Ruger SP101 Problem??
I just got an SP101 2.5" .357 and put some Hogue grips on it. Feels good and helps tame recoil. Shot it for the first time Saturday and it seems to print high and to the left several inches at 25 yards. Since it has fixed sights, anybody have any suggestions?
I am hoping it was the brand of .38 ammo causing the problem. Foreign made but these days you buy what you can find, ya know?
If not, would it be difficult to have adjustable sights put on it? Any cost guestimates out there for such a thing??
I am hoping it was the brand of .38 ammo causing the problem. Foreign made but these days you buy what you can find, ya know?
If not, would it be difficult to have adjustable sights put on it? Any cost guestimates out there for such a thing??
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Bullet weight and velocity have a lot to do with point of impact. Try some high velocity 125 or 158 grain .357's. Also 25 yds isn't the optimum distance for a fixed sight snubby. It's made for up close and personal. I would experiment with different bullet weights and velocities at no more then 10 yards, before going to 25. 0 -
I used Remington 125 JHP 357s in mine, does point of aim well and recoil is not bad at all although there is alot of blast. May want to try some +P 38 Specials in 125 grain or 110. 0 -
I'm not trying to be a smart@$$ here, but are you sure it's the gun and not you? 0 -
The 25 yard distance was dictated by the fact I was shooting on my club's rifle range. Pistol range was full. Short guns are allowed but minimum 25 yard distance. It could be me, of course. But I did take out my Buckmark and print a group of 10 around the target center just to check. And I would have thought, if it were me, I would pull down and to the left in the opposite direction.
I will try some more ammo and hope it clears it up. But, hey, that's still close enough to be in the body cavity. I just won't try any head shots <grin>.
Anybody got any information/opinions about adding adjustable sights? Any guess at the cost?0 -
quote:Originally posted by FrostDawg
I just got an SP101 2.5" .357 and put some Hogue grips on it. Feels good and helps tame recoil. Shot it for the first time Saturday and it seems to print high and to the left several inches at 25 yards. Since it has fixed sights, anybody have any suggestions?
Yes, If you are going to be taking headshots at 25 yards, aim for the lower right jaw. There, problem solved [;)].
Seriously, forget it. While its certainly *possible* to connect at that range, the guns really aren't intended for that, and realistically speaking a 25 yard shot probably isn't really "self defense".
The cheapest easiest fix to correct your point of impact at 25 yards is to use a different gun for 25 yard shots!
quote:
I am hoping it was the brand of .38 ammo causing the problem. Foreign made but these days you buy what you can find, ya know?
I hear you on the second bit.
Ammo choice may affect your elevation, but I doubt you'd be able to correct a several-inch wide problem with windage with different ammo, no matter what type you try.
quote:
If not, would it be difficult to have adjustable sights put on it? Any cost guestimates out there for such a thing??
Putting in adjustable sights isn't trivial because the rear upper part of the topstrap has to be milled out to accommodate them. In general, not worth it, since by the time you've added the cost of the work and sights, you'll be paying more than just buying a different snubnose with adjustable sights.
I don't think you'll get this job done for under $150. I've seen one place that will put in good quality fixed sights for about $225, then adjust them for you here:
http://www.dlsports.com/dl_jframe_sw_sights.html
Bowen will do super-cool sights plus other tuning for $495 (!), though you might inquire about a sight-installation only:
http://www.bowenclassicarms.com/NEW/PriceList.htm
I remember seeing one other outfit that will put in adjustable sights, but I can't remember its name, and again not cheap.
As a possible alternative you could CAREFULLY widen out the rear notch sight a bit on one side a little at a time to correct the windage. Personally, I wouldn't bother.
Edit: On filing down one side of the the front sight. . .I'd recommend NOT doing that.
As there is less metal there, you have less margin of error in filing a front sight, first of all, and if you take off too much, you'll weaken it.
Next, and most important, the majority of your aiming point comes from your front sight. For this reason, people do all sorts of things to make their front sight MORE visible, like painting it with brightly colored paint (highly recommended, IMO), putting in radioactive luminous night sights, or even putting in substitute "big dot" sights. If you look at sight upgrades, they invariably try to make the front sight LARGER, not smaller, and IMO, the LAST thing you want to do is REDUCE the overall profile of your front sight!0 -
Guys...good sage advice all the way around. I really appreciate it. The adjustable sight don't make much sense, I guess. This ain't no target pistol. I had already thought about widening the back sight. I did that once to a cheap .22 to correct such a problem back in my teenage years. If it is a severe issue after I try some quality ammo, I may have a local smith look into it. I guess I could take some off one side of the front sight as well to help the situation. The front blade pretty much fills the entire back sight groove anyway. I always preferred a little daylight on each side of the blade to insure the front site was actually centered. But I really want to get a feel for what the gun does from a good rest with good ammo first.
I have always somewhat feared fixed sights because of that .22 But I inherited my Mom's S&W Model 15 with fixed sights. I used it to qualify for my carry permit because it was so accurate. I'm not asking for a 3" group at 50 yards or anything...I just want all my shots to group in close proximity of my aimpoint. I don't want to have to think about where to hold the gun just to hit a certain area. Again thanks for all the advice.0 -
I had a S&W 2" M&P. As long as I aimed for his left elbow I would punch center mass everytime at 10 yards. I don't have it any more. 0 -
You just got this and you want to modify it? Just shoot it lots until you're used to it. Can the hogues and put the original grips back on. Shoot 38's at 7 to 10 yards until you do one hole groups with it. When I shoot my snub at 25 yards, it's supported single action time and I can get groups at that range. Comparing your buckmark to the ruger is a no no. Go get that snubby all hot and dirty! 0 -
Maybe it's just me but both of my SP101s shoot high with bullet weights over 125 grains. I've also found that they (me?) are more sensitive to the type of grips that are installed than most revolvers. 0
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