Range Report: Ruger SP101 Revolver (.357 Mag) 

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I'm simple, when I see a sp-101 video, I click like.

I have multiple stainless Ruger revolvers and they are rough out of the box, but put a thousand rounds through them and they turn into one smooth sweet handling gun

We have owned 4 of these in our family, mine is the Talo edition with engraving. These guns are addictive!

The 3”sp101 is the perfect size revolver

I really like my hammerless SP101... had it for years and it is amazing...the trigger job took it over the top. I wish Ruger would offer that in a 6 shot .357... they have the skills to do so with minimal size or weight increases imo.

You shot it very well and so did your wife. Nice video. Thank you for sharing it with us.

It's a nice, beefy chunk of steel! I have this exact model; 3" barrel .357 Magnum... I switched out the stock grip to the aftermarket Hogue grip, and even got a custom trigger job (it's gone from about 12lbs/5lbs DASA down to about 8lbs/3lbs DASA). A very good choice if you're looking for a powerful CC revolver.

Buy one of the 3 RD Party Tigger and Spring replacement Kits to lighten the trigger pull

The ruger sp101 357 magnum is the essential hand cannon that fits in your pocket put 158 grain jhp in it and if that doesn't make you smile!!

Get the spring kit and tune the trigger, put a Hogue grip on it and now you have the perfect revolver.

The “owner’s manual” text likely does have something to do with lawsuits. When Ruger came out with the newer single action pistols they named them New & improved. Well, a bunch of people thought this meant the original models were defective and at least one lawsuit was brought against Ruger. I use only 158 grain .38 special as it shoots very well in Henry .38/.357 lever guns. In fact, Henry specifically recommends the 158 grain .38s so that the shoulder of the projectile gets grabbed for chambering.

Got my first one about 40 years ago. Fantastic equipment.

This exact gun is my favorite handgun. I have semi’s but I’m a wheel gun fan. I’ll be carrying this until ……….🤷🏻‍♂️

Have an SP101 and love it.

I just picked one of these up a month ago, 3" just like that. . Love it so far. ran a box of .38 and .357 through it. I already changed the grips installed a 10# Trigger spring and have a new sight on my desk for it. Hope you get to keep that one. also, compared (side by side) Very similar to a Glock 19 in size. it has a little bit of give and take in different dimensions.

I got one of these a little over a year ago, same exact model. Switched out the plastic grip inserts for wood inserts from Altamont Grips; gives it a very classy look. Also switched out the front blade sight for a Meprolight tritium front sight. Other than that no mods. Got a nice custom leather pocket holster from Palmetto Leather Company; highly recommend. In that holster it pocket carries easily and comfortably. I don’t carry it all the time but I do carry it with some regularity. It is definitely a well-made, solid piece. I have only carried it and trained with it using .357 Magnum ammo, except when I want it for nightstand duty at home, when it is loaded with .38 Special +Ps so that I don’t blow my eardrums out or put a round in my next door neighbor’s house if I ever had to use it for home defense. I’m a fairly experienced shooter but I ain’t gonna lie; with .357 Magnum ammo that is the hardest kicking handgun I own. I would not characterize it as “fun” or “pleasant” to shoot with .357s on board. But it is quite accurate if one does their part as a marksman. I enjoy both revolvers and automatics, but one reason I lean towards revolvers is that, what other kind of gun can you carry in your pocket, that delivers a 450 foot pound punch? I don’t think there’s an auto made, that you can carry in your pocket, with such a capability. Yeah, it’s only five shots, but it’s five shots I KNOW I have, and in that chambering (as long as I don’t miss 😀), I shouldn’t need too many of them. My SP101 is my “light saber”: an elegant weapon from a more civilized age. Glad you like, TGV. Cheers.

Have it in both the three and 6 inch version I love them

I have a .357 Magnum SP101 4.2", 357 GP100 4.2", 44 Magnum Redhawk 7.5" and 454 Casull Super Redhawk 7.5". Love them all. Other models of SP101 have better sights & grips.The Match Champion models have enhanced actions.

Great video, Jason. I bought a 5 inch S&W Performance Center .357 Magnum chambered for 7 rounds. Experienced malfunction straight out of the box. One of the chambered rounds failed to fire in 3 consecutive full cylinder loadings. The trigger and cylinder would seize up. I've dry- fired it using spent cases without a hitch. I need to stop procrastinating and send it in to S&W for inspection and repair.

Roger message on the barrel - they lost a lawsuit back in the 80's when sued by a gentleman who playing quick draw using a 41 mag Blackhawk pulled the trigger as he was reholstering the gun. In his lawsuit he claimed not having ample knowledge or instructions. That he did not read the owners manual wasn't seriously considered or the trick draw practice with the pistol loaded. Roger ended up settling but to absolutely make sure no one else could ever sue again on those grounds, all production subsequent had to "Read the Manual" instruction deeply embossed on the gun.

I have the exact same gun, love it. It's a happy medium, I carry it sometimes, but, usually carry my 9mm and leave the tank at home w/ the brunette :) Nice review, thanks! For a day of shooting, I'd stick with .38, very smooth. The .357 all day can be a little concussive.

On U Tube: M CARBO has Trigger Spring Kit . And shows how to install the kit.. I very easy. Also to brake down the Sp 101 is very easy.

Reminds me of Magnum Force. Soul, Urich, Niven RIP.

ive wanted a 3in sp101 for like over 2 decades...hopefully someday ill be able to afford a used one. ide stop carrying my 82 year old colt 1911a1army or at least start a rotation.lol a spring kit for the sp101will make the action lighter and alot faster feeling!

First thing change that grip. Don’t know about you but middle finger would get thrashed with recoil. Houge nylon grip is great.

I'm a fan of the SP101 .357 subby

This is what I want to get next. I still just want to get a CCW; but not a revolver for CCW. I still think that they could of done this as a 6 round cylinder, not 5.

Mine was hot garbage. Rough crown, excessive end shake, undersized throats, rough barrel, rough chambers, and a mis machined notch in the cylinder. Rather than sending it back, I opted to fix it myself to gain experience. I polished the crown, shimmed the cylinder, had the throats honed to the proper size, fire lapped the barrel, and polished the chambers. Couldn't do anything about the poorly machined notch but it doesn’t cause too many problems. It will occasionally skip time if fired in a certain sequence (putting the unfired bullet weight in just the right place) and slowly in double action, but another trigger pull gets it back in action. The trigger rubs the frame on one side and I considered shimming it, but didn’t want to complicate disassembly/reassembly. Over time, the trigger and frame have polished each other and friction is minimal. Overall, it is a solid revolver that sits really well in my hand with Diamond Pro grips, I was just disappointed in Ruger’s QC. There are various reports on Ruger’s customer service had I sent it back in, but I think they are probably as good in this department as any other large manufacturer.

What about double action? Isn’t this a single/double action? And the trigger pull weights?

Buy the Mcarbo Ruger 101 Spring Trigger tune Up kit Reduces Trigger pull to 5 Pounds from 22 Pounds

Try cocking the hammer with your left thumb

The six inch ajustible sights

i checked Brownworks online, they have no grips for SW J frame----whats the story,??? looking for SW 360PD grips to help recoil....

I changed the main (hammer) spring to #9 (Wolff #17113) myself and had a 'smith change to the #8 trigger return spring, break some edges internaly in the trigger group assy, and I switched the grips to Pachmayr Diamond Pro (#02483) on my SP101 .357 3'. Dreamy... Haven't had a light primer strike after 1000+ rounds of .357 full house and .38 special. I was told that could be an issue with junk or surplus ammo. Great vid BTW...

I love ruger . And dislike jam O matics !

i agree, lousy frontsite.....at 20 yds you did great, in s/a,do that in d/a----please, smile!......your wife is a much better shot then me, no joke...you sold me on that weapon IN snub nose......

She has to pull the hammer back with two thumbs?

Good morning, Jason, I could wax on about the trigger sweet spot. But Ruger's never seem to have one. I am a Ruger owner, and I have had revolver over the years. But I am now a S&W welded on fan, for obvious reasons. Cheers

Sp101 26 Pounds or more is heavy to carry rather have 17 Pounces Ruger LPR Revover

Is 357ba pain to shoot in this?

What's not to like about Ruger? Their customer service is spot on. If I found and purchased a used 1985 GP100 or a 1989 SP101 at a pawn shop and there was something wrong with it, they would fix it for free. They are a u.s. company (although I guess that doesn't really matter anymore), they make affordable firearms for us "poor" people and their revolvers are built to withstand very high pressure rounds. I prefer Ruger's over S&W, Colt and Taurus. My 3" SP101 .357 is my go to hiking and camping weapon.

@JohnGoodman-fq6sk 0 seconds ago I have an SP101 and pretty much agree with the review. But I shoot double action in range mode. That is to say, I pull to the first click, stop, sight, then fire. For range use, this is the most accurate for me. For a carry gun, this is not practical. So, I again agree with Texas Gun Vault that this is not a carry gun unless you get a trigger job but five rounds just isn’t enough for carry.

I do think ruger makes a nice revolver i had a very early model vaquero in 44 mag it was light so was hard to control