Ruger SP101 .32M 4" Opinions?

C

Crow Beads

New member
Howdy all:

My wife is looking for an accurate revolver for semi-serious plinking/target shooting. She is only 5' 3 1/2" and has very small hands. A .38spl would be fine but the .32 H&R is even more appealing with its reduced recoil. The gun has to have modern sights with the rear one adjustable. She already has 3.1" SP101 in .357 and loves the grip.

The subject Ruger seems like it would be perfect but none of the local stores carry them so we can't see what the sight picture looks like. The manual says that the rear sight is windage adjustable but does not vary for elevation. Does anyone have an image depicting the sight picture? How accurate is this model? The now extinct .22lr SP101 appears to have the same sight setup.

I'm also wondering if there are any other good possibilities considering her requirements.

Best,
CB
 
Taurus model 731 ultra lite revolver in 32 h&r
H_731SSULC.jpg
 
S&W has a couple very nice ones too. 631 and 632 PDs come to mind but my numbers might be off. IMO, where the D/A .32 Mags shine is CC/SD, and so I'd opt for the 3" SP101 or even 2+ inchers of the others. Nothing wrong with the 4" format however--it might indeed offer the sight picture you're looking for over the shorter barrel options--but most especially if she does not plan for it to be a CC/purse type application. Great round--not to mention in addition to your comments re recoil, the additional round that can be chambered over other J-framed centerfires (.38 Sp etc). Look at Georgia Arms new(ish) 100 gr jhp loadings for SD use. Should still be a pussycat out of a 3+ or 4" application.
 
Jkwas:
That's a fine looking carry piece. I have the similar S&W 432pd for a BUG.

Ultraman:
That photo is exactly what we were looking for. Thanks much!

Gak:
Deb already has a concealed carry gun. She uses a Kahr E9. In fact my wife has a room full of shooting trophies from six years of Cowboy Action Shooting including two state and four regional class championships. I feel pretty safe around her.

I have heard of the older Smith and Wesson .32 H&R models. The one that would best fit her needs would probably be the Model 16 with a 6" barrel but I just don't think she could handle a K-frame. My 586P is too much for her to handle. I wonder if the j-frame .32s you mentioned came with longer barrels and adjustable sights.

I ordered some of the GA .32s last week and they sent me 85gr hps instead of the desired 100gr versions. I was not impressed with the switch. The .38spl and .38spl+P stuff I ordered, was great stuff though.

All:
Ideally, the Ruger New Model Single-six in .32 H&R with a 5.5" bbl and modern sights would have been the perfect solution. They are getting extremely hard to find what with demand among CAS shooter.

Thank you all for your generous help.
 
Ruger

PHP: 
She already has 3.1" SP101 in .357 and loves the grip.

Your wife already has all she needs.
???
 
gdeal: She already owns nineteen guns. I don't think one more will matter all that much.:D

gak: I just did some research on the model 631 Smith and Wesson. This model would be perfect. My "Gun Traders Guide" says they were available with 4" barrels and adjustable sights in 1991-92. Could be tough to find a LNIB but we will look. Researching S&W revolvers should be allowed as credit toward a masters thesis. Thank God for the internet.
 
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Crow Beads, I have the .32 H&R in the stainless/fixed sight birdshead 4-3/4". Try www.legendaryguns.com - should still be able to get one for you at a pretty reasonable $349 if that configuration is ok for you (they may still have some regular gripped models as well). Beware, they came in short (for kids and small handed women), and regular grips...but few stores note the diff...and I (with small hands for a big guy) never found the regular grips too big to begin with so I was surprised Ruger went to the trouble (and contributing often to confusion in the stores). I owned the adj. sight 5-1/2" when it first came out in the 80s. Nice gun, but for my purposes and in this round I like this new configuration even better. (Can't believe I'm saying that as I lobbied Ruger to re-create the 5-1/2" again before I got this one. Best of all worlds: they should have made it in both in recent years). Good luck!
 
I have one and its a great little gun. It shoots like a rifle with the right loads!! ITs the gun my girlfreind will grab everytime we go shooting.
 
Has she shot 148 grain wadcutter .38 special out of the SP-101 she already has? Very low recoil, and I think it's as cheap or cheaper than .32 ammo.
 
Deb likes the smaller SP101 for home protection. It does not fulfill her requirment for a small frame, serious plinking/target revolver with adjustable sights though. Her practice round for it is the same as her CAS load: 125gr RNFP over 3.2gr VV320 and a Federal SP Mag primer - very mild recoil. She has not tried the WC but I just got some from GA and will have her try them.

She won a Cimarron Lightning at a shoot once but didn't like the birdshead grip so the Ruger variant would not go over too well. Besides, it has fixed sights. For CAS she uses a pair of 5.5" Cimarron Model P jrs. chambered in .38spl. She is unbelievably fast with them but only needs to hit a sixteen inch steel target at 7-10 yards. Out of force of habit and training, she finds it nearly impossible to shoot them slowly for accurate work on paper.

I know: "Picky, Picky." But I am very proud of her extensive knowledge and experience with firearms. She makes all of her reloads and best of all, cleans her own guns. I just gotta brag.:rolleyes:

The choices are now down to the following in order of preference:

1. A LNIB S&W model 631 w/4" bbl and adjustable rear sight
2. A new or LNIB 5.5" Ruger single six .32M adjustable sights
3. A new Ruger SP101 .32M w/4" bbl.

This has been a fun topic especially since this particular gun will just be for fun. You guys have been great!
 
Ultraman:

I don't suppose there's any chance you would part with one of the 4" 631s.
You'd make a sweet, pretty little gal very happy. Nobody could possibly be so hard hearted as to refuse such loveliness.:)
 
I stand corrected. She thought that was pretty funny so you are forgiven.

We have a very fine Colorado Gun Collectors Show every May. Maybe someone there will have one.

Best,
CB
 
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