If you're not planning on carrying it (CCW) go for the longer barrel.

Better (marginal) accuracy and sight radius, and the extra weight will help to fight muzzle flip. It's a fairly light gun to begin with.

Price sounds reasonable my my area.

My $0.02, for whatever the hell that's worth.

 

I agree.

Mike I

 

I really think you need to decide whether you want to be able to conceal it comfortably.If it's going to be a range,trail,home defense,or open carry gun I would go with the 4" for the reasons you stated.If you want to conceal I would go with 2".You can conceal a 4" but that's a little larger than I would want for an every day carry.

As far as prices go I bought a new 2" last month for $439+tax.My LGS had a sale and I got the last one.They are a high volume shop and now they have no SP101s of any kind.Davidson's doesn't have any and Bud's only has .327.Ruger is so far behind on production if you want one I would grab.It the prices aren't crazy for something in such short supply.

 

you are not going to be making a mistake with either barrel length. the sp101 is great gun. that price seems pretty good to me.

 

I have the 2 1/4" and it carries well and with practice you will be able to shoot the it accurately. As to the pricing I would check it over thoroughly before I bought. Look at BBL alignment in addition to checking out in lock up plus the bore and cylinder.

 

You can always split the difference and look around for a 3 1/16 inch barrel.

Added weight, balances well and still not too difficult to conceal if you decide to do so.

Great guns, you really can't go long with any of them.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. I have one more place to look. So far i have found two 4" models and only one 2" model (used). It looks like the short barrel one is not easy to find.

 

For range work you will be WAY ahead with the adjustable sight model and it also has a longer barrel to get you a longer sighting radius, which also helps with accuracy. Fixed sights just don't cut it when you start switching back and forth with different loads, especially between 38s and 357s, because your point of impact will change. The fiber optic front and adjustable rear on the 4" are a huge improvement for the sake of accurate shooting. The 4" is still plenty small enough to pack as a trail gun and will work for CCW, though not quite as well as the shorter versions. The ONLY advantage the short barreled, fixed sight models have is for CCW.

 

Agreed, that's why he should get the snubby SP101 and the 4" GP-100

 

Like others have said. If you need it for CCW get the 2 in. If you want it for range or hunting, 4in is really going to give you that magnum power where the 2in is about the same as a pocket 9mm.

I like my 2in but it is rather hard to shoot accuractly. I have my good days and my bad days. Need to polish up the trigger still, I did the outside for a couple hours one day and it shines up really nice. Like yesterday I put a .357 through the pvc leg of my target stand because I wasn't focusing enough with it on one shot. Also new shooters seem to be terrible with the fixed sights on the 2in. None of my friends can hit anything, even ones who have shot enough by now, so I think I decent with it. Make sure you bring a light with you and check the forcing cone. Mine is terribly rough with ridges and I'm sending it back once I've shot the rest of my reloads. I checked out a 4in though and it seemed to be smooth

 

I have the 3 inch barrel so I am partial to that. However, you don't have the choice, so based on your post, I say go with the 4". Additionally, as you are new to revolvers, shooting 38 in a 357 may cause a crud ring to build up in your cylinders. You may find that you need to clean these more often than you would like, or would otherwise if only shooting 357. If you look around you can find cheap(er) 357 if the issue is $. If the issue is power, you can find many 357 loads. By the way, I don't know why folks think 38 is so cheap. I have found the prices diffs in my area to be negligible (or even more expensive in some cases). By the way, if you go for used, in addition to what another poster said here, ask or determine, if a trigger job was done. You may not like what was done to it. There are many threads here on Sp101 triggers. I would love to have a trigger job, but I dry fired the heck out of money, plus put a ton of 357 (and a small amount of 38) through it. This made the trigger much nicer (though not perfect) for free. I love my SP101, but the trigger itself is sharp, the hammer spur is sharp, and required serious force to pull it back until everything loosened up. My hands are large, so I got some Pachmayr grips and Metropol night sites (the front ramp has no color on it and is HARD to see against a dark backgrounded target). The gun shoots very accurate and will last forever. I love mine! You will NOT go wrong buying any SP.

 

I would go with the 2-1/4" It just looks sexy has hell!

 

Once you put some wood inserts in the grip, the sp101 is a sexy beast. Best looking snub nose in my opinion.

 

I carry the 2" 101 all the time and have no trouble with it. On the range I only shoot .38s because the recoil can be a bit much on the shorter barrel. Like others have said, the 101 is a great gun.

 

If you don't intend to carry the 4.2 will be more accurate, controllable and efficient. If you do decide to carry it is not that much larger than the 2 1/2 and not heavy for a .357. It would also be legal to use for hunting in most states although it isn't the best choice for that purpose.

I have a 4.2" and use it for a camping/woods gun. I do occasionally carried it concealed but I am a big guy and used to carry a smith 629 mountain concealed on occasion.

 

I bought my 1st SP101, a 2.25" version, in Dec. 1994...and still carry it more frequently than not to this day! A friend has the 3" version...and I'm starting to like that better...it's more accurate and has a slightly better 2nd/follow-up shot! I wouldn't necessarily recommend carrying the 4" version...but I would suggest considering the 3" version as a split between the 2 options you have listed! I have a 4" in .22lr...and older model six-shot...which my wife and I absolutely love!

 

I just found a sp101 3" barrel, love it. I've looked for 6 months around my area here in Fla, finaly got it two weeks ago at a gun show. Used (very little) 450 out the door. Took it to the range last week and a full 158grn 357 load handled nice, big muzzle flash and accurate. 38's were a breeze felt like my 9mm Glock. Its my new house gun and will carry it every now and then. Its actually lighter then my G19 which I carry now.

They are hard to find from what I've read and experienced. This one is a keeper.

I would find a 3", that way you can carry it if you want or use it for a home gun.

 

I have a 3" hard to find but it does everything. It is not much fun to shoot without hogues (with the monogrip it is a pleasure to shoot even full .357 mag loads) I am assuming the 4 inch handles hot loads better and the 2.5 is even more uncomfortable.

 

I say go for the 3" version like I have. You get the best of both worlds...The 3" is shorter than the 4" so it's easier to CCW, and it's more accurate than the 2" because of the longer sight radius. I can shoot bullseye all day with my 3", it is by far MY FAVORITE RUGER TO DATE. Period.

 

I own both. I enjoy the new 4 inch. I like the looks of the snubby (I have the talo edition), but it is not very fun to shoot. If your buying for recreation get the 4 inch.

 

yes...

 

I have the 2 1/4" .357 and the 4" .22LR. Both are excellent guns. The longer barrel will give you higher velocities and it will be easier to shoot well. The two great myths about snubbies is that they are inaccurate and that .357 does not gain any performance with the short barrel. They are much harder for the shooter to shoot well. It is really the human to gun interface. Short, unforgiving sight radius and little weight to dampen recoil. The guns themselves are accurate and with enough practice can be mastered. As for the velocity issue. Yes, short barrels will not deliver top velocities for a cartridge. The short barreled .357 is not as bad as many think however. In my experience the light bullets (110-125gr.) don't perform very well in a short barrel. I found in MY gun, that heavier bullets (140-158gr.) can have very similar velocities to the lighter bullets when fired in short barrels. This is where the .357 has an advantage over a .38 or a 9mm. The .357 will fire a 140 grain bullet at the same or higher velocities as a 115 grain 9mm.

 

I carry the 2 1/4" DAO .357 every day. Mine cost $400 used with all the original goodies & 3 sets of grips from a private seller. Personally, I think I got a good deal. After carrying for a while, I came across a Police Service Six for $300. IMO, another good deal. As it stands now, I couldn't choose between the 2. The shorter barrel is indispensable as my EDC and a lot of fun on the range. The 4" is perfect for the woods and great fun on the range too. Luckily, I don't have to choose. At this point it would be like choosing a favorite child. Well, maybe not a child. How about a favorite dog.

Seriously though, choice is personal. Just remember, priorities change. While you may not plan to carry today, a 4" is pretty hard to conceal while a 2 1/4" is still useable on the range. Good luck with your decision.

 

I want to get a revolver for training purposes and learn about them. I will like a 357. I was looking at the SP101. I can get a brand new 4" barrel one with adjustable sights for $549 plus tax. I can get an used SP101 2.25" barrel for $449 plus tax. I don't have any plans of carrying a revolver but who knows. I have heard that is better to get a 357 with long barrel since it helps with accuracy and recoil. I probably plan to use 38 sp for range practice.
Are these prices okay? What's your opinion on the barrel lenghts? Thanks.

Here's a quote from one of our learned members(I won't mention his name but his initial is "I"):
"Keep this in mind .... the SP-101 was designed to be a concealed carry revolver, not a target gun, nor was it intended to be a "gaming" gun. It is the strongest design of any DA CCW on the market, which is great for practice because it will hold up and manage recoil, unlike other small and light DAs. I see people complain about the weight and another will complain about the recoil .... you can't have both a light gun and light recoil ... it just doesn't work that way. I also see complaints about the sights. It's a CCW .... where your most likely shots will be closer than 7 yards. You don't even need sights for most self defense situations. Grips get a bad rap too. The factory grips work fine for their intended design. Put on a set of oversized grips and you no longer have a CCW. Ever notice that all CCWs have a strong trigger pull? There's a reason ... when the adrenaline is pumping in a self defense situation, a 12 lb pull feels like a 3 lb pull. The long stout trigger pull is the only safety on a DA."

 

I agree with you. I seen these all the time, people trying to get a gun that is light and with no recoil as well. Alot of people blame the accuracy of a gun because it has alot of recoil. Is all a balance, you sacrifice recoil for size and weight or viceversa. That's why you go practice with it at the range to improve your skills. I seen this with my Keltec PF9(which i'm selling). Alot of my friends including my wife saw it as a small gun and they wanted to shoot it right away thinking it will no recoil. Next thing they are putting the gun down.

My wife believed that her accuracy issue was the recoil in any gun. I kept watching her and she will change her grip alot while shooting. But she won't get it. She wanted a gun that will not kick back and hurt her hands after shooting for a while. I bought a 22/45 for training and fun shooting without worring about my wallet. I let her try it and she fell in love with the almost no recoil feeling. To her surprise she was still hitting all over the place. I coached her while shooting the 22/45 until her grip was better and she was hitting more accurate. I gave her back my P89 and the results were a tight group right the middle of the target. She was amazed and finally understood that is not just the recoil and you got to practice alot.

I normally buy guns that are solid and i know the SP101 will not let me down.

 

The SP101 fits my small hand well. (If I had a larger hand, I would have bought the GP100.) My SP101 makes a great CCW with CR laser grips. My backup is an LCR with CR laser grips.

 

Dude go for the 4 inch I have one and it is my absolute favorite gun. It is light enough to carry, yet is heavy enough to shoot 357s comfortably, it is great for the shooting range because the sights ( can adjust to point of aim so you can use any load.... and hit what you are aiming at (try using 110 38 specials then 158 357s and you will know what I mean))
I am planing on using mine for a hunting trip because I shoot it better than any gun I own. It really is a do anything kind of gun.

 

I agree completely. I first purchased the 8 shot sp101 22, fell in love with the gun. I had to buy the sp101 357 4 inch. Totally manageable and easily concealed; crossbreed supertuck. Nice and cozy. Nice adjustable sights, cant beat the fiber optic. I'd buy the 4 inch, no questions. What it comes down though, which one do you really like more. I guarantee you'll shoot that one the best.

 

I have the 3". I installed hogue monogrips. Arthritis makes recoil unpleasant for me so I mostly shoot light loads. My eyes are not so great either, so I installed a XS big dot tritium sight. I am using a 10lb Wolf spring.

 

I would go with a 3" barrel, you never know, one day you might decide to carry it 24/7. I just got mine last month after trying to locate one for 6 months. I love it.