Found this at my LGS yesterday and brought it home.

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You'll love it. Congrats ! I've always thought the SP101 to be one of the finest snub-nosed revolvers ever made. I owned one ( and shot the heck out of it) for a few years until my son talked me out of it; now carries it daily in his truck glove box

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John

I'm so happy they brought those back. I had one of the original no-dash 940s, and it really gave me respect for the 9x19 out of a short revolver . . . more akin to the .357 Magnum than the .38 Special over the screens, but each shot cost far less than either. (And this was back in the days when I got Blazer delivered for $4.88/box, so I shot a lot of rounds through that gun.) I've been sorely tempted since Ruger brought the SP-101 9mm back, and I hope you'll favor us with your thoughts on it after you've shot it a bit.

cheers, erich

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Now go make God proud...

murdock23-for some reason only Ruger wisely decided to make a 9mm snub which will fire without the use of moonies- you purchased the perfect platform in the perfect caliber for civilian self defense-Erich sums it up nicely.

You very well may read about a phenomena called 'jump crimp' and the condition is mentioned in the both the LCR and SP 101 9mm manuals. The issue allegedly is caused by the fact that rifle caliber or rimless cartridges or rather the lack of a good crimp in some rimless cartridges; (particularly in lighter handguns?) - will/may/might or can- allow the bullet to move forward out of the case with the potential to travel forward far enough to block cylinder movement.

We have fired many hundreds of rounds through our LCR 9mm revolvers and a few boxes each through our sp101 9mm (using most name brand 115g jacketed hardball ammo) and have yet to witness any significant bullet movement. In fact the control cartridge used has yet to show only a barely noticeable hairline crack in the nail polish the Mrs. has decided to use as the disclosing agent.

We do NOT have enough experience with slightly heavier hollow point ammo to similarly dismiss the phenomena as a non issue but we strongly lean toward this conclusion.

Someone at Ruger was really using their noggin when they designed these guns to fire without clips and even more so when Ruger made the wise decision to bring the model back.

Hopefully you will find that- sans clips- all it will take is a shake of the open cylinder to release the spent shells, at the very most you might have to use your fingers to pull one out on occasion.

Remember that the sp101 9mm is NOT approved for +p but as Erich posts it doesn't really matter as you have .357 energy or near .357 energy without the -potential- legal implications of the cowboy cannon.

We can report this with regard to the LCR- +p is a handfull and a bit of a chore to extract. The Russian stuff, especially with steel cases, is near impossible to extract with or without moonies-it must be at least +p+ and both the audible and visual effects have to be seen to be believed.

Until the kid at Smith smartens up there is no better choice for cc for -us-.

Forgot to mention; there has to be hundreds of owners of vintage sp101 9's that have to be bummed out big time-these guns WERE routinely bringing just south/north of a g note on Gun Joker..

And the ads were all the same: seller has 1,234,489 A+++ ratings-there was no reserve BUT the minimum bid was whatever the gun was listed at and of course all sales were final, no inspection period-amazing.

Now that does peak my interest. I have 2 of the SP101s in 357mag and they are a pleasure to shoot, just may have to check out this one in 9mm. Mama may not get new shoes this month.

I saw this one in a LGS two days ago.

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Interesting little revolver..
Have to take a look at one for Sheila..

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NRA Benefactor

two questions-first can these be fired using moon clips. second-how does it work without moonclips???

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Forum consigliere

I can’t confirm that it can be fired without moonclips but when a revolver can it is because the case spaces off the case mouth.

According to Rugers website it “Ships with (3) full moon clips that act as both a speed loader for the 9mm rounds and aid in the ejection of the spent cartridges.”

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Get off my lawn!

I do not have one of those but I sure like my pair of 9mm Speed Sixes.

I like the sp’s but my Ruger 9mm is the smaller framed blackhawk convertible. Also a fine rugged revolver that is quite versatile, this could be nice with the periodic Ammo shortages that come by from time to time.

Our LCR9 and the reintro sp101 9 fire perfectly without the clips.

Were it not for this we would never have gotten them-makes no sense to us to have a revolver which requires the clips to function. Too easy to lose-really inconvenient to carry and to us its just a dumb design requirement on a gun that is going to be used for civilian concealed carry.

joe- our sp101 snubs .357 were real nice shooters-mass is a very good thing. I can guarantee you two things regarding the 9mm 101, first if you try one you will buy one AND if the dw/significant other shoots also you can immediately kiss it goodbye-the only time you will get it in your hands is for cleaning.

The only 9mm revolver I currently own is the first model Charter Arms Pitbull Rimless Revolver.

Like the discontinued S&W M-547 is does not require moonclips because of a patented extractor that uses a spring loaded projection in each chamber to lock the rim in place for extraction and ejection.

The chambers in some guns were a bit rough and the spring loaded project was just a little to short to provide 100% reliable ejection for all six chambers with some brands of ammo.

Charter eventually redesigned the original 6 shot 21 oz. revolver into a 5 shot to make room for a larger extractor and solve the problem.

I opted to polish the chambers and keep my 6 shot 21 ouncer that is basically the same size as the dis continued Colt D-framed Detective Special/Cobra/Agent revolvers.

This target was shot 15 yards off hand. That particular day the heat index was 107 degrees on the range which lead to me stringing the first six shots, the second target is a 50 round off hand 15 yard composite.

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NULLI SECUNDUS

I don't know if it's my monitor, but from the pictures posted in this thread it appears that this little SP lacks the ugly warning rollmark on the barrel. Does anyone know if this is true of all Ruger revolvers now, or just the Nine-Mike-Mike. I kind of want one regardless...

Very nice! I kinda like those little 9MM revolvers myself BTW, CAJUN, Both the Ruger and S&W use Moon clips. Headspace is precise on the Ruger without Moon clips, and it fires 100% reliably without them. Headspace on the S&W is grossly excessive without the Moon clips, and function without them is not reliable......

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NRA Life, COTEP 640

Please tell us more about the "potential legal implications" of using a .357 Magnum for any possible purpose, a cartridge that has been in existence for 80 years and in continuous use by LE agencies and armed citizens since it's inception.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

The crimp walk happens due to the ammunition reserve being held in the middle of the recoil lever. It's a function of recoil energy versus the revolver weight. It happens markedly by six shots in the 929 which is heavier. I reload heavier bullets with a very strong crimp and I have not been able to overcome this with even minor power factor loads. I'd advise to use lighter bullets to mitigate this.

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This≠DodgeCity&You≠BillHickok

wc, with regard to the -use- of a .357 snub in a civilian self defense shooting; I am of the opinion that a prosecutor would have little difficulty in convincing a jury that one who used this gun/caliber was reckless for the reasons anyone who has shot this platform with the magnum ammo is aware of.

The platform that is chosen, the caliber of the handgun and the amount of ammo that one has available show intent-mindset, I am convinced of this.

Should you prefer the .357 then good for you-I think you're nuts and really hope that you don't need that second shot especially if it is a very quickly needed second shot.

The Mrs. left today with her .22 wmr and there is no doubt in my mind that she has all the bases covered.

I fully support the right of anyone to legally carry any gun they wish regardless of how over gunned and over ammo capacity I think they are.

Remember 'we' will require less than 2 at about arms length away and that is IF simply showing the wheelie doesn't take care of the problem.

I believe Jeff Cooper and many, many (did I say many) knowledgeable long time shooters would highly disagree with your statement.

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Get off my lawn!

"The purpose of the pistol is to stop a fight that someone else started usually at very close range"

"Safety is something that happens between your ears not something you hold in your hands"

The Cabelas nearest me is selling 9mm at $9.59 and .357 at $19.87-this of course means that I can practice over twice as much with one caliber than with the other. Mr. Cooper believes as I do- that when IT happens it will happen at very close range- which caliber would you suspect he would be an advocate of-for the average civilian ?

8 rounds of the hottest .22 lr anyone

At about arms length away

If choice of caliber shows intent, then carrying shows even more intent in this political climate. Amplifying a confrontation with a 22, bad idea.

Why not? A 22 bullet out of a short barrel will zip through 1"+ oak boards.

My WWII vet dad kept a 22 LR Colt Huntsman as the HD gun. Me? Upgraded to a 9.

This is, I believe, a first for any thread on this forum...a segue into a discussion of the merits of various calibers.

Well, we all know what opinions are like and some say that they all stink! This one meets the odor rule, In My Humble Opinion.

And a segue into a discussion of the potential legal implications in the choice of caliber/ammunition.

FWIW-the owner of the Segway Company tragically met his end whilst operating one of the scooters-his took the direct route from a clifftop to the river below in England somewhere.

BE-does opinion based on fact/experience emit a more pleasant odor/aroma to you?

Choosing the Best Concealed Carry Caliber | Gun Digest

Gun writers have to write something, sometimes just to fill space. I don't agree with you and this article doesn't give me any more reason to think that your statements are anymore valid than before. My wife has a carry gun and I think more of her than to let her carry a .22 caliber. Interesting that Ruger has come out with that 9mm revolver. Looks like a nice piece murdock23.

If all my wife could handle was a .22 (or me, for that matter) then a .22 is better than nothing. I firmly believe that one should carry the gun/caliber that is the most effective for them...the largest caliber in the gun they shoot the best is the most effective. I don't want my wife (or me) to carry something that's just better than nothing...I want her (or me) to carry the best defense gun she (or I) can handle.

My wife has limited mobility and hand strength since wrist surgery. There are so many options these days that it would be hard to imagine a person not being able to handle a centerfire pistol over a .22 caliber. As a matter of fact, many .22 caliber handguns are harder to operate and shoot accurately than many .32 autos and .380's. There also are plenty of top pistolsmiths that can customize a handgun to accommodate nearly everyone. That being said, of course a .22 is better than nothing.

Sweet,congratulations!

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Life is short,live it fully.

Shouldnt the wives be choosing for themselves what is best for them to carry rather than you" letting" them carry something?

My wife is a very independent woman, and we've been married for almost 40 years now...so my "letting" her do something largely depends on her wanting to do it anyway. When it comes to guns, though, she generally defers to my expertise (I have her fooled) BUT (and I do emphasize the BUT) she still makes the final decision as to what she wants for herself. Despite my earnest attempts to dissuade her, she is fairly well convinced that she wants one of the new Kimber subcompacts. She hasn't made a final decision yet...so I hope I can still convince her to get a good gun instead.

Most definitely, yes.

Kifaru, I've recently picked up two new Rugers, a .45 convertible Blackhawk last fall and a 3" GP100 in .44 Special about a month ago. Both had the lawyer markings.

The Blackhawk's markings were discreetly located on the bottom of the barrel forward of the ejector housing. I had to actually look for them. The GP100's markings were prominently located on the left side of the barrel as usual.

I have to admit that this 9mm SP101 has me intrigued as well!

You are making lots of assumptions and statements with zero facts to back them up. If you can reference a single case where someone that defended themselves with a .357mag snubby was prosecuted because of the gun/caliber combination I would love to see it. The truth is that the .357mag has been in common use in LE, and as a popular civilian self defense choice, for literally generations, making it one of the more defensible caliber choices available.

In addition, your assumption that one can't make fast follow up shots with a .357 is ridiculous. It may be that you aren't capable but that doesn't mean that others can't do it.

"The platform that is chosen, the caliber of the handgun and the amount of ammo that one has available show intent-mindset, I am convinced of this."
Exactly what intent/mindset is shown by people that choose other guns/caliber/capacity combinations than you do? I often carry a 1911 in .45cp, what does that say about my intent/mindset? My nightstand gun is a 14 shot .45 and today I'll be carrying a 3" .41mag while I work around my property and run errands, but tomorrow I'll be carrying a 5 shot .38spl snubby when I go to work, what does all of that say about my intent/mindset?

Does a person that chooses to carry the same 15 shot Glock 19 as their local PD have a different intent/mindset than the person that chooses to carry a 5 shot 9mm revolver? Is their choice "reckless" by comparison?


Everybody has opinions but it's hard to give credence to opinions that have no basis in fact and have no evidence to back them. If you have anything other than your feelings to support your arguments, I'd love to hear it.





To the OP - congrats on your purchase. I've always been a fan of the 9mm in a short barrel revolver because it's such an efficient cartridge. I have a custom 9mm 360J that has been one of my most often carried revolvers for close to a decade.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

could someone please identify a post which addresses someone directing a spouse which gun must be carried?

The op made a very wise purchase with the 9mm sp 101- for the recoil sensitive it is a much better choice than the LCR 9mm even with the noticeably better LCR trigger/weight advantage.

Something that does require comment is the post regarding the 'amplification' of an incident should a .22 be used. While we do NOT have .22lr snub experience we do have extensive .22 wmr time and we both can positively state that the only aspect of a self defense incident which will be amplified should the snub wmr have to be shown/used is the ending of the incident.

There are a few drawbacks to the wmr, trigger pull is one; the Ruger is far better than any Smith we have handled though COST of ammo and periodic unavailability MUST be considered.

A .380 semi? no, not for the average civilian-the revolver remains the best choice both in terms of learning and maint-to argue otherwise is to segue into irrationality.

When all is said and done the 9mm revolver is by far the best choice for those with no limiting physical conditions and IS by far the best option when performance is calculated into the decision.

From a snub the 9mm gives at least .357 energy at about half the cost and probably half the recoil, blast/flame with fewer legal implications from what I can discover.

Why the FBI Went to 9mm and Why You Should Too - The Loadout Room

link should be fixed

Of course, if I were uneducated in the matter of personal self-defense guns, I would be just beating my chauvinistic chest by my suggestions. I defer to my wife when the subject is in the realm of her expertise and she defers to me when it is in my area. She defers to me on what is a good carry round, also. She, having been exposed to using handguns, is enlightened enough now, where she wouldn't consider carrying a .22, so the subject hasn't been breeched. Friends don't let friends carry .22's for self-defense.

I think the idea of a 9MM Revolver is neat.
Easy to master and shoot.

One thing I like about a 9MM, is Ammo can be
easily gotten, it is everywhere and low cost.

I appears that Ruger listens to their Customers.

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SD social distanc'n since 1889

BE-either the U.S. or German Army adopted as a minimum that 58ft lbs of energy be provided by a 'battle' round-tend to think it was the U.S. as any German measurement would have been in joules but of course the conversion could have been made for the article I read.

It is quite easy to obtain this number with most any .22lr ammo and many wmr rounds easily attain 80 or so ft lbs. Yes these measurements are at the muzzle but remember that the civilian can expect to be involved in near touching distances.

However impressive this may be to you the the numbers of the 9mm cartridges show just why the 9 is the mack daddy of self defense ammo for either professionals or civilians.

Ammo for the 9mm can be had which slightly exceeds the energy delivered from a .357 on the low end and at least meets the delivered energy delivered on the high end-from just over 200 to about 340 ft lbs.

How do these apples rate on your stinkometer?

How great would it be if there was a Smithized version of the K6 in 9mm ? of course it would have to fire without moonies...

I'm a fan of the 9mm in snub revolvers but I can tell you that it does not equal, nor exceed, the ballistic performance of the .357 mag out of any length barrel with equivalent bullet weights.

The 9mm excels in snubbies because the performance falls between .38spl +P and .357mag with substantially less recoil and muzzle blast than the .357.

And the popularity of the 9mm is due to cost, availability, light recoil, and size, which allows for greater capacity while still giving acceptable terminal performance with modern expanding projectiles, and again, cost, cost , cost, because everybody, and every agency, is on a budget. All of that is a direct result of the military adopting it as their standard and the military went with it because of NATO, cost, and weight, not because of performance.

And, most people that carry guns professionally have little say in what they are issued, they have to work with what they're given.

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Don't kiss smiling dogs!

So . . . getting back to the thread topic . . . what do you think of it, murdock23? I have to tell you, your putting up this thread really has put a bug in my head about this gun. Years ago I was wishing for one when they were hard to come by, and there's nothing really stopping me now other than . . . well, a sense that I don't need another gun. (You know where that scenario can lead!)

I think I like the Ruger inside-star clips better than the S&W outside-stars, but they're both kind of a hassle to use. I don't bother loading 9x19 because it's so inexpensive to purchase, so having another revolver in the caliber would actually be sort of liberating in that it wouldn't be yet another gun I'd feel I would need to load for - I could just go out and have fun with it the way I do with my .22s and 9x19 semiautos. (Everything else, I have this vague weighing "Is it really worth it to shoot up this ammo for this range trip, because then I'll have to load more" thing going on.)

And I certainly have liked the two .357 Magnum SP-101s I've owned. The newer one (3") has a remarkably smooth action, and I love how simple and solid these things are.

Dang it!

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Now go make God proud...

I have no argument with what anyone chooses to carry, or not carry. Just a comment though on carrying a .357. As others on my department, I did carry a .357 every working day for several years. I don't recall any situation where an officer or "civilian" used a .357, and the prosecutor convinced a jury that use of a .357 was reckless. I'm not sure how a"civilian" would be considered reckless by a prosecutor for carrying a .357, and officers who responded to the scene of such an incident carrying .357s would not. I didn't think I was "nuts" for carrying a .357. Had I been in a shooting while carrying a .357, my concern would have been whether department and prosecutor considered it a "good" shooting. Not what caliber I was carrying......ymmv

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NRA Life, COTEP 640

My "allowed" carry guns were either .357 or .45. I generally carried a 1911 .45.

I have an SP101 in .357, but carry it with Ranger .38 +P or Golden Saber.

Lately Academy has had their Monarch 38 brass case at 12.99.

But if I see a stainless SP101 in 9, I'd probably buy it on the spot.

I have been carrying and shooting an LCR 9mm since August of 2015, have about 2k through my Primary & about 500 through the Secondary that I recently let go to a Friend. Both of mine shot & extracted 100% without Moonclips, also have had NO problems after three hundred 147 Grain Bullets with jumped crimps. I would jump on a 9mm SP101 if the opportunity ever presents itself ......

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Retired & Livin' my DREAM :)

I have a question for you 9 mm revolver owners. How accurate is your revolver compared to a semi 9 mm? More, less, or about the same?

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Why duck?? It's a 9mm!

That's a lot better price than mine..