Just placed my order for a 3 1/16 SP101 .357, first revolver and first ruger. Planning on keeping it stock for now but what are some basics I need to be aware of? Was going to go with the 327 but I couldn't find ammo at the nearest walmart or academy so 327 was a no go.
First revolver! First Ruger
- Thread starter jjslice
- Start date
contender
Ruger Guru
Welcome to the Forum!
Congrats on the first revolver, and the first Ruger. I'd bet it won't be your last.
As for basics,, shoot it a lot,, and it'll get a smoother feeling!
Some folks like to swap out the grips with something that fits their hands better. Others get a spring kit. None of it is necessary, unless your hands just don't fit the gun!
Congrats on the first revolver, and the first Ruger. I'd bet it won't be your last.
As for basics,, shoot it a lot,, and it'll get a smoother feeling!
Some folks like to swap out the grips with something that fits their hands better. Others get a spring kit. None of it is necessary, unless your hands just don't fit the gun!
stantheman86
Buckeye
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A great choice, that gun will last you forever. 
I also have mixed feelings about the .327, I have almost bought a .327 GP100 a few times now, but held off. Nothing wrong with good old .357 and .38 Special!
I leave my Rugers bone stock with a few exceptions. You can add a Wolff spring kit to matbe lighten the action up, but if the gun is to be used for home defense or concealed carry I would leave the springs stock. I also like the stock SP101 grips the best.
I also have mixed feelings about the .327, I have almost bought a .327 GP100 a few times now, but held off. Nothing wrong with good old .357 and .38 Special!
I leave my Rugers bone stock with a few exceptions. You can add a Wolff spring kit to matbe lighten the action up, but if the gun is to be used for home defense or concealed carry I would leave the springs stock. I also like the stock SP101 grips the best.
DakotaElkSlayer
Bearcat
START RELOADING NOW!!!! You are gonna love shooting that thing and will want to shoot it alot. Start reloading now and the money you will save will help buy another Ruger revolver.
Jim
Jim
Jimbo357mag
Hawkeye
I found some sharp edges around the trigger and trigger guard that I smoothed out with a stone and some 400 grit sandpaper. If the transfer bar rattles or the ejector rod seems flimsy that is normal and the gun will be super sturdy for you. Dry fire a lot to get familiar with the gun and if it feels gritty at all flush-out the works and re-oil. 8)
...Jimbo
...Jimbo
Welcome to the brotherhood. May want to sand the edge of the trigger and serrations on the hammer a bit to make them a bit more comfortable. Clean it thoroughly and after that i feel like your set. No go shoot it! Hold on tight!
I have that gun also. It is a shooter. Yep to shoot it more you need to reload. Plus reloading means you can customize your loads to the gun and yourself, and the mission it will be used in. I find Remington green box 125 gr jsp to work well. Have fun with it.
gramps
gramps
FergusonTO35
Hunter
JJ, you made a good choice. My second revolver was an SP-101 just like yours, my first was a Single Six. The SP-101 and GP-100 both require a rather deliberate finger off the trigger for it to reset, more so than other designs. If you"ride" the trigger forward quite often it won't reset all the way. Back when I had my SP I found it really liked the Remington UMC .38 Special +P 125 grain JHP.
stantheman86
Buckeye
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I corrected the famous "weak trigger reset" that some GP's have by trimming two coils off of a standard S&W rebound spring and replacing the trigger guard latch spring with it. I use a 4" .38 DAO GP100 as a primary carry gun and I wanted a firm, positive trigger reset and I got it, with this setup.
Also, Rugers that haven't been fired a lot often have more "drag" in the action that the latch spring must work against to reset the trigger. I have well-used GP's that reset harder than a S&W, just because all the parts are broken in. The latch spring has to push the trigger forward, and also pull the hand and transfer bar back down too. Keep shooting the gun and it will smooth out, and the reset will improve.
Some people don't like the coil spring that resets the trigger in the Six series, saying it's "weak" but I also have some very well used Sixes that have a trigger that snaps right back into place. Some of my less well used ones are a little weak on the reset.
I don't have an SP101 (yet) so I don't know how the reset system works.
As for the LCR that doesn't reset all the way , this is a NO GO for a self defense gun. I would contact Ruger for a return label, there's something dragging in that gun somewhere. In no way should a revolver trigger fail to reset or need to be "helped" to reset.
Also, Rugers that haven't been fired a lot often have more "drag" in the action that the latch spring must work against to reset the trigger. I have well-used GP's that reset harder than a S&W, just because all the parts are broken in. The latch spring has to push the trigger forward, and also pull the hand and transfer bar back down too. Keep shooting the gun and it will smooth out, and the reset will improve.
Some people don't like the coil spring that resets the trigger in the Six series, saying it's "weak" but I also have some very well used Sixes that have a trigger that snaps right back into place. Some of my less well used ones are a little weak on the reset.
I don't have an SP101 (yet) so I don't know how the reset system works.
As for the LCR that doesn't reset all the way , this is a NO GO for a self defense gun. I would contact Ruger for a return label, there's something dragging in that gun somewhere. In no way should a revolver trigger fail to reset or need to be "helped" to reset.
FergusonTO35
Hunter
My GP had a very lazy reset when I first got it but has nearly corrected itself since then. My Service Six has been fired very little, no drag mark on the cylinder, yet it has the sweetest DA trigger pull I've ever encountered and always resets no problem.
Jimbo357mag
Hawkeye
The LCR has a different mechanism and is prone to jamming if the trigger is not reset all the way. (operator error). the other Ruger double-action revolvers do not have that problem. 8)
...Jimbo
...Jimbo
stantheman86
Buckeye
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- Jun 4, 2010
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Some of them just need to be worked in more than others......
I replaced my trigger mainspring with a Wolff 11lb spring and it shoots just how I like it, be sure not to replace the trigger return spring and leave it stock, it is great all on its own.
here is mine:
along with its friend!
here is mine:
along with its friend!
TheNilvarg
Bearcat
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2011
- Messages
- 1
Hey jjslice, I picked up the 3" .357 version, exactly the same as yours, a few months ago as my very first gun, and I LOVE it.
I highly recommend you switch to the Hogue Monogrip immediately. You might as well try out the stock grips for one trip to the range, just to be thorough, but the Hogues made the gun infinitely more comfortable to shoot and easy to aim. I no longer get the "bruised pain between my thumb and forefinger" feeling thanks to these grips.
And I'm with you, Nakagawa. One of the NAA's is definitely my next purchase as a pocket backup gun. Still having trouble deciding between the Black Widow and the Pug.
I highly recommend you switch to the Hogue Monogrip immediately. You might as well try out the stock grips for one trip to the range, just to be thorough, but the Hogues made the gun infinitely more comfortable to shoot and easy to aim. I no longer get the "bruised pain between my thumb and forefinger" feeling thanks to these grips.
And I'm with you, Nakagawa. One of the NAA's is definitely my next purchase as a pocket backup gun. Still having trouble deciding between the Black Widow and the Pug.
^I got the Black Widow specifically for the better sights and slightly longer sight radius. The ballistic benefits and velocity is a bit better, but whether or not that will actually make a difference is moot I feel. either one is just as easily concealable as the other, I have my BW in a pocket holster and it disappears as easily as ever. You cannot go wrong with either one. I bought the BW because I found a great price on one. If you are interested the guy I got it off from gunbroker is selling another for 220 I believe, which is not bad in my part of the US.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=224216162
Keep in mind it does not come with the 22LR cylinder (hence the cheaper than usual price IMO), just the 22 mag. This was not a problem for me as I do not care for 22LR.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=224216162
Keep in mind it does not come with the 22LR cylinder (hence the cheaper than usual price IMO), just the 22 mag. This was not a problem for me as I do not care for 22LR.
There were several very sharp edges on my sp101 .327 federal. The dremel fixed them. Or use a fine emery board. Finish with dremel polishing wheel with jewler's rouge. Mostly around the crane. Edges of hammer were sharp.
Work slowly and gently, feeling results with finger as you go. Just a bit at a time.
The stock grips may be perhaps the ugliest grips found. What are those plastic insert things? The retention screw area had a sharp plastic edge. Hogue rosewood laminate grips fixed that. Also, they are just enough larger for big hands.
I was disappointed with the sharp edges and that bit of the finish on this gun, compared to super red hawk and 2 GP 100's I have. Looks good now and no sharp edges.
This gun was and is very tight. The trigger was good, and getting better. The brand / caliber stamping looks good and finish otherwise looks good.
It is a good shooter. The .327 somewhat approaches the .357 in power. The gun has sufficient weight to make it comfortable to shoot.
Do give it a good oiling before shooting. The best Thing about Ruger DA revolvers is the push button cylinder release and the drop out trigger assembly. She might be a bit stiff the first time you remove it. Use a plastic non marring rod to release the spring loaded tang that holds it in.
This appears to be a durable little gun. The 327 federal has some punch. You will not regret the extra weight of this gun over lightweight Smiths or the Ruger LCR when shooting 357 rounds.
Work slowly and gently, feeling results with finger as you go. Just a bit at a time.
The stock grips may be perhaps the ugliest grips found. What are those plastic insert things? The retention screw area had a sharp plastic edge. Hogue rosewood laminate grips fixed that. Also, they are just enough larger for big hands.
I was disappointed with the sharp edges and that bit of the finish on this gun, compared to super red hawk and 2 GP 100's I have. Looks good now and no sharp edges.
This gun was and is very tight. The trigger was good, and getting better. The brand / caliber stamping looks good and finish otherwise looks good.
It is a good shooter. The .327 somewhat approaches the .357 in power. The gun has sufficient weight to make it comfortable to shoot.
Do give it a good oiling before shooting. The best Thing about Ruger DA revolvers is the push button cylinder release and the drop out trigger assembly. She might be a bit stiff the first time you remove it. Use a plastic non marring rod to release the spring loaded tang that holds it in.
This appears to be a durable little gun. The 327 federal has some punch. You will not regret the extra weight of this gun over lightweight Smiths or the Ruger LCR when shooting 357 rounds.
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