The Big Picture: Ruger’s Tough and Reliable SP 101 Revolver

All-around useful, dependable, and built tank-tough, the Ruger SP 101 series revolvers are a top pick for any purpose

by Bob Campbell

Those of you who have extensive experience with Ruger revolvers understand that the breed is imbued with an inherent toughness and reliability. But even among this rugged-and-ready make, some stand above others. One example is the Ruger SP 101.

Ruger’s SP 101 builds on the reliability of the better class of revolver. As grandmother said, “Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain, respect your mother, and don’t trust an automatic!” Some things never change.

I rely on revolvers for more than recreational use. There are scenarios in which a revolver is the superior handgun. (I hear the drum roll as the Old Fudd is figured to be about ten rungs down the evolutionary ladder.)

Consider this: I am at the top of the food chain for a reason. I don’t trust automatics in the backup role worn in an ankle holster. Too much dirt and grit to get into the action. In animal defense, in a last-ditch fight, a revolver may be pressed into the beast’s body and fired time and again until empty. A self-loader would jam after the first shot in that scenario. A revolver may even be fired more than once from inside a jacket pocket with proper technique. The gun can be stored indefinitely without any tensioned springs. And then there is the load versatility.

To maximize the revolver, I engage in constructive practice that enhances my security. Some regard training as a harsh penance. Perhaps they have never developed a proper sense of threat. My belief is that training is the difference between a threat becoming a petty annoyance and a dangerous intrusion. Just the same, training should be an experience not an ordeal, and productive training for me means one-hour limits on firing and movement drills. Part of this training time is dedicated to the friendly, simple revolver — a handgun offering much utility and good protection.

In some cases, a self-loading pistol with an optical sight would require too much voltage for my current wiring. A simple handgun action allows training to be incorporated into a hassled lifestyle. Timing is important in training and what some call the “armed lifestyle.” Preparation isn’t paranoia at all but a reasonable apprehension and recognition of danger.

A Comforting Weight

Danger is sometimes present in those out-of-the-way places I visit as often as possible. Feral dogs and other animals are a danger, and so is feral man. As for daily travel and commerce, I have little choice as to those areas and happen to live in one of the most violent parts of the country. While I carry a 1911 or a very good 9mm most of the time in the home territory, when hiking or exploring, a revolver is chosen more often, and the backup handgun is almost always a revolver.

The Big Picture: Ruger’s Tough And Reliable Sp 101 Revolver — The Ruger SP 101 is heavier than an aluminum frame revolver (bottom) but kicks much less and handles recoil well.

Drug-fueled rage and insane actions are a threat wherever you live. Drugs lower inhibition and raise the pain threshold. In many families, the support group is one that aids and abets bad behavior. The threat may travel in groups and gangs. Affiliation with these groups further lowers inhibition. Their actions are often loathsome, going beyond a simple lack of impulse control. Of course, I carry an effective semi-automatic pistol in these areas, but the backup is always a revolver and often a Ruger double-action revolver.

Choices

The SP 101 is available in a wide range of chamberings, from .22 LR to .357 Magnum. The original in 1989 was a .38 Special only but was soon replaced by magnum versions. The .327 Federal is a hot number worth consideration. Most are fixed sight versions, and there are models with fully adjustable rear sights and fiber optic front sights. The standard model is a 5-shot .357 Magnum. The .327s are six-shooters. This is a credible choice for many uses and, above all, a handgun for shooters who use their guns a lot. The SP 101 revolver is an all-steel piece weighing in at 25 ounces. That may seem a bit heavy for a five-shot snubnose revolver, but the Ruger SP 101 is more comfortable to fire than most six-shot revolvers. When a .357 Magnum is touched off in a revolver that weighs less than twenty ounces, the kick is more noticeable. The SP 101 is a smooth and comfortable shooter.

My favorite SP 101 is a 3 1/16-inch barrel version originally serving with French rail police. This revolver is fitted with Trausch grips. There is no revolver that is easier to use well and more comfortable than this nicely broken-in and smooth .38 Special. It weighs 2.5 ounces more than the standard version, which makes it a relatively light kicker. But even the shorter-barrel guns handle well. Part of the reason is design.

While the handgun is vault-tough like all Ruger revolvers, the SP 101 has other advantages. The SP 101 features a lower bore axis than most. This results in a weight-forward bias. The grips grafted onto the stubby frame — there is no true grip frame, simply a frame extension — have always filled in the gap between the trigger guard and front strap in every version. The original factory grips got it right from the beginning. These grips separate the metal frame from the palm, reducing the sting of recoil. The revolver features a plunger to lock the crane securely and a sliding lever as well.

Revolver sights are better than they used to be, with more generous rear notch sights common. The SP 101 offers one of the best sight pictures of any fixed sight revolver. The trigger action is smooth and trouble-free. The SP 101 action is smoother than old-style revolvers with its silky, even pull through the trigger press. The Ruger is simply well-designed and executed.

As for reliability, during the past thirty-five years of use, the only SP 101 that has come to my desk with a malfunction was a blue steel model that failed to reset the trigger after a double-action press. It is a simple fix, and I am ninety-nine percent certain someone who should not have been prying into the innards goofed with it.

Tactical Application

When firing the Ruger SP 101, take advantage of the smooth, rolling trigger action and keep the front sight on the target as you roll the trigger for each shot. There is always wobble, and it only matters if the front sight is centered when the hammer drops. Get the cadence going and you will make good hits. The revolver limits flinching as the round ignites. You will not know exactly when the round goes off, and this goes a long way toward eliminating that involuntary convulsion called flinching.

It’s worth repeating: don’t worry about eliminating wobble in the front sight as long as the front sight is on the target when the hammer falls.

Load Selection

While most of us carry a formidable, general-purpose sidearm, some tend to choose their gun and load according to the geography of the land. I understand this better than most, although sometimes the line is artificial.

I once worked in something called a jurisdiction, sometimes quite large, taking hours to transverse. Other times, the designation meant a smaller territory. These spatial restrictions sometimes curtailed my movements, yet these geometric differentiations became part of my internal map. It is a difficult frame of mind to get out of.

I suppose if I carried a four-inch-barrel .357 or a 1911 10mm daily, I might only change loads when traveling to different types of country. As it is, the Ruger is usually stoked with what I consider a heavy load when in the deep woods or hiking or anywhere where animals may have to be broken down with hits to bones to be stopped.

There are several Buffalo Bore loads I have great confidence in. The .38 Special works better for me in a short-barrel revolver. A Magnum simply blows much of its powder out of the barrel instead of burning it, resulting in tremendous flash and blast. A heavy-loaded .38 Special hits hard and is very efficient. My old standard handload of a hard cast 160-grain SWC at 1000 fps is duplicated (actually bettered) by Buffalo Bore’s Outdoorsman load. The Outdoorsman uses a hard cast semi-wadcutter bullet. Another choice — the 158-grain lead hollow point — is a fine all-around defense load for any territory and rides in the Ruger when doing personal defense duty. These are heavy .38 Special loads I find more useful than most Magnum loads. Alternately, one of the 1100 fps Buffalo Bore 125-grain JHP loads is carried. The SP 101 will laugh at a few thousand of these loads and not go out of time.

Carrying the SP 101

Among the best buys in a modern concealed carry holster is the Galco Stow-N-Go. This IWB holster is well made and durably stitched with a reinforced mouth. I own a thumb break version of this model, and it gives me confidence in all types of terrain and movement. When I am able to wear a covering garment, I use the Galco Combat Master. This is a classic leather holster with the correct draw angle for a rapid presentation. The balance of speed and retention is good. I appreciate the craftsmanship and utility behind this design.

The Ruger SP 101 is an important part of my frontline battery. It fills an essential role. The revolver is strong and reliable and proves to be a hard-hitting defensive tool in an easy-to-carry package. It works for many shooters and is worth your attention.

What I Like

The best attribute is durability. The Ruger may be stored for months and come up shooting.

What I Don’t Like

I fire low in fast drills with the standard barrel length. I cannot seem to train out of it. My longer-barrel SP 101 solves this problem.

What I Would Change

Considering the role and how well the SP 101 satisfies certain needs, the only thing I would change is the sights. The Gemini Custom revolvers with Novak type sights are better equipped for accurate shooting.

Compare To

The only revolver that compares reasonably well to the Ruger SP 101 is the Smith & Wesson 640 Pro. The S&W is lighter and easy to carry but kicks more.

Ruger SP 101 (#5719) Specifications