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Sp101 3inch or Wiley clapp 2.25inch

GA_Sheepdog

GA_Sheepdog

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I'm wanting to get another revolver for EDC. Right now I carry a 642-1 in the pocket. I love the 642 and I'' in no way trying to replace it as my pocket gun. Im looking for a revolver I can load in 357 and comfortably conceal it. I'm looking to aiwb/iwb carry. I know the Wiley clapp is a more refined weapon but is it worth the premium? Since I'm looking to load with 357 would I benefit more from the 3 inch model? I can also get a 2.25 model for the same price as the 3 inch for $455 that had the bobbed hammer. What do you guys thing?


As a side note I've purchased the model 60 pro series and sold it. I originally had that gun in mind for carry but I could never warm up to it. It was pretty large for a 5 shot and could not find a lot of holsters for it. I had a custom holster made for it but the large front sight would rip and tear the leather holster when I drew it. What made me really sell it was that it was kind of pointless to me. It did not handle 357's very well. It was very accurate and a good shooter with me reloads but with the lack of holster options and the fact it couldn't handle 357 very well, I sold it.


Weight is not a big deal for me but I don't want a physically large gun that only carry 5 rounds that I can't comforably shoot 357 out of.


I think the sp101 would have been a better option that I should have bought in the first place instead of the 60 pro series. Also I plan on carrying both 642 and the sp101 when possible.
 
I'd look at the GP 100 if I were you. I think the SP is too big for what it is.

Not saying you'll like the GP but look at it first. I don't find mine any harder to carry than my SP.

If a five shot revolver doesn't fit in a pocket easily it's missed the mark IMHO. Once you go to a holster and belt, you might as well go a little bigger.
 
eveled said:
I'd look at the GP 100 if I were you. I think the SP is too big for what it is.

Not saying you'll like the GP but look at it first. I don't find mine any harder to carry than my SP.

If a five shot revolver doesn't fit in a pocket easily it's missed the mark IMHO. Once you go to a holster and belt, you might as well go a little bigger.
Click to expand...



I hear what you're saying. But I might as well carry a Glock 19 if I'm gonna carry something the size of a GP100.
 
Go with the three-inch and feed it full .357's as needed The milder .357's are a good compromise or the better Plus P .38 ammo.

I have both a SP-101 and a GP-100 and the SP is significantly easier to conceal.

The SP-101 is the smallest .357 I'd own and the three-inch bbl. just delivers Magnum power better.

It is not a pocket gun, but works well in an inside the pants holster or conventional holster.
 
If you thought the 60 pro was large you'll probably think the same thing about the SP101-it ain't a small gun by any means. May I suggest the Kimber K6? From the specs it weighs 3 oz less than the SP101 and it carries 6 rounds. Any steel .357 is going to carry some weight to it as compared to your 642.
Went back and re-read your post. Do agree that the SP101 is a better choice than the Model 60 pro. I have one and like it a lot but it a belt holster gun-WAYYYYY too heavy for pocket carry
 
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CAJUNLAWYER said:
If you thought the 60 pro was large you'll probably think the same thing about the SP101-it ain't a small gun by any means. May I suggest the Kimber K6? From the specs it weighs 3 oz less than the SP101 and it carries 6 rounds. Any steel .357 is going to carry some weight to it as compared to your 642.
Went back and re-read your post. Do agree that the SP101 is a better choice than the Model 60 pro. I have one and like it a lot but it a belt holster gun-WAYYYYY too heavy for pocket carry
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The kimber K6 is a sweet gun but I'm not dropping close to $800 on a 2 inch revolver that probably can't handle magnum loads.

Yeah I plan on keeping my 642 of pocket carry. I'm wanting a belt carry gun that will handle magnum loads. I just found the 60 pro to not be that gun.
 
If I were in your position and had to choose between those three options, I would definitely go with one of the 2.25" models. While not a direct comparison, I've carried both a 2" K-frame and a 3" K-frame, and the 2" K-frame was noticeably quicker out of the holster for me. As much as I like 3" K-frames, for carry I would most likely lean towards a 2" K-frame.

Now, between the Wiley Clapp version and the bobbed/DAO version, I'd have a harder time picking. I would probably go with the bobbed/DAO version as that's my preference for a carry revolver. However, if I could get the Wiley Clapp model with a bobbed/DAO hammer, that would get my vote.
 
I carried a 2.25" Wiley Clapp AIWB for several months but ultimately replaced it with a M&P 340. With Crimson Trace LG-350 or Pachmayr Diamond Pro grips, the J-Frame is reasonably comfortable for the Remington Golden Saber or Speer Gold Dot .357 rounds that I carry in it.

However, when I carry the M&P 340, it's with the narrower and smaller Crimson Trace LG-405 grips as I won't care about the discomfort if I actually have to use it while defending my life.

Yes, the SP101 was slightly more comfortable to shoot but I'd taken the original grips off and replaced them with Pachmayr Diamond Pro grips. Since the 3" barrel is only about 1 oz heavier than the 2.25" barrel, I can't imaging that it would be noticably more comfortable to shoot.

The SP101 was also prettier to look at but... I've been much happier with the size and weight of the M&P 340.
 
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You might try a S&w 640. Five rounds of 357.Remington golden sabers are about a 3/4 load.That are not hard on the hand but have a very good street record.
 
GA_, A friend has a 3" model 60, and I have a 3" SP101. My Ruger is in 9MM, but handling characteristics are going to be the same as .357. I think carrying either the S&W or Ruger would be about the same. I know you said weight is no big deal to you, but the little Rugers of either barrel length are relatively heavy little guns IMHO. I'm much more likely to carry something like the 2" S&W 640,940, and the 642 even more so because weight matters to me. Much as I like the chunky little Ruger SP101, I don't carry it.

BTW, if you look at "Ballistics by the inch" site, there appears to be a significant difference in velocities produced by 2" and 3" .357s.
 

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I have both the 2.25" and 3" SP-101. The 2.25" model has served as my service revolver for the several years, loaded with 125gr Golden Saber .357 and carried on my right hip in a Lobo holster. I have had no complaints with it at all. It's certainly not a pocket gun, but in a good holster it's no problem to carry for 8 to 10 hours a day. Even with the short barrel it's very accurate, and not unpleasant even with .357 ammo. If I take my time I have no trouble putting Golden Saber .357's into a TQ19 target at 100 yards.

My late father would tell you to get the 3" SP-101, it was his favorite gun. He thought the 3" barrel offered a better sight picture, more velocity and better balance. I think he was right on all those points, but I still like my 2.25".

Whichever SP-101 you choose make sure you buy a Hogue mono grip for it and get rid of the factory grip. The Hogue is a vast improvement.
 
A three-inch barrel will offer about 1200 FPS with some loads, like Winchester's deadly 145 grain Silvertip.

I owned a 2.5-inch M-19 and feel that a three-inch barrel is better. Apart from better velocity and maybe a bit less muzzle blast, it has a longer extractor rod stroke!

Too many today expect too much from small .357's. For a couple of decades after the ctg. was introduced in 1935, you could buy a .357 only in large, heavy guns like the original .357 Magnum, later M-27. Colt offered its big New Service and SAA. Recoil and wear were thought to be excessive in smaller guns.Now, some want a flyweight .357 for a trouser pocket.

Given the laws of physics, a small .357 will hurt your ears and it will hurt your hand. The three-inch SP 101 is the limit of the hurt I'll tolerate.
 
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Texas Star said:
A three-inch barrel will offer about 1200 FPS with some loads, like Winchester's deadly 145 grain Silvertip.

I owned a 2.5-inch M-19 and feel that a three-inch barrel is better. Apart from better velocity and maybe a bit less muzzle blast, it has a longer extractor rod stroke!

Too many today expect too much from small .357's. For a couple of decades after the ctg. was introduced in 1935, you could buy a .357 only in large, heavy guns like the original .357 Magnum, later M-27. Colt offered its big New Service and SAA. Recoil and wear were thought to be excessive in smaller guns.Now, some want a flyweight .357 for a trouser pocket.

Given the laws of physics, a small .357 will hurt your ears and it will hurt your hand. The three-inch SP 101 is the limit of the hurt I'll tolerate.
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Thank you for the reply. I think the 3 inch model is what I'm looking for. I don't need another carry gun that I'll only shoot 38 +p's out of. I haven't 642 for that.
 
GA_Sheepdog said:
The kimber K6 is a sweet gun but I'm not dropping close to $800 on a 2 inch revolver that probably can't handle magnum loads.

Yeah I plan on keeping my 642 of pocket carry. I'm wanting a belt carry gun that will handle magnum loads. I just found the 60 pro to not be that gun.
Click to expand...

Owning a 640 Pro, Kimber K6s, and a SP101 with a wonderful trigger job, in my opinion, none are really pocket guns. Great belt, good holster IWB is no problem at all. The Kimber does also come in a 3" version. Any of those three will handle .357 loads as long as you want to shoot them. The Kimber and a steel S&W have very little cost difference if you include the fact the S&W will need a good trigger job to approach that of the Kimber. The Ruger will cost you a lot less even if you opt for a trigger job. The Ruger is noticeably larger than the Kimber and S&W jframes. Oddly and just for kicks, the Ruger is the only one of the three that I can qualify with shooting DA only with either hand. It also has the worst sights when compared to the other two.

Sideguard_3_zpsnvdu7ww6.jpg
 
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