Ruger SP101 357 MAG 3" Thoughts/Advice.

1106 Views 29 Replies 24 Participants Last post by iznthesky, 7 d ago

JMAG54

Discussion Starter · 13 d ago

Well, came back around to owning a 357 Mag after many years. Back then it was the S&Ws, Mod 19s, 28's. Regret letting them go. My brother does have one of my 4" 28s I hope to swindle back as he really has little use for it. I love my Ruger Blackhawks, the 44s and 41 mag, but that's it for my experience with Ruger handguns. Love my mini-14s, and am sure I'll love the new levers. So to be clear, I like Ruger products

I have a defense protocol I have settled on for the girls. Partly, to shoot 38's for training/357 for defense.

So, here I am with a new SP101. If it works out to my satisfaction, another will be purchased and assume the position of primary/personal weapon for the gals at home/travel. ...they love the 38spl for practice/plinking.

Me? I'm old and can't be taught new tricks, so the 1911 goes to the grave with me.

With all that said, I know squat about the Ruger I purchased and would appreciate any of our members here that have experience , or specific knowledge pertaining to the 357 SP101.

One question, how does the SP101 really handle the 357 magnum cartridge.

Any input will be greatly appreciated.

John

Reactions: 5

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rx7dryver

· #2 · 13 d ago

It will handle it better than you will. They are a good carry gun and about as light as you want to shoot real 357 ammunition but they are too heavy for pocket carry. They are more comfortable to shoot than a J frame and I really like the factory grips with the removable side panels.

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jlsa

· #3 · 13 d ago

Upgrade the spring kit and it will be far easier to shoot well, especially for your gals. I have two, one in 32 H&R and the other 327 Federal. I picked up a LCR in 327 Federal for pocket carry. They're great guns and fully capable of handling a diet of full power 357 Mag.

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444 Magnum

· #4 · 13 d ago

I keep a 2.25" one in the truck. I don't carry it. It's loaded with 38 sp. not .357. It's shoots fine. They're not target pistols. Self defense, "in your face" kind of pistol. Rugers are generally built like a tank, so I would have no problem shooting .357 should I desire.

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riley

· #5 · 13 d ago

Mine has the shorter BBL with a Crimson Trace laser sight installed. It is as accurate as I can hold with 158gr bullets and powders it likes. It is also one of the strongest small frame revolvers made (IMO) without using a larger “N” size frame; strong enough to take a steady diet of “full house” .357 loads without having to be concerned about frame wear. I load it midway between max .357 loads and .38 +p loads to make it more effective than the standard .38, while making it more pleasant to shoot. Using .357 cartridges also fill the chamber walls to prevent the famous “crud ring” build up that continual use of the .38 Special (shorter) cartridges can cause.

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leverbros

· #6 · 13 d ago

I put a Wolff Spring in mine to lighten the double action pull, and it worked beautifully, but left the single action with a hair trigger. For that reason I plan on returning it to the original but just haven't taken the time to do so since I don't shoot it very much. If you're going to carry a .357 then the SP101 is a good choice for the reasons others here have mentioned, but for range shooting I much prefer my GP100.

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Ret_Eng

· #7 · 13 d ago

I think you will come to love the SP101. I don't have one in 357 Mag currently but have owned them before. I have one now in 327 FM with the 3 inch barrel---it will handle hot 327 loads to sedate 32 S&W Long loads just fine. My former 357 Mag SP101s were made the same way. Ruger makes a tank of a revolver that just keeps on going........

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beenthere409

· #8 · 13 d ago

How does it handle .357? Just fine, thanks. If it says ".357 Magnum" on the box, you're good to go.

(Same with S&W's, just don't tell anyone I said so...)

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flatnose

· #9 · 13 d ago

The revolver will do fine. Mine shoots 38's quite comfortably. The 357's are snappy to say the least. You didn't say if the gals have fired 357's. If they haven't, they may want to. I think we can agree, they need to be comfortable with what they have in the worst situation as well as the best.

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kingstrider

· #10 · 13 d ago

Agreed they are snappy with 357s but are nothing like shooting a lightweight S&W. My last SP101 was chambered in 32 H&R and was built like a tank.

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10acres

· #11 · 13 d ago

I gave my SP101 to my son. It is built like a tank and no problems shooting it. Trigger job wouldn’t hurt like mentioned above. It is definitely heavier than a Smith and that’s why a 38spcl J frame is in my carry rotation now.

The SP101 was actually my wife’s gun at first and she liked my Walther PPS M2 better, so she took that one.

Ruger makes a great revolver.

Reactions: 3

Beemer606

· #12 · 12 d ago

I changed out the grips on mine for Hogue grips and it made a significant difference in felt recoil. It's still not a range toy, but it's better than it was. Like everyone has said, it's built like a tank and fit and finish is superb.

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.DIRTY-.THIRTY

· #13 · 12 d ago

My sp-101 in .357 is like my S&W 69 in .44, they are both stock and shoot well but 3 cylinders thru them and I call it a day. Trigger seems average stock to me. I bought mine for carrying as a backup to my primary carry. As Doc Holiday said “ I have two guns, one for each of you” 😁

Edit: with .38’s in it is the most pleasant short barrel .38 I’ve shot. I think they call them 2.5” barrel or is it 3”?

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JMAG54

Discussion Starter · #14 · 12 d ago

Really appreciate the input boys ................3.06 to be exact D-T, and yes, there is the "2.5" version.

Right flatnose .......every consideration when it came to the gals. My mod 36 snubby was specifically used to mimic that "snap" one will get with any short/light 357.

My decision is based on their prior response to various firearms, and my own 10 cents.

They have shot the gamut of my handguns. 45 ACP/LC, 44 Mags, 38 Spl. Interestingly, the 4" 25-5 was met with approval, but a very definite leaning was toward the mod 15 4" which constitutes the majority of their training.

With all that said, a caliber of 357 with the 101s specific feature of it's double action, sights, hammer, barrel length and being stainless, meets the criteria of what I believe their at home/vehicle defense firearm should be. They both will have identical firearms, which I also believe is critically important.

If this SP101 does not work out, I'm sure I can find a place for it.........

Reactions: 4

JACKTW

· #15 · 12 d ago

SP101 have either 2.25", 3" or 4.20" bbl's. No such 2.50" bbl available.

We favor Speer 135gr Short Barrel GD HP's for self defense, they average 1060ish fps from a 2" bbl and 1180ish fps from a 4" bbl. The girls have the 3" bbl SP 101 and enjoy shooting 135gr loaded between 1050 and 1075. No problem for them. For practice, we shoot 135gr HiTek coated cast that POI is very close to the 135gr GD HP bullet. We have 300 of them left so we stopped shooting the GD's until we can purchase more.

My SP 101 is the 2.25" bbl which I wanted for pocket carry or ease of CC during summer heat. It shoots the same 135gr Short barrel loads great, and 135gr GD HP's are one of the best bullets for expansion performance I've run. Check them out here: Premium 357 Magnum Defense Ammo For Sale - 135 gr JHP Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel Ammunition In Stock - 20 Rounds

That said, Speer's 135gr short bbl Short barrel +P (38SPC) expansion performance doesn't come close to the 357MAG short barrel performance. Shooting 38SPC, I'd OPT for Federal's 130gr HST Micro, check it out here: 38 Special Ammo - Federal HST Personal Defense Micro 130gr JHP - 20 Rounds -- it works well but doesn't equal the punch the Speer 135gr SB 357MAG does.

Jack

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Golphin

· #16 · 12 d ago

I have a GP100 357 mag and it is great. I would like to own a SP 101 as well. It is a good size and I think Ruger makes a fine revolver. I have a number of nice Smith and Wessons and my Rugers have been on par with them.

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carpy

· #17 · 11 d ago

I have had the sp-101, 3 inch for a long time now. A trigger job and new springs helped the trigger pull a bunch. I went the TriggerShims.com route.
Shooting max loads of 158 and 180 grain does get your attention. Mid-way charges of Unique with 140 grain is quite pleasant. 38+ in any load is a real pleasure to shoot.
My medium size hands fit the stock grips well. Grip fit and trigger pull are the main issue for me shooting a revolver well.

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mr surveyor

· #18 · 11 d ago

I bought a LNIB, 1996 model, 3" SP-101 in 2010 for daily duty in the field while doing the land surveyor thing. For almost 30 years before that I'd carry either a .22 revolver or .38 spl, with snake shot - and later various .357 mag with a couple of snake shot rounds followed by the rest being hardball rounds when the feral hogs became more prevalent. All of the previous guns required a lot more daily attention due to the daily environment they were subjected to. All of the blued guns would suffer from light rust speckling if they weren't thoroughly wiped down almost every day. When that SP-101 came along it became my absolute favorite after the first 15-20 rounds that went through the barrel - favorite enough to force me into reloading in January of 2011 so I could afford .357 mag ammunition.

I do have a few sidearms left to choose from, but that SP-101 is still on my belt at least 6 days a week.

It goes without saying ... I'd pick the SP-101

jd

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white cloud

· #19 · 11 d ago

I own two SP101s. They are excellent revolvers. With a bit of work, the DA trigger pull can be excellent. The sights are decent for a snub but not up to current autoloader standards. They are too heavy for pocket carry but that weight makes it nice to shoot. Note that women seem to do well with these revolvers as sock drawer guns.

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JMAG54

Discussion Starter · #20 · 10 d ago

Right white cloud. The protocol for both SP101s would be for the home, vehicle when applicable. Neither will CC for now ...............and then, not with that size/weight firearm.

Reactions: 1

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