SP101 DA trigger pull
- Thread starter Viking18
- Start date
Wolff springs should do the trick. www.gunsprings.com
The SP kit will come with three hammer return and one trigger return springs. Note that some have reported problems with the lighter hammer return spring not being strong enough to reset the action, it works in my SP though.
Also... when I put lighter springs in my GP100 I experienced light strikes when using CCI primers but no problems after I switched to Win. primers. I've not tried factory ammo in either gun since swapping the springs.
The SP kit will come with three hammer return and one trigger return springs. Note that some have reported problems with the lighter hammer return spring not being strong enough to reset the action, it works in my SP though.
Also... when I put lighter springs in my GP100 I experienced light strikes when using CCI primers but no problems after I switched to Win. primers. I've not tried factory ammo in either gun since swapping the springs.
I carry mine for CCW and didn't want to change the factory springs so I took the alternative approach (suggested many times on this forum): dry fire alot! I don't know if the trigger pull weight actually decreased but it smoothed up so much that I no longer perceived there was an issue.
bad_dad_brad
New member
Ditto at2000. Dry fire a lot. I want a DA revolver to have a long deliberate trigger, albeit smooth. And I like the SP101's pull.
I personally would NOT change the springs on a defense pistol. If you start changing parts and reducing trigger pull weight, if you ever have to shoot an attacker (or have an accidental discharge) an attorney might give you problems for altering the parts/trigger pull weight of your gun. OTOH, if a gunsmith simply "smoothed" out the action, but did NOT lessen trigger pull, you have a better chance in court, IMO.
If its a target pistol and you keep it locked up all the time, thats another story.
If its a target pistol and you keep it locked up all the time, thats another story.
^They can do A LOT with modern day metalurology (sp?) tests and forensic tests--an anti-gun DA might persue such tests, who knows. The metal mixture used in factory Ruger springs and Wolf springs might be slightly different under tests. I don't know, I'm paranoid and I go on the side of caution. Those people that are comfortable with the slight chance of someone finding out of course should do what they feel right.
I agree on your point about not knowing though. As far as the AVERAGE gun owner knows, the spring in their old Ruger might already have been switched and they wouldn't know it. Perhaps that is enough to get let off with no charges. I don't know either way.
I agree on your point about not knowing though. As far as the AVERAGE gun owner knows, the spring in their old Ruger might already have been switched and they wouldn't know it. Perhaps that is enough to get let off with no charges. I don't know either way.
It is NOT illegal to swap springs on your gun. OK? Flat out, period, end of discussion, there is no local ordinance, state law or Fed law to that effect.
It can matter two ways:
1) In criminal court, the DA can try and portray you as "more bloodthirsty" by showing you ran a lighter trigger. Well if it's at least a 3.5lb SA and 9lb DA, that's just bunk. You're within standard industry and even police practice. New York ordered Glocks special with an 8lb trigger, and experimented with 10lbs. If you're in that range DA, don't sweat it.
2) If you shoot a home invader, your homeowner's liability insurance coverage kicks in if you ACCIDENTALLY shoot the barsterd. So his lawyers would just LOVE to show that you accidently shot him, and to that effect they'll go into the whole issue of "single action triggers are hair triggers", "you cocked the gun to give it a hair trigger", "you lightened the trigger", etc. Well there's a real easy way to shut that down. Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Try for a nice tight group. Let 'em pass THAT off as an accident
. Sigh. Of course, all the usual stuff about "shoot only if your life/health is in danger (or that of family)" applies, yaddayaddayadda, unless you're in Texas in which case if it's dark and he's uninvited, his butt is YOURS 
.
It can matter two ways:
1) In criminal court, the DA can try and portray you as "more bloodthirsty" by showing you ran a lighter trigger. Well if it's at least a 3.5lb SA and 9lb DA, that's just bunk. You're within standard industry and even police practice. New York ordered Glocks special with an 8lb trigger, and experimented with 10lbs. If you're in that range DA, don't sweat it.
2) If you shoot a home invader, your homeowner's liability insurance coverage kicks in if you ACCIDENTALLY shoot the barsterd. So his lawyers would just LOVE to show that you accidently shot him, and to that effect they'll go into the whole issue of "single action triggers are hair triggers", "you cocked the gun to give it a hair trigger", "you lightened the trigger", etc. Well there's a real easy way to shut that down. Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Try for a nice tight group. Let 'em pass THAT off as an accident
. Sigh. Of course, all the usual stuff about "shoot only if your life/health is in danger (or that of family)" applies, yaddayaddayadda, unless you're in Texas in which case if it's dark and he's uninvited, his butt is YOURS .Shoot it
Shoot it a lot. Resolve that you are going to learn to shoot it well, and in your practice sessions try to make each round hit right where you want it- other than the occasional 3-yard artillery barrage, of course.
We have one of these, and no it doesn't feel like a pre-war S&W by any means. I like it anyway. The SP DA trigger is easy to 'stage', and I find it one of the easiest DA revolvers to get good hits with. If you approach it with determination you will learn to shoot it well.
Shoot it a lot. Resolve that you are going to learn to shoot it well, and in your practice sessions try to make each round hit right where you want it- other than the occasional 3-yard artillery barrage, of course.
We have one of these, and no it doesn't feel like a pre-war S&W by any means. I like it anyway. The SP DA trigger is easy to 'stage', and I find it one of the easiest DA revolvers to get good hits with. If you approach it with determination you will learn to shoot it well.
D.W. Drang
New member
That "Don't modify your gun or you'll do time in the Verticle Bar Hotel" arguement has been around for a while, and I think in some cases it may have merit, depending on the nature of the mods and how lousy a lawyer you have. I've only ever heard of one guy who had trouble that way, an IPSC shooter who used his race gun to kill an intruder in his house, and he wound up settling the civil case out of court.
The author of one of the defense books I read recently--it might have been Walt Rauch in Real World Survvival--had a list of mods that might get you in trouble. Basically, if it makes the gun more reliable, safe, or accurate you're OK. If it let's you shoot more, faster, then you might be introuble.
My father in law has an SP101, and the DA trigger pull is almost too much for--it is too much for him, or my wife. They can handle the SA pull, although his friend can't. (Hey, at that age, I refuse to call her his girlfriend.
) A Wolff spring kit is in (and on) order.
Also has trouble seeing the sights--we gave him some of that sight paint (for got the brand
), and am loking for replacement front sights. The Hi-Viz folks tell me "We're working on it...", but Trijicon has a tritium front.
The author of one of the defense books I read recently--it might have been Walt Rauch in Real World Survvival--had a list of mods that might get you in trouble. Basically, if it makes the gun more reliable, safe, or accurate you're OK. If it let's you shoot more, faster, then you might be introuble.
My father in law has an SP101, and the DA trigger pull is almost too much for--it is too much for him, or my wife. They can handle the SA pull, although his friend can't. (Hey, at that age, I refuse to call her his girlfriend.
) A Wolff spring kit is in (and on) order. Also has trouble seeing the sights--we gave him some of that sight paint (for got the brand
), and am loking for replacement front sights. The Hi-Viz folks tell me "We're working on it...", but Trijicon has a tritium front.I've got a Trijicon front on mine, it's essentially the same as the factory sight but with the tritium insert.
If "old eyes" are the problem with seeing the sight, the Trijicons may not be all that much of an advantage.
You might check into an Ashely big dot sight, saw one on a new S&W the other day and they are definately big.
www.ashleyoutdoors.com
If "old eyes" are the problem with seeing the sight, the Trijicons may not be all that much of an advantage.
You might check into an Ashely big dot sight, saw one on a new S&W the other day and they are definately big.
www.ashleyoutdoors.com
D.W. Drang
New member
Does Ashley make a rear sight for this? 
Or would you just use the big dot front? LSW wants to keep mods cheap, like us.
Side note: There are three current SP101 threads--anyone else htink we ought to have an SP101 Forum?
Or would you just use the big dot front? LSW wants to keep mods cheap, like us. Side note: There are three current SP101 threads--anyone else htink we ought to have an SP101 Forum?
AO Sights
I think the name of the company changed. They are at:
www.expresssights.com
I have an AO front sight on my SP. They make matching rear sights for models with adjustable rear sights. On the SP one mounts just the front sight or can also mill the topstrap to get the front sight to sit lower. My Big Dot has the tritium and I think was $60. The Big Dot can be had without the tritium for a lot less. It is a matter of driving the roll pin out on the old sight and mounting the new one and repinning. They also make a smaller dot front sight with or without tritium, too.
I had a hard time picking up the front sight rapidly. I even had Testors Bright Orange paint on the back. This was better than nothing but the Big Dot is markedly superior.
As others have mentioned on the spring kits the spring to select depends on how smooth the gun is to begin with. Dry firing a couple of 1,000 times will smooth it or one can have the action smoothed by a 'smith. Mine has been tuned and works with the 8 pound trigger return spring and 9 pound mainspring on all magnum primers (haven't tried CCI magnums) and all standard primers. YMMV.
Good Shooting,
Tom
I think the name of the company changed. They are at:
www.expresssights.com
I have an AO front sight on my SP. They make matching rear sights for models with adjustable rear sights. On the SP one mounts just the front sight or can also mill the topstrap to get the front sight to sit lower. My Big Dot has the tritium and I think was $60. The Big Dot can be had without the tritium for a lot less. It is a matter of driving the roll pin out on the old sight and mounting the new one and repinning. They also make a smaller dot front sight with or without tritium, too.
I had a hard time picking up the front sight rapidly. I even had Testors Bright Orange paint on the back. This was better than nothing but the Big Dot is markedly superior.
As others have mentioned on the spring kits the spring to select depends on how smooth the gun is to begin with. Dry firing a couple of 1,000 times will smooth it or one can have the action smoothed by a 'smith. Mine has been tuned and works with the 8 pound trigger return spring and 9 pound mainspring on all magnum primers (haven't tried CCI magnums) and all standard primers. YMMV.
Good Shooting,
Tom
KEN CHAVEZ
New member
Viking18
When I bought my SP-101, NIB, I was very surprised how smooth and perfect the double-action trigger was straight out of the box. I was able to shoot all five rounds (double-action / rapid-fire) in the center mass of my targets. My suggestion would be the same as at2000, and invssgt, practice, practice, practice, you will learn to love the SP-101 trigger the way it is.
When I bought my SP-101, NIB, I was very surprised how smooth and perfect the double-action trigger was straight out of the box. I was able to shoot all five rounds (double-action / rapid-fire) in the center mass of my targets. My suggestion would be the same as at2000, and invssgt, practice, practice, practice, you will learn to love the SP-101 trigger the way it is.
Eric Larsen
New member
Ive had a couple of them...one years ago and my current snub.
Both had "Ruger d/a triggers"..not bad, just not that good. I am not anti spring but like reliability in my CCW's...CCi primers or not.
I had my entire gun worked over by a trusted local smith and its absofreakinglutely wonderful. I also went with the Trijicon front and can verify that in most situations, it mirrors the stock from sight....the dot is pretty small but still bright on my night stand.
My trigger pull is now on par with a Good S&W trigger and thats more than I can reasonably ask for. Id like to look into the Ashley/Express/BigDot/Whatever its called now. I say an article years ago with an SP that had the "gutter snipe" style rear sights in it...very cool. Probably very expensive also...
Shoot well
Both had "Ruger d/a triggers"..not bad, just not that good. I am not anti spring but like reliability in my CCW's...CCi primers or not.
I had my entire gun worked over by a trusted local smith and its absofreakinglutely wonderful. I also went with the Trijicon front and can verify that in most situations, it mirrors the stock from sight....the dot is pretty small but still bright on my night stand.
My trigger pull is now on par with a Good S&W trigger and thats more than I can reasonably ask for. Id like to look into the Ashley/Express/BigDot/Whatever its called now. I say an article years ago with an SP that had the "gutter snipe" style rear sights in it...very cool. Probably very expensive also...
Shoot well
If I want to modify my gun so it works better, that's my business.
If I need to shoot a goblin, I want it to work perfectly and not give me a hernia trying to pull the steenkin' trigger!
If a plaintiff's lawyer gets after me by saying I shot his client's son because those modifications worked, I'll say "No, I shot your client's son because he was agressively trying to kill me, the gun I shot him with is irrelevant, and I'm glad it worked or I wouldn't be here for this discussion."
If I need to shoot a goblin, I want it to work perfectly and not give me a hernia trying to pull the steenkin' trigger!
If a plaintiff's lawyer gets after me by saying I shot his client's son because those modifications worked, I'll say "No, I shot your client's son because he was agressively trying to kill me, the gun I shot him with is irrelevant, and I'm glad it worked or I wouldn't be here for this discussion."
D.W. Drang
New member
No, no, no. "I'm sorry I had to do it, but he forced me into that action."