SP-101 3" vs 2"

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priv8ter

New member
Sometime in the near future, I am going to buy a .357 Revolver. It is going to be mainly for carrying, but, I like plinking and stuff, so I leaning towards the 3 1/16" barrel on the SP-101.

I am curious about 2 things:

1) How much accuracy is added with the extra barrel length. Hmm...bad question...it is the shooter that is accurate, not the gun. How much easier is it to be accurate at longer distances with the extra inch? Ahh...much better.

2) How much more limited is gun leather for a 3" barreled revolver?
 
Accuracy will not be any different between a 2 inch and a 10 inch barrel, but there is a big difference in velocity. Between a 2 inch and a 3 inch barrel there won't be much difference in velocity.
 
I have the 3" version... if I had to buy it again I'd get the 2".

Not unhappy with the gun at all, matter of fact I love it.

Just believe that the shorter barrel would give me more tangible advantages (easier carry, perhaps a little weight off).

I would not consider any SP a "plinker", but that is just one opinion.
 
A few months back, I had one of each. When one needed to go, it was the 2"er (but I have several S&W 2"ers). Personal choice, but I just like the extra 1" for getting .357s loads a bit closer to barrell length originally anticipated.
 
We used to have the 3" 38 Special Rugers available as an on-duty carry weapon. Mostly women got them because they were small. Some cheap guys got them to use as an on/off duty and really looked ridiculous w/ a big guy carrying the tiny gun on a big duty rig.

They look wacky in a short nosed holster and look like the aren't ready to be a full size gun but not really a snubby either. Just a compromise that doesn't seem to work. JMHO

UUUUUGLY!!!!!!
 
I have a 2 1/4" for CCW...the IWB holsters I have would work with a 3" also. For carry the 3" would be odd but woulld have a little more velocity for your 125gr JHP's....either will do except for pocket carry...Shoot well
 
>>I would consider the SP-101, .22lr a plinker. <<

Ken, I never understood the point behind that gun.
 
Now, this is IMHO only, but I don't think any .357 Mag with a barrel of less than 4" or so would be considered a "plinking", or range gun.

The sight radius is short, noise level is greater & recoil is stout with the shorter barrels. If your main reason for buying the gun is carry (as you indicated), go with the 2 1/4" tube.

All that said, I think the 3" barrel is a good choice for a home defense gun. I was looking for just such a gun when I found & bought a nice used 2 1/4" to be used for the same purpose by my step-daughter, but I still think the 3" is a better application. Still small enough to be easy to handle & bring into action, but less recoil bite with the longer barrel and more accurate practice sessions.

I think you'll need 2 revolvers to cover both plinking & CCW use!
 
Hmmm

Maybe I should have specified...for plinking, I would be using .38's...is that still too much for recreational use is a 3" barrel?
 
priv8ter!

I have both and both are excellent revolvers. However, because of the longer sighting surface provided by the 3" barrel I have found it to be somewhat more accurate. Both the 2" and the 3" models are excellent concealed carry weapons. I use an IWB holster and it works quite well for either. Good shooting:)
 
I've found the SP101 2 1/14" .357 Mag to be a great gun for plinking (light handloads mostly) and plenty accurate to keep things fun. Hitting a can at 25 yds or the 50 yd reaction target are very do-able. With the Hogue aftermarket grips it's comfortable to shoot everything except the heaviest of ammo. T

I wouldn't hesitate a moment to get the snubbie.
 
I owned the 2 1/4" version (that was what the store had when I was hot to buy; it wasn't what I wanted), and wished it was the 3 1/16" version. The 2" was just a little too heavy and bulky for discrete front pocket carry (tho I tried it a couple of times) anyway, and other types of carry would not have been affected by the longer barrel.

Performance wise, the magnum loads would have really appreciated more tube to "get their legs under them." I disagree that with those who feel the extra bbl wouldn't make much difference in velocity - search around and look at chrono readings people have posted over the years for .357s: they really begin to come into their own in a 4" bbl, but 3" moves the bullets out considerably quicker than 2".

Leather? I don't think you can find a pocket holster for the 3", but DeSantis and others make them for the short tube. Most other holsters work for the longer bbl (tho you may have stainless showing out the bottom!). Accuracy? I'm not sure it would make a heck of a lot of difference if you practiced, but the longer sighting plane and increased weight up front would likely help somewhat. Not enough that this should be a deciding factor.

Loved the SP-101. It was great fun to shoot with light .38 handloads, and had decent OOMPH with the hot stuff. Loved the factory grips, loved the smooth trigger. Trigger was heavy beyond belief, but Ruger tells you to dry-fire the thing to wear it in (it works, and it's good practice). The only reason I got rid of it (sold for a great price to a good friend) is that I had just bought a 940 that filled the niche I had in mind better.

I would buy another SP-101 (preferably with a 3" tube, but that's your call) in a heartbeat. I envy you, priv8ter! Have fun with whichever you select!
 
Come on people, do the math!

:rolleyes: We have a 2 1/4" barrel and a 3 1/16" barrel, subtract the two and you get only "13/16 of an inch difference". Now that is almost nothing in regards to sight radius and will only make about 50 fps. more or less, difference in velocity with any given round. Just put it in perspective, now if we are comparing a 2 1/4" barrel to a 6" barrel that would be a hole different story.
 
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