The Ruger SP 101 .357 Mag

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Legionnaire, those are the same instructions I followed to do my trigger job, using the Brownell's schematic for reference and I had no problem. I eliminated or skipped a few of the steps but basically followed step for step. That was my first time breaking the gun down that far and had no problems putting back together. Definitely use a large plastic bag that you can fit both hands in when the step suggests such use or you may lose those 2 small springs and plunger.
 
I've got arthritis in the shooting hand, but hope to get through the Gold Dot .357 Short Barrel ammo without too much pain.

Does anybody have any suggestions for the next step up in muzzle energy on a 2 1/4 inch SP101? I would feel better with some premium ammo with about 350 ft/lbs or so.

Or should we just say that Gold Dot Short Barrel .357 is fully optimized with the correct balance between recoil and power?

Bill
 
I finally have my SP on the way...

I am very excited. I traded in my Glock 29 for it. It makes a much better gun for a fishing creel or short hiking excursion.

Can't wait to get it on the 10th.

Matt
 
I wasn't looking for another magnum snubby when i ran across my SP101. I bought it nib from a friend that wasn't renewing his ffl. I figured if i didn't like it then i could always sell it and make alittle money off of it. Then i shot it. Then i had an action job done, bobbed the hammer, converted to D/A only, added an orange front sight insert and Hogue grips. Then i shot the hell out of it. I even decided i liked it better (and i really hate to admit this) than my S&W 66 snubby.
I's a keeper.
 
Thanks, Ichiro.

Could you please tell which of the Corbon 38 Special +P rounds you were thinking about.

I do see they have some for 2" barrels.

Bill
 
Sloman - My carry rigs for the SP101 are; IWB - Tucker "Heritage" (very covert & comfortable) & OWB - Uncle Mikes "Sidekick" Professional (ambi for possible left hip back-up gun carry, also excellent protection/retention for woods & trail use). The Sidekick is a fine general-use holster as long as your SP101 isn't a hammerless model & you READ THE DIRECTIONS to ADJUST the thumb-break properly. It only costs around $29 and I've been pleasantly surprised how well it performs. I usually don't go for "cost effective" holsters.

Leagonnaire - Those ARE the tuning directions I followed. Pay particular attention to the suggestions about the plastic bag disassembly tricks. They REALLY saved my bacon three (3!) times during the process. I must admit I didn't follow them EXACTLY to the letter. For example, #14 says just to twist the appropriately sized drill bit to remove burrs inside the plunger hole. I additionally polished the I/D of that hole until the plunger traveled through there VERY smoothly. As a longtime gun tinkerer I recognised that as a critical spot in the trigger assembly design. A little extra time & effort there is very well-rewarded upon completion.

Don't anyone be shy about your ability to reassemble the SP101. TAKE YOUR TIME, use a light touch, don't get mad or impatient (set it aside for a few minutes if you recognise tension developing), turn OFF the TV/cell phone/etc., tell everyone in the household that you're going to need 2-3 hours of uninterupted time. It's somewhat daunting to quietly, methodically take on a new, complex task but the results are SOOOOO rewarding when you ask your gun buddies to try dry-firing your revolver. They all say the same thing and ask the same question, "Wow! Who DID that?". Hehehe...ME!
 
Which orange front sight?

Magsnubby---Just wondering which orange insert you used> Did you pop the pin out yourself or did you have someone else do it?

Thanks,

Porter.
 
Porter_Rockwell: It's not actually target grey, I just didn't have good lighting for the picture. The grips are from Hogue, the monogrip in Goncalo Alves.
 
Nice grips!

I just hope those lovely grips don't hurt with full house loads! Ouch! Boy are they beautiful though!

Thanks for the reply.

Porter.
 
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The grips are the exact same shape as the rubber Monogrip, and absorb recoil almost as well. .38 special has no felt recoil, and full house magnums are quite tolerable. I highly recommend these grips.
 
Michigunner,

The 110-grain .38 special +P JHP measures 1250fps/382 ft/lbs from a 2" test barrel, according to Corbon's website.

I've only shot the 125-grainers, but they were cream puffs in my SP. They measure 351 ft/lb, but from a 4" barrel.

I know that bullet energy is not the be-all and end-all of defensive cartridges, but if you want it, Corbon has it. And like I said, they're easy to shoot.

I load mine with the SB .38+P Gold Dots.
 
Thanks, Ichiro. The Corbon info is much appreciated.

I'll order Corbon and try it alongside the two Short Barrel offerings.

It's amazing how well the SP101 feels in a belt holster. There is virtually no printing.

Thanks again,

Bill
 
Porter-Rockwell,
I's a Millet sight. I had the 'smith install it when he did the action job. He didn't charge me to install it, just for the sight. It looks like it would be that hard to install one yourself.
 
Ichiro,

I noticed that Corbon made an error in describing the .38 Special +P 110 gr out of a 2" barrel.

In the main index the muzzle energy was listed as 382 ft/lbs, but when you click on the link the muzzle energy is actually 269 ft/lbs.

The part number is [SD38110/20].

Bill
 
I "think" the Speer 135 .357 really is a good balance of power, weight, expansion, and terminal performance, but I can't prove it. It should give around 300 fpe from a 2.25 inch SP. If you are looking for around 350, I suggest trying the Remington Golden Saber which should give you somewhere around 1125 fps plus or minus which would be in the 350 fpe range. Almost any 110 grain .357 load should be somewhere between the two, although a tad lightweight maybe.
 
Excellent, Gary. Thank you.

The Golden Saber ballistic data is based on a 4" barrel, with 1220 ft/sec and 413 ft/lbs.

Your estimates seem right on when going down to 2 1/4 barrel.

I'll try both brands and see which is more tolerable.

Thanks again.
 
There's something seriously goofy going on with the Corbon website. When you click the part number for either .38 round, they show completely different numbers than they do on the main page.

If the one set of numbers are for a 4" and the others are for the 2", then I obviously need to retract my recommendation. Neither round is a powerful as I thought.

However, the Speer SB .357 round is still far below your preference for 350 ft/lbs. I think they measured it at 280-290 from a 2" barrel.

My experience with my SP-101 and a variety of ammo showed me that a great .38+P round is better for defensive purposes than any .357 round, for the simple reason that I can shoot two .38s in the time I can shoot one .357.

In fact, I found the "low recoil" of the .357 short-barrel round to be not so much lower than regular-pressure 158-grain rounds. Given the choice between a reduced-power .357 and a full-power .357 in this gun, I think I'd choose a full-power load.

In my 4" GP-100, I the reduced .357 loads are probably a good idea, because the increase in follow-up time is not very noticeable.
 
rugersp101.jpg

Love it!!

Federal Hydroshoks
Eagle Grips "Secret Service"
I carry it in a K & D Holsters "Laredo Defender"
 
Mine is the 3" and I took some#400 wet/dry to the hammer and it will not catch on clothing any more although, since it is a hammer, there is the potential to catch a wad or object but, as far as the 'teeth' of the hammer, it is history.

A nice carry gun. I find myself carrying a revolver more and more and a semi less and less these days.
 
Anybody aware of Corbon FBI Tests?

Just wondering if anyone is aware if Corbon has some FBI load testing? (Or any ammo other than LE testing that I could get my greedy hands on!) I have been able to garner some from Winchester, Speer and Hornady. I would like to compare.

I am particularly wondering how the CorBon 110 .357 has performed in a SP101. I know on Marshall's stopping power site, he had an impressive .68 for expansion, but an unreliable 11.5 penetration.

Anyone played with Bill Cosby and shot any jello with these rounds? :) The 110 .357 rounds from Winchester are flamethrowers, but very easy to handle in a SP101. Anyone aware of any Jello tests with these boys? The Winchester info I obtained had nothing listed for them.

God Bless,

Porter.
 
Lotta clubs popping up all of a sudden.Wonder how many I'm gonna be able to join?
Please ignore the scoped gun in the pic below. Don't have the SP101 in a solo shot yet.
Got my SP new in '92. Receipt shows I traded a 4" 686 no dash + $50 for the SP. Probably not the swiftest financial move, but I've never regretted buying the SP.

attachment.php


Tuckerdog1
 
I've decided to sell off a few of my safe queens. I have 5 snubby .357's, the SP101, S&W 66, Taurus 605, Taurus 606 and a Rossi 641. The SP101 is the keeper.
 
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