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Loads for Ruger SP101?

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jim85255
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Posted: 7 August 2008 04:01 AM

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I have been experimenting wirh various loads for the SP101 and have settled on 4.3 gr. Unique behind a 158 LRN Laser cast bullet.

It shoots very good to 15 yards and I can keep it in the 8 circle at 25 yards.

What has everyone else found for this gun? :wink:

miestro_jerry
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Posted: 8 August 2008 04:59 AM

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I like 3.8 grains of 231 for the 38 Spl load. What barrel length do you have?

Jerry

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jim85255
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Posted: 8 August 2008 05:39 AM

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Jerry,

It is the 2 1/4" barrel.

Your load sounds interesting. I will give it a try

Thanks

JRB

miestro_jerry
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Posted: 8 August 2008 06:28 AM

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JRB,

The 38 Spl is such a very well research cartridge for reloading, that you have many good choices of powders. I have a S & W 340 PD in 357 Mag with a 1 7/8 inch barrel, but I shoot 38 Spl in it. I have a S&W 586 which is also a 357 Mag, it is a 6 Inch barreled pistol. I have to load for each of them differently as they shoot like day and night. The PD is a my carry pistol, my 586 is what I carry some days when I work my farm fields. The PD is great for close range, the 586 will take down a coyote at 30 yards.

But my common 38 spl load for both of them is the 3.8 gr load of 231.

Jerry

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jim85255
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Posted: 8 August 2008 01:33 PM

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Jerry,

Is that load with a 158 gr. bullet?

Thanks,

JIm

miestro_jerry
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Posted: 8 August 2008 03:29 PM

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Jim,

That load is a with a 158 gr SWC LD CB, cast out of Lyman #2. I used to use WW lead for these, no real difference in leading, I just use the #2 for almost everything.

Jerry

Last edited on 8 August 2008 03:33 PM by miestro_jerry

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sako06
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Posted: 9 August 2008 03:29 AM

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I loaded 148gr bevel base & hollow base wadcutters in 38special cases using:4gr & 3.5gr red dot ;2.7gr bullseye & 2.9gr 700x.I inverted the hollowbase wadcutters which really opened up when it hit a steel disc.A homocide detective investigated a murder committed with an inverted hollowbase wadcutter:a 38 cal entrance wound then major internal damage to the victim.When I hunt I carry my Rossi Mod 88 SS 2" 5 shot revolver loaded with hollowbase wadcutters some of which are inverted.I also use them in my 6" S&W Mod 19 along with 110gr & 125gr JHP bullets.

chaltu237
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Posted: 9 August 2008 02:37 PM

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In my taurus 617 2" I have loaded hornady 158 grn lswc (knurled/pre-lubed) with both 4.3 grns and 5 grns of unique and have been more than satisfied with downrange performance at both 15 and 25 yards but I think the unique is quite dirty. I am loading up some 357 mag cases with the same bullets plus 125 and 158 grain hornady xtps with scot 4100 powder (very similar to Lil gun).

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jim85255
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Posted: 13 August 2008 02:48 AM

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Chultu237,

Thanks for the help. I agree that Unique is a bit dirty, but if it is accurate I can live with that.

I have not had much luck with 125 gr. bullets. My .357's just don't seem to like them.

Jim

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Posted: 20 August 2008 03:19 AM

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I have been using 125 GR XTP's with 5.9 grains of 700x. It is clean and shoots fine.

Not a hot load, but comfortable in the short barreled magnums.

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Posted: 20 August 2008 04:12 AM

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I only shoot lead (my cast)

I have one load for all my revolvers (snubbies through 6.5" bbls)

38 spl case - 3.8g Unique under 158g LSWC
- for defensive its the same charge w/ 148g Button Head WC

YMMV

Last edited on 20 August 2008 04:12 AM by Sprue

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jim85255
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Posted: 20 August 2008 05:39 PM

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Sprue,

I loaded up some 158 LSWC with 4.5 Unique and 4.0 Unique. I have not had a chance to try them yet. I will try the 3.8 Unique load

Thanks

JRB

Sprue
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Posted: 20 August 2008 09:06 PM

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Here is a pic of my little buddy the Smith M15-3 (1974) 38 Spl using the previous mentioned load. The M15 has the narrow factory stocks with it but I was fooling around at the range one evening not too impressed with how the little guy was shooting.

So I yanked the stocks off the 686 and put them on here. It looks outta proportion but man did it make a huge difference in the way it printed on the "chart paper" target.

This is rapid fire double action @ 7 yrds..... its a real treat to shoot, FAST. I never loose the site picture. OOOps.. I did have one volunteer as you can see.

Unique 3.8 LSWC with Felix lube.

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jim85255
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Posted: 20 August 2008 11:05 PM

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Sprue,

Very impressive!!!!

I am going to load some of those tonight and go to range tomorrow.

JRB

bandit
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Posted: 21 August 2008 03:56 PM

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I have found w231 to be a much cleaner powder than unique or bullseye. I have worked with it to get the best load for my pistol. I am still trying to tweek the load to the lowest velocity and still pull accuracy from it.

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CB900F
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Posted: 26 September 2008 03:01 AM

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Fella's;

Here's some load data using the Ruger SP101 2.25" barrel. All brass is Winchester .357. All primers are CCI small pistol

Load: 125 gr Berry copper plated FP bullet, 4.5 grains of 700X powder. From a 6" barrel avg velocity was 892 fps. A four inch barrel produced 862 fps avg velocity, and the SP101 made 790 fps avg. The interesting thing here were the S/D's. The six and four inch barrels produced S/D's of 29 and 54, but the 2.25" barrel of the SP101 ran an S/D of 13.

When the load was bumped to 5.0 grains, this is what happened:

6", 957 fps, S/D 52. 4", 897 fps, S/D 26. SP101 859 fps, S/D 25.

In comparison, the factory load Remington Golden Sabre 125 gr HP made an avg velocity of 1083 fps and an S/D of 28

If I were to load for personal defense reasons for a short barreled SP101 today, I'd almost certainly start around 12 grains of Blue Dot with a good 125 grain hollowpoint bullet such as the Speer Gold Dot.

900F

jim85255
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Posted: 26 September 2008 03:59 AM

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CB900F,

That is very interesting data. Thanks for the info

JRB

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Posted: 30 September 2008 06:00 AM

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I worked this load up several years ago, it will hold 2" at 15yds in every J frame or Taurus I've shot it in, I use it for my carry load.

158gr Hornady XTP

6.5grs BlueDot

CCI 550 primer

Lights em hot and fast, thats what it takes to get the goody out of a short tube.

W.D.

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