Ruger announces 9mm SP101

[weblance]

Ruger has announced the return of the SP101 in 9mm. They also have new LCRx revolvers

[Dan-O]

Cool. They hopefully didn’t put it on the 4” platform.....

Just peeked at their website. Guess I’ll have to put my money where my mouth is and buy one.

A 3” sp chambered in .327 would make my day as well.

[Armybrat]

What Dan-O said. Bring back the 3" in .327. (with fixed sights)

[SonOfScubaDiver]

Any information on when they will be available for purchase? Guess I need to mozy on over to Ruger's website and pay them a visit.

[retfed]

Checked the Ruger site. The 9mm is (at least to start) a 2 1/4" bbl. and holds a scant 5 rounds. Oh well, that removes it from contention for me, anyway.
MSR $700.

Retfed

[smee78]

Interesting, will have to give one a look. I really enjoy mu Speed Six in 9mm.

[9x19]

Makes me glad I sold my 3" 9mm last year, my timing isn't usually that good.

[Real Gun]

So, does that mean it is a 5-round, moon clip gun? Whatever.

[Laz]

does that mean it is a 5-round, moon clip gun?

I don’t know what else it could be and still be an SP101.

[XDforever]

I tried to paste the link from the Ruger website, but was unable to.

Joe

[Rob228]

http://www.ruger.com/products/sp101/...eets/5783.html

[disseminator]

Seems kind of spendy......

http://www.ruger.com/products/sp101/...eets/5783.html

^^^^^^^ Ninja!

[XDforever]

Originally Posted by disseminator

Seems kind of spendy......

http://www.ruger.com/products/sp101/...eets/5783.html

^^^^^^^ Ninja!

Yes, I agree about the spendy part.

Joe

[disseminator]

Also: https://thefiringline.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=590106

[ifithitu]

Thanks for sharing the link y'all.

[Model12Win]

One wonders of any 9mm load that would expand reliably and penetrate from such a short barrel that also has a cylinder gap. Most are of course made to perform from longer barrels with a sealed chamber.

[Model12Win]

Just looks nifty to me. I want one!

[Cosmodragoon]

The 9mm is (at least to start) a 2 1/4" bbl. and holds a scant 5 rounds. Oh well, that removes it from contention for me...

I like 9mm but prefer to keep it in my semi-autos. I get it. It's cost effective. It's more powerful than .38 special without reaching the recoil levels of .357 magnum. It can be a fun way for semi-auto guys to break into revolvers. I just like revolver rounds in my revolvers.

I'm also with a couple of other posters here who expressed interest in a reissued shorter-barrel .327 Federal. It's more powerful than 9mm without reaching the recoil levels of .357 magnum. It's a six-shooter on the same frame that has both 9mm and .38/.357 holding five. Yeah, it's a little more expensive and you can't buy it at Wal-Mart. It's still very cool and very effective for what it is.

That said, there is a new LCRx coming out in .327 Federal. I'm still curious to see if they come out with a longer-barreled magnum frame in that line.

[rock185]

I don't know Model12Win, some 9mm ammo displays velocities higher than might be expected in the little 2" and 3" revolvers.

I chronographed the Federal 124 grain HST, that seems well thought of as a carry load, in a couple little 2" and 3" revolvers.

2" = 1195 FPS
3" = 1291 FPS

I think this compares pretty well with the 1236 FPS this ammo produced in a semi-auto with 5" barrel. I suspect terminal performance with this ammo would be about the same from any of these guns.

[Model12Win]

Originally Posted by rock185

I don't know Model12Win, some 9mm ammo displays velocities higher than might be expected in the little 2" and 3" revolvers.

I chronographed the Federal 124 grain HST, that seems well thought of as a carry load, in a couple little 2" and 3" revolvers.

2" = 1195 FPS
3" = 1291 FPS

I think this compares pretty well with the 1236 FPS this ammo produced in a semi-auto with 5" barrel. I suspect terminal performance with this ammo would be about the same from any of these guns.

I see. I would want to see gel tests before I carried a load, though. Even a subtle decrease in velocity can mean the difference in an expanded vs. non expanded hollow point cavity.

Still, I really like this SP-101. Very cheap ammo. With moon clips it looks very fun. The heavy steel construction should reduce recoil over the LCR and S&W small frame alloy 9mm revolvers.

[Laz]

A few years ago I remember reading several articles about 9mm fired from revolvers. One was, I think, by Wiley Clapp. He published results that indicated 9mm revolvers benefited more from the added length of cylinder and barrel (compared to a chamber included barrel on a semi auto) than they were handicapped by the cylinder gap. Most of his published velocities showed 2-2 1/4 inch barrels getting velocities comparable to 3 1/2 inch semis and 3 inch revolvers running with 4-4 1/2 inch barrel autoloaders. I wish I had that chart to show here. Ammo capacity will never be comparable, lol.

[RustyHammer]

... that's a lot of weight for only five rounds of 9mm. Just saying ...

[Lohman446]

I see. I would want to see gel tests before I carried a load, though. Even a subtle decrease in velocity can mean the difference in an expanded vs. non expanded hollow point cavity.

Remember also that a 3" revolver barrel is 3" of barrel. This is not true in a semi that measures the chamber as part of the barrel.

[Super Sneaky Steve]

The SP101 is a great magnum revolver. Putting 9mm rounds in it gives you all the pressure of a .357 but without the performance. Pretty dumb.

[rock185]

Laz, My results in chronographing 9MM and 10MM ammunition in both revolvers and semi-auto pistols is consistent with what you report Mr. Clapp wrote.