[Fuelburns2]

After having my 3" sp101 for almost a week now I've finally found the time to shoot it. It is very controllable with .38s and if I did my part I found it to be very accurate. The trigger is heavy (compared to my S&Ws) with a long travel but smooth and consistent all the way through. I'm actually rather fond of the fixed sites and the grip is very comfortable. I shot the best groups double action partly because the gun makes two distinct clicks before the hammer flies forward, giving a consistent indication of when firing will occur. Cocking the hammer for single action takes more effort than any other revolver I'm familiar with. That may be a consideration for women.

It does handle very differently with .357 mags. The recoil is sharp, something I had hoped to mitigate with a longer barrel, and the cylinder is slightly too short. I had problems with Sellier & Bellot and Winchester hollowpoints sticking out of the front of the cylinder far enough to prevent it from rotating. Nearly two of five shots were prevented from firing because of this. Had the cylinder been 1mm longer no problems would have been had. A friend of mine has a 2" version that had the same issue so it may be common. When the gun did fire the fireball was pretty impressive! I quite enjoyed it.

This gun hides well in my pocket and will be my carry piece if I ever get around to getting my permit. I prefer shooting .38s in it anyway but I will spend some time looking for magnum ammo that is manufactured to a more consistent length. Overall I highly recommend this gun but if you intend to carry magnum ammo in it make sure it is short enough not to impede rotation. Five shots may not be enough for everyone but this thing is built like a tank so it will make a great club if needed. :wink:

 

[Fuelburns2]

I've decided I won't be "sanding and polishing the safety notice into oblivion" after all.

 

[txvashooter]

FB2-

I have this gun. It's a handful with magnum loads, no doubt. I will tell you, a set of hogue grips, which extend the handle a bit, makes ALOT of difference. That gun is deadly accurate with 38 shells, mine is, at least. It outshoots me. Try the UMC 357 OR the 38 shells from remington, reasonably cheap, and no issues in firing. I used to have the 158 gr bullets, full power JHPs for the gun, in many configerations, but they patterned (if you cn call the groups thrown a pattern with a snubbie) horribly. I dropped to the venerable 125 JHPS, and the groups tightened, recoil was a bit better. Still plenty of fireball action out the end. I settled or the golden saber from Remington, the gun likes those. Listed here:
http://www.remington.com/products/ammun ... er_HPJ.asp

Here's a link to the practice ammo I use for my gun- both the 357 and the 38s

http://www.remington.com/products/ammun ... andgun.asp

I'm sure others will work well, but I settled on these, after price and performance matched. I've got the 2in version.

Oh, and never an issue with the S/B ammo?

Happy shooting.

TxVa

 

[Bobshouse]

Does your SP101 have a marking on the barrel or elsewhere that states "125 grain rounds only" or something simuliar?

I heard there was a run of SP101s that couldn't house the larger grain bullets as they would stick through the front of the cylinder.

My SP101 will handle 158 grain but the bullet comes very close to the end of the cylinder. Haven't been able to get ahold of anything larger to try.

 

[Fuelburns2]

Re: re: SP101 Range Report

Does your SP101 have a marking on the barrel or elsewhere that states "125 grain rounds only" or something similar?

The first SP101 I had did in fact state on the barrel "125 grain only". I sold it and bought another SP101 that didn't have that restriction. I've been told the 125 grain SP101s were built on .38 special frames but I don't know whether it is true or not.

 

[Norman Ralph]

I also have a SP101 2 1/8" barrel and it shoots any .357 loads I have found with room to spare in the cylinder.

A Houge grip made a big difference in managing the recoil. My wife has a S&W Ladysmith; a real lightweight gun with the shrouded hammer. After shooting my SP101 she went out and bought a 3" SP101. She likes it much better she even likes the trigger action DA better than the S&W.

Norm,

 

[mwhugovr]

Re: re: SP101 Range Report

Does your SP101 have a marking on the barrel or elsewhere that states "125 grain rounds only" or something similar?

The first SP101 I had did in fact state on the barrel "125 grain only". I sold it and bought another SP101 that didn't have that restriction. I've been told the 125 grain SP101s were built on .38 special frames but I don't know whether it is true or not.

The model you are referring to is the "KSP-831". During first production runs the 357 was manufactured with a shorter cylinder therefore the bullet weight limitation. Later production can shoot all factory 357 loads (Source "Ruger & His Guns by R.L. Wilson. p 197).