Taking my new Ruger to the range for 1st time

neubauten2813 · 07-21-2008, 02:38 PM

Hi guys. Just bought a new Ruger SP101 .357 and taking it to the range for the first time tonight. Any suggestions for first-time-at-the-range ammo?

DWARREN123 · 07-21-2008, 07:27 PM

Try some 38 spl rounds first to get the feel if you haven't fired a small 357 mag revolver before.

gandog56 · 07-21-2008, 08:06 PM

Yeah, at least one box of each. I load my own so I can't recommend any brands.

nathangdad · 07-21-2008, 09:34 PM

would be a good starting point as you learn to get the feel of the gun.
After you have a good sense of weight, balance, trigger pull, and sight picture then move up through the +P's to the .357 mag round with a 158 grain bullet. Take time to experience each increase in performance as you will most likely, in retrospect, find what is right for you.

neubauten2813 · 07-21-2008, 11:27 PM

Hey guys thanks for the advice. I went in like the newbie I am and just said "357". I noticed after the shoot I had used 158 grain ammo. Definitely a little heavy in the hand. Looking forward to making some adjustments.
Helpful guy at the range hooked me up with a cleaning kit so that's the next skill I'm looking forward to learning as a new owner. One thing I was happy about was getting a few "ooh nice purchase!" when proudly showing off the ol' SP to a few aficionados. So I'm quite pleased that I made a good decision to go with this one.

GlockMeister · 07-22-2008, 12:15 AM

Congrats on the new gun and welcome to the site neubauten2813. Sounds like you walked out with a big grin on your face? lol And your hand might be a tad sore either at the webbing of the hand or the palm in the morning if you shot a lot of those 158 grainers. They do have a little crack to 'em don't they? But I love the flames they throw. lol

gandog56 · 07-22-2008, 02:20 AM

It is a pretty looking gun.

Kentston · 08-09-2008, 11:02 AM

Awesome gun, mine is a 2-1/4 barrell. I shoot alot of .38 thru it for practise, but I always finish with 1 or 2 cyclinders of .357 thru it. 2 reasons, 1 to have a feel for it in case I need to use it and 2 it tends to clean out the residue for the shorter .38 which you can see a ring develop from. I can tolerate the 158gr but it is not the most comfortable load to shoot with a small barrell. I just recently purchase some .357 in a 125gr bullet to try it and see if I like it. I will let you know when I do.

CallMeIshmael · 08-09-2008, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neubauten2813

Hi guys. Just bought a new Ruger SP101 .357 and taking it to the range for the first time tonight. Any suggestions for first-time-at-the-range ammo?

Nice gun. What'd you pay for it?

yieldbabyboy · 08-19-2008, 07:19 PM

hey you might know, but the higher the grain the heavier it will be so,try to get something in the middle

07-21-2008, 02:38 PM	#1
neubauten2813 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 5	Taking my new Ruger to the range for 1st time Hi guys. Just bought a new Ruger SP101 .357 and taking it to the range for the first time tonight. Any suggestions for first-time-at-the-range ammo?

07-21-2008, 07:27 PM	#2
DWARREN123 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: BETWEEN TN & KY Posts: 774	Try some 38 spl rounds first to get the feel if you haven't fired a small 357 mag revolver before. __________________ Have a nice day!

07-21-2008, 09:34 PM	#4
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,438	Actually, some .38 special target wadcutters would be a good starting point as you learn to get the feel of the gun. After you have a good sense of weight, balance, trigger pull, and sight picture then move up through the +P's to the .357 mag round with a 158 grain bullet. Take time to experience each increase in performance as you will most likely, in retrospect, find what is right for you.

07-22-2008, 12:15 AM	#6
GlockMeister Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 5,377	Congrats on the new gun and welcome to the site neubauten2813. Sounds like you walked out with a big grin on your face? lol And your hand might be a tad sore either at the webbing of the hand or the palm in the morning if you shot a lot of those 158 grainers. They do have a little crack to 'em don't they? But I love the flames they throw. lol __________________ I'd rather be tried by 12 than carried by 6!

08-19-2008, 07:19 PM	#10
yieldbabyboy Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: arizona Posts: 20	hey you might know, but the higher the grain the heavier it will be so,try to get something in the middle __________________ A good solution applied with vigor now is better than a perfect solution applied ten minutes later

07-21-2008, 08:06 PM	#3
gandog56 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montgomery, IL. Posts: 4,193	Yeah, at least one box of each. I load my own so I can't recommend any brands.

07-21-2008, 11:27 PM	#5
neubauten2813 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 5	Hey guys thanks for the advice. I went in like the newbie I am and just said "357". I noticed after the shoot I had used 158 grain ammo. Definitely a little heavy in the hand. Looking forward to making some adjustments. Helpful guy at the range hooked me up with a cleaning kit so that's the next skill I'm looking forward to learning as a new owner. One thing I was happy about was getting a few "ooh nice purchase!" when proudly showing off the ol' SP to a few aficionados. So I'm quite pleased that I made a good decision to go with this one.

07-22-2008, 02:20 AM	#7
gandog56 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montgomery, IL. Posts: 4,193	It is a pretty looking gun.

08-09-2008, 11:02 AM	#8
Kentston Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fla. Posts: 13	Awesome gun, mine is a 2-1/4 barrell. I shoot alot of .38 thru it for practise, but I always finish with 1 or 2 cyclinders of .357 thru it. 2 reasons, 1 to have a feel for it in case I need to use it and 2 it tends to clean out the residue for the shorter .38 which you can see a ring develop from. I can tolerate the 158gr but it is not the most comfortable load to shoot with a small barrell. I just recently purchase some .357 in a 125gr bullet to try it and see if I like it. I will let you know when I do.