Shooting the SP101

[5of7]

Today I took the new SP101 to the range for a little shooting.

I had bought the shims and the springs and installed them yesterday and I wanted to see if all was well....it was. The trigger pull was breaking at 60 oz before the swap and now breaks at 48 oz. I can't see any difference in the gun attributable to the shims, but what the Hell, they are cheap enough.

The load was 14-1/2 grains of 2400, the F100 primer and the Hornady 125 gr. XTP bullet seated to 1.575" oal.

I shoot seated in a deck chair, 2 hand hold unsupported (offhand) at 25 yards. 30 shots made 5--5 shot groups of 3" and one group of 4-1/2"...I don't shoot any better than that, so I will call that good.

Oh, the average velocity for that load is 1182 from the 4.2" barrel. Just thought some of you might be interested. 8)

 

[Bob R]

Looks like you are doing well with it. I would have probably used a little faster powder in the 4.2" myself. The 2400 load should look very impressive in low light.
I loaded up some heavy 2400 loads for a 4" Model 29 years ago. WOW talk about a Fire Ball.

If it is warming up like it is here, in your area, you might need to be loading a few Speer Shot Capsules up for it shortly. I was working at the range all last week. I saw 2 snakes out already. Neither were poison, so they got a pass.

It is time to start HillBilly Concealed Carry again. That is 2 shotshells, and 4 solids in my 2-1/2" Model 66 when I am not headed to town.

Enjoy the SP101.

Bob

 

[5of7]

These loads were developed for a Security 6 that I have had since 1976 or so, and it shoots well in that gun too.

The shot to shot variation was a little high with standard deviations of 30 to 35, but since the accuracy is good, it is acceptable.

I will be trying different powders, but I want to stick with the same bullet because this little gun kicks too much with 158 grainers. If I keep the 125 gr bullet between 1100 and 1200 fps it is quite manageable and pressures are low enough (with any reasonable propellant) that I have no worries about shaking the gun loose.

It is a real nice piece, but it ain't no bear gun.... 8)

 

[gramps]

5of7 thanks for the info. I don't have a chrony so that was helpful. I have been shooting 13.5 to 14 gr of 2400 under 158 gr lswc ignited by fed 200's in my 3 inch sp-101, and now a blackhawk. tolerable recoil and decent accuracy. I may have to try going up on the powder weight. Oh hey maybe I need to buy a chronagraph!
gramps

 

[foxfire]

I installed the springs first on mine, then the shims. It wasn't as noticeable of a difference, but it was there. I actually had a a rare failure to fire before the shims, and none after. I like to think that having less friction on the hammer as it went down has helped, but I can't say that for sure. Maybe it was just my sp101, but I was having significant wear patterns on the trigger on one side before I installed the shims.

I'm glad things are going well with your revolver. I love sp101's!!

 

[5of7]

I installed the springs first on mine, then the shims. It wasn't as noticeable of a difference, but it was there. I actually had a a rare failure to fire before the shims, and none after. I like to think that having less friction on the hammer as it went down has helped, but I can't say that for sure. Maybe it was just my sp101, but I was having significant wear patterns on the trigger on one side before I installed the shims.

I'm glad things are going well with your revolver. I love sp101's!!

I installed the 10# spring and had no FTFs shooting double action and using CCI 550 Magnum primers. So I went to the 9# spring and started having FTFs with the same primers and fireing mode. I put the 10#er back in and am quite satisfied with the results. Trigger pull is right at 3lbs and no noticable creep.

The 2400 and later AA9 both produced good accuracy, but the SD was way too high at 90 to over 100. It was so bad that I didn't even have to look at the chronograph to know that there was a great deal of difference.

Today I tried Unique (8 grs) and Universal (7 & 7.5 grains). The Unique was a lot better than the 2400 & the AA9, but was still up around 35 or so.

The Universal is what this gun wants to shoot. I am getting 1113 fps with the 125 XTP bullet with the 7-1/2 grain charge and the groups are 3 to 3-1/2" at 25 yds shooting freehand two handed hold.

This is all I can ask of a small frame .357 w/4" barrel. Recoil is mild enough that the stock grips are fine and it is a definite step up from a .38 SP.+P load (about 200 fps faster) and the SP101 will doubtless handle a lot of these without damage.

I love this little gun and I can't wait until Zander's gets the rimfire version in stock. 8)

 

[5of7]

5of7 thanks for the info. I don't have a chrony so that was helpful. I have been shooting 13.5 to 14 gr of 2400 under 158 gr lswc ignited by fed 200's in my 3 inch sp-101, and now a blackhawk. tolerable recoil and decent accuracy. I may have to try going up on the powder weight. Oh hey maybe I need to buy a chronagraph!
gramps

Gramps....I checked my data and I shot that load of 13 grs of 2400 behind a 158 gr. lead SWC bullet in a S&W model 60 with a 3" barrel. I got 1009 fps out of it. The standard deviation was a little high at 33 fps and the groups were not satisfactory at 5" to 8".

I use the F100 primers a lot and perhaps if I had used a 550 of some other magnum primer it would have helped, but I really think that 2400 and the like need a little higher pressure to burn consistently...but that is just a theory of mine, not that scientific....

 

[gramps]

I'll say it is an educated guess. Thanks again for the info
gramps