Ruger Only Loads ---> 38spl???

[jdgabbard]

Ok, so we've all talked about the Ruger only loads. They make a fine, strong, pistol. But I was thinking the other day about one of the ones I own. An SP-101 in 38spl. Now the same gun is also chambered in 357, albeit a little longer frame to chamber the round. But considering the weight of this pistol, does anyone shoot "Ruger Only" loads through theirs?

[jdgabbard]

And by this I want to be clear, not .357 loads, or 38/44 loads. But let say something a little between 38 and 38/44...

[Bodydoc447]

.38 +p?

[Dennis Eugene]

No such thing as a "Ruger only load" for the .38

[jonp]

I had one in 357 Mag that I carried for some time. With the 2 in barrel full house 357 was a handful to say the least. I would hesitate to get too ambitious with this gun considering the frame and leave the "Ruger Only" loads to the GP series. You also might not want to shoot it at that power as the recoil is painful

[Kraschenbirn]

I've got a 3" SP101 in .357 and my 'carry' load is the Speer .38+P 135 gr JHPs...their 'short barrel' load which produces around 850 fps out of my gun. For practice I use the Lee 125 gr. RNFP (132 gr. from my alloy) over 4.2 gr. of HP38 for approximately the same performance. Acquired the gun about 5 years ago and, to date, it's put over 3000 rounds of those RNFPs downrange without a problem.

FWIW...the external dimensions of the .38 and .357 SP101s are identical...same size frame, same length cylinder...but I've been told by a guy who's collected, traded, and tuned Rugers for over 30 years that the .357 cylinders get a different heat-treat process.

Bill

[jonp]

I will say that 158gr HP 357Mag was not something I wanted to shoot out of that small gun. I never noticed any problem with it but then again after a couple of cylinders of those I stopped and used the rest in my Blackhawk. I have heard that using ammo that stout often results in creep out of the brass due to the excessive recoil and it makes sense although I did not shoot enough of it to find this out for myself. I would make sure that I had a very good crimp if you are going to do it. With the 125gr I don't think you would have this problem but I don't recall shooting any out of mine and am quite interested in what you find with this boolit as I am thinking of finding another sp101 again.