The Ruger SP101 is a series of double-action revolvers produced by the American company Sturm, Ruger & Co. The SP101 is a small frame and all-steel-construction carry revolver, with a five-shot (.38 Special, .357 Magnum, and 9×19mm Parabellum); six-shot (.327 Federal Magnum, and .32 H&R Magnum); or eight-shot (.22 LR) cylinder.
| SP101 | |
|---|---|
 SP101 with Corbon load data | |
| Type | Revolver |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Sturm, Ruger & Co. |
| Produced | 1989–present[1] |
| Variants | See Models |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 25–30 oz (710–850 g)[2] |
| Length | 7.2 in (18 cm) 8 in (20 cm) 9.12 in (23.2 cm)[2] |
| Barrel length | 2.25 in (5.7 cm) 3.06 in (7.8 cm) 4.2 in (11 cm)[2] |
| Cartridge | .22 LR .38 Special .357 Magnum .327 Federal Magnum 9×19mm .32 H&R Magnum (discontinued) |
| Action | Double-action revolver |
| Effective firing range | 33 to 55 yards (30 to 50 meters) |
| Maximum firing range | 550 yards (500 meters) +/− |
| Feed system | 5/6/8-round cylinder[2] |
History edit
The Ruger SP101 was introduced in 1989 as the smaller-frame counterpart to the GP100. Together, these revolvers replaced Sturm, Ruger & Co's long-standing staple in the American firearms market, the Ruger Security-Six series revolvers. A 9 mm version was available until its discontinuation around 1998 but was later re-released in early 2018. A basic .22 LR version was also available until 2003 while a redesigned version was introduced in 2011.[3]
Features and description edit
- The SP101 is currently manufactured in .327 Federal Magnum, .357 Magnum, 9 mm, .38 Special, and .22 LR.[4]
- Barrel lengths 21⁄4" (57.15mm), 31⁄16" (77.79mm), and 41⁄5" (106.7mm) with full underlugs. 4" (101.6mm) and 41⁄5" (106.7mm) with half underlug.
- Stainless steel construction
- Transfer bar safety mechanism
- Firing pin mounted in frame
- The transfer bar in the SP101 is connected directly to the trigger
- Fixed (all calibers) or adjustable (.327 Federal Magnum, .357 Magnum, and .22 LR) sights
- Spurred or spurless (double-action only) hammer
Specifications edit
- Weight:
- 21⁄4", 251⁄2 oz. (708 g)
- 31⁄16", 27 oz. (765 g)
- 41⁄5", 22 LR: 30 oz. (850 g), .327 Federal Magnum: 29.5 oz (836 g), and .357 Magnum: 29.5 oz.(836 g)
- Barrel lengths: 21⁄4" (57.15 mm), 31⁄16" (77.79 mm), 4" (101.6mm)
- Double-action/single-action
- Double-action-only on select models
- Five-shot (.38 Special, .357 Magnum, 9×19mm Parabellum), six-shot (.327 Federal Magnum, .32 H&R Magnum), eight-shot (.22 LR)
- Maximum effective range: 33 to 55 yards (30 to 50 meters) depending on barrel length and cartridge load[citation needed]
Models edit
| Catalog number | Caliber | Capacity | Sights | Shroud | Barrel length | Weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KSP-221 | .22 LR | 6 | Adj. | Full | 21⁄4" | 32 oz | Discontinued |
| KSP-240 | .22 LR | 6 | Adj. | Short | 4" | 33 oz | Discontinued |
| KSP-241 | .22 LR | 6 | Adj. | Full | 4" | 34 oz | Discontinued |
| KSP-242-8 | .22 LR | 8 | Adj. | Short | 41⁄5" | 30 oz | Adjustable fiberoptic |
| KSP-3231 | .32 H&R Magnum[5] | 6 | Adj. | Full | 31⁄16" | 30 oz | Discontinued |
| KSP-3241 | .32 H&R Magnum[5] | 6 | Adj. | Full | 4" | 33 oz | Discontinued |
| KSP-32731X | .327 Federal Magnum[5] | 6 | Adj. | Full | 31⁄16" | 28 oz | No longer on web site: Jan 16, 2013 |
| KSP-32741 | .327 Federal Magnum[6] | 6 | Adj. | Full | 41⁄5" | 29.5 oz | |
| KSP-821 | .38 Special +P | 5 | Fixed | Full | 21⁄4" | 25 oz | |
| KSP-821DOS | .38 Special +P | 5 | Fixed | Full | 21⁄4" | 25 oz | Bobbed hammer made for the U.S. State Department |
| KSP-831 | .38 Special +P | 5 | Fixed | Full | 31⁄16" | 27 oz | Discontinued |
| KSP-321X | .357 Magnum | 5 | Fixed | Full | 21⁄4" | 26 oz | |
| KSP-341X | .357 Magnum[7] | 5 | Adj. | Full | 41⁄5" | 29.5 oz | Adjustable fiberoptic |
| KSP-321X-CT | .357 Magnum | 5 | Fixed | Full | 21⁄4" | 25 oz | Crimson Trace lasergrips |
| KSP-321XL-LG | .357 Magnum | 5 | Fixed | Full | 21⁄4" | 25 oz | Crimson Trace lasergrips |
| KSP-331X | .357 Magnum | 5 | Fixed | Full | 31⁄16" | 27 oz | |
| KSP-321XL | .357 Magnum | 5 | Fixed | Full | 21⁄4" | 25 oz | D.A.O |
| KSP-921 | 9×19mm Parabellum | 5 | Fixed | Full | 21⁄4" | 26 oz | Discontinued, uses moon clips; re-introduced November 2017 |
| KSP-931 | 9×19mm Parabellum | 5 | Fixed | Full | 31⁄16" | 27 oz | Discontinued, uses moon clips[8] |
- All models are made of stainless steel
- Caliber: .357 Magnum SP101s handle all .357 Magnum factory loads and accept factory .38 Special cartridges
- Spurless-hammer models (double-action only) are designated by an "L" in their catalog numbers
Users edit
United States
- New York Police Department SPNY Double Action Only (DAO) .38 Special made specifically for the NYPD as a backup gun, off-duty, or Detective use. [9][10]
Notes edit
- ^ "Ruger SP101 Serial Number History". ruger.com. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Ruger SP101". Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
- ^ James, Frank (15 December 2004). Effective Handgun Defense: A Comprehensive Guide to Concealed Carry. Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. p. 207. ISBN 0-87349-899-2.
- ^ "Ruger® SP101® Standard Double-Action Revolver Models".
- ^ a b c The .327 Federal Magnum SP101 will chamber .32 H&R Magnum as well as .32 S&W Long cartridges; the discontinued SP101 in .32 H&R Magnum likewise chambered .32 S&W Long cartridges
- ^ "SP101 Model 5773". Ruger.com. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
- ^ "SP101 Models". Ruger.com. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
- ^ Ayoob, Massad (26 June 2012). Massad Ayoob's Greatest Handguns of the World. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. pp. 50–51. ISBN 978-1-4402-2869-8.
- ^ Marr, Bill (31 May 2021). "Ruger NYPD SPNY". Rifle Shooter. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ Ayoob, Massad. "THE REDOUBTABLE RUGER SP101". Rifle Shooter. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
References edit
- Ruger's SP101 page
- Ruger SP101 -- A Sturdy Rimfire "Secret" by Clair Rees, Guns
External links edit
