.357

P8TRIOT

Inactive
Greetings to you all! this is my first posting and hopefully not my last. I have been seriously considering both the Ruger SP101 and the Ruger GP100. I think I am leaning towards the GP100, however I am under the impression that this revolver will only fire .357's? Can someone please give some good advice as far as whether or not having a .357 only revolver is a wise choice or not. I realize this question probably needs more qualifiers than I am lending, however, I am more concerned with understanding how calibers and rounds work overall...ie. what goes with what, what can be fired and what cannot? I realize that these are very green questions but I am "unseasoned".
 
Every .357 magnum revolver, I'm aware of, will also fire .38 special and .38 special +P ammo. If you're looking for a concealed carry weapon, the Ruger SP101 is the better choice. If you're looking more for a house/ home protection gun, then the GP 100 is the better choice. If you get the GP 100 with the six inch barrel, you could also do some handgun hunting with it; up to deer size game.
 
I've got them both. The are great guns. Every 357 Magnum revolver can safely fire 38 Special ammunition. If you aren't going to carry concealed then get the GP100. It's easier and more comfortable to shoot. The six inch barrel will give you a substantial boost in velocity over the four inch barrel and with the longer sight radius will be more practically accurate. A 357 Magnum revolver is a good choice for a first gun. I started with the GP100 and later got the SP101 when they loosened the CCW laws. 18 years later and I own 13 guns with more that have passed through my hands and more on the want list. And I got into loading my own. You could be starting a very expensive hobby. Be warned, shooting is addictive :eek:
 
P8TRIOT: Just remember that the reverse is not the case. If you own a .38 special revolver, you cannot shoot .357 magnum ammo through it. The .357 magnum revolver gives you the versatility in choice of ammo.
 
I have not been able to hold either one, it seems to me that the GP100 wouldn't be suitable for CC. I am concerned that the SP is perhaps too small of a frame. I saw the guy on "gunblast" on YouTube firing it and it looked tiny, beautiful, but tiny. I am going to be bold and ask if you could perhaps post a picture of both? one next to another? That would actually be very helpful to me at least. It would be cool if you could hold both so that I could see the difference.:confused:
 
I am concerned that the SP is perhaps too small of a frame.

If you are worried that the SP might not be strong enough for the .357 cartridge, don't. It is a Ruger. Generally Rugers are built like tanks. They are strong enough for any cartridge Ruger chambers them for.
 
Here's mine.

100_0186.jpg
 
I had an SP101 3" .357 and for me it is too light to comfortably shoot full-power .357 and too heavy to justify it's weight of 27 ounces. It does work well for the +P .38 Special. For concealed carry I would get a J Frame or LCR. I have a .357 LCR and it works well with +P 38 Special and weighs 17 ounces. For an all around gun, and a "night stand" gun for home defense it is hard to beat a 4" GP100.
 
Ruger security six revolver is in the middle as far as size .Gp100 fullsize security six mid, sp101 small. I prefer the sp101 for every day carry.But that's me.
 
I saw the guy on "gunblast" on YouTube firing it and it looked tiny, beautiful, but tiny

If that was Jeff Quinn of Gunblast.com ...... yeah, it'll look tiny in his oven mitt hands.....

I had an sp101 .... nice gun. I could not find a comfortable way to Carry it, and was not as accurate, or as fast, with it as I was my autos ...... decided to cut training ammo/time budget in half, simplify/downsize/whatever .....
 
Here is a option that might satisfy you better. A Ruger Police Service Six 4 inch. They also make the Speed/Service Six in a 3 inch barrel. Most all of these revolvers are 357 magnum. Lighter than a GP100 but better able to handle the 357 magnum round comfortably.
Howard
RugerServiceSix.jpg
 
What are you going to do with this revolver? That will drive the choice vis the GP-100 or the SP-101.

If you're looking to use it for home defense, range use and might conceal carry it from time to time, the GP-100 in either the 3" or 4" barrel would be my pick. For HD, range use and maybe hunting, get a 6" barrel. If the primary use is concealed carry, the SP-101 fits better, though I'd be tempted to go all the way to the LCR.

Any .357 you find will eat all of the .38s you can stand to feed it. I actually look at my .357s and figure if the head stamp says ".38 Special" I'm good to go, no matter what kind of .38 load it may be.
 
.357 Mag Is Awesome

I own a Ruger Black Hawk and a Sp101, Black Hawk is great for hunting and the SP101 is better for carrying. I also have a Question: I own a Win 94E Lever Action Rifle, can you shoot a .38sp in a lever action rifle?
 
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Just bought the GP 100 in 6" (Damn week waiting period.). I plan on getting either an SP 101, or an LCR .357 in the future. My daughter wants a revolver to shoot at the range so I figure the smaller loaded with light .38's would be good for her, plus I can have a CCW revolver.....
 
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