|
It has been
fourteen years since Ruger first introduced their stout little
belly gun called the SP101. The SP101 is Ruger’s entry into
the small frame concealed carry revolver market. Their Speed Six
revolver had been phased out, and the SP101 was basically a
scaled down GP100, which is Ruger’s full sized .357 Magnum
service revolver. By limiting the SP capacity to five shots,
Ruger was able to make the little revolver very compact. The
cylinder diameter of the little Ruger is barely larger than that
of a Smith & Wesson Chief’s Special, but due to the
innovative design, the SP101 is much stronger than any other
revolver in its class.
Most small
frame revolvers on the market, whether they be five or six shot,
are built on a design that is over one hundred years old. The
removable frame side plates on these guns were built to handle
low pressure cartridges of the period, which they do rather
well. When magnum cartridges came into being, the old designs
were just made larger to handle the extra intensity of firing
the magnums. Still, magnum revolvers built on the removable side
plate design tend to loosen with heavy use.
Ruger’s
double action revolvers have always been built without a
removable side plate. This adds needed strength to the frame
area around the cylinder, without adding bulk to the revolver.
The SP101 follows this design, and the result is a small
revolver that can handle a steady diet of full power .357 Magnum
ammunition. Other gun makers have since added the magnum
chambering to their pocket revolvers by beefing them up in high
stress areas, but they have neither the strength nor the
durability of the SP101. The SP101 is simply the strongest
small frame .357 Magnum available.
Now, lest one
thinks that I do not like Smith & Wesson J-frame
revolvers, I do. I have one in my pocket as I write this. They
are light and very handy, but they will not stand up to the
heavy use of full power magnum loads as well as the little Ruger
will. The closest comparison to the SP101 is Smith’s model 60
.357 Magnum. The Ruger is about the same size and weighs one
ounce more than the Smith, but is much stronger. S&W
also has their Scandium series of small double action revolvers.
They are of the same design as the stainless model 60, but weigh
half as much at only twelve ounces. The Ruger SP101 weighs
twenty-five ounces, which is a considerable difference if
carried in a pants pocket. However, for that added weight you
get a gun that is much stronger, easier to shoot well, has much
less felt recoil, and will withstand years of hard use. In a
good concealable belt holster, the little Ruger will ride all
day comfortably, with no more of a bulge than any other small
frame .38 or .357 revolver.
As stated
earlier, the strength of the SP101 is due to its excellent
design. The internal parts of the gun remove from either the top
or bottom of the frame. Also, the ejector rod is built
off-center of the cylinder, sitting lower than normal, allowing
more steel on the underside of the barrel and at the frame where
it joins. The cylinder locks into the frame at the rear of the
extractor star and at the front of the crane, assuring positive
and solid alignment of the cylinder and barrel. Being a
five-shot, the bolt notches are offset, providing for a stronger
chamber wall.
Ruger uses a
very unique method of installing the rubber grips on the SP101.
The grip slips up over a portion of the frame and is retained by
a large pin that is hidden under the rosewood grip panel
inserts. This makes for a very comfortable and secure grip on
the handgun, resulting in greater recoil control and faster
target reacquisition. The shape of the grip is actually made to
fit the human hand, and is both compact and hand-filling. The
grips on many handguns are too big at the bottom, where they
shouldn’t be, and too small at the top, where the web receives
the recoil. Ruger got the SP101 grip just right. However, for
those with unusually small or large hands, the grip on the SP101
is easily exchanged for another. Recoil control is important for
any handgun that is meant for social work, and especially for a
small .357 Magnum. The Ruger’s grip contributes to easier
control of the weapon for faster follow-up shots.
Since the
introduction of the SP101, it has been offered in several
variations and chamberings, the latest of which is the new .357
Magnum Target Gray revolver tested here. The Target Gray
is a special process that Ruger uses on a few of their stainless
revolvers to produce a unique finish. The Target Gray retains
all of the positive properties of stainless steel, such as
durability and corrosion resistance, while providing a darker
non-glare finish to the surface of the metal. Ruger has offered
this finish in the past on some of their target rifles, hence
the name. Ruger is now offering this new finish on a few of
their double action revolvers in limited numbers. On these
revolvers, perhaps it should be called a "Tactical
Gray" finish, to best describe its useful application.
Whatever it is called, it is a very good-looking finish that is
much more durable that the bluing on a carbon steel gun, and is
not shiny and reflective like a standard stainless finish. The
result of applying the Target Gray process to the SP101 is a
handsome, businesslike appearance that won’t shine like a
mirror when drawn from its holster.
For testing
the SP101, I assembled a quantity of various ammunition and
proceeded to my firing range. Among the various loads tested
were Black Hills 158 grain JHP, Cor-Bon 110 and 125 grain .38
Plus P, Glaser Safety Slugs, .Black Hills 158 grain lead SWC,
and various handloaded .357 Magnums stoked with 125 grain JHP
bullets, all the way up to heavily loaded Cast Performance 187
grain Flat Point Gas Check LBT bullets. The Ruger gobbled up
every round without a problem. Even with the heavy 187 grain
loads, recoil was quite manageable, and induced no pain at all.
At a range of 25 yards, accuracy testing produced five-shot
groups of between two and one-quarter and three and one-half
inches. Rapid fire, it was easy to keep even the heaviest loads
on a silhouette torso at thirty yards.
The trigger on
this SP101 is just as it should be on a double action combat
revolver: smooth and easy. The trigger surface is just over
one-quarter of an inch wide, and the double action pull measured
ten and one-quarter pounds, but felt much lighter due to the
ergonomics of the weapon. The crisp single action pull measured
three and three-quarters of a pound. The square notch rear sight
and pinned on front post made target acquisition relatively
quick and easy. The SP’s ejector stroke measures just
under one inch, and ejection of the empty cases was positive and
simultaneous. The barrel on this SP101 measures 2.3 inches
and has a cylinder diameter of 1.348 inches, making for a
compact and powerful package.
The SP101
fills a niche between the super light titanium magnums and the
larger service revolvers. It has the compact size of the smaller
guns, with the strength and lifelong durability of the larger
guns. If you want a compact, reliable, and easy to shoot .357
Magnum that will endure many thousands of magnum loads and last
a lifetime, the SP101 is the best choice available. If you want
a SP101 that has the new Target Gray finish, it is only
available from one distributor; and that is Lipsey’s in
Louisiana. This new gun is exclusive to Lipsey’s, so have your
dealer contact them to order one. The good part is, this Target
Gray SP101 sells for the same price as a standard SP101, but
they must be ordered from Lipsey’s. The gun comes with a
cable lock and instruction manual, and is packed in a green hard
plastic case. Have your dealer contact Lipsey’s by phone at:
1-800-666-1333 or on the web at: www.lipseys.com.
Check out the full line of Ruger products
here.
Jeff Quinn
Got something to say about this article? Want to agree (or
disagree) with it? Click the following link to go to the GUNBlast Feedback Page.
|
|
Click pictures for a larger version.
Ruger's stainless steel SP101 in "Target Gray"
finish is available exclusively from Lipsey's distributors.
Seen in comparison with a standard stainless steel
revolver, such as the Taurus Model 941
shown here, the tactical advantage of Ruger's Target Gray
finish is obvious.
A field-stripped view
of the SP101 shows its modular design and rugged solid-frame
construction.
The SP101 is tough
enough to handle Jeff's favorite full-house .357 load
featuring Cast Performance's 187-grain bullets.
While not the lightest
.357 on the market, the Ruger SP101 is a compact design that
is easily concealed in a belt holster, and offers the strength
to take a steady diet of heavy magnum loads.
|
