22_Shooter 1,560 Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 (edited) Just got back from my FFL's place a little bit ago. Picked up my very first wheel gun; a 2.25" Ruger SP101 in .357. I've read countless people say "It's built like a tank", and they aren't lying. This thing feels so solid. While the trigger pull feels smooth, it's heavy as hell. I already expected this, since I did a lot of reading on this gun long before I ever purchased it. I'll be purchasing one those 3-packs of main springs and seeing what I like. People seem to like the 12# spring as a good medium; lighter pull but not too light as to where light strikes occur. Some people report having no issues even with the 10# spring. I think the factory spring is 14#. I'll experiment and see what works best. I received my Badger boot grips last week, and they've been waiting patiently for today, to meet their new host! ...........and a few minutes later: In the next pic, you can see a slight alignment issue with the grip halves. It looks like the holes in the halves for the support bar thing are a tad off. I'll be dremeling them out a little bit to get the flush fit. I'll admit, I was kinda put off, given the price of the grips. But I'm otherwise very happy with the grips. Here are some pics showing the size comparison between the factory grips and Badger grips: The Badgers are a tad thicker, which fills out your hand better. Otherwise, there's not a huge difference in size. The Badgers are also a tad shorter, but your pinky finds it's home by hugging the rounded bottom of the grip. Edited January 30, 2012 by -Shooter- 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Superhawk138 202 Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Hell Yeah Shooter nice piece. The badger grips make it 100% more bad ass. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YOT 3,743 Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 That is a gorgeous piece. I love the Badger grips on it. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JC GoF 70 Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 very nice 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gregomega 929 Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 that thing is fkn sick bro. Well, I know what pistol I must have next. Not so much a pistol guy but think im gonna have to be now. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dad2142Dad 6,559 Posted January 30, 2012 Report Share Posted January 30, 2012 Nice buy Shooter, how many rounds you got through it? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kdbutler 563 Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 Nice. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ronin38 2,117 Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 I've had an SP101 for several years now. Mine's all-stock and I love that lil' gun! It's one of my frequent ccw choices. I have an Uncle Mike's pancake holster for it, and barely notice I'm carrying it. I especially like how many choices of ammo you have for it. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fallschirmjager667 729 Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 (edited) i forget what the inside of my gp100 looks like, but could you give me a pic of the gun with the grips off, i may be able to help you lighten trigger pull without a new spring Edit: never mind, sorry, thinking of a different gun Edited January 31, 2012 by Russian Hammer 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
thebuns1 4,323 Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 they dont look as bad ass with the factory grips. you did good and improved on it greatly. now it looks sexy. nice score! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
22_Shooter 1,560 Posted January 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 Thanks guys. I like it too! I don't have any rounds through it yet. Probably won't for awhile. Hell, I had my G21 for a couple months before I was able to shoot it, lol. Ronin, what's the model # on your holster? I hadn't really planned on this being a CC piece, but figured I would throw it in my pocket when I took the dog out or something. But I was surprised at the size when I picked it up today. It's not as small as I thought it would be. I actually laid it directly on top of my G19 (my current daily carry) and it's essentially the same size. The bottom of the grip and end of the barrel line up almost perfectly. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ronin38 2,117 Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 (edited) Sorry, there's no model number... It's just a black, nylon, ambidextrous, pancake holster. I think it cost less than $20! The thumb-strap has velcro adjustments on both sides and a snap release. It is very comfortable and secure! I've never tried the grips you have on there, but the rubbery stock grips (and the weight) make it surprisingly pleasant to shoot with full-bore .357 magnum loads. Edited January 31, 2012 by Ronin38 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NM0 586 Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 Looks great guy. Congrats. Just wait till you shoot it. They are surprisingly fun and more accurate than I am. You might want to look into some kind of big dot on the front...depending on what you're going to use it for. Welcome to revolver world. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MCASgt New River 10,036 Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 SWEET LITTLE PISTOL!! Still dont know what grips I will get but you did a hell of'a job with yours. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RED333 1,025 Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 Nice piece Shooter!!! Just 1 thing wrong, it aint my house! I gota ask, what did it set you back? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
22_Shooter 1,560 Posted January 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 Nice piece Shooter!!! Just 1 thing wrong, it aint my house! I gota ask, what did it set you back? $491 shipped, I believe, from BudsGunShop. I opted to pay with my debit card, so I lost the "cash discount" of 3%. My FFL had found one for me at one of his distributors and it would have been $465 out the door, but of course, I didn't have the funds at the time and they ran out. Ronin: I'll have to look into that holster. Thanks. NM0: I will probably be picking up some sort of NS or fiber-optic front sight. I've seen the install videos and it looks really easy to swap sights. Gonna have to figure out which one I want and then order the spring kit along with it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spartacus 1,619 Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 Nice pistol Shooter! Yep, those grips sure dress it up and make it look better. I've been looking at .357's myself lately. I like the S&W 686's but they are out of my price range. The SP101 and GP100 are strong contenders. I'm also really liking the Taurus Tracker. Academy has a very tempting deal on a Rossi Blued .357 3" barrel for $279, just not sure how it would hold up. I like your choice though! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fallschirmjager667 729 Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 oh, by the way, throw it in the trash immediately, pretty soon your safe will fill up with rugers 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
22_Shooter 1,560 Posted January 31, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 Nice pistol Shooter! Yep, those grips sure dress it up and make it look better. I've been looking at .357's myself lately. I like the S&W 686's but they are out of my price range. The SP101 and GP100 are strong contenders. I'm also really liking the Taurus Tracker. Academy has a very tempting deal on a Rossi Blued .357 3" barrel for $279, just not sure how it would hold up. I like your choice though! I handled a GP100 during my concealed permit class. (Being able to decock a revolver was part of the requirements, lol) It felt really nice. If concealability isn't a concern, the GP100 would be a great choice. You get an extra round over the SP101. oh, by the way, throw it in the trash immediately, pretty soon your safe will fill up with rugers I already have my FFL keeping an eye out for Ruger 1911, so you may be on to something. (This is my first Ruger, so I'm not sure if all Rugers come with them or not, but the SP101 came with a nice lock, as you can see in the 2nd pic. It's not one of those chincy cable locks. I've never used the free gun locks for anything, but I might be using this Ruger one for my locker at work, lol.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fallschirmjager667 729 Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 My ruger no1 came with a nice lock too and i seriously have no idea how it is supposed to work, both my revolvers came with one but that's a little more obvious than using a pad lock on a single shot rifle, lol 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
xICEMANx 13 Posted January 31, 2012 Report Share Posted January 31, 2012 Very nice. Everyone one should have a nice wheel gun. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scott Kenny 144 Posted February 3, 2012 Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 That is flat sexy with the new grips! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
22_Shooter 1,560 Posted February 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2012 That is flat sexy with the new grips! Thanks. I think so too! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Yoshi 87 Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 Lookin good! I use a $15 uncle mikes myself works great. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Foxtail207 23 Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 Very nice. I love the action on the Ruger wheel guns. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
22_Shooter 1,560 Posted February 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 I have a set of Wilson Combat springs on the way to lighten the pull. I'll report back and let you guys know how they are. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NM0 586 Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 Check out IBOK info online about smoothing the trigger via light polishing. I did the middle Wolf spring on the hammer but did not change the trigger one. Dry fire it a whole bunch of times, that always helps too. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
22_Shooter 1,560 Posted February 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 Check out IBOK info online about smoothing the trigger via light polishing. I did the middle Wolf spring on the hammer but did not change the trigger one. Dry fire it a whole bunch of times, that always helps too. I've heard about the IBOK. But whenever I try to find the actual guide, I end up in threads on the forum where it originated and read how it's no longer available, due to mass plagiarism or something. I guess you used to be able to sign up at the forum, and read the members-only "library" and that's where it was. But I guess it's not in there anymore. If you have a link to where I can read, let me know. .......and yeah, I didn't plan on using the trigger return spring that comes with the kit. General consensus seems to be that it feels too weak after installing it. For right now, I'll stick with only swapping the hammer main spring. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NM0 586 Posted February 5, 2012 Report Share Posted February 5, 2012 Theres a few floating around still. Check your email in here. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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