Wanted SP101 info

C

Cheap 870

Moderator
Thinking bout pulling the trigger on a new SP101 2 1/2 357mag today. I've wanted one for a long time.
Yesterday I stopped at to gun shops the 1st one had the gun for $532.00 out the door price. The 2nd one didn't have one, he said they're in high demand & he's had one on backorder for some time.
Theirs all so a gun show this weekend.
My questions are;
1) Is $532 a good price?
2) Are they in high demand & hard to find?
3) Should I wait till this weekend & try to find a decent used one? And what's the going price on a used gun?

If they are scarce I'd hate to goto the gun show & come home empty handed. Then have the new one sold.
 
I just took a peak at gun broker & the cheapest new gun was $495 plus the fees.
I'm not to crazy about buying a used gun off line. I want to be able to look at the condition in person.
 
In my neck of the woods the used ones go very fast, in a matter of hours and are in the $450-475 range. New models are around $500-525. I consider myself luckey when i found mine for $439 plus tax about 2 months ago. I also have a 2.25" SP101 in .357mag, in all honesty its my favorite and I plan to keep it in my safe for a very long time.
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I have since installed wood inserts and I carry with me often. I say go for it, the $20-30 that you may "overpay" is miniscule over the long haul.
 
hulley your probably right. My luck I'd go to the show & all their will be is over priced junk. Then go to the gun shop & the new one will be sold.
Plus I've done a little researched on the SP101 & the only bad thing I've heard is with the trigger pull on some guns. So yesterday when I looked at the new gun I tried the trigger & it seemed to have a nice pull with no creep. That was in the single action mode. Didn't try double action but I'm sure it's just like any double action pull.
 
I love the trigger on my SP101. Its original so the DA pull is a little heavy but I'm fine with that right now, I find the SA pull perfect. The only thing I plan on changing is the front site, not sure what I'll go with but it will be a night site for sure. I actually find the stock grips to be comfortable and have no plans on changing but alot of people like the hogue grips which I think are a little big to carry. I reload a nice soft 38spl and its a breeze to shoot from the SP101 but the full bore 357 is pretty intense! I love it!
 
They are cool little guns but after my friend bought one and let me shoot it, I realized that it's just a glorified J frame. It's no fun to shoot with 357's and too little barrel to be a good plinker (for me at least). Now if they came with a 4" barrel, perhaps...
 
I'm not too familiar with the J frames but arent most of them pretty light? Like 13-15oz? The SP101 is 26oz and has some heft to it, it handles the hot loads very well and should last a lifetime. I "plink" with 38s and only shoot the 357s when I want a "rush"!

I do want a GP100 in 4" though to get more from the 357mag rounds but that would be a range toy where the SP101 is a carry gun for me.
 
It's not bad as a plinker, if you shoot 38 specials out of it. The 357s aren't horrible, but are "snappier". For $532 new, I'd jump on it. It's a perfect concealed combat/fun gun. The last I looked, Bud's was sold out, and the election is here, so get it while you can.
 
dont worry about this election, they ban 5 shot revolvers and we really will have problems. I think the price you state seems a bit high, but then again for the demand and the climate maybe not. Bought mine for $400 back in 2010 and had to order it. I say if its the one for you then get it. If youre comfortable with the price then its worth what youre willing to pay for it.
 
dont worry about this election, they ban 5 shot revolvers and we really will have problems.
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It's not that they'll be banned, but demand for all types of firearms may go through the roof. I know in Cook County, IL, a proposed $25.00 "violence tax" per gun sold will drive people to the shops before it's implemented. Bud's has increased the hours their phone staff are available, because of the hunting season, west coast customers, and the looming election.

I paid $450 plus tax for mine in 2009, and saw a used one for 400.00 with no box/papers last year. You'll find one eventually, but may have to wait a while.
 
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They are cool little guns but after my friend bought one and let me shoot it, I realized that it's just a glorified J frame. It's no fun to shoot with 357's and too little barrel to be a good plinker (for me at least). Now if they came with a 4" barrel, perhaps...
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This year they came out with 4.2" SP101's in both .357 and .22LR.

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Never went to Fin Feather Fur but can be there in about 40min. That price is $10 cheaper then the one I found. I looked at their web page & it doesn't show what guns they have. Do you know if they have one in stock?(the canton store)

I called 2 more gun shops yesterday & both stores had them on backorder.
I'm gonna probably get the the one for $532. It's the model of SP101 I want. 2 1/2" with a hammer.
 
I too have the wood grip inserts by 1chig. Very happy with them and really changed the look all together.
 
If you havent went and got it yet, do so, dont wait on a used one. Arround here the used ones are your new price and the new ones are over $600.00, i know its crazy but what do ya do. You will love the ruger!!!!!
 
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