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Old October 6, 2024, 04:59 PM   #1
1972RedNeck
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SP101

Picked up a used 4.2" 357 SP101. Nice little shooter. I am EXTREMELY impressed with the double action trigger. Like 1970s S&W double action impressed. I assume it must have had some work done to it as I have never been impressed by a Ruger double action trigger before.

Single action is good, has a little more creep than I would like but no real complaints.

Only complaint overall is the factory grips are too small for my big hands. Can't get a good grip as my fingers run into my palm. And it needs a good grip with full house 357s. Have a Hogue rubber grip ordered as they fit my hands well on all my other revolvers.

All in all, it's a hoot to shoot and I would highly recommend one if anyone is thinking about one.
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Old October 7, 2024, 11:37 PM   #2
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Is yours the one with the green fiber optic front sight?

The most accurate load out of my SP101 was 110 grain jacketed hollow point with a Max charge of 2400. I shot that gun loose, now it sits...
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Old October 8, 2024, 12:03 AM   #3
1972RedNeck
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Yes, green fiber optic which is my personal favorite front sight.
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Old October 8, 2024, 08:12 AM   #4
rc
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I have a 4.2 32 mag and it's a nice gun. I ditched the factory grips years ago for the hogue. They are still small but have a resting place for my pinky.
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Old October 8, 2024, 12:58 PM   #5
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@redneck: I have big hands and have the similar problem as you. Also, I need a grip which fills the gap between the grip and trigger guard because my large hands (knuckle) get bruised by the trigger guard under recoil. The best solution for me has been Pachmayer grips. I have a set of the Pachmayer wooden laminate renegade grips on my sp-101 and those grips seem to work the best. Hogue grips have worked okay, too, except I don't like the "skinny peg" look, but that's just a matter of personal aesthetics.
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Old October 12, 2024, 10:11 AM   #6
1972RedNeck
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Got my Hogue grip and it is just barely big enough. Will try it out at the range today.

Pretty sure whoever designs Hogue grips has hands very similar to mine. I have their rubber grips on every handgun I own that they make them for. Fit and point of aim is always perfect.
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Old October 12, 2024, 01:37 PM   #7
Steve in PA
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I added a Hogue grip to my SP101 because of my large hands. Fits like a glove now.
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Old October 14, 2024, 02:05 PM   #8
9ballbilly
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As much as I like my SP101, I've decided to part with it. For me it's simply too heavy to EDC here in the deep South where shorts and a T-shirt or polo are the order of the day nearly year round. I replaced it with one of the Lipseys S&W 632UC J frames in .32 magnum. Easier to carry and a nice companion to my vintage .32 magnum Ruger Single-Six.
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Old October 15, 2024, 08:16 PM   #9
Super Sneaky Steve
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The SP101 has it's place. It's not a good EDC carry gun, but makes a great woods companion where you might want full power magnum loads.
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Old October 16, 2024, 07:02 AM   #10
Hoss632
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Not a revolver guy by any means, but i will say the SP101 is the only revolver that ever felt comfortable to hold. For my small hands the stock rubber grip felt really nice.
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Old October 16, 2024, 10:02 AM   #11
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My SP101 is the .22LR model. I really enjoy shooting it. The DA trigger wasl pretty heavy, and gritty out of the box. I've done a lot of work on it and it's now very smooth but is still around 13lbs in DA. The centerfire models should be a little lighter than that as the hammer won't need as much "oomph" to pop a centerfire primer as is required for a rimfire.
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Old October 17, 2024, 12:12 PM   #12
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Quote:
I shot that gun loose, now it sits...
If you shot it loose, why is it sitting, instead of on its way back to Ruger??
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Old October 17, 2024, 12:12 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 44 AMP View Post
If you shot it loose, why is it sitting, instead of on its way back to Ruger??
Indifference has set me free.
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Old October 17, 2024, 12:19 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 44 AMP View Post
If you shot it loose, why is it sitting, instead of on its way back to Ruger??
I sent emails to Ruger four separate times and received no response. The gun is I believe unsafe to continue using with Magnum level loads. That gun ate a hot lunch of multiple kegs of 2400 and now the cylinder has excessive end play and the barrel face is so eroded that it looks like it was in contact with an acetalyene torch momentarily.

I found that the cylinder is undersized for cast lead bullets and so instead I shoot the two Ruger Blackhawks and 686 and 77-357 instead. I suppose that if the sp101 was my only handgun it would be a higher priority to get the repairs taken care of.
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Old October 17, 2024, 04:40 PM   #15
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ok, if you don't care about getting it fixed, that's your business.

You might try CALLING Ruger and speaking to a person, if it matters. Ruger will be the judge if the gun can be repaired, or if its actually worn out.

I know of a guy who shot his model 19 loose with large amount of stupidly hot loads. Sent it back to S&W and they fixed it.

The SECOND time he did it, S&W fixed it again, and also told him they would not fix it again and he had used up over 65% of the frame life...(with the hint to stop doing what he was doing)

Not entirely sure what Ruger would do. I do believe if the gun is unsafe and not repairable, they won't send it back to you.
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Old October 17, 2024, 05:13 PM   #16
FrankenMauser
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I like my 4.2" SP101 in .327 Federal. Absolutely one of my favorite revolvers, especially with .32 H&R.

But, being chambered for a cartridge that uses rifle primers means it will never have a trigger as light or smooth as other models. Like the .22 LR variant, it has an extra heavy hammer spring, which is *required* to set off the rifle primers.
Such is life.

----------

I sent a Super Blackhawk to Ruger in Oct/Nov 2012, with a request for the cost of a "new style" cylinder (all chambers bored with the same reamer) and a few replacement screws, with a minor complaint that it just didn't shoot any more.
Between the original owner (1993-1999) and myself (1999-2013), we had nearly worn it out.

Ruger never called me. In late December, I called to get an update and see if they had the cost breakdown. Instead, they told me it was in the live fire cell, awaiting accuracy verification, and that I'd have a tracking number by the end of the week.

Some time in January 2013, I noticed a packaged in the bushes by my front door.
It contained the SBH.

Ruger had fully stripped it, refinished my frames, and rebuilt the revolver with all new parts. They reinstalled my original grips and it might have had the original trigger.
New cylinder, new barrel, etc., etc.

They basically gave me a new revolver, built on the original frames.
20 years old and brand new.

My only complaints are/were:
They went to the new style center pin and shroud, which was a downgrade.
I never got a tracking number (Ruger's failure). It just showed up in my bushes (FedEx's failure - I once saw that [assumed] driver throw a scope from the end of my driveway, and bounce it off my front door ).
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Old October 17, 2024, 05:31 PM   #17
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I had one in 357 and put some Nylon Hogues on it.
I really liked it until something else I liked more came along.
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Old October 18, 2024, 11:36 PM   #18
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I have a couple. One is an NYSP, .38 Special. The other, .357 Magnum.

The SP101 is the absolute smallest and lightest gun I would shoot .357 Magnum in.

And, if you run out of ammo, it’s a dandy impromptu impact weapon.
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