SP101

1972RedNeck · October 6, 2024, 04:59 PM

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.

Recycled bullet · October 7, 2024, 11:37 PM

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...

1972RedNeck · October 8, 2024, 12:03 AM

Yes, green fiber optic which is my personal favorite front sight.

rc · October 8, 2024, 08:12 AM

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.

hammie · October 8, 2024, 12:58 PM

@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.

1972RedNeck · October 12, 2024, 10:11 AM

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.

Steve in PA · October 12, 2024, 01:37 PM

I added a Hogue grip to my SP101 because of my large hands. Fits like a glove now.

9ballbilly · October 14, 2024, 02:05 PM

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.

Super Sneaky Steve · October 15, 2024, 08:16 PM

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.

Hoss632 · October 16, 2024, 07:02 AM

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.

**JohnKSa** · October 16, 2024, 10:02 AM

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.

**44 AMP** · October 17, 2024, 12:12 PM

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??

Recycled bullet · October 17, 2024, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 44 AMP

If you shot it loose, why is it sitting, instead of on its way back to Ruger??

Indifference has set me free.

Recycled bullet · October 17, 2024, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 44 AMP

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.

**44 AMP** · October 17, 2024, 04:40 PM

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.

FrankenMauser · October 17, 2024, 05:13 PM

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

).

Pumpkin · October 17, 2024, 05:31 PM

I had one in 357 and put some Nylon Hogues on it.
I really liked it until something else I liked more came along.

Sgt127 · October 18, 2024, 11:36 PM

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.

TruthTellers · November 16, 2024, 11:28 PM

I've never been able to warm up to mine in .327, even tho I do think that is the perfect size for the caliber.

RiverRatGirl · January 3, 2025, 11:40 PM

I have had my SP101 357 for roughly 20 yrs. Purchased brand new. First revolver I called my own. My favorite gun to shoot. Recoil not bad at all but dang it's loud. Zero hiccups. As others have said, it's too heavy to carry but has its place inside my house. IMO, if awakened out of sleep, for me, it's a no brainer for one who doesn't train often and awakened out of a dead sleep. Just point and pull the trigger if needed.

This is my first reply here. New here so y'all don't be rough on a grandma with questions when I am finally able to start a thread. Unable to start a new one now so I figured I would have to reply to several posts before I can start my first thread. Some forums require that.

Super Sneaky Steve · January 5, 2025, 05:40 PM

Welcome to the forum River Rat Girl. Everyone loves their grandma.

GHOL · January 6, 2025, 02:48 PM

I don’t have a SP101 but my friend have one really nice. I like it a lot.

cloudswimmer · January 10, 2025, 12:44 PM

I’ve had the .357 SP101 2.25” for around 30 years, it shoots ridiculous low with the factory sights .. so much so I don’t even bother with it anymore, but I use to carry it in the 90’s on my tool belt in a holster when I was out gold prospecting or mineral collecting in the Calif. Motherload or high desert (with hot .357 Magnum loads) Perhaps for concealed defensive EDC it might be too heavy, but OWB on my tool belt it was like it wasn’t even there. One of these days I’ll send it to Badger for their complete work over including their adjustable rear sights .. then will revisit shooting it, it’s not a target gun of course .. but come on Ruger (well 1995 Ruger that is) The SP101 is a modern classic imho

rodfac · January 11, 2025, 09:50 PM

Welcome to the Forum, RiverRatGirl. I'll look forward to more of your posts.

BTW, "River Rats" is the unofficial name for members of the Red River Fighter Pilot's Assn...we're a bunch of ancient pilots that flew into N. Vietnam 50 years ago, delivering the "mail" to Uncle Ho....best regards, Rod

RiverRatGirl · January 13, 2025, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodfac

Welcome to the Forum, RiverRatGirl. I'll look forward to more of your posts.

BTW, "River Rats" is the unofficial name for members of the Red River Fighter Pilot's Assn...we're a bunch of ancient pilots that flew into N. Vietnam 50 years ago, delivering the "mail" to Uncle Ho....best regards, Rod

That is a neat story rodfac!! Thank you for your service as well as your pilot friends.

My dad actually gave me this nickname when I was a little girl. We lived next to a river and it was our stomping grounds.

October 6, 2024, 04:59 PM	#1
1972RedNeck Senior Member Join Date: December 8, 2015 Posts: 325	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.

October 14, 2024, 02:05 PM	#8
9ballbilly Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2008 Location: northeast Florida Posts: 620	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. __________________ may God eternally bless the American Rifleman--- as long as one stands, resolute, liberty shall not perish.

October 16, 2024, 10:02 AM	#11
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 25,401	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. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

October 17, 2024, 04:40 PM	#15
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 30,007	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. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

October 17, 2024, 05:13 PM	#16
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,650	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 ). __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe. Last edited by FrankenMauser; October 17, 2024 at 05:19 PM.

October 7, 2024, 11:37 PM	#2
Recycled bullet Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2022 Posts: 448	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...

October 8, 2024, 12:03 AM	#3
1972RedNeck Senior Member Join Date: December 8, 2015 Posts: 325	Yes, green fiber optic which is my personal favorite front sight.

October 8, 2024, 08:12 AM	#4
rc Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2001 Location: CA Posts: 1,905	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.

October 8, 2024, 12:58 PM	#5
hammie Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Location: Temple, TX Posts: 972	@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.

October 12, 2024, 10:11 AM	#6
1972RedNeck Senior Member Join Date: December 8, 2015 Posts: 325	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.

October 15, 2024, 08:16 PM	#9
Super Sneaky Steve Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 2011 Posts: 1,306	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.

October 16, 2024, 07:02 AM	#10
Hoss632 member Join Date: May 19, 2024 Posts: 53	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.

October 17, 2024, 05:31 PM	#17
Pumpkin Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2020 Location: Seguin Texas Posts: 731	I had one in 357 and put some Nylon Hogues on it. I really liked it until something else I liked more came along.

October 18, 2024, 11:36 PM	#18
Sgt127 Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2002 Posts: 1,061	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.

November 16, 2024, 11:28 PM	#19
TruthTellers Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2016 Posts: 3,931	I've never been able to warm up to mine in .327, even tho I do think that is the perfect size for the caliber. __________________ "We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."

January 3, 2025, 11:40 PM	#20
RiverRatGirl Junior Member Join Date: January 3, 2025 Posts: 2	A lady's perspective on SP101 I have had my SP101 357 for roughly 20 yrs. Purchased brand new. First revolver I called my own. My favorite gun to shoot. Recoil not bad at all but dang it's loud. Zero hiccups. As others have said, it's too heavy to carry but has its place inside my house. IMO, if awakened out of sleep, for me, it's a no brainer for one who doesn't train often and awakened out of a dead sleep. Just point and pull the trigger if needed. This is my first reply here. New here so y'all don't be rough on a grandma with questions when I am finally able to start a thread. Unable to start a new one now so I figured I would have to reply to several posts before I can start my first thread. Some forums require that.

January 5, 2025, 05:40 PM	#21
Super Sneaky Steve Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 2011 Posts: 1,306	Welcome to the forum River Rat Girl. Everyone loves their grandma.

January 6, 2025, 02:48 PM	#22
GHOL Member Join Date: December 25, 2024 Posts: 21	I don’t have a SP101 but my friend have one really nice. I like it a lot. Last edited by GHOL; January 6, 2025 at 02:49 PM. Reason: mistake

January 10, 2025, 12:44 PM	#23
cloudswimmer Junior Member Join Date: November 8, 2008 Posts: 1	I’ve had the .357 SP101 2.25” for around 30 years, it shoots ridiculous low with the factory sights .. so much so I don’t even bother with it anymore, but I use to carry it in the 90’s on my tool belt in a holster when I was out gold prospecting or mineral collecting in the Calif. Motherload or high desert (with hot .357 Magnum loads) Perhaps for concealed defensive EDC it might be too heavy, but OWB on my tool belt it was like it wasn’t even there. One of these days I’ll send it to Badger for their complete work over including their adjustable rear sights .. then will revisit shooting it, it’s not a target gun of course .. but come on Ruger (well 1995 Ruger that is) The SP101 is a modern classic imho Last edited by cloudswimmer; January 10, 2025 at 12:55 PM.

January 11, 2025, 09:50 PM	#24
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,646	Welcome to the Forum, RiverRatGirl. I'll look forward to more of your posts. BTW, "River Rats" is the unofficial name for members of the Red River Fighter Pilot's Assn...we're a bunch of ancient pilots that flew into N. Vietnam 50 years ago, delivering the "mail" to Uncle Ho....best regards, Rod __________________ Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73.

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