TTAG’s review of the new Ruger .22LR SP101 got caught in my personal spam filter. It’s coming (as is Christmas). Turns out it was a fortuitous delay. Ruger’s fit the adjustable fiber optic sights that debuted on the .22 caliber SP101 onto the .38/.357 SP101. You can now train on Ruger’s .22 and then transfer your skills to the .38/.357 (both of which have a 4.2″ barrel). The move provides a not entirely unexpected raison d’etre for the .22LR and upgrades the SP101 .38/357‘s sites for about $60 over the fixed site version ($689 msrp). Not a carry piece and there are better ways to fire a .357 and it looks kinda goofy but if accuracy’s your thing and you like checkered walnut grips, this one’s a keeper. Like all SP101’s, it’s probably built like a brick, house.
At first, I was sort of turned off by the muzzle heavy feel and 38 Special length ejector. With moderate use, the gun quickly slicked up with a great double action trigger pull. The hammer is still very heavy to pull back, but this IS a double action revolver, meant to be fired double action. I regularly carry this gun while hunting or tending my hunting lease, where Cottonmouths and Hogs are problems that require 2 vastly different solutions, CCI snake shot and 357 Magnum 180 grain Buffalo Bore penetrators. Depending on weather, I carry either 1 or 2 rounds of snake shot and balance are 180 grain Buffalo Bore. The gun doesn’t seem to mind the 180 grain Buffalo Bores at all. This is a gun that I don’t notice when carrying all day. It is very noticeably lighter than a GP100 and even the Security Six. It’s comfortable and always there, easy to conceal under a vest. It does it’s first job very well, which is to be on your person when needed. There are better fighting guns and better target guns, but few better suited to all day carry by outdoorsman.