Buds and few other vendors are selling a version of the SP101 that is .38 special, has a three inch barrel, and a hogue grip with a lanyard. It is going for $450 which is about $100 less than the garden variety .357.

It's not on the Ruger website. Any thoughts about the intended market? I wonder if it was a contract gun and they ended up with extras. Surely it can't be $100 more machining to cut the chambers an extra .1".

That sounds like an interesting gun. 38spl it should be really fun gun to shoot with low recoil. The SP101 line are built like tanks and 38 spl will not wear it out for sure.

I wonder if Ruger made them but then decided not to continue for predicted possible low sales anticipation. You might be right that it was a special order and these were left overs. I see Bud's does have a 38spl+P with 2.25 barrel.
It looks like the one you are talking about is sold out now.

I'm not familiar with what they're selling; but a range buddy owns a 3" SP101 that is his "truck gun" and is a really nice shooter, especially with .38.

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John

That's a good deal.

I just took my new to me sp101 .357 out for its first range session. Interesting results. I shot some low power magtech .38 load SWC that I had laying around and it splattered them all over the target. I thought the gun was defective. Then I shot some snappy +p 110 grain hornady and it was right on the money, really good. So I don't know. Maybe it's picky.

I need to try some reloads.

It handles really well, trigger is fine, I love the heft of it, nice to carry. I love it, but some questions remain...

But the 38 version is probably the same other than the chambers. If I got a .38 sp101 would plan +p. I am sure it will handle it and then some.

My SP in .357, three-inch bbl. shoots Plus P just fine, very accurately. The round used is Federal's lead SWC-HP.

I think you need to try some better factory ammo before fooling with handloads. My SP is loaded with Speer's 135 grain Short Barrel ammo for defense unless larger animals might need more penetration, in which case, I either use the Federal 38G load or .357 ammo.

My first SP-101 was a .38, before they made the gun in .357. It was very accurate, but my present one in .357 shoots .38 ammo as well.

For a handload, I'd try a hard cast 158 grain lead SWC at about 900 FPS. I've read that Clays burns cleaner than Unique, but no longer handload and haven't tried Clays.

I think these .38's in this topic are French police surplus. France has used many Ruger handguns, and some .223 rifles.

I don't see any reason to pay $100 more for the .357 version. Load 'er up with +P .38 and get the same effect with less blast and recoil.