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Old April 21, 2013, 08:07 AM   #1
TinyDee
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A Ruger 101

Just shopping for a new 22 and saw a Ruger 101 22 revolver but the price was really high. Is this common and is it worth it?
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Old April 21, 2013, 08:24 AM   #2
Hammer1
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.

The Ruger SP101 in 22 Long Rifle are common and regular production items.

Most Rugers are good guns.

.
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Old April 21, 2013, 09:21 AM   #3
Gdawgs
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How much is really high? I just bought a new one a couple weeks ago and paid $560. Not cheap, but I have wanted one ever since they came out, and they aren't all that easy to find, so I grabbed it. I've only had it out once, so I don't have a great feel for it yet. But it should be a great gun.
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Old April 21, 2013, 09:52 AM   #4
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The SP101 22 is tied with the 4" 357 mag as the most expensive model on the SP101 lineup. People have a tendency to think that just because it's a 22 it should be less. The cost of production is not necessarily less when constructing a 22 in the same model.

The reason the SP101 22 costs more than the other SPs is the extra features that are present: adjustable sites, engraved wood panel grips, and fiber optic front sights.
Quote:
but I have wanted one ever since they came out, and they aren't all that easy to find, so I grabbed it. I've only had it out once, so I don't have a great feel for it yet. But it should be a great gun.
I heard the trigger is pretty stiff. How is yours?
Mine will be here in a week or so and inquiring minds were wondering if a spring kit is really necessary. My 357 doesn't have a spring kit... it loosened up over time.
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Old April 21, 2013, 12:54 PM   #5
Gdawgs
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The double action trigger pull is pretty heavy, single action is decent. The action was fairly rough and gritty at first but I've been dry firing it quite a bit and it has already smoothed out a lot.

I also bought a new SP101 in 327 earlier this year. The trigger was the same with that one when I first got it, but I have shot that one a fair amount already and the trigger has smoothed out. When I bought the 22, I compared it to the 327 and there was a huge difference between the two(327 was much smoother). But now after dry firing, the 22 is getting pretty close to the other one.
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Old April 21, 2013, 05:12 PM   #6
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One issue I have is the .357 length cylinder causing such a long jump to the rifling. Bullets have to travel about 3/4" before they hit the rifling. It really seems to limit accuracy. The best mine (older 6 shot model) will do is about 2" at 25 yards from a rest with mini mags, other ammo shoots about 3". That's a far cry from my Mark II that will shoot just about anything under 1-1/2", mini mags well under an inch.
Since mine is a 6 shot, I'm thinking of having it converted to .22 mag.
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Old April 21, 2013, 06:10 PM   #7
Kels73
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I saw a Ruger SP101 22 LR for $600 at a local gun store about two months ago here in Southwestern, WA. It seemed like a high price to me. Then about a week ago, I saw a SP101 in 357 Magnum with a 3" barrel for $500 at another local gun store in the area. That's closer to what I'm used to.
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Old April 21, 2013, 09:21 PM   #8
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Gave $479 after MS tax for mine here in NW MS. That was mid 2012 though.

Good gun, stiff trigger... It gets a bit better after 1000 rounds or so. I have read about putting a 13#? Wolff spring on it to make it easier, but then again, it's not too hard for me.
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Old April 22, 2013, 01:12 PM   #9
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I have one of the old models before the fiber optic sights. It's a great gun to carry around in the woods. I've toyed with of buying one of the news ones as well.
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Old April 22, 2013, 09:58 PM   #10
s4s4u
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Quote:
The Ruger SP101 in 22 Long Rifle are common and regular production items.
They started making them again?
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Old April 23, 2013, 12:37 PM   #11
DPris
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Dee,
Your question is meaningless and unanswerable without configuration, condition, and price.
It's like asking how high is up and should those clouds look like that?

S4S,
Two years ago.

Denis
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Old April 23, 2013, 06:51 PM   #12
TinyDee
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well thanks for the words. The revolver was in a showcase at my dealers. What more can I say...
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Old April 23, 2013, 07:59 PM   #13
DPris
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New model? Old model? Barrel length? Sights? New gun? Used gun? Price?
Lots of things you can say, if you want informed opinions.
Denis
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Old April 23, 2013, 08:26 PM   #14
Gdawgs
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DPris, what are you going after? We're talking about an SP101 in 22. As far as I know there is only one configuration, maybe I'm wrong on that. Is there an old model SP101 in 22? I'm thinking the only thing he hasn't stated is whether it was new or used(and price). Maybe I'm missing something here.
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Old April 23, 2013, 08:40 PM   #15
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A Ruger 101

I since some hostility. DPris, do you have some kind of axe to grind here?
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Old April 23, 2013, 09:46 PM   #16
DealHunter
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Have one of the new ones picked up in 2012 for $460, stiff DA but well made and "tough" (and accurate). My S&W Model 17 has a much nicer trigger but not as "resistant" to knocking around in the woods, hence the Ruger as a "working" piece.
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Old April 23, 2013, 09:50 PM   #17
DPris
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There's been more than one .22 SP101. The old model, and the new model.
They have different barrel configurations & different sights.

No hostility, no axe, just pointing out the futility of asking such a question.
"I saw a Ford, it had a high pricetag. Is this common and is it worth it?"

There's no way to give a meaningful answer with zero info on which SP101 .22 it was, what shape, and what the pricetag was.
Denis
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Old April 23, 2013, 10:15 PM   #18
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How high was "really high"? I have S&W and Colt 22 revolvers that some would say were "really high" priced. It is kind of relative. But there were two versions of the SP-101 in 22LR. The current model has a 4.2" barrel and fiber optic sights. Pretty easy to tell at a glance if it is the old model or the current model.
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Old April 24, 2013, 03:55 AM   #19
twhidd
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A Ruger 101

Disregard.
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Old April 24, 2013, 11:03 AM   #20
DPris
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Twhidd,
It was a nudge to Dee to provide more information so somebody CAN help with his questions, not just dumping on him.
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Old April 24, 2013, 12:06 PM   #21
Hammerhead
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Right now I think there's only one version for sale new, KSP-242-8, the 4" half lug 8 shot model with fiber optic sights. List price $699.

What price was it?
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Old April 24, 2013, 03:52 PM   #22
TinyDee
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Well that was it, brand new and he had it for over 500. Not bad in relation to the retail but I was just curious about how the 101 was viewed as a 22 pistol. I certainly did not mean to offend or set anyone off...
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Old April 24, 2013, 04:03 PM   #23
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The new Ruger SP-101 is viewed favorably by most. The old SP-101 in 22LR had a terrible trigger. They always appealed to me and I have looked at many in stores and at gun shows. I wanted to buy one. But, the trigger always stopped me from buying and of course they were snubbie sized versus the current 4.2" barrel length. If the new ones (4.2") are like most Rugers, the trigger (although fairly stout in double action) should smooth out with use. Honestly, I shoot mostly single action with my double action revolvers anyway. But it's fun to shoot DA also.

It retails for $699, so $560 is probably about right price-wise. Yes, it seems like a lot. Try pricing a new S&W M617.

Last edited by 22-rimfire; April 24, 2013 at 04:56 PM.
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Old April 24, 2013, 04:45 PM   #24
newfrontier45
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The OP was extremely vague. I think some folks are trying to get more details so they can help YOU. There has been more than one variation of the SP101 .22LR, with quite a few years between runs and that makes a difference. Although I'm not sure what the new 8-shot (or 9, I don't remember) version has done to what was a collector premium on the original 6-shot version.


Quote:
One issue I have is the .357 length cylinder causing such a long jump to the rifling. Bullets have to travel about 3/4" before they hit the rifling. It really seems to limit accuracy. The best mine (older 6 shot model) will do is about 2" at 25 yards from a rest with mini mags, other ammo shoots about 3". That's a far cry from my Mark II that will shoot just about anything under 1-1/2", mini mags well under an inch.
Since mine is a 6 shot, I'm thinking of having it converted to .22 mag.
I would not assume the cylinder length is to blame. K-22's have always had very long cylinders for the cartridge and accuracy is usually excellent. The SP is not a target revolver and was never meant to be.

NO standard revolver can compete with a good fixed barrel auto for accuracy. A good revolver will typically shoot into 1-1.5"@25yds with preferred loads and any decent fixed barrel auto like the Ruger MK-series or Browning Buckmark will easily halve that. Many doing even better. Rimfire revolvers should be compared to other revolvers, not other rimfires.
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Old April 24, 2013, 05:59 PM   #25
DPris
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That helps muchly.
The current version was brought out two years ago, in 8-shot form, with a 4.2-inch barrel (to allow sales in Canada) using a half-length underlug.
It has, as you saw, the green fiberoptic front sight and a fully adjustable rear sight, neither of which did the older 6-shot versions have.

There were some initial "new model" guns that left the factory with improperly cut forcing cones that caused leading and accuracy problems, but those were corrected one Ruger was informed of the problem.

In my opinion, the current model is the best of the SP101 .22s.
It's a well-made and durable gun.
Anywhere around $500 is about right. It's not a cheapie & it's built to hold up over the long run.
DA trigger pull will be heavy because it's a rimfire. Some people have success with a lighter spring, others run into misfires with a lighter spring.
Hogue and Badger make excellent larger aftermarket grips.

Once you give people some detail in your questions, it's much easier to answer them.
Denis
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