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Sp101 4.2”

P

Paper Clip

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Anyone own these? What are your thoughts? What about extended accuracy for plinking? Seems like they would make a good trail gun.
 
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No Help Here

I originally purchased an SP-101 chambered for the .327 Mag. with that barrel length only because the 3" had been discontinued, I did not shoot the 4.2" revolver and when a 3" was located I sold the 4.2". I seem to prefer the 3". The reason for owning the Ruger is because the S&W Company decided to discontinue the revolvers chambered in .327 Mag.so my next choice was the Ruger, it is well suited for the caliber, I might add!
 
smitholdtimer said:
I originally purchased an SP-101 chambered for the .327 Mag. with that barrel length only because the 3" had been discontinued, I did not shoot the 4.2" revolver and when a 3" was located I sold the 4.2". I seem to prefer the 3". The reason for owning the Ruger is because the S&W Company decided to discontinue the revolvers chambered in .327 Mag.so my next choice was the Ruger, it is well suited for the caliber, I might add!
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Tell me about the SP101 357 in 2.5, is it very hard to come by? I've come across one in 100% mint condition for $400, is that something I should be running back to get?
 
I bought the 4.2 inch .357 a few years ago as a trail gun for the Northeast PA woods. I wanted the ballistics of the longer barrel in a small frame, light weight package. I carry it in a Gunfighter Inc. chest holster loaded with critical defense ammo. It's controllable with magnums and very comfortable with .38 rounds. Typical Ruger product I'm glad I bought. Just be careful, when I was looking I saw a few with clocked barrels.
 
03hemi

Sorry I have no experience with the SP-101 chambered in.357 Magnum but looking over the one I have it's my opinion that this revolver is as overbuilt as any revolver has ever been, it should perform the tasks that you have planned for it. I should add that the reason I even own the Ruger is because S&W saw fit to discontinue producing revolvers in .32 H&R Mag, & .327 Federal Mag. My first choice has always been S&W since I was a rookie reserve officer in the mid 60's and had to choose between a Colt & S&W. Back in those days we were required to purchase our own weapons. Sorry I'm unable to help and hope you find the advice you are seeking.
 
03hemi said:
Tell me about the SP101 357 in 2.5, is it very hard to come by? I've come across one in 100% mint condition for $400, is that something I should be running back to get?
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I don't believe there is a 2.5 inch barrel in the S P-101. If you mean the one with a bbl. a fraction over three inches, grab it!

I visit both Ruger boards; am on one. The guys there would love one for that price! I paid $419 for mine, about five years ago. Thought it was a major bargain.

But I won't buy the true snub SP. Too much weight for a snub and too much muzzle blast in .357, and lessened ballistics.

Yes, the S P-101 is difficult to find in many areas, and you should be happy to locate one. But do a QC check, as with any modern revolver. Canted barrels happen, as with S&W.
 
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Texas Star said:
I don't believe there is a 2.5 inch barrel in the S P-101. If you mean the one with a bbl. a fraction over three inches, grab it!

I visit both Ruger boards; am on one. The guys there would love one for that price! I paid $419 for mine, about five years ago. Thought it was a major bargain.

But I won't buy the true snub SP. Too much weight for a snub and too much muzzle blast in .357, and lessened ballistics.

Yes, the S P-101 is difficult to find in many areas, and you should be happy to locate one. But do a QC check, as with any modern revolver. Canted barrels happen, as with S&W.
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So it's a little over 3" then, okay, it just looked like a short snubby to me. It's brand new, not a mark on it so I'll go back and check it out and make sure to do a good QC on it too.
Thank's
 
I had a 4.2" SP101 in .22LR. Horrible leading issues due to an improperly cut forcing cone.

I had to send to back to Ruger as the dealer I bought it from wouldn't exchange it or return it for me (last gun I ever bought from him, and the last one I ever will buy from him).

Ruger wasn't sending shipping labels at that time but promised to reimburse me for the cost. I enclosed the receipt as instructed. They then lost the receipt and refused to reimburse me, even though the cost was a known quantity and they had proof it arrived.

They sent it back 2 weeks later after adjusting the ejector star. Timing wasn't the issue, the issue was an improperly cut forcing cone. Obviously it still leaded as bad as ever and had to go back a second time. This time they did send a shipping label. Two weeks later they called and gave me the option of a refund, if I had a receipt, or replacement. I opted for replacement as I'd been down the reimbursement road before. What they did not tell me, until about a month later when I called to see why the replacement had not arrived, is that they would replace it next time they made a production run of them. That ended up being about 4 months later. I bought it in late March and finally had a workable revolver in late October.

It was ok but not impressive in terms of accuracy and I traded it on a used S&W Model 17. Not one regret ever.

---

I do have a 3" SP101 in .357 Magnum and it is a decent gun. Decent trigger and enough heavier than a 3" Model 60 to make it more comfortable to shoot with .357 Magnum loads.
 
03hemi said:
Tell me about the SP101 357 in 2.5, is it very hard to come by? I've come across one in 100% mint condition for $400, is that something I should be running back to get?
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Yes---you should be going back for it. They retail for about $600.
Just my opinion but I don't care for the newer ones---poor QC just like everything else out there in the past 5 or so years. Get one that is roll stamped not electric engraved. I have them in 2.5" and 3", both 357. No issues every with either. I also had a double action only/hammer less, but sold that one off. For the weight I would rather carry a S&W 60, or 640 for hammer less, but for minimal carry and range work, they will certainly outlast you.
 
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I like the extra weight of my SP101 357. I added a more comfortable grip, great as a mountain carry piece. Not a collector gun that I need to worry about scratches. I traded a S&W 442 with a hole in the side for it, the guy wanted something lighter to conceal. I have plenty of Smith’s, so I got rid of the only one I had with a lock, no regrets.
 

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Gunhacker said:
It's to make it legal for sale in Canada... handgun barrel length can't be less than 105 millimeters (4.1").
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Gotta love lawmakers. "Longer than 101mm" (3.97 inches) would not have excluded 4" barrels (which was the purpose, in order to prevent Canadians from purchasing inexpensive surplus American police revolvers with 4" barrels.

However, "Longer than 102mm" (4.01 inches) would have excluded those existing 4" barrels without creating what is perceived as an odd barrel length.

105mm was just law makers being jerks.

That said, my understanding is that some of S&W's "4 inch" barrels are now actually 4.14" in length to exceed the 105mm (4.134 inch), but are just not advertised as such. I haven't measured one to verify this.

S&W advertises their Model 625 with a 10.5mm/4.13 inch barrel and their new Model 19, Model 66 and Model 69 with 10.8cm /4.25 inch barrels. IDPA revolver rules account for this by allowing barrels up to 4.25".

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It does follow a long history of rules in one form or another driving barrel length. For example, the old 8 3/4" S&W barrel length became an 8 3/8" barrel length to reduce the sight radius to the 10" NRA competition maximum.
 
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I have the .327 version and like it ...

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