Ruger SP101 for convenient concealed carry

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plt262

Inactive
I would like to get opinions on the Sp101 for convenience and concealed carry. 5 shot revolvers appear to be more versatile for concealment and carry due to their shape and size. They are practically simple.
 
I had a SP-101 spurless hammer (DAO). It is a fine little revolver. It could easily be concealed in a pocket or ankle, if the pants aren't too tight.
Too bad I sold the gun. Only reason I did that was to raise enough money to buy another gun that I wanted.
 
I have the SP101 in .357 and the SW 642 in .38, The Ruger is a fine gun and very accurate for its size. But it weighs twice as much as the 642 (32oz vs. 16oz). I don't see the advantage of carrying the SP101 when the 642 is much lighter and just as effective when loaded with the right ammo (FBI load, .38+P LSWCHP) :D :D :D

[This message has been edited by thequickad (edited May 04, 2000).]
 
I carry an SP101 .357 all day every day in my side (front?) pants pocket. Get an Uncle Mike's size "0" holster for about $10 and cut off the plastic clip. When you pull the gun, the outer material of the holster sticks inside your pocket.

As far as its weight, I used to carry a J frame model 38 which weighed 16oz unloaded. I know I've got the Ruger in my pocket instead of the Smith, but it's not that bad. The reason I switched is that I can shoot .357s with less felt recoil than I got with +P in the Smith. It also has better sights.
 
SP101 is a great weapon. Durable, accurate and versatile. Nice modular design, easy to maintain. I like stainless, so it's a fabulous design IMO.

Yes it's a lot heavier than the mini-.38, but it's not designed to fill the same niche. It's bigger and stronger because it fires a more powerful round. And you can use it for .38 for training gentler hands than your own.

SP101 in .38 caliber is a different question. For that role, yes it is a big beast for a "small" frame. If you only want to fire .38, get an airweight, or bodyguard, or whatever.

But if you want a small .357, you would be well served by the SP.

Regards,
--
Brian
 
Ditto everyone above. The Ruger revolvers (I don't like the autos because they're built for people with bigger hands than mine) are excellent. However, if you plan to carry, go with a Smith & Wesson. Model 60 if you need .357, and an Airweight or Airlite if you don't. Trust me!
 
tackdriver,
The Rugers are very strong guns, easily withstanding the blast of a .357 MAG. Still, you will feel the recoil for sure.
Let's just say that I wouldn't wanna shoot several boxes of full powered 125gr loads through it.
 
Not to disparage the Ruger revolvers. I think they are excellent. In fact, my dad left his Ruger Speed-Six in a drawer for over ten years, and it shot fine when we pulled it out. However, when you compare the J-frame Smiths with the Ruger sp-101, the Smiths are smaller and lighter, and therefore easier to carry.

All the SP101's are about the same size and weight (.38. 357, 9mm, etc.). The Smiths come in various styles (including stainless, airweight, and airlite). To compare apples with apples as closely as possible, put a .357 SP101 against a .357 model 60. Both shoot well and will be extremely reliable. The place where the Smith wins is that it is smaller and lighter than the Ruger (in fact, I have a .357 model 60 around my left ankle as I type this). And when you compare an Airweight or Airlite to a .38 Ruger, the difference becomes even greater.
 
Keep in mind the Ruger revolvers were built with at least one thing in mind...STRENGTH. They are a few ounces heavier than an all steel Slick & Wimpy counterpart. You can say that the Ruger revolvers are pretty much overengineered for what they were desinged for.
 
The Ruger is built like a tank. It is heavier than, say, the S & W Model 60. Too heavy to carry? Subjective decision. Heavy is as heavy does. I think I heard that in a movie?
 
Although the Ruger is indeed a couple of ounces heavier than the Smith J-frame magnum, it seems to me the biggest difference in compactness or concealability is in the grips. There are no grips for the Ruger that I know of that compete in shortness, thin-ness, tapered butt, etc. with the Uncle Mike's (Butler Creek) boot grip for the 60/640. the Uncle Mike's boot grip for the SP-101 is, IMO, an improvement over the square-butted factory grip but is still considerably longer than the SW boot grip. As far as I can tell, the butt is the biggest factor regarding concealability between the two. No doubt the Smith is more
concealable, but I have definite doubts about the Smith's strength compared to the Ruger...having owned more than one of each.
I don't carry so it's theoretical with me but forced to choose one, I would choose Ruger. Just a personal choice.

------------------
Lazarus
 
In my humble opinion, the sp101 2.5" bbl .357, loaded w/ Federal 357B 125gr JHP's, was the most unpleasant revolver to shoot I ever touched off. My 4" M29 with factory 240gr .44mag was practically tame by comparison. It pounded the web of my hand and the base of my thumb mercilessly. 20 rounds was a big day, and it affected my handgun shooting for the rest of that day's session.
 
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