What do you shoot in your SP 101

[sheepdawg]

I bought an S&W Model 66 no dash a few years ago and it came with three boxes of Winchester 110grain 357s. I recently bought an SP 101 2 1/4" barrel to carry. I shot some 125 grain Golden Saber 38+ps and then tried a few of the 110 grain 357s. Couldn't feel much difference in recoil yet the muzzle energy of the 357 is 410 lbs out of a 4" barrel at the muzzle where the 38+p is 264 at the muzzle.

What are you guys shooting out of your SP 101s?

 

[GhosT]

My SP101 is loaded with full power 125 grain Jacketed hollow points,BUT...
I had it magnaported and it is still a handfull.....

JMHO-----
The cool thing about the SP101 is..

It can handle basic .38 specials to full powered .357 magnums....
The owner researches rounds...and finds the level of recoil he can handle!

I have total respect for owners that choose .38 special rounds that expand...
Low recoil, quick second shots!
A more seasoned shooter might pick a harder hitting round...

This gun, 100% reliable,and gives choices.


Sheepdawg,
I own the same size gun as yers,
Only advice I can give....
Start with a Plus P.38 special or a lower powered .357 magnum...
Many loads out there that work well...

Like any other gun, try several loads,see which ya shoot best!

 

[BikerRN]

All my defensive .357 Magnums, to include the SP101, are stoked with Remington 125 Grain SJHP or Black Hills 125 Grain JHP.

Biker

 

[Swampbilly]

Two flavors :

Speer Gold Dot, 38+p cartridge

or Remington Golden Sabres

Same brands in the 357 magnum cartridges...but I mostly load it with the 38+p.

 

[loiblb]

Reguler .38 Specials here. The mags did not make the gun very user friendly for my wife. She loves the gun and sometines needs to have access to it.

 

[Landric]

I carry 158 grain Hydrashok or Gold Dot magnums.

 

[lilarky]

.125 remington golden sabers.

 

[ronto]

Speer 357 Magnum 135gr GDHP "Short Barrel" in the 2 1/4" DAO.

 

[twobisquit]

Don't laugh. I Really like the Cast Performance 180g WFNGC with 13.5g H110. Just because its so darn accurate in all my .357s.

 

[Tony_The_Liger]

Check out the Corbon DPX in .357 or .38 + P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWOWXdD80P8

I use the "thunder ranch" dpx .357 as the first two rounds in my Gp100 since they are noticeably lighter with less felt recoil as opposed to the very hot speer gold dot which I follow it up with. In .357 offering they (the corbon) feel very much like golden sabres (but I like the corbon offering and technology better than the remington).

I also load the DPX in .44 special.

The barnes X bullet is a very good performer and you'd be hard pressed to find a better bullet, in my opinion.

Heres a writeup on it http://www.barnesbullets.com/information/product-news/publication-mentions/barnes-x-bullets/

If I had an Sp101, I'd probably load 1 or 2 .38 + p's followed by magnum loads.

 

[cwegga]

Well, I use Buffalo Bore Heavy 357 Magnum Ammo - 180 gr. L.F.N. -G.C. (1,400fps/M.E. 783 ft. lbs.) And some no name stuff I got at a gun show that is 180gr but a bit slower. For practice I reload some 158gr loads with Blue Dot. The 180gr is what hits POA though so the lighter stuff isn't as fun.

 

[the fatman]

Don't laugh. I Really like the Cast Performance 180g WFNGC with 13.5g H110. Just because its so darn accurate in all my .357s.

Not laughing. How hard is it to shoot and what if any pressure signs? Thanks

 

[Jimbo357mag]

I shoot a lot of 38 specials and mild 357 magnums which I load myself for practice, but what I cary is Federal 38+P 129gr Hydra-Shoks. :shock: :shock:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=524684

...Jimbo

 

[Shooter973]

lots of 22 shells..... I only have 2 SP101's both are 22's. A 4 inch and a 2 inch snub. :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[pezo]

mostly remington white or gold box 125 grain sjhp .38+p. thats what I carry for defense. The hottest rounds I have fired out of that particular gun is fiocchi 145 jhp in .357 magnum. Man they hurt.

 

[twobisquit]

Don't laugh. I Really like the Cast Performance 180g WFNGC with 13.5g H110. Just because its so darn accurate in all my .357s.

Not laughing. How hard is it to shoot and what if any pressure signs? Thanks

These are .5 grains below Cast Performance's suggested maximum load and show a little primer flattening. The standard grips on the SP101 work very well for me and the load is very comfortable for me but I'll bet it's the "good grip/ bad grip" thing for others.

I would call this an "Urban Trail" load where there is always a possibility of encounters with vagrants, feral dogs, bears, mountain lions, and an occasional rabid beaver.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

Win 357 Mag Silvertips usually, but sometimes 357 158gr Gold Dots depending. Also several handloads.

I don't find the SP101 particularly difficult to handle with full 357s, especially the 3" one. The 2" one barks a bit, but doesn't bite all that bad.

 

[wow6599]

My own load using Federal SM primers, 2400 & 140 gr XTPs.

 

[Donaldjr1969]

mostly remington white or gold box 125 grain sjhp .38+p. thats what I carry for defense. The hottest rounds I have fired out of that particular gun is fiocchi 145 jhp in .357 magnum. Man they hurt.

I can only imagine what those rounds would feel like in an LCR 357! :shock:

As I mentioned in another thread, I am considering either the LCR 357 or the SP 101 DAO for carry. My main ammo choice would be 38 +P for defense. Maybe some 125g 357 loads for hiking. But while I have shot 38 +P in a J-Frame Airweight and did not find the recoil to be painful, I know followup shots would be faster in the SP101.

 

[maxpress]

Out in the woods, full power 158jsp and yup they sting alittle. Not as bad as being chewed on by a mountain kitty.
Out and about in town 125gr sjhp full power.
The one that stays home has 158+p lead hollow points. The reason is that shooting full power 357s inside is just way to much for me. Accidently did at an indoor range without plugs in. Never again.

 

[riadat]

I shoot swc 158 range rounds at about 700 fps out of my sp101.

For carry its hornady 158 gr xtp standard .38.

I'm recoil sensitive. I have fired some .357 rounds but I can hit with the low speed .38.

 

[jimbo1096]

Well, I carry it loaded with PMCs Starfire 38+p 125gr hollowpoints for self defense, but shoot mainly reload 158gr LSWC when practicing and target shooting. Most these are loaded to about 1000fps. I have no problem with shooting 1200fps with it and will also shoot up to 160gr Speer sjsp reloads. The Trausch grips makes this gun very manageable.

 

[bulletnose]

I have to admit that my SP-101 is the most comfortable and controlable smallish .357mag I have ever shot. For self-defense loads I ONLY use factory ammo and the 125gr to 140gr seem to fit that role the best. However, if you want a good and inexpensive (if you hand-load) varmit and predator load, you might try a 148gr HBWC inverted over 3.0 to 3.5grs of Win. 231. Is quite accurate, mild recoil and noise, and that gaping hollow point will anchor anything from skunks to coyotes!! :wink:

 

[Yermo]

No handloading yet, so

shoot: .38 Magtech 158 gr LRN or .357 142gr. Fiocchi FMJ (that one bites a bit)
carry: .357 Hornady 125 gr. FTX

 

[chris_]

I load a 158 JHP to 1020fps from my 2.25

 

[Doc Mark]

Out in the woods, full power 158jsp and yup they sting alittle. Not as bad as being chewed on by a mountain kitty.
Out and about in town 125gr sjhp full power.
The one that stays home has 158+p lead hollow points. The reason is that shooting full power 357s inside is just way to much for me. Accidently did at an indoor range without plugs in. Never again.

Like Maxpress, I shoot .38 Special LWCHP +P loads, the old FBI load, in my SP101. Mine is a .38, but even if it was a .357, I'd stick with the P+ load, and call it good. I, too, have fired off a .357 round in a dark room at night, and I very much hope to never need to do so again!! :shock: :shock: I completely trust the old FBI load, as it shoots directly to POA in that SP101, and I can hit just about anything at which I choose to shoot, with not much trouble. That kind of confidence is very reassuring, I must say! :wink: 8) :D Take care, and God Bless!

Every Good Wish,
Doc

 

[JimB120]

124 Gr Speer Gold Dot JHP 9mm

 

[Tommy Kelly]

For carry mine is loaded with hot 357's besides that its only shot with 148dewc over 4.0 gr of 2400 a fairly mild load that is dead on for the sights. I hope to never shoot another 357 out of my gun but if the need arrises it will be there. for plinking and just fun shooting the 38's work great and it only takes a second to replace the 357's with 38's. I shot a few 357's through it and didn't like the recoil and noise when I first got it. They shot fine but the 38's are soo much smoother. The 38's would be enough if I ever needed it I guess but I want all the power for sd. and the 357's do fine for that.

 

[Ralph H]

Greetings, Gentlemen,

Early 3" SP 101. .38 Special, S/N 570-071XX. For carry I use Lyman
#358429, 170 gr Keith, chrono at 1270 fps. A little warm, but shoots very well and extracts empties easily. Maybe could penetrate a car door if neccessary. Has Uncle Mike's boot grips for controllability.

 

[Hugh]

This is what is in my night stand SP-101:

PMC STARFIRE 38SPL +P 125GR HP

Outdoors depends on what I'm doing. Up to Buffalo Bore 180 Gr in my 3-1/16" and above Rugers.