Ruger SP101 Issues

[Redstate]

I have the chance to buy a used Ruger SP101 (.357)(2.25") for $275.00. It has very few rounds through it per the current original owner, and per my inspection, it looks it. It does have a scratch that doesn't bother me.
It appears that it was made, per the serial number, in the first year of production. I have been looking for an MK9 used but can't find one and am afraid that if I do, it will be at least $450.00. Then I came across this Ruger and am tempted to give up on the MK9 and go for the SP101. I have been wanting an all steel small gun. I cannot get both.

Questions:
1. Is there a concern over this SP101, being first year of production and not being "tested" due to low round count?
2. Is $275.00 a good price? I can get a new one around here for $455.00 plus tax.

[CJB]

I own one of the very first SP101s ever made. First run, 38, 3 inch. Zero issues after a couple of thousand live firings and tens of thousands of dlass demonstrion dry firings.

The 357 SP101s had a limitation on ammo at first. I think to 125g max. The fixed that early on with a longer cylinder.

The 357 came out a few runs into the life cycle. Early 38s had green xenoy grips.

[MW surveyor]

First off.....I'm not an expert but I do have an earlier model SP101 that I bought used. There are a number of us SP101 owners/users here on this forum so I'm sure you'll get a bunch of answers.

1 I don't think that there should be any concern over the low round count or "testing" of the SP101. These things are tough.

2. Not sure if the $275 is a good price but from what I've seen lately, not bad. I got my SP101 with a 3" barrel for $200 but I was in the right place at the right time for about once in my life.

You can polish out the scratch and really shine the SP101 up to make it really pretty! Mother's mag polish works pretty good.

[Bootlegger]

I have both SP101 and MK9. SP is a TANK and feels like it to me to carry. The MK isn't that much lighter but carries better (to me again).

CJB is right about early ammo limit, I would call Ruger back and ask if yours is one of them.

Bought my SP in 93 have a few thousand rounds down the pipe, not one issue.

MK bought 4 years ago, few thousand rounds with recoil spring assembly break (twice)

But this is all from a die hard Ruger fan who now carries a CM9

If I could only have 1.......

http://i939.photobucket.com/albums/ad231/bootlegger1022/Mobile%20Uploads/SAM_0177.jpg

[Standpat]

I had an early SP101 with the full .357 length cylinder. The earlier .357 models were actually stamped with the limitation as I recall. Remember this is the same Ruger that prints an entire manual on the side of the barrel, a little more writing didn't bother them in the least. . .

[CJB]

First production, as far as I'm aware, was 570-xxxx, of which mine is 570-03xx.

I "think" the first "corrected" 357's had almost no protruding barrel, out of the frame that is, toward the face of the cylinder. The very early 357's had literally the 38 cylinders chambered long, and there is about 3/64" of barrel sticking past the frame in that same spot. Later, they enlarged the cylinder opening in the frame just a little, and that made the longer cylinder fit well, with typical Ruger clearances.

Really the early .357's are no problem, its just that long bullets dont work well because they literally have the end of the bullet right at the front of the cylinder, or slightly beyond. What happens is - during recoil, any "bullet pull" (which happens!) would jam the gun. Just sayin... its not a safety thing directly - although Ruger made some claim about forcing cone issues etc...it was a jam-on-pull problem. MAYBE they shape the forcing cone area of the chamber to preclude certain common bullet lengths from "pulling", and that may have been part of it.

I hear the Ruger collectors are going ga-ga over the green grips. Too bad mine are totally nastified... well over a decade of three times a week in the classroom, range bag, etc.

No comment on the price. As Ruger raises their MSRP on new production, older used ones will rise a bit too.

EDITed in....

I see from Ruger's site, they list 570-00001 as the first number, and I can tell you nada, because my pistol is a 570-xxxx <---- four digit, no extra leading zero. How cool is THAT!!!

[mr surveyor]

If it is in fact an "early model", was that the early .38 spl model, or the "early" .357 mag for 125 gr only? If the early .357 mag, I believe the barrel was stamped with "125 gr only". If I remember my Ruger history, they were inundated with requests to make a .357 mag version of the gun, and knew the frame and cylinder of their .38 spl was more than adequate, so the did a bit of reaming to allow the shorter overall length .357 mag 125 gr jhp's to barely fit the available length of the cylinder (of what was originally designed for .38 spl). That was a fairly short run, and those models with the 125 gr stamped barrels can bring quite a premium with Ruger collectors.... and there's a lot of Ruger collectors.

Even if it's a simple .38 spl it should be well worth $275. I'd jump all over that deal no matter what.

surv

[jlottmc]

Stay outta this surv. I want to work a deal here. Tell you what, since you are concerned about it, send the sellers info my way, I'll give that orphan a good home.

[Barth]

I passed on a like new SP101 357 for $300 only because I just
picked up my S&W 640-1 357 for $489 weeks earlier.
Just couldn't justify two 357 revolvers to myself.

As everyone is beginning to realize
my promises to myself tend to not last long.
As I bought a S&W 65-3 3" 357 for $500 few months later.

I think that's a fair price for the Ruger though.

[MW surveyor]

As everyone is beginning to realize
my promises to myself tend to not last long.


And probably STILL no new truck! :behindsofa:

[Barth]

And probably STILL no new truck! :behindsofa:

Ugggggg.
No new truck, looking for early 2013.
On a lighter note my Bar-Sto triple ported P239/357
barrel should ship any day now - Woo Hoo!!!

[Armybrat]

My .357 SP101 was made in 1993. No issues whatsoever. Here it is with my CW45:

http://i522.photobucket.com/albums/w349/ScoPro/Summer2012039.jpg

[Tinman507]

http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o542/tinman507/truckreport.png

[jocko]

My .357 SP101 was made in 1993. No issues whatsoever. Here it is with my CW45:

http://i522.photobucket.com/albums/w349/ScoPro/Summer2012039.jpg

if u stuck that sp on top of that Cw, and let them sleep on it overnite, "could" you possable end up with a spcw 459???Just sayin. :third:

[mr surveyor]

Stay outta this surv. I want to work a deal here. Tell you what, since you are concerned about it, send the sellers info my way, I'll give that orphan a good home.



:) That line didn't work for me with Doc and his K22... as a matter of fact he didn't even acknowledge me on that thread (or the same subject thread on another forum)

I'm still wondering which model this SP101 is.... "early .38 spl", or "early .357 - 125 gr only"



surv

[Barth]

http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/o542/tinman507/truckreport.png

Come on man....

[Redstate]

Update: I bought it after trying it out today. It is a really nice revolver. For clarification, it is not as early model that I thought it was. I misread the serial number. It was born in early 1993, per Ruger, so i guess it is a relatively early .357. It is not limited to the maximum of 125 grain bullets.
I sincerely thank those that respsonded. Your respsonses made it easy to go for it. Gonna go clean it real good soon.

[Yogi 117]

Update: I bought it after trying it out today. It is a really nice revolver. For clarification, it is not as early model that I thought it was. I misread the serial number. It was born in early 1993, per Ruger, so i guess it is a relatively early .357. It is not limited to the maximum of 125 grain bullets.
I sincerely thank those that respsonded. Your respsonses made it easy to go for it. Gonna go clean it real good soon.
Congrats on your purchase, I think you got a great deal. Love my Ruger GP-100 & SP-101, great revolvers! Enjoy! :)
http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k596/jdud77777/ARugerGP-100SP-101-1.jpg

[mr surveyor]

if you didn't get a manual for it, download one. Being a 93 model (I have a 1993 model that also sat unfired by the original owner until I bought it two years ago), I would suggest you follow the very simple dis-assembly instructions and thoroughly clean all the internals. Pay particular attention to flushing out the old factory lube from the cylinder center pin and spindle. If the gun hasn't had very many rounds fired through it, it probably hasn't been flushed and re-lubed. Mine had a nasty yellow-brown hardened film of 1993 factory lube on all the internals that needed to be removed to make it run totally smooth.

Congrats on a great deal and wise purchase.


surv

[Redstate]

Thanks Yogi. Nice combo.

[Redstate]

Thanks Mr. Surveyor. I will download the manual and strip it down and clean it all out. I did a good cleaning otherwise and it looks real nice.

[mr surveyor]

probably that most difficult part of dis-assembly is removing the trigger group, especially on one that's never been removed and de-gunked. It often takes another set of hands the first time or two. Once you get the trigger group off, use a toothbrush (trust me.... do NOT use your wife's toothbrush for this) and solvent to thoroughly clean all the mating surfaces between the trigger group and the frame - it will make the disassembly chore much easier next time.

surv