Trail gun (SP-101 that doesn't exist)

S

Swamper

New member
Hello to All,

Over the years, I have had the great fortune to have lots of handguns, from the smallest to the largest, used under a variety of circumstances, all to great enjoyment. Now, I have lucked across a couple of recently discontinued SP-101's, each a 22LR with the half-shrouded barrel. Boy, what neat guns they are. The half-shroud trims a few ounces, netting a great balance in the hand and better aesthetics (my eyes, my beauty!). Ruger was correct to focus their SP-101's on the defense demographic, but I wish they would have kept in mind that many of us care little for the short barreled magnums and, realistically, few need a trail gun to defend themselves against bears (no need for flames or armchair machismo). Were they to have introduced the half-lug barrel in .38 special, complete with adjustable sights, I feel certain that Ruger would have sold quite a few. Even a 4-inch barrel in .38 with fixed sights would make for a great trail gun. I guess I like the little Ruger because it compares, albeit in heavier duty flesh, to the inexpensive H&R rimfire revos that accompanied many a man in the swamps and in the dark some decades ago.

Regard,
Docbones:)
 
SP Trail guns...

Generally speaking Doc, I couldn't agree more. We have adapted the 3" .357, after a fashion, to make it do what your .22 does- and more.

The sights are in the process of being vary carefully filed to print hot-loaded mid-weight (140-158 grain) bullets on the button at 75 yards. I discover some years ago that this sight setting also regulates the gun close enough with Federal 125 JHC Mags to hit a playing card at 25 steps. Finally there is the fun/small game load that involves a .38 WC or light loaded 125 JHP, at about 700-850 fps. These it will shoot to POA/POI well enough that any rabbit or squirrel inside 20 yards is in serious jeapordy. And while we don't have big bears where we live, this little tank would handle Federal 180 Castcores, or the handloaded equivalent. POI would be considerable higher, but not, I imagine, beyond minute of bear head at 10 feet.

You & I had the same idea, just a different approach. I like the fixed sights on this kind of gun because once they are regulated, a tornado wouldn't disturb them. You just shoot it without worry, and the misses are attributable only to operator error. And speaking of 'missus', the biggest problem I have with this gun is that Peggi latched onto it the first time she shot it. So it's actually HER gun now, but for the sake of discussion the points all remain the same. Maybe I need another one for me, now. ;)

Enjoy your .22 SP's, I have always wanted to shoot one of these but have not yet had the opportunity. The centerfire version of this gun is so good that I cannot imagine that the rimfire would be anything but a little jewel.
 
SaxonPig, you are correct. I am a physician, actually nearing retirement within the next month. But, that is not from whence the moniker came. When I was a young boy, I was really skinny and or family had little or no surplus monies. My grandparents had a 50's era encyclopedia set and a Webster's dictionary. When you are raised in a rural setting, looking beyond the omnipresent chores, you tend to seek out other forms of stimulation. Mine came from the aforementioned texts. So, here came this skinny kid using "50-cent" words and my paternal grandmother named me Professor Bones, abridged to Doctor Bones, then, ultimately, Bones among my family members. I just wish I could return to my college days (44-inch chest with 29-inch waist) :)

Invssgt,

I won't dispute that your 3" .357 makes for an excellent trail gun. I just want to avoid the loudenboomers, limiting my top loads to .38 special range. Indeed, I have even toyed with the thought of having one of the rimfire barrels (4" full shroud) rebored by Pac-Nor, netting a 4-inch, fixed sighted .38. But, then my best friend Dan lends advice to be more practical. I already have a 3-incher in .38. I am glad you have found more than a couple of loads to meet your needs. These SP's are really great guns in any configuration. You really should invest in a .22LR version. They can sometimes be found at really good deals with a little diligent web searching. Of all the rimfire SP’s I and my best friend have shot, each was more accurate than it out to be, including the snubby version.

Docbones
 
If you like .38Spl, have you looked at the ballistics of the better .32Magnum loads? From a 4" barrel, a 100grain JHP at 1,100 or even 1,200fps is practical, even with some factory loads. And your SP101 could be re-bored as a six-shot .32Mag using the same cylinder bore placement as on the .22 charge holes...just re-bore it, change firing pins, bingo...

HKS 6-shot .32Mag speedloads would even fit.
 
Jim,

The current Ruger catalog lists the SP101 as available in a six shot, 32 Mag version. They even say it has "adjsutable sights". I think this is their windage adjustable (drift it back and forth) rear but still, it's kind of adjustable.
 
First, let me thank all those who contribute, because we all like to "jaw" a bit about our favorite subjects.

Jim and Dave,
I have thought long about the .32 Mag and it is arguably a neat cartridge. But, in its factory presentation, it is a bit expensive. And, of course, comes the argument about "poppijng" a BG with handloads. Further, unless you are always carrying your own handloads, this is not a cartridge readily found in the boonies. But, .38Spl's of some sort are always around, even found at the remote bait shack. Not that I don't like the .32, I am just wishing for greater convenience. Sometimes you just don't want to reload.

Jim,
As to re-boring and rechambering, including swapping the firing pins, converting a .22 to a .32Mag, I know you are teasing me. ;)The cost would be prohibitive and you would better be served by just buying a new gun in .32 Mag.


This diatribe is not just about caliber, although we could all agree the old .38 special can hold its own. It is also about wishing for the manufacturers, in this case Ruger, to use a little common sense. The half-lugged configuration represents aeshetics that are borrowed from the S&W barrel contours. Even as Jim alluded to the "adjustable sights", I wouldn't have minded the standard Ruger sights found on most of their SA and DA revolvers. The SP-101 is absolutely strong and weighty enough to dampen recoil. So, why would you want the full lugged barrel for the .22? Wishing for the same configuration in the .38 chambering is, well, I guess the wishful rantings of an idealistic OF (Old Fart).
:)
 
Some Thoughts

Jim Stroh of Alpha Precision will put adjustable sights on an SP albeit they are S&W ones. I would prefer to use Bowen adjustables if this could be done. See:

http://www.alphaprecisioninc.com/contact/prices.htm

Numrich Parts lists a 4" bbl. for the .357 albeit it is not in stock. Do they know something no one else does? See:

http://www.e-gunparts.com/products.asp?chrMasterModel=1910zSP101

In a magazine a while back was a picture of a 3" SP that Cylinder and Slide had cut the shroud diagonally from the muzzle to about where the ejector cutout began. I wish Ruger would use lighter barrels and this goes for the adjustable sighted GP series, too.
 
docbones - How about rechambering to .22 Mag? I've long regretted not having the $$ years ago when Hi-Standard offered their steel-frame Sentinel in .22/.22 - just a coupla years before they went under. I think the ballistics of a 50-gr .22 mag versus 40-gr LR might make it worth the change. There's a slight diff in bore sizes - but an SP-101 in .22 mag would be an interesting little trail gun.
 
Geojelly, I have actually thought about rechambering to .22 Mag and, in that regard, as advocated by Jim T., I consulted Mr. Jim Stroh of Alpha Precision. Having previously used him on a couple of Ruger single action projects, I know well his exceptional quality work. We are on the same page. Years ago, both of my grandfathers used H&R .22's for all of their handgun work. Like the H&R's, Iver Johnsons, and High Standard DA .22's of years gone by, the SP-101 still offers a ton of value for the money. If memory serves, Mr. Stroh wants around $145 for the converstion to .22 Mag. I thing the slight diff in bore sizes wouldn't be bad.

Docbones
 
I am a big fan of the SP101. Ruger still markets a SP101 in .22 full shrouded barrel. The one I always wanted was an SP101 that moon-clipped the .9MM. I have the 3 inch +P .38 SP101 and this is my nightstand gun. It is a solid accurate little revolver.
 
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