.32 sp101

[Kal52]

Hey all.
I was thinking of getting an SP101 in the .32 hr mag, with the 4" barrel. I would be using it mainly as a plinker/small game gun/training gun for the wife. What i was wondering is will it be able to take coyotes at 25-50yds. I have never shot one, but they dont make the .357 in a 4" and mine is the 3" model. It wouldnt be my first choice obviously but if the opportunity arose would it have the power to kill cleanly at those distances. I love the SP101 and kind of just looking for an excuse to buy another lol. I just wish they would offer the .357 in a 4" model, it would be perfect.

thanks
Dave

[Skunk]

Kal52,

No problem taking a coyote at 25-50 yards if you are up to it. It depends on how good of a shot you are.

The problem I see is finding a SP101, 32 mag, with the 4" barrel. Ruger quit making the 4" version awhile back, and I hardly ever see a 4" for sale at the auction sites. I'm sure there are still some out there, but you'll probably have to pay a premium price for it.

Good luck in your search. I wouldn't mind having the 4" version, myself.

You might consider the 3" version. I have one and it shoots great. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot at a yote at 25-50 yards with it. A longer barrel doesn't necessarily make the gun more accurate. It gives you a better sight radius which helps make you more accurate.

And yes, the 32 Mag is also great for the gals. My wife claimed mine after shooting it. The first time we took it to the range, I brought 100 rounds for it. I got to shoot 6 rounds, the wife shot the other 94 rounds. She wouldn't give it back to me.

Skunk

[Kal52]

thanks for the info.
Thats too bad that they dont make the 4" any more. I have the .357 in a 3" and yeah its super accurate, and i wouldnt hesitate on a yote at all with it. I just liked the 4" version alot and thought wow, a good excuse to buy a new gun, i dont have a .32 yet. lol
Good to know its got some snuff to it. the jack rabbits around here get mighty big.

Thanks again and ill keep my eyes open for one.

Dave

[Lloyd Smale]

had one and foolishly sold it. It was a tack driver and a nice gun other then the typical terrible ruger trigger. I had it done once and had a problem with the gun and sent it to ruger and they replaced all my good parts!!

[Kal52]

OK just talked to my gun guy. You were right they stopped making them, good news is his distributor has a bunch of them    .

so it looks like i may just have to pick one up.

One more question, how hard is it to find ammo? 2 of the shops i was at this week didnt carry it, and is there another round i would be able to shoot out of it, like you can shoot .38 spl out of a .357?

Thanks again


Dave

[MS Hitman]

Dave,

You can shoot .32 S&W Long in a .32 H&R chamber.  Ammo is not as hard to find as it once was.  Another good option is to reload for it.  You can go from plinking loads to more of what the cartridge is capable of doing.

[camsdaddy]

I hope this is not considered a high jack but I see everyone is in favor of the 3" 357 for coyotes I am wondering about getting one for a woods gun and concealed carry and am wondering if the 3" will be sufficient if  I pick my shots such as a bow for deer I know the 357 is up to the task just wondering if the 3" barrel has anything to do with it just figure it easier to conceal than a 4" Gp.

[Kal52]

I personally have no problem taking a shot at a coyote with the .357 in a 3", its an accurate gun and I am very confident in my ability with it, and I know what my limits are.  So far the opportunity has not come along to shoot a yote with it, since  i dont carry the SP alot in the field unless I am plinking or hitting up a few rabbit holes. I would say go for it, itll handle some stout loads and as long as you practice and keep your shots at a distance your comfortable with I dont see why a 4" gp100 would be that much better for what you say you wanna use it for.
Personally i just like the 4" which is why I want one, really the way it sounds the .32 is about on par with a .38 powerwise so i could just shoot things with those, but I dont wanna make the mistake of talking myself out of a new toy LOL.

Dave

[camsdaddy]

I guess we are sorta in the same boat I have several pistols just none of them in 357. I actually have a 4" GP and a 3" SP in town locally. I cant make up my mind I guess I tell myself that if I get the 3" I will be able to conceal it better and if I am competent enough with it I could take deer at close ranges I guess just trying to justify a new toy.

[Kal52]

Well I went and ordered it 
should have it on Monday and cant wait to shoot it, sadly everyone was out of ammo, and had to order that too. I thought the hard part was deciding, waiting for it is worse.

Thanks for all the advice

Dave

[Lloyd Smale]

Dave heres my take on the 32s. There about my favorite under 40 caliber guns. A very versitile round either in 32 mag or 3220. Both can be loaded up to take game as big as a 100 lbs or loaded down to levels even milder to shoot then a 22lr. But they need to be handloaded to do it. There is probably no round that demands handloading more then the 32s. Factory ammo is hard to find and theres not many options. To get anything out of the 32s a guy needs to handload and about needs to cast there own bullets. I dont know if you do either buy you should consider it. Handloaded you can darned near get 357 level performance out of it on the top end and if you cast and load you can take 32 long brass and make ammo thats actually cheaper then 22 shells. I wouldnt be without a 32 mag but if i didnt reload i wouldnt even bother with one. The 357/38special is a much more sensible option for someone buying ammo.

Well I went and ordered it 
should have it on Monday and cant wait to shoot it, sadly everyone was out of ammo, and had to order that too. I thought the hard part was deciding, waiting for it is worse.

Thanks for all the advice

Dave

[Kal52]

I figured that i would need to reload this round, My brother has reloading equipment and all i need to do is get the proper items for the .32's. So as soon as the money rolls in I'll pick that stuff up and start filling the ammo cans  . So if you have a few good loads Id love to know what they are.

Thanks again for the advise/info

Dave

[Kal52]

I think I may have a new favorite handgun!
This thing shoots like a dream. Brought it out to the hunting shak this weekend and put about 150 rounds through it.
Still have to rough out the edges as far as sighting goes because didnt have a whole lot of time to sit and fiddle with the sights, because my whole family had to have their turn to shoot it as well  and they all seemed to love it too.

Thanks again all

Dave

[Lone Star]

One of my favorite loads is the Hornady 100-grain XTP and 6.0 grains of AA-7, the max load in the Accurate manual (I also load a somewhat hotter charge of the same powder, but it is above listed maximums). 

Another is the 85-grain XTP over 4.5 grains of WW231.  Very low recoil, low report and good accuracy.  I use Starline brass for most loads.


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