I like Ruger's little SP-101 as a compact .38/.357. Mine has the three-inch barrel option.

Anyone else here into them? Photos would be nice. (I don't own a digital camera.)

Were you satisfied with the factory trigger pull, which tends to be heavy, or did you install Wolff springs? Have replacement springs caused any misfires?

Tell us about your grips and ammo and any adventures that you've had with the gun, like shooting a rabid raccoon or a venomous snake.

Have you ordered the Ruger holster, made by (I think) Triple K? Do you like it? What is the quality? I see they sell that for just $38, so I don't expect Bianchi or El Paso Saddlery or Lobo Leather quality, but want good value.

In general, do you like your SP-101? Find it accurate? The trigger pull makes it a little harder to squeeze off finely-aimed shots than an S&W provides, but the ruggedness of the design and its overall quality sold me on mine. (No, my extractor rod doesn't rattle; it is much tighter fitted than on an older one that I owned years ago.)

If yours chambers .357, what do you shoot in it? How bad do you think .357 recoil is in this small gun? Did you buy it in part because Smith's J-frames just seem too little gun for that hot round? (I know we can't discuss The Lock on recent S&W's on this board, so avoid that topic.)

How do you feel the factory grips handle recoil? Do they conceal well for you? Add any other comments that you like that define how you like the gun.

Thanks,

T-Star

My wife has one that is her carry gun. .357 with 3" barrel. Fun revolver but it has been shot enough to smooth the trigger out. She prefers Remington Golden Saber .357 loads for shooting. It is not a full power load and in the weight of the 101 is not hard to control.

The 357 3" model was my first revolver and it is a great little gun. I carry it in one of Lobo's clip on IWB holsters and it carries great. I have no problem covering it with just a t- shirt with no printing.

The factory grips are good for concealed carry and absorb recoil pretty well but with 357's it tends to slip a little. I put some Houge mono-grips on until I find some wood grips I like and they make recoil much nicer without hurting the concealabilty. You will hardly feel .38's out of it which are great for target shooting. 357's still buck a little but aren't painful and very shootable.

Trigger pull is a little heavy but it is smooth and doesn't seem to hurt accuracy which is outstanding.

Overall it is an outstanding firearm and will be as accurate as you are.

T-star:

My carry piece is the 2-1/4" model in .357, and I am sold on it. I have to borrow a digital camera to do pictures, so I can't right now, but mine is the typical gun, without external modification.

I bought mine used, and the trigger pull doesn't seem very heavy to me, so it may have had different springs installed by a previous owner. The trigger pull on mine is probably smoother than any of my Smiths, but since it's DAO I keep it generously oiled, which helps. I've not had a single FTF with mine.

My gun came with an extra Hogue finger-groove grip, but I use the factory one because it is more concealable. I'm satisfied with it otherwise also.

No adventures with mine, just self-defense practice at the range. The accuracy is more than satisfactory for that purpose.

I fire .357 125gr. JHPs exclusively. Recoil in my view is not nearly as significant as others here view it, and regular practice helps with shot placement and follow-up shots. I reload these for practice to approximately the same performance as the Federal Classic load which I actually carry.

The initial reason I chose this Ruger over a Smith J-frame was the lower cost, but in retrospect I would buy it even if it were priced similarly.

I carry mine in a Mika pocket holster, which works quite well. I'm so used to the all-steel gun that I don't even notice the weight.

Andy

My SP101 is about20 years old and it is one of my favorite guns. Smooth trigger pull-nothing really bad to say about it. Bone stock except I replaced the grip panels with a set of white ones from Lett to pimp it up a bit.

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Forum consigliere

I think Ruger makes some really nice stuff, problem is so do a lot of other folks. I only buy used and you just don't run across them much around my parts. I've made quite a few pancake holsters for the 3" SP-101 which reinforces my thoughts regarding their popularity!

-Robert

wife almost gave up on hers until Hogue mono grip. it is longer than factory grip which caused some slipage with 357 rounds. hers is a 2 1/4" barrel.
she likes 38 rounds when killing paper, but uses 357 to ring the gong at the range. i think it's 75 yards.
she said it is a lot more enjoyable with the longer grip and still would conceal well if we had that option.
i like shooting 357 with it and neither of us has had to use it on rabied critters yet

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is it just me?

Yup, mine is a 1-7/8" DAO model. Built like a tank!

Sitting in the case at my LGS is a 4" SP-101 .357 which really drew my eye today. It seems like a fine revolver for taking along when walking in the woods at dusk. I hope there's one in my future. But today I was there to pick up a very good 4" S&W Model 64-3 for a lot less money than the Ruger would cost me, and somehow I think the Smith will make a more than adequate woods companion.

I think you are somewhat comparing peaches to pomegranates in that the M-64 is larger and has less power than an SP-101 in .357. But you do have an extra shot over the ltitle Ruger, and if you got that M-64 at a good price, I'd have grabbed it, too. It is a fine basic handgun. I think you'll love it.

But it is not the exact S&W equivalent to this Ruger. That would be a M-60-15.

What's the physically biggest threat in your woods? Do you have bears? I think the old FBI Plus P lead SWC-HP round may suffice, if you place it well. I know of one case where it killed a polar bear! I load that or other Plus P .38 ammo for indoors use, anyway. The .357 is too loud in a home.

The trigger is a little heavier than my Smiths but you do want a heavier trigger on your daily carry.

Nice revolver that's built like a tank and is pretty darn accurate. A good holster tames it's weight.

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LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

An SP 101 is very well possible going to be my next purchase for a carry gun.
I'm trading my M&P away, so I'm going to need a CCW gun - its tough to conceal a 6" revolver.
I fondled an SP101, I liked it, and I think one is in my future.

Probably amorous and/or pre-alcoholic adolescents, which can generally be driven off with harsh language delivered in a stern adult baritone. I am a little uneasy about reports of rabid raccoons, though.

I love shooting mine....





I don't carry it anymore now that I have a DS...but the high noon mr. softy worked well..

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

I've got the three-inch version and love it. I replaced the springs with a set of Wolffs, and it helped the stagey trigger a bit. The factory grip wasn't bad but I prefer this softer Pachmayr for shooting hot loads. I carry mine with Mag-Tech 95-grain all copper 357's, or the Speer Gold Dot short barrel 38 load, both expand well from the 3" barrel. It carries well in a DeSantis generic IWB holster made for three-inch revolvers, and I find the extra weight beneficial when shooting it a lot. I am a complete sucker for 3-inch revolvers, and found this one languishing at my local funshop.

My everyday gun is the DAO model with a crimson trace grip. Sometimes it rides in a Galco paddle holster, but mostly it just slips into my front pocket. Recoil is a subjective thing and in the all steel Ruger it isn't bad at all. It handles the 158 gr loads quite well.

Love mine. Although it takes a back seat to my m-60 no dash for pocket carry, it does yeoman service in a coat pocket during the colder months.
Reliable, accurate, decent trigger, and just one tough little revolver!
Load of choice: either Rem. Golden Sabers or Speer Short Barrel .357s for indoor use, outside, full house 125s or Silvertips. Dale

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"Long live the S&W 3rd. Gen.!"

I had the 3" version several years ago. The recoil with magnum loads wasn't bad but it had the heaviest trigger I think I've ever used. I can't remember why I sold or traded it. I've thought about getting another one.

I was "this close" to buying a brand new SP101 today...
I stopped by my local Gander Mt., fondled an SP and multiple other comparable guns, including an S&W model 60 (I hate to say it, but I wasn't impressed with the 60).
I had another gun with me as a potential trade. As expected, they lowballed my trade - offered 50% of its value - he even told me what they'd sell my trade for.
I told him, "Tack on another $50 to that and I will buy RIGHT NOW."
Him: "I'm sorry, that's all we can do, sir."
Me: "Ok, thanks. Have a nice day."

It amazes me when a store will so eagerly watch a sale walk right out their door.

I fired a an SP-101 about a year ago.

I shot with cheap .38 Specials and Hornady .357 158g Hollow Points (The ones with the red rubber tips - Critical Defense, I believe).

Gun was brand new. This was the DAO model.

Eh, trigger pull was heavy. I didn't care for the cylinder release either. Terribly uncomfortable grips (the plastic black rubber one pictured earlier). SP-101s have a really nasty screw poking my right palm on the grips too. Overall the gun was incredibly heavy for its size. I was not pleased with its ergonomics either. Couldn't find a good holster at a large gun store that fully covered the trigger guard for inside or outside the waist band of pants.

The SP-101 shot accurately and would probably last forever. It was $750.00 in North central LA. I helped someone purchase it advising him in revolvers as he wasn't familiar with semi-autos. He sighed after comparing my 627 to his SP-101. Keep in mind i understand they are entirely different purposed revolvers but my 627 was only $960.00 from the same shop!

I hate to say this to you Ruger aficionados, BUT I'd rather a Charter Arms Mag Pug or Bulldog because:
they are much more ergonomic, cheaper, the same capacity, and lighter. For a guy doing manual labor/fishing/hunting to not scratch up more expensive revolvers like Ruger or S&W, I would get the Charter ONLY if it was a sound Charter example. Hoping it would shoot to point of action, cylinder doesn't wiggle, etc. I have seen and felt a Charter Mag Pug cylinder wiggle in my hand before. Then there is the EAA, but I never shot one of those yet. Never fired a Taurus Revolver yet either.

I like my 3" SP so much I took it swimming with me yesterday. Next thing on my wish list? New wading boots. =)


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Hi:
I had a Ruger SP-101 .357mag with 2 1/4" barrel.
I didn't care for it:
1. heavy for CCW
2. recoil with .357-awesome/uncomfortable
3. Medium size revolver but only five shot
Jimmy

I've had a couple of SP101's. 2 - 2".357's one with spur, and one with factory bobbed hammer and one 4" .327. Why Ruger abandoned the Speed Six, Security Six, for this format puzzles me. The SP101 is too big for a 5 shooter. The SP101 has very few grip options. I'd probably pick a 2.5" mod 66 over the SP101 (for carry) if I wanted to shoot .357 out of snub which I pretty much can't do no mo.

Gemini Customs does some NIFTY SP101's.

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NRA Pistol/Rifle Inst. RSO

here's a pic of mine, nothing special and a little beat up but functions and shoots great. Nice little carry piece, accurate and reliable. Can't ask for more.

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Tim, USAF Ret.

I tried 357s in mine and I have to say I was quite surprised at how manageable it was....I carry the DS because I can't carry 357s so I'd rather have an extra shot and a tad less weight in a 38...but if I could carry a 357, then the SP would find it's way on my belt...

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

I have one. Currently it sits near the front door and is my "answer the door" gun. I did CCW it for a while, but then decided it was too heavy for a 5 shot. It's roughly the same size as a Colt DS, and you get an extra round with the pony.

It's second function is to stick in a jacket pocket when I take the trash out to the garage at night.

They're great guns, as are most any Ruger revolver. I do second the notion that it's not an improvement over the Six series. But it's a tank.

Thanks, everyone.

I don't compare the 101 to a Security-Six, which has a sixth shot at the cost of a larger gun, comparable to a S&W M-66.

I would like to see Ruger make the Sec-Six series again, but with the front crane lock like on the SP-101 and GP-100. This wish is probably pure fantasy, though.

If you need another SP 101 to sell at $750 let me know, I'll let mine go for that.WOW!!!!

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Forum consigliere

I'll take $740, shipped!!

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LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

I prefer a nasty screw as opposed to a right palm.

I have one. It is the Sherman tank of small .357s.

TAKJR

I like them and I don't even have one. It's on my list thought. Did come across a Dan Wesson .357 that scratches the itch for the time being.

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Endeavor to persevere. <><

Bada-Bing ....... Bada Boom !!

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Life Member NRA Since 1985

Note to self: don't ever let 627 hunter take me revolver shopping...

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

For $750 I wouldn't have touched it. I got mine for slightly under half that.........used......at least they said it was. You couldn't prove it by me.

Well, I did it. I bought one today. A brand-new SP-101.
True to form, my NICS check was delayed - happens to me about 1/2 the time I buy a gun....
I paid for the gun then had the "misfortune" of seeing a guy bring in a used 686 to sell. Long story short, they lowballed him on the offer, so I stepped in to save the day. Lol.
Anyway, I made a trip to the pistol office to add the 686 I just bought from the guy onto my permit.
2 1/2 hours later, I'm at home and the phone rings. Yup, my NICS check came back already.
So now, tomorrow I have to run back to the store, get the papers, go to the permit office, add it, go pick up my new Ruger. Pretty much re-tracing today's steps. ARGH!
Wish I could've done it all in one trip. Oh, well.
This weekend I'll have TWO new guns to try out!

Oh, I forgot in my last post - it's a 2 1/4" barrel.

O.K. I get the joke. Guess my mind wasn't in the gutter atthe time of the post.

Seriously though in N. LA you will see Charter Arms Mag Pugs for $500.00.

I've got a 3" SP101. It is built like a tank and shoots well. Since I got my 3" S&W 65, The ruger sees more safe time then anything else.