Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Sp101 upgrades? shoots okay, not the best...

Last weekend I went to the range, and shot my SP101. Shot several types of ammo, both 38 Special and 357Mag.

Most of the ammo printed all over the outter bulleye ring (10" I believe). But the target/range load best worked was the red/blue box from Federal, called I believe American. I am trying to find the hollowpoint ammo for home defense, but most did not group well. However, maybe I just need to break in the SP101...before it settles down. I will tell you, the 147 grain defense load from this revolver, was pretty stiff in recoil...but not unbearable.

One thing I noticed, was that on the SP101, after shooting about 3 clips, my hand was getting tired (I had already shot a bunch of 9mm prior to shooting the 357mag), and my finger did not pull the trigger back fully on the last round or second last round. I begun to notice that the trigger is long and has a lot of "travel" before the gun fires. This is ok, but if I want to shoot lots of rounds, I would want a somewhat lighter pull. Are there any parts made to upgrade the Sp101 in this aspect?

I also noticed with the 147 HP ammo, my hand started to hurt slightly after a few rounds (this was after firing several 125, 130, 147 rounds in the 357 mag), and maybe better grips would help some.

What kind of grips have you bought for your SP101? What about springs or trigger work, have any of you had your trigger worked and does it help some? Who have you used to do work on your SP101?

I definitely like this SP101. I think it kicks butt and feels right in my hand...and think a little custom touch would make it feel better and shoot better?

I understand the 125 grains are best for 357 mag revolvers, but I think some guns just shoot better with heavier ammo. As I said before, the American Eagle125 gr FMJ (or 130gr) shot better with this ammo (I need to check my notes though). But the groups were about 2 inches below and 1.5 inch to the right. But a total of 10 shots were in a 2.5 inch circle. I would have to try to file the sights down or whatever is needed to do to get the groups closer to the aim point.

Mind you, all of this shooting was not off a bag, and I tested different ammo for the SP101 357 mag (125, 130, 147) and a different ammo for a 9mm auto. Nextt ime I go, I will take the ammo that shoots best and narrow it down.

Looking for any inputs on springs or grips you have bought. Thanks and I hope to make this into a decent revolver! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Sounds good Sir, I would suggest getting a Wolff spring kit for it. This will definity be an improvement.
RUGER SP-101 Series Revolvers
SHOOTER'S PAK - Reduced Power .
This pak contains 1 each 9, 10 and 12 pound reduced power hammer springs for Ruger SP-101 series revolvers and 1 each 8 pound trigger return spring allowing adjustment for lighter and smoother trigger and hammer action. Note: factory trigger return spring is 10 pounds.
Stock No. 17113.....$ 9.79
http://www.gunsprings.com/Revolver/Ruger_RvNF.html#SP101

Dalav, don't do anything permanent to the gun yet, like filing the sights, until you settle on a load. THEN you can worry about it. Just bear in mind every gun is an individual, and likes different ammo for no apparent reason. In my experience with Rugers (3 revolvers) they take awhile and a few hundred (or thousand) rounds of JHP's before the barrel smoothes out, and what it doesn't shoot worth crap now might become its favorite load. Time will tell, have some patience.
If you're getting good groups without sandbags, and with tired hands, the gun is apparently just fine, you two just need to get better acquainted. Try several aftermarket grips and see what feels best to you, you may find the factory grips are fine. I didn't, and put Pachmayrs on mine, the model with the enclosed backstrap. On a gun that kicks like that, a little rubber in the right place makes all the difference between comfort and torture. I had a 3-inch Smith J-frame in 357, and it was a joy to shoot, even with Cor-Bon 158's. Then I sold it, and the new owner put on some other stocks, to make it look cooler. It made him bleed in under a box of ammo, and he sold it back to me at a loss. I put the original stocks back on, and it just purrs like a kitten with 38+P's. Grips can make a lot of difference!
Wolff Spring kits are also a good idea, though like most revolvers, it will get slicker with use. Do a lot of dry-firing, and see what happens!
PJ

T Lee - Have you ever had any problems with misfires with the reduced spring kit on the SP101? I installed a 10# hammer spring on my SP101 (if memory serves me correctly) and I had a disturbing rate of dud strikes with anything but Federal Primers. I ended up putting the factory one back in.

Buzz, I use either the 10 or the 12, both have been reliable with factory ammo and my reloads (I only use CCI or Winchester primers) without a fault. In fact I bobbed the hammer on one and it still worked all the time with the 10 pounder, I did have some light strikes with the 9Lb however.

Buzz, I have had no misfires in my sp101 with the 10# and 12# also. The 8# is just too light for anything but the softest primers. I didn't like the trigger return spring inthe Wolff kit, as it slowed the action down too much - so I put the stock one back in.

Hogue makes a rubber grip for the sp101 that works perfectly for me. With that grip, I can shoot the little gun all day with any standard factory load. Even the 158gr loads aren't bad. The palm swell makes up for the exposed back-strap.

-FreeMe

I'll second the Hogue Monogrip. I had a 2.25" SP101 with the Hogue. It was a very nice little revolver.



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