuts on the thumb rest of the hammer are sharp enough to use as a file, but other than that it is a winner!
 
I was going to say.. Even though Ruger says it's ok, I still put snap caps in it (better than used brass I'm told)..

And you just dry fire and dry fire until the cows come home.. You will find the trigger to be much smoother.. do it while you watch tv.. You can usually get a few hundred dry fires inbetween sitcoms..

My friend went to the hobby shop and got bright orange RC car paint, and painted the front sight. It worked very well, and made it very easy to see.

I swapped the grip for a Hogue grip. Much more comfortable and managable recoil..
 
I never had a problem seeing the stock sight...but I am considering the Hogues...I just wonder if they're as concealable.....snap caps are a good idea.......I am also considering taking the gun to a gunsmith that Iknow and trust to have ALL the sharp edges taken off..I had the trigger smoothed and rounded right after I got it($20)...I have this done to all my steel guns(sensitive skin,like a girl;) )...
 
TonyB

the rubber Hogue is very concealable by its dimensions but has a tendency to drag on clothing, typical telltale if your shirt sticks to the grip.

Same model as the rubber one is available in hard black nylon which will not interfere with clothing, or one of the wood grips which come in diverse forms might be an option.

I find the little beast well manageable even with hard grips.

Quickloader
 
SP 101

Have had a SP 101 in 3 1/8" bbl .357 for about 3 years now and its probably my "most carried" piece. Yeah, my primary CCW guns are either a 1911 or a G19, but the SP 101 is SO easy to slip into a holster going out the door that I guess I carry it the most.

Replaced the stock grips with Hogues and while nice I didn't like the way my shirt stuck to them (especially in a Texas summer). Eventually went to Pachmeyer (sp?) rubber concealment grips....small enough to conceal but still good enough for range practice with my carry load (a somewhat mild
.357 load in 158 gr).

I figure the only addition I'll make to it is to make the front blade a bit more visible - somebody recommended gold paint daubed on it.

But this really is a classic snub...accurate, concealable and tough. :evil:
 
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