Ruger’s Special Purpose 101 revolver is widely regarded as among the most rugged handguns ever designed and manufactured. If you need a defensive revolver, then the SP101 should be at the top of your list. The SP101is a compact revolver, smaller and lighter than some and heavier than others. The SP101 is a double-action revolver. This means a single press of the trigger both cocks and drops the hammer. Most SP101 revolvers have a single-action option that allows cocking the hammer for a deliberate single-action trigger pull. Some versions feature a bobbed hammer without a hammer spur or single-action hammer notch. The Ruger SP101 is usually stainless steel, but there are blue steel revolvers as well. The SP 101 may be found with a 2 1/4 inch barrel most often, but there are also 3 1/16 inch and 4-inch barrel versions. The SP101 is chambered in .357 Magnum in the most popular version. .22 and .327 Federal versions are also available. Most feature rugged fixed sights. A few designed for outdoor use have adjustable sights.
Development of the SP101
The SP101 was intended to give Ruger a competitor in the snub nose revolver market. The original versions were in .38 Special only. Eventually, the SP101 was offered in .357 Magnum by lengthening the cylinder and strengthening the frame. This is by far the most popular caliber today. The SP101 features well-designed grips that separate the metal frame from the hand. This results in less impact from the powerful .357 Magnum. The Ruger is highly shootable, handling quickly and with less recoil than most due to its recoil absorbing weight forward bias. A handgun in this size and weight class isn’t that difficult to carry and conceal with a proper holster. While the weight is 24 ounces in the 2 ¼ inch barrel model, this is lighter than most service size 9mm handguns, about in the 9mm Glock 19 class. The 3-inch version weighs 27 ounces. The smooth rolling action of the Ruger is a delight to use and offers excellent hit probability for those who are used to double-action revolvers. Take aim, press the trigger straight to the rear, allow the trigger to reset as the muzzle rises, and then fire again. As long as the front sight is steady when the hammer drops, you have a hit.
This blue steel revolver is among the author’s favorites.
Why A Revolver
It has been a long time since I carried a revolver on a day-to-day basis expressly for personal protection. My normal carry piece is some type of automatic. But there are times when the revolver feels right and seems right. I would hate to be without a revolver for duties, including hiking and exploring. The revolver just seems right. Some folks just do better with the revolver and feel more comfortable. The revolver is simple to check to see if it is loaded and simple to load and unload. There is no manual safety. Simply press the trigger, and the revolver fires. If your house gun may be laid up for many months without being fired a revolver will come up shooting every time. The springs are at rest; there are no recoil or magazine springs under compression. Simply grasp the revolver and press the trigger. In my world, the Ruger SP101 fills two well-defined missions. The first is as a backup. A short-barreled revolver simply makes the best backup or second gun. I am not paranoid, have been there, done that, and all that, and studied interpersonal combat for many years. A backup makes sense, and when I carry a revolver as primary, I carry two revolvers. A wheelgun will not fail to fire if pressed into an adversary’s body and fired. An automatic would jam at the first shot. This attribute also makes it a fine outdoors handgun. Dangerous animals most often go for the head and drag you down. You may not see them coming. A Ruger SP101 with heavy loads is ideal for outdoor defense. If you are skilled in its use – and that is true of any handgun- a revolver makes a formidable defensive handgun. These are simply the best roles for my SP101 revolvers. A .22 rimfire or .327 Federal loaded with .32 H&R Magnum or even the .32 S&W Long is a great small game gun.
This bobbed hammer DAO version is among the best of all revolvers for concealed carry.
Firing the SP101
My favorite Ruger SP101 is a 3 1/16 inch barrel version. This is the easiest revolver to use in this size I have fired. It is reliable and very smooth in operation. The smooth rolling action makes for a high hit probability. The Ruger is a joy to fire and use with its hand-filling grips. Mine is chambered in .38 Special only. Quite a few overseas police specified the .38 Special, and Ruger still ships a number each year. My revolver in common with the author, went to France, stayed a bit, and returned. Just not together! This is an old French Rail Police revolver. There are also Ruger GP100 revolvers in .38 Special for this market. With heavy loads, the .38 Special is a formidable caliber well suited to outdoors use. Any SP101 is very accurate in single-action fire and controllable in fast double-action fire. This revolver, however, is exceptional. It is easily duplicated by adding Hogue grips to your three-inch barrel SP101 or purchasing one of Lipsey’s special editions. Truth is the Lipsey’s guns with their adjustable sights are a much more useful all-around revolver than my old SP101.
Lipsey’s exclusive special editions are among the finest Ruger handguns. This SP101 features
adjustable sights.
I use a variety of loads for practice, usually whatever is cheapest and on sale. This year I have experimented with several combinations, and while I have my favorites, there are new loads that are impressive. The Fiocchi Covert X is among the loads tested. In .38 Special, the 125 grain hollow-point penetrates 12 inches in Clear Ballistics gel and expands to .62 inches. The .357 Magnum version penetrates 14 inches and expands to .68 inches. That isn’t the whole story; the Magnum’s wound channel is much larger. Clear ballistics offers an experimenter the ability to photograph or even save wound channels. With my.38 Special and .357 Magnum revolvers Fiocchi Covert X is a formidable loading in either caliber, especially designed to offer good short-barrel performance and a reliable balance of expansion and penetration. When hiking, I seldom am likely to encounter anything larger than a feral dog or one of the big cats. These loads are fine. In bear country, well, a hard cast SWC would be a better choice.
.38 Special loads are among the more pleasant firing and accurate loads for the Ruger SP101
This is an expanded .357 Magnum bullet from Fiocchi’s Covert X loadings.
Carrying the Ruger SP101
There are a number of good options for carrying the Ruger SP101. Among my favorites is the Galco Combat Master. The Combat Master draws the handgun in tight to the belt with its dual loops and offers a rapid draw. Fit, finish, and stitching are very good. Be certain to add a speed loader pouch or a 2x2x2 ammunition holder as well.
Galco’s Combat Master is a superbly designed and executed holster. Galco also offers speed loader pouches and cartridge pouches.
The Ruger SP101 is a classic American revolver and one that everyone should have. Far more rugged than the snubs that came before, the SP101 has earned a place in our defensive battery.
To locate a dealer near you, visit www.lipseys.com/dealerfinder