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Ruger SP101
By Abu_FulanIf you’re looking for a small-frame .357 Magnum revolver, you’ve found your gun. Below I’ll explain why.
The Ruger SP101 is an American made single action/double action .357 Magnum revolver that is currently in production and available new for between $400-$550 (USD). It is available with either a two and a quarter inch or a three inch barrel, and in several calibers: .22, .32, .327 Federal Magnum, 9mm, .38 Special, and .357 Magnum. However, the weapon I will review here is the 2.25” barrel .357 Magnum with standard, spurred hammer.
This weapon is my dedicated concealed carry handgun. The revolver holds five cartridges and is safe to carry with all chambers loaded thanks to its transfer bar firing system. Its sights are fixed. This weapon stands apart from most other small frame .357 Magnum revolvers because of its beefy construction. It outweighs a comparable Smith and Wesson J-frame gun (the Model 60) by about three and a half ounces and is accordingly somewhat easier to fire. The stockiness of the SP101 does not, however, affect its compatibility with standard accessories for similar revolvers, such as commonly available speedloaders and holsters.
One way to gauge the quality of a revolver’s craftsmanship is the amount of play in the cylinder. The SP101 has a tiny bit of side to side slack with the hammer down and the trigger forward, and even less backward-forward movement. In full lockup (hammer held rearward and trigger fully depressed) the weapon is solid, with only negligible side to side movement and none to the front or rear. This weapon has virtually no cylinder gap, and the forcing cone is brawny – obviously thicker than necessary but comfortingly so. Its extracting rod is almost as long as the entire barrel, which makes ejecting spent casings quick and easy. Aside from the transfer bar mechanism that helps prevent accidental discharge, the weapon has no safety features.
The factory grip on the SP101 is large for a small frame revolver and is long enough for me to get my pinky finger wrapped around the bottom. Its material is a tactile rubber, providing some relief from the sting of shooting magnum cartridges. This grip, combined with the weapon’s hefty weight, make shooting .38 Special downright fun. Thanks to the size of the grip you can maintain a firm hold on the weapon regardless of what ammunition you are firing. In double action the trigger has no travel room – when you start to pull it, the hammer moves. In single action the revolver has a pleasing, crisp trigger pull. When fired, I found that the weapon hits slightly left of point of aim – approximately one inch off at seven yards. (Of course, this may be more indicative of my marksmanship skills than the weapon’s quality.)
If a small frame revolver fits your firearm needs, I highly encourage you to purchase this firearm. As a secondary weapon I rate the SP101 a four out of five, with ammunition capacity being its only significant drawback. If you're still not convinced of the high quality and usefulness of this weapon, please check out John 234's "Top 10 Handguns for the Apocalypse!" (The SP101 and it's larger counterpart made no. 8 on the list!)
Sources:
For information on the SP101 variations currently available, see the "Instruction Manual For Ruger SP101 Double-Action Revolver." Also, Ruger’s Website: http://www.ruger.com/products/sp101/models.html
For information on the Model 60, Smith and Wesson’s Website: http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product4_750001_750051_764932_-1_757768_757767_757751_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y
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Keyword tags:
.357 Magnum
.36 Special
J-frame
revolver
small-frame
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