Looking for a SP101

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SSBN617b

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I am thinking of a SP101 for the future. GB has some used 38 spl but almost the price of new. Is this gouging? I plan on shooting 38 s in it for the most part but might like the option of 357. Should that weigh in or is the 38 spl only better in the run. I plan on using it for carry.
Mitch
 
I have owned three, and a good friend has one as well.

Two have okay triggers. The other two are/were pretty stiff.

Are the used ones the police turn-ins? If so, they may be DOA. That's how I prefer my carry revolvers, but not everyone does.

I don't think I would use 357 in one. I had one in 357, but I only ever shot 38's out of it. I'm not convinced that the amount of sound and flash it would have is worthwhile out of a two-inch barrel.

A lot of people prefer the Hogue Monogrip to the factory grip.

If it fits your hand well and you find one with a good trigger, it's a sensible choice.

I finally ran across a nice used one with a decent trigger. It happened to be in 9mm.

Ruger SP101 9mm

Ruger SP101 9mm

 
Tallball,
9mm was the original search due to the price of ammo ,almost half of 38. Are you happy with the 9mm?
 
SSBN, Gouging? I don't know. Prices on new and used guns, ammo, components, are all high. GB auctions just indicate what the market will bear. Given all that, the SP101s are nice little revolvers IMHO. I only have one SP101, a 3" 9mm version, but like it better than the S&W J-Frames, etc. Trigger pull is rather heavy with stock springs, but thankfully the DA is smooth and the SA clean. One of the last revolvers I'd want to let go...
Ruger 9mm Revolver (2) (5) - Copy.JPG
 
I have the LCR (I know, it's not an SP101) in 9mm. I like it.

I carried S&W .38 snubbies exclusively for years.

The only reason I would get an sp101, would be for the upgrade to 357 Magnum. I would rarely carry it loaded with magnums, but would want that option in case I ever wanted to use it as a trail or hiking gun where large predators might be an issue.
 
I have a 9mm SP101 and it shoots well.

From what I gather, there have been two separate runs of 9mm SP101's over the years and the moon clips are slightly different. I ended up getting my moon clips from Ruger when they were in stock.

I prefer my 38 Special S&W J-frames to the 9mm SP101. Several of my J-frames have been machined to accept moon clips.

It's not the SP101 I don't like, it is being chambered in 9mm. I have a 327 Fed Mag SP101 that I like.
 
I have a SP101. I bought it when .38 Spl was the only chambering. Over the years it has become one of my very favorite revolvers.

I don't remember what the trigger pull was like when new but now it's a smooth 9-pound DA and 3.5-pound SA. All original springs just deburred.

In my mind .38 Spl +P is fine for self-defense and the gun carries nicely.

I think a SP101 in .38 would suit your needs. .357 would be a nice option to have.
 
I'm fine with 38 special for SD. Nice hot +P hollowpoints seem to be quite effective. Three of my five carry pieces are 38 special.

I like my 9mm SP101 just fine. 9mm is on average a little spicier than 38, but not at all annoying. You have to use moonclips, or poke the empties out with a pencil or something. With my 45acp revolvers, the empty shells come out so easily that I don't even use the clips. And all of my 45acp moonclips are hard to load and unload. The 9mm ones I got for the SP101 are so easy to use that I usually just use one at the range. The shells go in and come out easily with finger pressure.

My briefly-owned 357 version had a poor trigger and I traded towards something else I wanted more. If it had a nice trigger I would have kept it. 357 is good if there might be large critters, and if I'd owned it longer I would have shot 357's out of it sometimes just for fine.

They are well-made, sturdy revolvers a bit bigger than a j-frame. If it fits your hand well and has a decent trigger it's a solid revolver choice for SD.

Mine are just range toys. I put purty grips on the 4" 327 for a while, but eventually reverted to Monogrips.

Ruger SP101 327

Ruger SP101 327

 
Mine was a gun show find in .357, I recall it was about $500, and in good condition.
 
An area shop sold 2" SP101's in 357 for under $500 for at least 8 years straight that I know of. Now they are $649.95 which is better than the $699.95 they were 6 months ago.
 
I have a .38 version along with several other snub .38’s and some short barreled K-frame .357’s too.

The .357 in a small revolver is, to be kind, rather spirited. I am not a huge fan of self abuse so I don’t shoot full house magnums from my .357’s very often. This is a .357 Magnum Speer 140 gr JHP out of a 3” Model 13, from a shorter barrel there is even more Kerrang! to deal with. (Let’s see who gets that reference. ;))

F3173D26-2448-4D1E-B6A1-6D53B7A5AA32.png

This is a standard pressure .38 Special 158 gr RNL fired in the same gun.

B82C2EFC-CEF5-4C68-B1AB-0F55E811D5BA.png

The SP 101 is a solidly built and chunky little handful, seemingly heavier than J frames but short one round to Colts new 6-shot Cobra. (Each of those guns have pluses and minuses, but for me I’d rather pack the Colt if packing a snub .38.)

I painted the SP 101 front sight blaze orange and added the wood inserts from a GP 100 compact grip to take away the industrial look of the stock plastic grooved panels.

C5CEEC1E-3B1D-459F-8FF4-2C3E6F672A65.jpeg

I also polished the trigger bits and installed a WOLFF spring kit to smooth out and lighten the trigger pull weight a bit. Both the DA and SA trigger pulls are very nice now ;).

They’re cool guns, if you’re in the market for a ccw revolver you can’t go wrong with one.

Stay safe.
 
I haven't seen any SP101s locally since the plandemic was implimented. (England said this BS is over BTW:thumbup:)

OP, I think gunbroker is your best bet if you want one any time soon. My wife paid $399 for her 357 magnum used a few years ago. I think those prices are gone forever and you'll have to pay what seems like new price for a used one. A good, moderately used SP101 should last a lifetime and 1 hour worth of work can make the trigger pretty darn good.
 
I had one, stainless, short barrel 2 1/4 I believe, didn't like the DAO, and was pretty stout with full bore .357s, sold it, I would buy another if it was a DA/SA and had a 3" barrel if I find one for a good price. The only thing I didn't like about it was the DAO and not having a single action option but that is just me, I can't say anything is really bad about it, but the DAO was a heavy trigger pull.

d
 
I will be going to GB as there is nothing available around here.
357 is not something I plan on shooting so 38 only is fine by me. Now the question is 3 or 2 inch barrel. Realizing the is actually little difference between them, is there any advantage to the 3 over the 2?
 
SSBN, In 38 Spcl. I don't think there is much difference ballistically between 2" and 3". But in .357, the 3" barrel is where .357 starts picking up steam. In about any scenario where these little guns might be used, other than recreational shooting, I think the 3" gun's increased sight radius, slightly greater weight, etc. is insignificant.
 
I have a DAO SP101 in 357 with the hogue grips, and it's one of my favorites.
It's a handful with full tilt magnum loads, but I find it entertaining.
 
SSBN617b said:
I will be going to GB as there is nothing available around here.
357 is not something I plan on shooting so 38 only is fine by me. Now the question is 3 or 2 inch barrel. Realizing the is actually little difference between them, is there any advantage to the 3 over the 2?
Click to expand...
The SP barrel profile is pretty thick, so a 3” will hang more steel out on the end. This makes them a bit muzzle heavy, which helps control recoil with more lively loads. Add in a bit more of velocity and a slightly longer sight radius and the 3” gun does have some definite pluses over the 2”.

Negatives are two that I can think of; the gun is heavier so it gets to dragging on the hip sooner and the gun is a little bit harder to conceal.

(I have two 1 7/8” J frame .38’s and a 3” J frame .38, I think the 3” is better for my uses. :))

In the grand scheme of things these 2” to 3” negatives are really not a big deal, so I’d run with a 3” SP 101 .38 if I found one. :thumbup:

Stay safe.
 
I have a 3" SP101 in 38 Spl, one of the trade in French Police models with the Trausch grips. It is a robust piece of steel.
I like it very much, with full power 38 Spl.

Having said that, it is indeed not a pocket gun. It is not very much smaller than a K frame Smith, but is 5 shot instead of 6.

I have a 5 shot 640-1 that is more concealable, and a 6 shot 3" M65 that has 20% more firepower (and is not any harder to conceal).

I'm not sure the SP101 is a best-solution carry piece.
 
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