Wheely Fun---SP101

[KLYDE]

Buddy calls me, spur of the moment this morning, wanting me to go to the range with him. Says I'll be over in 15 minutes. He shoots trap. I don't, so I needed a quick grab and go firearm.

When the situation dictates a revolver, I carry my SP101 9mm snub. An older pre MIM 571 series. I sent it to Ruger a few years back for an overhaul and installation of the DAO hammer. The SP had not been out in a bit, so figured it was a good time for some practice.

I had loaded up some Xtreme 124 gr HP with 4.8 grains of BE86 from their PDF manual. Hadn't shot the Xtreme's before ...nor the BE86. I grabbed a pound on the last trip to the gun store.

Brought a Target Sports Combat Target and my timer. Figured I might as well have some fun. Set the target at 21 ft. and the timer at 8 seconds. Hit the timer and go. 5 shots bouncing bull to bull. The BE/Xtreme load shot low from POA (center of bull) but was consistent and accurate. I think I found a new 9mm load. I'll see how it does from my semi's.

50 rounds. My wrist was barking at the end. Finished up just as the thunder boomers rolled in.

Regards Klyde

 

[444 Magnum]

Nice. I have one in .357 that I keep in the truck. I was selling a boat and the potential buyer and I were $500 apart on the purchase/sale price. He said he didn't have any more money but wanted the boat. I asked him what kind of guns he had. Now I have an SP101, cash, and no boat.

The second of the two happiest days of a boat owners life.

 

[Erich]

Man, that's a happy deal, sjbrdn.

Mine says "Hi!," KLYDE. I have a 3" .357 SP-101 that I use a lot for hikes, too.

 

[SS336]

Nice shooting! Nice revolver.
Looks like a good place to shoot. Pretty much a perfect day.

 

[jeffrefrig]

Ruger makes good revolvers, too. From the Big Three I haven't owned a Colt...yet.

 

[KLYDE]

Man, that's a happy deal, sjbrdn.

Mine says "Hi!," KLYDE. I have a 3" .357 SP-101 that I use a lot for hikes, too.

Erich...how is the new series 9mm? Any issues. Doe it have a proper chamber with the headspace step? I bought the snub and 3" 9mm way back before Ruger decided to ruin my investment.

The older ones may still draw a slight premium over the new series but pretty much crashed them as far as value.

I haven't seen a new 9mm SP around here since they were introduced.

Regards Klyde

 

[KLYDE]

Ruger makes good revolvers, too. From the Big Three I haven't owned a Colt...yet.

No flies on this SP. I've had SP's in .357 also. Everything is gone except this snubby. All of my J frames are gone also. I find the SP much easier to shoot. My go to revolver carry. Most of the time it is the Sig 938 Legion.

Klyde

 

[KLYDE]

Nice shooting! Nice revolver.
Looks like a good place to shoot. Pretty much a perfect day.

Thanks....it was a perfect day. I normally go to this range during the week. First time ever on a weekend. Figured it would be busy. Pulled into the parking lot and it was jammed. Oh boy ....I thought.

Ended up the club was running an IDPA Competition. Course is out in the woods and doesn't affect the normal ranges. People come from several area states to compete. I was the ONLY person on both the rifle and pistol range.

Doesn't get any better.

Klyde

 

[sipowicz]

I like my Gemini custom SP....as you can see it's my fourth favorite revolver. (Not counting my DS)

 

[Birdhunter6]

Great to hear range day reports!

Thanks for sharing.

SP101s and Ruger DAs in general are the best value out there. (Hard for Smith snobs like me to admit!)

 

[JWintergreen]

Great to hear range day reports!

Thanks for sharing.

SP101s and Ruger DAs in general are the best value out there. (Hard for Smith snobs like me to admit!)

Since Ruger's recent MSRP hike, their revolvers are more expensive than comparible Smith and Wessons. For example, a 686 Plus 4.25" has an MSRP of $894.00, and the Seven shot 4.25" GP100 has an MSRP of $1,039.00. Although the SP101 is a D frame sized revolver, I will compare it to the Model 60 J Magnum. The 2.25" SP101 costs $859.00, and a new Model 60 has a MSRP of $775.00. Ruger fans do not like to hear this either, but the SP101 is the only revolver in its size class that is a .38/.357 five shooter.

 

[Erich]

Erich...how is the new series 9mm? Any issues. Doe it have a proper chamber with the headspace step? I bought the snub and 3" 9mm way back before Ruger decided to ruin my investment.

The older ones may still draw a slight premium over the new series but pretty much crashed them as far as value.

I haven't seen a new 9mm SP around here since they were introduced.

Regards Klyde

Hi Klyde,
The chamber is just as it should be, and there is no need to use moon clips for reliable shooting function. The new moon clips are of a different diameter than the old ones and a different design. The new design allows easy on/off of the rounds, but is not durable as compared to the old Ruger clip design or those from Ranch Products - plus Ruger is mighty proud of the new (rotten) clips and charges a little over $6/each for them.

That said, the new SP-101 9x19 is a delight: the action is smooth and they're pretty (I've been shooting these since they were released in 1989 - the actions and finish have never been as good as they are in present-day guns). So, while the moon clips on this new one don't allow me to be as happy with fast reloads as I have been with earlier 9x19 revolvers (I could reload my S&W 940 no-dash as fast as any semiauto I've ever owned - I got to where I could almost throw the loaded clips into the open cylinder), I'm plenty happy with the purchase (I sniped it a couple years ago for under $400 delivered brand-new on GB).

cheers, erich

 

[Rock185]

I like 9MM revolvers in general, and especially the little SP101. Other than when I tried to use a lighter hammer spring, mine has functioned perfectly with and without moon clips, with all of the many kinds of ammo I've tried in it. Mine has a 570 serial number prefix. The Ruger site says shipped in '91.