Just got back from the gun show and saw this nice looking 357 and decided I couldnt live with out it. It is a SP 101, 3in. ss. Have only shot the 357 before, never owned one. Lokks like a nice shooter and cant wait to get out with it.Any thing I need to know about it? Going to be different than a semi auto so advice is welcome.
Congrats and enjoy. Since you'll also get addicted to shooting it, the only other advice I'll give ya' is to save up and by .357mag ammo whenever you can, cause it's getting up there in price like the rest.
Just be glad you can also shoot .38 and .38+P to save you a little money.
__________________ "My next door neighbors two dogs have created more shovel ready jobs then Obama has." - Gary Johnson
Thanks guys. Taking my ccw class tomorrow and thinking of going to the range early and see how it does. Who knows might just qualify with it if it and I shoot well enough.
With all the advice to shoot .38s in it, consider reloading the .357 brass to .38 performance levels. I always thought it was better for the chambers to not have the powder burning right in the chambering area. If you shoot a lot of lead bullet .38 and don't clean the cylinder thoroughly, you can get some buildup that might make it difficult to chamber .357 rounds.
Like most things around here, that opinion might start some discussion, but if you reload, it simplifies your brass inventory, too.
Nice gun, BTW. I'm partial to a bit more barrel, but that looks to be in incredible condition. Good find.
__________________ Teach
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Wish I did reload. I have a coworker who is willing to help me out though. The guy I got it from had the gp100 at his table too but after handling a bit I liked the Sp101 the best.Still need to get her out and shoot.Hopefully sometime this week or weekend.
Congrats, mtn--you made an excellent choice. Rugers are extremely strong and well made guns. To me, the 3" sp-101 seems like the best choice between bbl length and totability (for an all-around .38/.357); the only downside is the sights are a little hard for me to see (can be fixed in various ways including just painting the front sight red) and the gun is a little heavy for CCW. The weight makes it alot more comfortable to shoot though, and is definitely worth it when shooting the full-house .357 rounds.
I like to practice with the light 38 special 148gr wadcutters (S+B's are reasonably cheap), and carry/verify POI with the .357's. Although it's possible to get some buildup from the .38 rounds which make the .357's tight to chamber, I've found a thorough cleaning will take care of this as to make it not much of an issue for me (I don't reload at the present). Buffalo Bore makes their Gold Dots (both heavy and short barrel light) as well as a .38+P LSWHP. I feel comfortable shooting any commercial .357 loading in the Ruger due to its strength, so you can adjust your loadings for any situation.
Enjoy !
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God gives us free will; the statist tries to take it away
Didnt work today so took it to the range. 50 rds of .38spl and 50 of .357. My grouping was a little low and right but fairly tight at 25 ft. Recoil with the 38 was pretty light and with 357 was a little harder than with my .45 overall not bad. Was able to roast a couple of hot dogs for lunch with the muzzle blast so I can shoot and have lunch at the same time. Front site needs to be more visable as it is hard to see but got through it. Glad I bought it and think it will fast become my fav over the 45.
SP 101 .357 
Will get them up tomorrow or you can just look at Billy's.
Teach
