SP101 2.25" in .357

[JohnJS]

Just got an SP101 in 2.25" / 357 today. Went in leaning toward a 3" and liked the look and feel of the 2.25 quite a bit better. In reading many forums it seems that the 3" is the real favorite.

I am content with whatever velocity I loose, but can anyone who has shot both tell me whether or not the sight radius issue is significant. I am willing to practice. I laid them side by side and handled both - warmed right up to the 2.25, but most people have me feeling like I made a mistake.

Plan to carry IWB and shoot paper and cans in the yard.
I am 5'7". Also thought the shorter would carry better because I have tried to wear a Glock 21 on the belt in the woods and found it very uncomfortable. I guess I am kind of a thick, no neck, not so limber so the draw is a lot harder the longer the gun.

 

[WendyZXZ]

Sight radius for what these little revolvers were designed for will not be that big of a deal. I have a 3.16" and got it because it felt like it balanced better for me.

 

[rdf009]

If you liked the 2.25" barrel better, then I would say you made the right choice. I have the same gun, and carry IWB as well. Don't think I could do it if the barrel was nearly an inch longer. And the 2.25" SP101 is already heavy enough at 25 ounces without adding 2 more ounces of extra barrel.

The .357 mag is a big cartridge with lots of power behind the bullet. For self defense any velocity that is lost with the 2.25" barrel is probably not going to be an issue.....unless you're defending yourself against gorillas and grizzly bears.

You probably will lose a little bit when it comes to accuracy, especially if you are going to be shooting high pressure 357s at any significant distance (i.e. shooting paper and cans in your yard). For defense purposes, however, your target will probably never be more than ten or twelve feet away, in which case the shorter barrel will be all you need to accomplish your goal.

I think you made the right choice by buying the gun that you liked better. Hope you enjoy it!

 

[Tony_The_Liger]

I like that model just fine!

You could throw some CT grips on it and load it up with Corbon "thunder ranch" .357 DPX and it will be just a dandy little sidearm :twisted:

 

[Tommy Kelly]

I have 2 of the 2.25" sp101's. Reason being the wife shot mine and fell in love with it and wanted one. Ours are great shooters and the wife shot mine so well that she wanted one. It was a natural for her and she hit everything she shot at with it. I messed up when I went to get mine I bought a box of 38's to shoot it on the way home. I think I shot 5 and she shot the rest. We got home with a empty pistol and a box of hulls. I now have about 5000 38's loaded up and ready to go for them and my other 357's. Like I said the wife likes to shoot 38's.

 

[twobisquit]

I am of the opinion that you can make a good quality gun do just about anything you want with enough practice. I have one like yours and I love it. I mostly carry it in town with +P .38's but it really shines with the hot .357 reloads. Shoot the heck out of it and you will get used to that short barrel. I use a Simply Rugged pancake holster for both IWB and OWb. You have a great gun

 

[ADP3]

I have both but if the velocities in the table of the attached link are to be believed then the 3" offers significantly more potential power.

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/357mag.html

Best Regards,
ADP3

 

[Hugh]

Welcome to the Ruger Forum John. You'll do fine. I have both flavors and like them both. To me they shoot about the same, but I do prefer the 3-1/16". Why, well, just onacountabecause. I have Trausch grips on both so the grip is the same; but I just like the 3-1/16" better that's all. Maybe because Bubba who owned it before I bought it at a gun show abused it with a dremel tool, and I feel sorry for it.

 

[SmithLover]

I have the 2.25...plenty accurate for me at defensive ranges...but I changed out the sight to a gemini fiber optic...makes it a whole lot easier (and fun) to shoot in daylight.

 

[sheepdawg]

The 2and 1/4" just looks better, I love mine, it's my everyday carry.

 

[loiblb]

2 1/4" is all I needed.

I only shoot .38's in mine because my wife can only handel .38's out of this gun anyway.

Shot a S&W Airlite next to my SP101.

The Ruger had the feel I was looking for in a small gun.

Would love to shoot a .41 special out of one. Or have Ruger make a .41 GP 100. :lol:

 

[yogiboobooranger]

I am with you, loiblb, I would like to see one in .41 as well. I am in the process of creating .41 special loads from .41 Mag cases cut down to .44 special/.38 special length and then loading them down some. It would be great to have a GP100 chambered for that but even greater to have an SP101 sized pistol in that chambering.

 

[varmonter]

+1 on the .44

 

[varmonter]

+1 on the .41

 

[ohdrj1all]

Congrats on the new SP101 purchase... you will love it. I just got one myself last week (I got the 3-1/16" barrel version though) and took it out shooting this past Saturday. Sweet little gun! I can't speak for the 2-1/4", but the 3-1/16" version eats up .357 loads no problem. Recoil is very manageable... and 38spl are like nothing at all.

Just a great gun... love it... you will love yours too!

 

[VAdoublegunner]

I think you will really enjoy the 2.25" one. I have both, a short DAO and a 3" one. Within 10 yards they both do about the same fired DA as in a defensive situation. If you take time, the 3" one will shoot better groups, actually pretty decent ones even at 50 yds, but I think a lot of that has to do with firing it SA. I can easily keep everything in the 9-ring of a standard silhouette at 25 yds using the short DAO one and Win Silvertips, so what more do you need? I pocket carry the short one at times, but I like the longer one holstered when hiking or carry it in a dry bag when seakayaking.

 

[kel ruger man]

my 2 inch is accurate with 357, not good with the 38s...damn accurate, great gun

 

[BenR]

I have a DAO model and love it. This revolver disappears in my front pocket.

 

[SargeMO]

I've owned both and much prefer the shorter barrel length.

 

[diyj98]

I've owned both and much prefer the shorter barrel length.

Me as well. I wanted the 3" because it seemed to be the in thing at the time, but the shorter barrel takes up a little less room in my console or pocket.

 

[ftlupton]

delete

 

[ftlupton]

delete

 

[maxpress]

I had a 2" that didnt shoot well for me. Could hit a paper plate at 25yrds fine but I thought it should do better. Bought a 3" and can hit what I want with it just fine.
The barrel length didnt make a difference for me IWB which is how I carried it.
Now I cant say if the 2" was just inacurate or if a 3" really shoots better for me because those were the only 2 I have a coparrison of.
SD ussually happens at arms length and I was really pushing the intended range of both.
Either is a fine gun. The 3" just balanced better for me.
The 3" got traded for a speed six 2.5 which is almost the same size but a six shot. And it runs circles around both the SP's in accuracy (for me).
Be happy with yours if it fits the role you use it for. They will outlast any 357 5 shot.

 

[GaryA]

SargeMO wrote:
I've owned both and much prefer the shorter barrel length.


Me as well. I wanted the 3" because it seemed to be the in thing at the time, but the shorter barrel takes up a little less room in my console or pocket.

Ditto for me.

 

[sunday bill]

My gut feeling says you're about to fall in love with a hunk a yankee steel.

I own two 2.25" SP 101s, one of which is DAO. IMO, the DAO is a superb carry gun. The hammered model rests on my nightstand. I consider them self-defense guns and rarely shoot them further than 40 or 50 feet. They are very effective, in accuracy and power, out to that distance with their pet handloads.

For someone who reloads ammunition for use in a defensive handgun, I'm yet to have anyone demonstrate to me that any advantage is to be gained by increasing barrel length from 2" to 3". The one exception, accuracy-wise, is an over-achieving 3" S&W Model 24. Again, IMO, what it gains in accuracy, its gives up in bulk. My 2" Model 629 still packs less awkwardly and is more easily concealed.

Neither has anyone shown me that measurable advantage is to be gained by decreasing caliber from 44 to 41 or from 36 to 32 in a SD gun.

This post is by no means intended to challenge our inherent American right to like things just 'cause we do, or to assign cult status to certain calibers, barrel lengths, etc., nor to establish urban (and for that matter, rural) legends. I'll hush if proven wrong and, as always, YMMV.

 

[ftlupton]

Maybe this photo works, like I said, this is almost a perfect trail gun plus self defense weapon. Wife has the LCR so we got it covered.

 

[JohnJS]

Thanks all for the responses....feelin better about my choice

It is a neat gun and after shooting it a couple times I think accuracy will be no problem

Thanks again

 

[JumpmasterC]

I smoothed all the sharp edges with a Dremel & put some Crimson Trace grips on it, then Magna-Ported the barrel (it helps with recoil & doesn't bother the shooter---but it redirects the sound waves to the side & several people HATE it whenever I shoot it). I like the fact that it is heavy, it gives me the confidence of knowing for sure it is there + when the 5-shells are empty...I have a formidable club! I could see where weight may be an issue to some, but as do not EDC, it is not a problem. Just like my 10/22, it has earned a permanent home in my safe!

 

[countryboy]

I have a SP101 2.25" and it is my EDC. It's a great revolver and although I have several handguns I could carry, I prefer it most of the time.

 

[JustsayMo]

I'll echo what most have already said. Get the one you like and you'll be a happy camper. I went with the 2.25" I'm still getting close to 1100 fps with 158 gr cast bullets and the accuracy is pretty good too

15 yards

50 yards