Author Topic: ruger sp 101 (Read 2159 times)

shaner · « **on:** April 05, 2007, 02:59:19 PM »

any thoughts or comments on these revolvers? picked one up in a trade ,trigger is heavy on both single an double , how hard is it to change springs in these? wolf makes a kit to go from factory 14lb spring to 9 lbs ? anyone done this?

burntmuch · « **Reply #1 on:** April 05, 2007, 03:28:09 PM »

I ve got one. Yeah real heavy triigger. Mines got the shaved hammer. So real easy to carry. Once you get used to the trigger they shoot pretty good

shaner · « **Reply #2 on:** April 05, 2007, 11:59:46 PM »

well its goin to be hard to beat my 650 cia taurus for carry and i had a action job done on the taurus and she shoots double action better then this ruger in single hahaha but i think ill work on it ssome, what did u do to your hammer

burntmuch · « **Reply #3 on:** April 06, 2007, 02:09:54 AM »

I bought It from a cop who carried it as a back up. The hammer was shaved flush with the frame. Im not sure if it was a factory job or what. So its strictly double action. No hammer to cock back. But you can carry it in your pocket & the hammer woudnt snag on your pants when you pulled it out. 1 1/2 inch barrel too

shaner · « **Reply #4 on:** April 06, 2007, 09:06:12 AM »

sounds like a custom job to me i have seen some hammerless type that a flat hammer is used

K.K · « **Reply #5 on:** May 02, 2007, 03:37:24 PM »

You can always have the trigger worked. Two things that Ive found with Rugers...They triggers need to be worked, and they are built like tanks. That 101 will stand up to a lot of shooting with heavy loads, unlike many others of it's type. Great gun!

safari · « **Reply #6 on:** May 03, 2007, 06:08:13 PM »

I've been carrying one of these since 1991, and yes, the triggers are horrible out of the box. I did a poor man's trigger job on mine when I first got it, got some toothpaste and lubed the trigger group with it and dry-fired the snot out of it for a week or so. Then I tore it down, cleaned it good, polished everything inside with FLITZ, and put it back together. It was like night and day difference. Then, when Wolff came out with their spring pack for the SP101, I put those in and the little snubby is alot smoother than the factory springs. Haven't ever had a misfire with the lighter springs. One thing you definitely have to do is get Hogue grips, if it doesn't already have them. I have a set of the rubber and a set of Pau Ferro wood. I actually carry it more with the wood grips, but the rubber are nice also. The grips change the feel of the gun about 1000%, and make it alot more controllable with stiff loads. I've tried Uncle Mike's, and Pachymayr's and the Hogues are the best by far for the SP101. My only complaint is I wish they could make it about 10 ounces lighter, I tend to carry my old Smith 36 airweight, or Colt Agent when I want to carry a lighter piece. Those Sp101s are built like a tank, and should be about perfect once you get the innards slicked up-

Oh, and they, along with the GP100 and others, are a snap to disassemble, once you get the grips off, and the mainspring and strut out, the trigger group snaps out of the frame from the underneath and you can polish away-

Greysky · « **Reply #7 on:** May 03, 2007, 11:47:34 PM »

I can't find fault with the quality of the SP-101. I carried one in .357 Magnum for years with a Hogue monogrip. But I found it to be very uncomfortable to shoot with full power loads at the range during practice sessions. And since I carried full power loads in it for PD, this is what I wanted to practice with. So I finally sold it.

RNettles · « **Reply #8 on:** May 08, 2007, 02:12:20 AM »

I bought wifey a 2 1/4 in .357 magnum. She had problems pulling the trigger and see the front sight. In went the Wolff spring kit and a MeproLight Tru-Dot front sight... Needless to say, I had to functional check it... Sweet. 100% bang rate and great sights... Now it pulls like a "cap" gun...

Bubber · « **Reply #9 on:** May 08, 2007, 07:32:02 AM »

I have been seriously considering purchasing one since last December. A gun dealer and family friend had one on his table at a gun show that he allowed me to paw at for a while.
IA change of grips would be the first thing I did but even with that, I am concerned about the recoil. I have shot enough hot hand loads through my fathers GP100 that I can imagine what it would be like in a smaller package like the 101. So far on this post there has only been one comment on uncomfortable recoil however I have heard it befor.

So what are your comments on it? With grips that fit well is it manageable or is the thing a handful regardless?

burntmuch · « **Reply #10 on:** May 08, 2007, 09:42:08 AM »

Pretty stout recoil. Bigger grips help. Its not the gun that U take to the range & shoot 50 rounds thru
Jay

RNettles · « **Reply #11 on:** May 08, 2007, 10:16:17 AM »

Oh and I forgot to add wifey is 64 and 125 pounds... and she loves the full loads... just not the noise...

safari · « **Reply #12 on:** May 08, 2007, 01:46:32 PM »

I remember when I first got mine all I bought a box of Federal 125gr JHP .357 Mag, full power loads. Well, after the first 5 rounds of wrist wrenching pain, I decided that was enough of full power loads- Those got delegated to the Blackhawk to burn up later. I have tried almost every .357 and .38+P personal defense load I could get my hands on, and the only magnum loads I'll carry are either the Rem Golden Saber 125gr, which are the most pleasant, and the Federal personal defense hydra-shock loads, the lighter weight ones, not the 158gr full power loads. The Golden sabers are a "mid-range" load, listed as about 1200fps vs about 1400+ for the full power loads. Out of my 2 1/4" Sp101 they clock just a little over 1000fps, and are the most pleasant rounds I've tried above a 38+P load, which are very mild in the Ruger. I plan to try the new Speer Gold Dot short barrel loads as soon as I can find some one who has them, they may prove to be the best snubby loads, If I can find some to try. If you want .38+P loads, the Winchester barrel are by far the best I've tried, My wife and I both carry them in 38's if I'm not carrying the SP101. But by far the Hogue grips were the best investment in recoil reduction, those factory grips were painful to shoot .357's with, and always felt like the gun was going to fly out of your hand, not to mention they're ugly too- but I wouldn't trade my SP101 for anything, it's definitely a keeper.

454Puma · « **Reply #13 on:** May 12, 2007, 06:20:40 PM »

I don't have a problem with my SP101 with heavy 357's ! Probably cause I shoot a 454 SRH as well so the little 357 Mag is pretty much like shooting a 22 to me! Though the 357 is probably just a load as the 454!!

mikedb · « **Reply #14 on:** May 17, 2007, 01:08:39 PM »

Quote from: safari on May 08, 2007, 01:46:32 PM

I remember when I first got mine all I bought a box of Federal 125gr JHP .357 Mag, full power loads. Well, after the first 5 rounds of wrist wrenching pain, I decided that was enough of full power loads- Those got delegated to the Blackhawk to burn up later. I have tried almost every .357 and .38+P personal defense load I could get my hands on, and the only magnum loads I'll carry are either the Rem Golden Saber 125gr, which are the most pleasant, and the Federal personal defense hydra-shock loads, the lighter weight ones, not the 158gr full power loads. The Golden sabers are a "mid-range" load, listed as about 1200fps vs about 1400+ for the full power loads. Out of my 2 1/4" Sp101 they clock just a little over 1000fps, and are the most pleasant rounds I've tried above a 38+P load, which are very mild in the Ruger. I plan to try the new Speer Gold Dot short barrel loads as soon as I can find some one who has them, they may prove to be the best snubby loads, If I can find some to try. If you want .38+P loads, the Winchester barrel are by far the best I've tried, My wife and I both carry them in 38's if I'm not carrying the SP101. But by far the Hogue grips were the best investment in recoil reduction, those factory grips were painful to shoot .357's with, and always felt like the gun was going to fly out of your hand, not to mention they're ugly too- but I wouldn't trade my SP101 for anything, it's definitely a keeper.

In addition to the Golden Sabres the new Speer 135 gr mag loads for snubbies is a mid range load. It is supposed open up at lower velocities that you get from shorty barrels. I tried them and they shot nice.

Dee · « **Reply #15 on:** May 17, 2007, 01:23:17 PM »

Mine is the spur-less hammer (factory). I honed the action when I took it out of the box and only practice with target loads. Have been in two shootings (L.E. retired) and trust me in a fight you will not notice the recoil, or the loud report. You will however appreciate the power.

rickyp · « **Reply #16 on:** May 18, 2007, 12:03:44 PM »

I have me one in 9 MM, and it is a well built handgun but he recoil is a bit much, and this is from a person that shoots a n unbraked 15" 45-70 out of an encore with 405 gr bullets at 1895 levels

I kind of regret getting it in 9 mm I wish it was a 357 magnum

j two dogs · « **Reply #17 on:** June 09, 2007, 03:15:40 AM »

I've got one with a 3 inch barrel, it is my go to gun. I put a wolff spring kit in mine. Did not quite take the hammer off but did contour the edges of it so it would not dig into my side.
Rnettles: were did you get that front sight? And was it hard to put in? Seriously interested in finding one to put on mine. Thanks

RNettles · « **Reply #18 on:** June 09, 2007, 04:33:40 AM »

I bought the Ruger rosewood inserts for wifey's SP-101... It's Purrrfect now!

j two dogs · « **Reply #19 on:** June 13, 2007, 01:40:35 AM »

Sweeeeet!

RNettles · « **Reply #20 on:** June 13, 2007, 03:35:52 PM »

Here it is from another angle...

hhuber50 · « **Reply #21 on:** July 02, 2007, 10:35:59 AM »

Does anyone have a source for grip inserts for the SP 101? I know Ruger sells the rosewood inserts, but I'm looking for something more on the order of the gray laminate that are used on the SBH Hunter. Thanks!