Ruger's SP101 Eight Shot

While this particular Model SP101 was introduced mid September 2011, the SP101 line has been in production since 1988 as Ruger’s small frame revolver1.

Made of 400 series stainless steel, the SP101’s cylinder is held in alignment at the rear by the gun’s cylinder pin and at the front of the crane with a large spring-loaded front latch that locks the crane to the frame when the cylinder is closed. Cylinder locking notches are centered between chambers at the thickest point in the cylinder wall. The frame is wide under the barrel threads to increase support. The grip frame is narrow to allow improved grip shape that covers the gun’s backstrap. The SP101 springs are coil type, fashioned from unbreakable piano wire.

As an indication of the SP101’s strength, in addition to the 22 Rimfire, it is also chambered for the: 327 Federal Magnum, 38 Special and 357 Magnum and approved for use with +P ammunition.

All roads lead to the GP100… or at least it seems that way

I might not be the sharpest pencil in the… pencil holder… upper but after disassembling a dozen Super Redhawks, and another dozen GP100s, and a baker’s dozen SP101s, I began to notice a subtle similarity amongst all of them. Essentially, they are all very similar in function, even if scaled differently to cover small, medium and large frame application and with more subtle configuration changes to accommodate a wide variety of cartridges.

There are eighteen parts that define the rim fire version as different from the centerfire versions of the SP101. None are structural changes, just changes intended to adapt the gun to a rimfire cartridge and to accommodate a set of fully adjustable sights.

The 327 Federal Magnum SP101 has a simple rear blade sight that is only windage adjustable. The other centerfire models have a notched frame, fixed rear sight. The 22 rimfire version has a fiber optic front sight that is dovetail mounted, all others have simple pinned blade sights. The SP101 dovetail is not the same as found on the GP100 or Redhawk. The Ruger store offers Crimson Trace laser sight and plain mono grips

Disassembly is as easy as any other SP101. The grip is removed, the mainspring strut assembly is removed and the hammer . Then the hammer pivot and hammer are lifted out. The trigger guard assembly is unlatched and pulled down, then the cylinder assembly is pulled forward and out. The only difference of note, in comparison to a centerfire version of the SP101, was depressing the trigger guard lock plunger to remove the trigger guard assembly. The centerfire frame has an access slot in the back that allows the mainspring strut to be used to depress the plunger. In this model, the slot was replaced with a round hole that won’t allow use of the mainspring strut, however, a flat nose punch makes for a better tool for this purpose in any event.

After the first attempt at familiarization, disassembly or reassembly is no more than a two minute job. Everything that needs to be checked, or periodically inspected, is in open view and easily accessible. Notice there is no side plate and bag of tiny gremlin parts beneath it to cause concern.

The SP101’s sights are clean and they contrast well on a target, even in less than ideal lighting. Windage and elevation adjustments are precise and settings stay put. The ribbed barrel cuts down on reflective glare.

Virtually all handgun sights look enormous to me and the SP101’s front sight is no exception. While the light pipe portion is only 0.095″, the mount that holds it makes the overall front sight 0.125″ wide, the same as the front blade sights in the centerfire versions. Pretty much makes a small bullseye disappear at 50 feet.

Quite a few rounds were fired through the gun at various distances, with a variety of ammunition and shooters, and my sense was that the gun’s balance and construction had a lot more to offer than my 217 year old eyes could utilize.

The Ruger SP101 fires like a revolver configured for bullseye. The heavy barrel makes the gun a little muzzle heavy and very steady. The small frame grips are actually hand filling and non-slip. No recoil and no muzzle rise and report is incredibly mild, especially in comparison to my recent excursions with a Super Redhawk chambered for the 454 Casull.

Accuracy for the earth bound…

I read an Internet review of a single action revolver a couple of weeks ago, where the author claimed that he shot a switch cylinder gun, 22 LR and 22 mag, with open sights and hand held, and was able to consistently produce 1/4″ and 1/8″ groups at 25 yards with little effort. Multiple brands of ammo, both long rifle and magnum. Or as the author noted, “With a better shooter, I believe the (blank) would shoot into the same dern hole time after time”.  He went on to say that the groups “opened slightly at 100 yards where the wind was whipping the flags without mercy”. Mercy is probably a good word to end that observation. Why do I mention all of this? Because firearms are often judged by fictitious standards and that is unfortunate.

The Ruger didn’t deliver that level of accuracy, but then I had no magic bullets, firearms assembled at Hogwarts or an overworked imagination. Well, maybe the latter… sometimes, but not in this regard. For popping squirrels and other small game and varmints, for recreational target shooting, for serious range bets with your spouse, the Ruger SP101 22 rimfire is a lot of gun and it is very accurate. Ammunition selection does make a difference, as seen above with these 50 foot groups, and each respective brand and type of ammunition produced similar groups when shot multiple times. There was no merciless wind to speak of. For those who like tables instead of nifty marked up photos –

Is all of this leading anywhere?

I have no idea. You know as much as I do about what I’m going to write next. Don’t write that. Stop. I can’t. Hogwarts syndrome? Could be. Anyway… The Ruger SP101 in 22 LR is spiffy… As spiffy as the SP101 327 Federal Magnum that makes such a great concealable revolver. It’s accurate, holds a lot of ammunition and it is Ruger tough, like a big ol’ sledge hammer, but nice looking and a lot of fun.