Ruger SP101
title: "Ruger SP101" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["revolvers-of-the-united-states", "ruger-revolvers", ".327-federal-magnum-firearms", ".38-special-firearms", ".357-magnum-firearms", ".32-h&r-magnum-firearms", "9mm-parabellum-revolvers", ".22-lr-revolvers", "weapons-and-ammunition-introduced-in-1989"] topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruger_SP101" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox weapon"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | SP101 |
| image | Sp101corbon.JPG |
| image_size | 300 |
| caption | SP101 with Corbon load data |
| origin | United States |
| type | Revolver |
| is_ranged | yes |
| manufacturer | Sturm, Ruger & Co. |
| production_date | 1989–present |
| variants | See Models |
| weight | 25 - |
| length | 7.2 in |
| 8 in | |
| 9.12 in | |
| part_length | 2.25 in |
| 3.06 in | |
| 4.2 in | |
| cartridge | .22 LR |
| .38 Special | |
| .357 Magnum | |
| .327 Federal Magnum | |
| 9×19mm | |
| .32 H&R Magnum (discontinued) | |
| action | Double-action revolver |
| range | 33 to 55 yards (30 to 50 meters) |
| max_range | 550 yards (500 meters) +/− |
| feed | 5/6/8-round cylinder |
| :: |
|name = SP101 | image = Sp101corbon.JPG | image_size = 300 |caption = SP101 with Corbon load data |origin = United States |type = Revolver |is_ranged =yes |service = |used_by = |wars = |designer = |design_date = |manufacturer =Sturm, Ruger & Co. |production_date = 1989–present |number = |variants = See Models |weight = 25 - |length = 7.2 in 8 in 9.12 in |part_length = 2.25 in 3.06 in 4.2 in |crew = |cartridge = .22 LR .38 Special .357 Magnum .327 Federal Magnum 9×19mm .32 H&R Magnum (discontinued) |caliber = |action = Double-action revolver |rate = |velocity = |range = 33 to 55 yards (30 to 50 meters) |max_range = 550 yards (500 meters) +/− |feed = 5/6/8-round cylinder
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/Ruger-SP101-22lr.jpg" caption="Ruger SP101 .22 LR, 8 shots, 4 1⁄5 inch barrel"] ::
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.
History
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.
Features and description
- The SP101 is currently manufactured in .327 Federal Magnum, .357 Magnum, 9 mm, .38 Special, and .22 LR.
- Barrel lengths 2" (57.15mm), 3" (77.79mm), and 4" (106.7mm) with full underlugs. 4" (101.6mm) and 4" (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
- Weight:
- 2", 25 oz. (708 g)
- 3", 27 oz. (765 g)
- 4", 22 LR: 30 oz. (850 g), .327 Federal Magnum: 29.5 oz (836 g), and .357 Magnum: 29.5 oz.(836 g)
- Barrel lengths: 2" (57.15 mm), 3" (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
Models
::data[format=table]
| Catalog number | Caliber | Capacity | Sights | Shroud | Barrel length | Weight | Notes | KSP-221 | KSP-240 | KSP-241 | KSP-242-8 | KSP-3231 | KSP-3241 | KSP-32731X | KSP-32741 | KSP-821 | KSP-821DOS | KSP-831 | KSP-321X | KSP-341X | KSP-321X-CT | KSP-321XL-LG | KSP-331X | KSP-321XL | KSP-921 | KSP-931 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .22 LR | 6 | Adj. | Full | 2" | 32 oz | Discontinued | ||||||||||||||||||||
| .22 LR | 6 | Adj. | Short | 4" | 33 oz | Discontinued | ||||||||||||||||||||
| .22 LR | 6 | Adj. | Full | 4" | 34 oz | Discontinued | ||||||||||||||||||||
| .22 LR | 8 | Adj. | Short | 4" | 30 oz | Adjustable fiberoptic | ||||||||||||||||||||
| .32 H&R Magnum | 6 | Adj. | Full | 3" | 30 oz | Discontinued | ||||||||||||||||||||
| .32 H&R Magnum | 6 | Adj. | Full | 4" | 33 oz | Discontinued | ||||||||||||||||||||
| .327 Federal Magnum | 6 | Adj. | Full | 3" | 28 oz | No longer on web site: Jan 16, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| .327 Federal Magnum | 6 | Adj. | Full | 4" | 29.5 oz | |||||||||||||||||||||
| .38 Special +P | 5 | Fixed | Full | 2" | 25 oz | |||||||||||||||||||||
| .38 Special +P | 5 | Fixed | Full | 2" | 25 oz | Bobbed hammer made for the U.S. State Department | ||||||||||||||||||||
| .38 Special +P | 5 | Fixed | Full | 3" | 27 oz | Discontinued | ||||||||||||||||||||
| .357 Magnum | 5 | Fixed | Full | 2" | 26 oz | |||||||||||||||||||||
| .357 Magnum | 5 | Adj. | Full | 4" | 29.5 oz | Adjustable fiberoptic | ||||||||||||||||||||
| .357 Magnum | 5 | Fixed | Full | 2" | 25 oz | Crimson Trace lasergrips | ||||||||||||||||||||
| .357 Magnum | 5 | Fixed | Full | 2" | 25 oz | Crimson Trace lasergrips | ||||||||||||||||||||
| .357 Magnum | 5 | Fixed | Full | 3" | 27 oz | |||||||||||||||||||||
| .357 Magnum | 5 | Fixed | Full | 2" | 25 oz | D.A.O | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 9×19mm Parabellum | 5 | Fixed | Full | 2" | 26 oz | Discontinued, uses moon clips; re-introduced November 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 9×19mm Parabellum | 5 | Fixed | Full | 3" | 27 oz | last=Ayoob | first=Massad | author-link=Massad Ayoob | title=Massad Ayoob's Greatest Handguns of the World | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F6Yd2aU3uc8C&pg=PA50 | date=26 June 2012 | publisher=Gun Digest Books | location=Iola, Wisconsin | isbn=978-1-4402-2869-8 | pages=50–51}} | |||||||||||
| :: |
- 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
-
- 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.
Notes
References
- Ruger's SP101 page
- Ruger SP101 -- A Sturdy Rimfire "Secret" by Clair Rees, Guns
References
- "Ruger SP101 Serial Number History".
- "Ruger SP101". Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc..
- James, Frank. (15 December 2004). "Effective Handgun Defense: A Comprehensive Guide to Concealed Carry". Krause Publications.
- "Ruger® SP101® Standard Double-Action Revolver Models".
- 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.
- "SP101 Models". Ruger.com.
- Ayoob, Massad. (26 June 2012). "Massad Ayoob's Greatest Handguns of the World". Gun Digest Books.
- Marr, Bill. (31 May 2021). "Ruger NYPD SPNY".
- Ayoob, Massad. "THE REDOUBTABLE RUGER SP101".
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