Tunachaser
US Veteran
I hope you are not taking deer with a 4" revolver.
Sp 101 vs model 66/65
- Thread starter Firearmsrookie
- Start date
bmcgilvray
Member
Deer are impervious to revolvers with 4-inch barrels. Everybody knows that.
Except for that last doe I took with a handgun which was a 4-inch barreled revolver.
Except for that last doe I took with a handgun which was a 4-inch barreled revolver.
OP
Firearmsrookie
Member
OK..OK you all convinced me a 66 it is. I was unfortunately not able to find a 4 incher. I did find a 2.5 incher but this causes another problem as now my 19-4 2.5 is jealous. I will need to allocate the round count between the 2 more evenly in the future. It is a 66-2 and the number is BAD1030. I think this dates from after 1982. Can anyone get me closer?
Mule88
Member
Wise decision...grasshopper! 
Texas Star
US Veteran
How will you dress in those woods? Must you carry concealed? Which wild animals might you need to shoot? Is there a dog problem?
I have both guns and love both. If I could have only one, it'd be the M-66. But it is harder to conceal, and the Ruger probably is less likely to develop cylinder endshake or have a barrel throat crack with hot loads.
But if you keep lead buildup cleaned out of the barrel throat and avoid blowtorch ammo, the 66 is quite durable. Just limit .357 use to maybe 10-15%, if you want longtime durability.
I have found the SP-101 trigger to be quite heavy, but pretty smooth. The single-action cocking stroke is also long and hard. Compared to a S&W M-60-4, the Smith action has the edge, but the Ruger is tougher over the long haul, and offers .357 capability without a lock.
I think you should eventually get both, but if concealment is paramount and you don't have issues with the Ruger's heavy trigger pull, it might be the better choice.
Ruger's GP-100 is larger than the M-66, but mine has a really nice trigger pull, much easier than does the smaller SP. And it will hold up better than any S&W, I think. Cylinder endshake and cylinder timing issues plague Ruger less than any other revolver brand, in my experience.
But the M-66 is a fine gun that will do well by you and which has more prestige than Ruger in the eye of the average gun owner. It's a bit more classy in looks and refinement. Keep in mind that S&W may be out of replacement parts if anything breaks or wears badly. But many gunsmiths have parts and ability to do repairs.
Actually, if you don't shoot a whole lot and the gun is in nice shape when you buy it, repairs may never be needed.
I hope that helps!
I have both guns and love both. If I could have only one, it'd be the M-66. But it is harder to conceal, and the Ruger probably is less likely to develop cylinder endshake or have a barrel throat crack with hot loads.
But if you keep lead buildup cleaned out of the barrel throat and avoid blowtorch ammo, the 66 is quite durable. Just limit .357 use to maybe 10-15%, if you want longtime durability.
I have found the SP-101 trigger to be quite heavy, but pretty smooth. The single-action cocking stroke is also long and hard. Compared to a S&W M-60-4, the Smith action has the edge, but the Ruger is tougher over the long haul, and offers .357 capability without a lock.
I think you should eventually get both, but if concealment is paramount and you don't have issues with the Ruger's heavy trigger pull, it might be the better choice.
Ruger's GP-100 is larger than the M-66, but mine has a really nice trigger pull, much easier than does the smaller SP. And it will hold up better than any S&W, I think. Cylinder endshake and cylinder timing issues plague Ruger less than any other revolver brand, in my experience.
But the M-66 is a fine gun that will do well by you and which has more prestige than Ruger in the eye of the average gun owner. It's a bit more classy in looks and refinement. Keep in mind that S&W may be out of replacement parts if anything breaks or wears badly. But many gunsmiths have parts and ability to do repairs.
Actually, if you don't shoot a whole lot and the gun is in nice shape when you buy it, repairs may never be needed.
I hope that helps!
Last edited:
.357Magnum.
Member
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Go with the Ruger SP101
I have a 3" SP 101 and a model 60 smith and wesson. It is really is not a contest, the SP101 is built much stronger and believe it or not I like the double action trigger better than the Smith's. It will handle abuse better---just a fact that Rugers are overbuilt and have no sideplates making them stronger........
SP101 is the best small frame .357 magnum on this planet....
I have a 3" SP 101 and a model 60 smith and wesson. It is really is not a contest, the SP101 is built much stronger and believe it or not I like the double action trigger better than the Smith's. It will handle abuse better---just a fact that Rugers are overbuilt and have no sideplates making them stronger........
SP101 is the best small frame .357 magnum on this planet....
white cloud
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i have an sp101 and two magnum frame m-60s. the m-60s are smoother, easier to hit with but i have managed to smooth out the sp101's trigger quite a bit. the ruger seem a lot stronger. i don't have to worry much about it so my sp101 gets carried a lot.
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It looks to be a late winter/early spring 1988 ship date.
Do your guns FTF when they get jealous?
celticfisherman
Member
Model 19 4" shooting a standard 155 (I think) loads. Shot this deer at 30 yds. One shot kill in his steps. He never moved again. He also weighed in at over 200lbs dressed.
A 357 is a great deer cartridge. The problem with most people is they just don't know how to shoot.
Buy the 4" Smith!!! Much better gun over the long run and you will never regret it!!!!
remat457
Member
I agree.
I traded my SP101 for an L frame. I was looking for something more shootable. I actually miss the little guy, but it would have needed a trigger job and a better front site to be comparable. If looking for something smaller sized I would recommend a 3" J or K.
ScottJ
Member
I have a 2 and 1/8th inch SP101 because there was no such thing as a .357 J frame at the time I bought it.
I bought it in May 1992 (stumbled across the original receipt recently) and we have done so many miles together I could never sell it.
I bought a friend's 2.5" 66 a few years later. It's certainly a nicer gun and as other have said no longer in production while the SP101 still is. But I can only pocket carry it if I really push the defintion of pocket gun. There are few pockets I can't drop that SP101 in and have it just dissapear.
I finally gave in to my aging eyes last year and switched to the Meprolight front sight:
I bought it in May 1992 (stumbled across the original receipt recently) and we have done so many miles together I could never sell it.
I bought a friend's 2.5" 66 a few years later. It's certainly a nicer gun and as other have said no longer in production while the SP101 still is. But I can only pocket carry it if I really push the defintion of pocket gun. There are few pockets I can't drop that SP101 in and have it just dissapear.
I finally gave in to my aging eyes last year and switched to the Meprolight front sight:
