Ruger SP101 9mm

[Donny1]

I'm considering one of these for a carry gun.

I will have three guns on my permit but one is a .38 Snubbie that is older and cannot handle +P rounds. I really like the safety factor of a revolver but getting good expansion from non +P is weak. I have found only Federal Hydroshock will expand reliably for me and even then expansion is not that great.

I was considering a 9mm revolver for the higher velocity but I'm wondering with such a short barrel what the actual advantage would be, the SP101 is 2.25". I'm also wondering about reloading moon clips vs speed loaders as I have never shot a revolver with them.

Experiences or advice welcomed.

[jon94520]

I have one...great little shooter. It’s a bit heavy for CCW and has an exposed hammer, but that is all personal preference.
The moon clips are a pain to load with rounds...but reloads are lightening fast.

[plumbum]

Don’t forget the LCR also comes in 9mm flavor. SP101 is a bit heavy to throw in your pocket - a good holster helps. Any reason not to consider a .357?

[Donny1]

I would also consider the LCR. As far as .357 I want to practice with what I shoot and I'm not sure about practicing with .357 in such a light gun often. Ammo wouldn't be too terrible because I already have the dies for .38spl that will do both.

My groups are already not spectacular with the .38spl can't imagine .357 will help.

[Saym14]

I’ve always wanted a 9 mm revolver… The LCR trigger is really nice… Just could never bring myself to dealing with the moon clips

[MyOdessa]

I have both LCR and SP101 in 9mm. LCR experiences crimp jump with some ammo, usually training stuff like Blazer and Winch. white box, on 4th and 5th rounds, SP101 does not.

The barrel is 2.25", but if you add cylinder length, your velocities are comparable to something like S&W Shield. In short barrel like this, cylinder gap doesn't have much impact on velocity. I use Federal 148gr HST with good results in both LCR and SP101.

Moon clips are not interchangeable between LCR and SP101, but they make loading and unloading a breeze. Ruger designed moon clips are easily loaded and unloaded by hand, no tools are required like with S&W 625.
I absolutely love moon clips in revolvers.

In short, these are good revolvers, LCR is easier to carry and has better trigger, SP101 is easier to shoot and just feel right to me.

[Donny1]

Very nice.

Wow, I just realized the LCR is almost 8oz lighter. I can imagine it's more of a handful to shoot.

[DanGunner]

Ruger LCR

The LCR in 9 mm is a sweet gun, albeit with a little more recoil than .38 version because of higher pressures. One advantage, unless you are a reloader, is that 9 mm ammo is markedly cheaper. You can also get a .22 version for practice in drawing and combat style shooting.

[elSquid]

Something to consider:

https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?4336-BUG-s-380-ACP-vs-38-Sp

While oversimplified, bare gelatin gives information about best case performance, while 4 layer denim provides data on worst case performance--in reality, the actual performance may be somewhere in between. The four layer denim test is NOT designed to simulate any type of clothing--it is simply an engineering test to assess the ability of a projectile to resist plugging and robustly expand. FWIW, one of the senior engineers at a very respected handgun ammunition manufacturer recently commented that bullets that do well in 4 layer denim testing have invariably worked well in actual officer involved shooting incidents.

With few exceptions, the vast majority of .38 Sp JHP's fail to expand when fired from 2" barrels in the 4 layer denim test. Many of the lighter JHP's demonstrate overexpansion and insufficient penetration in bare gel testing. Also, the harsher recoil of the +P loads in lightweight J-frames tends to minimize practice efforts and decrease accuracy for many officers. The 158 gr +P LSWCHP offers adequate penetration, however in a 2" revolver the 158gr +P LSWCHP does not reliably expand. If it fails to expand, it will produce less wound trauma than a WC. Target wadcutters offer good penetration, cut tissue efficiently, and have relatively mild recoil. With wadcutters harder alloys and sharper leading edges are the way to go. Wadcutters perform exactly the same in both bare and 4 layer denim covered gel when fired from a 2" J-frame.

When faced with too little penetration, as is common with lightweight .38 Sp JHP loads or too much penetration like with the wadcutters, then go with penetration. Agencies around here have used the Winchester 148 gr standard pressure lead target wadcutter (X38SMRP), as well as the Federal (GM38A) version--both work. A sharper edged wadcutter would even be better... Dr. Fackler has written in Fackler ML: "The Full Wadcutter--An Extremely Effective Bullet Design", Wound Ballistics Review. 4(2):6-7, Fall 1999)

"As a surgeon by profession, I am impressed by bullets with a cutting action (eg. Winchester Talon and Remington Golden Saber). Cutting is many times more efficient at disrupting tissue than the crushing mechanism by which ordinary bullets produce the hole through which they penetrate. The secret to the increased efficiency of the full wadcutter bullet is the cutting action of its sharp circumferential leading edge. Actually, cutting is simply very localized crush; by decreasing the area over which a given force is spread, we can greatly increase the magnitude to the amount of force delivered per unit are--which is a fancy way of saying that sharp knives cut a lot better than dull ones. As a result, the calculation of forces on tissue during penetration underestimate the true effectiveness of the wadcutter bullet relative to other shapes."

Before switching to a 9mm snubbie, you'll probably want data showing that your chosen 9mm load will expand from the short barrel. Otherwise, may as well just stay with the 38 and use wadcutters...?



-- Michael

[Donny1]

Before switching to a 9mm snubbie, you'll probably want data showing that your chosen 9mm load will expand from the short barrel. Otherwise, may as well just stay with the 38 and use wadcutters...?

Actually that's what I load and practice with, 148g WC. Although I would want to carry with factory boxed ammo and I don't see it around me for sale.

[BigBamBoo]

You need one of these:

https://www.tkcustom.com/products/mct-rsp101-9mm

.

[Donny1]

You need one of these:

https://www.tkcustom.com/products/mct-rsp101-9mm

Wow, they are proud of that thing. Also seems they could easily make one product for multiple guns. Way of the world I guess.

[SnWnMe]

The LCR has a MUCH MUCH better trigger than the SP. I think Ruger should scrap the older line and build a new GP and SP based on the LCR action.

[splithoof]

My daughter has a 9mm LCR as a back-up; she calls it "snappy", but it is a viable choice, as is very easy to carry in an ankle rig when seated for car trips.
If a perp tries to get to her through the driver's window, she may have a chance to shoot them several times before running them over.

[gunsandrockets]

About your 9mm LCR...

I have both LCR and SP101 in 9mm. LCR experiences crimp jump with some ammo, usually training stuff like Blazer and Winch. white box, on 4th and 5th rounds, SP101 does not.

The barrel is 2.25", but if you add cylinder length, your velocities are comparable to something like S&W Shield. In short barrel like this, cylinder gap doesn't have much impact on velocity. I use Federal 148gr HST with good results in both LCR and SP101.

Moon clips are not interchangeable between LCR and SP101, but they make loading and unloading a breeze. Ruger designed moon clips are easily loaded and unloaded by hand, no tools are required like with S&W 625.
I absolutely love moon clips in revolvers.

In short, these are good revolvers, LCR is easier to carry and has better trigger, SP101 is easier to shoot and just feel right to me.

Nice writeup.

I see you have a Lasermax on your LCR? I do too. Love that setup. Finding a holster wasn't easy though.

I've been thinking about replacing my original LCR grip with the LCRx grip, as it appears you have with yours. How do you like the change?