Should I have bought a 3" Ruger SP 101 Instead?

[SAWBONES]

I have TWO Ruger SP101s with 2.25" barrels and NO Ruger SP101s with 3" barrels.

The 2.25" barrel models are FAR superior for all-day every-day "appendix" CCW.

 

[Slvr Surfr]

Ive got my GF in to my hobby of shooting. Ive been looking pretty hard core at the Sp101 for her as a birthday gift. I think Ill go with the 3" just because it will serve as a house/purse gun. I like the fact that its a bit heavier than the other snubbies out there, and I think that it will shoot the .38+p rather well.

My only question for the forum is why are the trigger assemblies so tight, and heavy. I have a GP100 that is as smooth as butter when it comes to DA pulls and setting the hammer back for SA shots. Ive handled about three different Sp101s and they all seem tight from the factory. Do they require a break in period ? Do they just require some range time to loosen up? My fear is that I will need to have a local smith "smooth" the internals a bit. I dont want to do that. The Sp101 seems to be a very popular revolver here with a rather large fan base. I appreciate any feedback you guys can give.

TIA,
Naji

 

[symr00]

My only question for the forum is why are the trigger assemblies so tight, and heavy. I have a GP100 that is as smooth as butter when it comes to DA pulls and setting the hammer back for SA shots. Ive handled about three different Sp101s and they all seem tight from the factory. Do they require a break in period ? Do they just require some range time to loosen up? My fear is that I will need to have a local smith "smooth" the internals a bit. I dont want to do that. The Sp101 seems to be a very popular revolver here with a rather large fan base. I appreciate any feedback you guys can give.

Most say lots of dry fire will help. I chose to replace the factory mainspring with the 10lb Wolff spring and polish all contact points in the trigger assembly. Now my trigger is fantastic and probably the best DA trigger I have fingered.

 

[DWARREN123]

Use and/or a polish job will help but it is a lawyer trigger. I have not changed out any springs yet but many like the Wolff spring kits. Also Gemini Customs has some nice front sights for the 357 mag version.

 

[Dogbite]

My dad bought a 3" SP101, and i told him many times i would have bought the 2 1/4. His is custom tuned, and it is super slick. What an awesome shooter!!
Hey, this is my first post on The High Road!!

 

[steveracer]

welcome Dogbite!

I told my mom to get the 3" GP-100, which I think is the very best all-around revolver, and she went and got the SP101 instead. Can't say she did too bad.
Steve

 

[roscoe]

I agree with everyone else - you blew it.

 

[bigmike45]

I have a 2" DAO and a 3". Each have their strengths and weaknesses. I prefer the 3" because I carry IWB anyway and it is just as easy to carry the longer barrel with the longer sight radius....especially for my aging eyesight. Prior to that I did carry the DAO 2" in an Uncle Mikes pocket holster, mainly as a backup gun. It shot fine and was accurate. I personally prefer the 3".

My two along with their big brother Redhawks.

 

[MCgunner]

They do, but it's only available in 22lr.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I want one, though.

Yeah, but it's only windage adjustable. On my fictional desire, I'd have a fully adjustable for windage and elevation sight on a 4" SP101 in .357. Oh, heck, lets get really out there and say it's a .41 mag.

But, the .357 for field carry (why I'd like this thing, light, but Ruger strong) needs an elevation adjustable sight so you can regulate it for .38 spl light loads or full power magnums depending on what you're carrying. I like to shoot the .38 wadcutters if I'm lookin' to jump a rabbit or just plinkin' tin cans.

 

[dispatch]

Hey Ronto- if you got and you like it, you should be a happy camper. If you second guess youself enough, you'll never find the right one.

 

[Jomax]

I have the 2 1/4" barrell SP101 and I love it! It shoots very well and I can carry it concealed in my pocket Nemesis or Galco belly band.

When I debated buying it, I figured that if I was going to use my .357 Magnum for self-defense purposes, it would be within 25' of the bad guy and so practice shooting at 50', 75' or more was not a criteria that factored into my decision. But make no mistake, it IS accurate.

At the range, I use mostly .38 Special to practice and get in the zone but I then shift my focus onto shooting it accurately, rapidly, off-hand, up from a crouch, one hand, etc. with the full .357 Magnum rounds loaded into it. I believe that I must get fully accustomed to using this revolver real world as if I were suddenly put in a self-defense situation.

 

[wbond]

I have an SP101 .32 Mag 3"

I find it to big for a pants pocket and to heavy.

It fits my coats pockets well, but it to heavy for coat pocket carry (coats hangs funny).

However it carrys IWB ver well. The 3" barrel is just about perfect for IWB and I like to carry very low for better concealment. I think a 2.75" would be absolutely ideal for the low IWB carry I prefer, but they don't make that. So if I must choose between 2.25" and 3", I'll take the 3".

However, I'm sure your gun is a dandy.

I have an all new appreciation for my SP101 after a recent failure to fire incident with my Firestorm (Bersa) at the range. After that I started carrying the SP101 again.