Ruger SP101

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deet

Bearcat
Joined
Mar 25, 2014
Messages
15
There were two guns I have wanted for a long time, a SP101 and a SR45. I have owned many guns over the years and shoot them a lot. I found a SP101 in .357mag for $365. The guy said he bought it in 2009 and shot it around 50 times. The gun is in fantastic shape, original box, manual and lock. I was the happiest guy in the world. Took it to the range and fired 50 38spl Remington 130 gr thru it, plus 50 rounds of a handload .357 mag loaded to 38spl +p power. The gun handle the rounds and hardly kicked. It is the 2 1/2' barrel version. Still the happiest guy in the world. Then.... I purchased some Federal 158gr JHP .357 magnums and went to the range a second time with this gun. The best I could do is three rounds before the cylinder would lock up. I mean I couldn't pull the trigger or thumb back the hammer. I had to open up the cylinder eject the rounds and reload it back up. It happened everytime, it would fire two or three then lock up. I have shot .357mag, 44 mag and tons of revolvers, but never had this happen. I a left handed so I wasn't hitting the cylinder release during recoil. Frustrating as hell. Took the gun apart, no dirt, no metal shavings, springs look new, no burrs or anything obvious that looked broken. Reassembled it and dry fired it, it is smooth as silk. Took it to the range a third time and loaded it with magnums and it locked up after two or three rounds. This gun is pure junk. Any suggestions?
I also bought a SR45 and had to send it to Ruger a month ago. I will post about it in the semi forum.
 
Joined
Dec 17, 2015
Messages
2,363
Location
Reading, Pa
I would verify that the problem only exists with the Federals, if it only happens with one type of ammo you could either stay away from that cartridge, or, you will at least have a little more information to give Ruger when you call them.
 
Joined
Oct 26, 2006
Messages
9,810
Location
Woodbury, Tn
Sometimes bullets jump crimp and will bind up the cylinder. Sorry you are having problems. My son has one like yours, has had a steady diet of magnums with no problems for close to 20 years. I have one with a 3 inch barrel. Lots of mag rounds down range, no problems. Why did the original owner sell it?
gramps
 
Joined
Apr 9, 2006
Messages
1,294
Location
Wi USA
check the primers on the fired rounds , check to see if they're flowing back into the fireing pin hole , too hot of loads can or if the hole is too large it can cause that to happen
 

hittman

Moderator
Staff member
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Jan 16, 2008
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16,915
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The majority of the time this is caused by powder built up and not cleaned out under the ejector star. There's an old toothbrush in my range bag just for the purpose of sweeping out that area.

If you're sure that's not happening in this case, call Ruger.

Likely they'll fix it for free.
 
Joined
Dec 8, 2005
Messages
4,414
Location
Lemont, PA, USA 16851
Please tell us what you did to troubleshoot the problem. With that information there are many people here on the forum that can give suggestions on what to look for to see if it is the SP101's fault or something external to it.

We would also like to know how familiar you are with shooting revolvers. If you have shot a lot of revolvers in the past then you should be somewhat familiar with what can happen and what can cause problems such as what you are experiencing.

If the bullet is not jumping the crimp (making it too long and thusly causing cylinder binding) then it could be particulate matter getting under the extractor star and when you open the cylinder and eject the unfired and fired rounds the particles may dislodge allowing it to seat correctly again and fire some more until another build up happens. Remember, different brands of ammo burn differently and especially in a short barreled revolver there could be a lot of unburned powder that can get anywhere in the moving parts.

Also as said, if the primer cup is not as hard as it should be, when it is fired it can and will be forced back into the recoil shield (which is where the hole for the firing pin is located). With enough power it can force the primer back hard enough to embed it into the firing pin hole and jam the cylinder. When the cylinder is opened, the force of opening the cylinder can dislodge it enough for the cylinder to open and thus the cycle is repeated - in this case because of the ammunition being used.

No revolver binding condition is caused the same thing each time, that's why we ask for as much information as possible.
 

deet

Bearcat
Joined
Mar 25, 2014
Messages
15
To answer a few questions. I am an experienced revolver shooter. 40 plus years. I have shot ever type of revolver in almost every caliber. I was using Federal ammo, and also tried other rounds from various manufacturers. This gun is binding up using magnums, +p ammo, and 38spl rounds. It shoots 2 or 3 rounds and then it binds up tight as can be. I checked the ammo closely- no split cases, primers were seated, and the cases looked fine. This last range trip I noticed that on a few occasions when the trigger couldn't be pulled or the hammer thumbed back that the cylinder was loose. By loose I mean it would rotate a quarter of an inch or so by hand. But even after rotating the cylinder into a locked position, the trigger still couldn't be pulled or the hammer cocked by hand. It is very frustrating. I have owned literally hundreds of revolvers and have never had this happen. I have disassembled the gun after ever range trip and cleaned it thoroughly. It will dry fire smooth as silk. But put a couple or rounds down range and it locks up tight.
 

hittman

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Jan 16, 2008
Messages
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Illinois
Not sure why you'd disassemble a revolver to clean it but ...... to each their own.

Call Ruger; looks like you've covered all other options.
 

ADP3

Single-Sixer
Joined
Dec 23, 2001
Messages
485
Location
SC
Check your barrel/cylinder gap. On some SP101's it's just too tight. A shim usually fixes the problem without a trip back to the factory. Let us know how things work out.

Best Regards,
ADP3
 
Joined
Dec 1, 2007
Messages
2,702
Location
Texas
Yes. Send it to Ruger.
They'll figure it out. And probably fix it for free.
If you call and ask them nicely, they may even send you a call tag and you won't have to pay shipping.
 

pleadthe2nd

Single-Sixer
Joined
Nov 24, 2016
Messages
213
Location
midwest usa
+1 send it to ruger, my sp101 in 327 federal magnum was doing something similar, sent it back, they replaced the pawl, no more problems, it was seven days from when I shipped to the day it returned, very quick turn around.
 

biker50

Bearcat
Joined
Apr 14, 2018
Messages
15
Location
Bridport VT
Some SP101's are only able to shot 125 grain 357. If your gun is one of those it should have a roll mark somewhere that says "125 GR Bullet". When you shoot heavier grain what you describe happens. overall cartridge should not exceed 1.57 inches.
 

gs50401

Bearcat
Joined
Jul 10, 2017
Messages
36
I have a 2008 Sp101 3 inch. It loves American eagle 158 grain soft points. As others have said Ruger will fix it.
 

deet

Bearcat
Joined
Mar 25, 2014
Messages
15
Update. Received the SP101 back and Ruger replaced the Pawl. Gun dry fires nice. Traded it to a friend from work who knows about the problems. Hopefully it functions fine for him. I decided to trade it since I believe I wouldn't have any confidence in this as a carry piece.
 
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
9,933
Location
missouri
"This gun is pure junk. Any suggestions?"
Two things I see here.
Relatively light weight revolver with magnum loads and it "hardly kicked". I notice the recoil of my 3" SP101 with 38+P ammo.
Shooting 38 and 357 cases can and does cause problems later with fouling in the cylinder.
Several solutions proposed above should fix the problem but as a last resort, send it to me and I'll give it a good home.
 

deet

Bearcat
Joined
Mar 25, 2014
Messages
15
The gun hardly kicked with 38spl rounds, and some light loaded .357 mag loads. That was what I said. With full magnum loads it kicked fairly hard. I am used to shooting all types of rounds in many pistols. The recoil with magnums is not as horrible for me, an experienced shooter, as it might be for a new shooter. As I stated I traded it after it came back form the factory, so all is good.
 

jstanfield103

Blackhawk
Joined
Sep 24, 2010
Messages
770
Location
Kentucky
To bad you traded it. I bet Ruger got it fixed and it would have never given you another problem and made a super nice revolver. Did you buy a different small revolver or something else ?
 

JStacy

Blackhawk
Joined
May 6, 2016
Messages
503
Location
south Texas
Sometimes the small revolvers with a "snappy" recoil will unseat the bullets slightly . I use a method of roll crimp them iron it in with a taper crimp and have not had any more problems with bullets walking out of the crimp. Sorry your SP101 did not work out for you. I had a 2 1/4" 357 and while it had a lot of recoil it was both accurate and reliable . A friend talked me out of it on a trade , wish I had it back !!
 
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