Just purchased #2 today
 

First purchase was a Smith and Wesson 40ve Sigma. I know some people here dont care for it but I also found alot of good reviews online.

Today's purchase is a Ruger SP101 .357 Magnum. We have a 48-hour waiting period here in Wisconsin so I wont have it in my hands until after 2pm on Wednesday.

So good or bad and what ammo would you recommend? The sales guy said 38 special for range shooting, .357 heaviest possible for home defense.

On a sidenote, the guy said sales are still booming. He had an interesting take on it...said that it's not so much Obama for the reason he recommends getting them now, he sincerely thinks TSHTF in March or April of 2009. He expects pillaging, raping and such as people get laid off and go hungry. I hope to god he is wrong about the timeframe since I would like a little more time to prep. :confused_m:

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

I just got a SP101 last week as well! Did you get the model with the hammer or no hammer? I opted for the hammerless... Don't forget that you can also shoot .38 Special +P in that gun.

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

Mine is with the hammer. I loved the way it felt in my hand and cant wait to take it home, and then to the range.

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

Nice handgun, I'd only add .357 with "Jacketed Hollowpoint" tips for self-defense. Stick with namebrands like Remington.

:wink:

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

Which would coincide with Obama being in office 100 days or so

I expect the honeymoon to quickly fade for him

I dont expect MASSIVE violence outbreaks till 2010-11

Though we will see some MAJOR SKIRMISHES at the later portion of next year.

A prelude of what is to come..................a culling of the American population that can only be quantified in biblical proportions.

Too many are too dependant on a system they never anticipate breaking down.


T

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

I love stories about homeless guns being adopted! {{{{{SNIFF!!!}}}}}:bear_wub:

Congrats on your purchases, CH and RK!

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

From the title, I thought you just bought some schitt.

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

For a defensive load in .357 mag, I go with the 125 grain Remington Golden Saber.
http://www.remington.com/products/am..._saber_HPJ.asp

For the range in .357, I use the Magtech SJSP, 158 grain.
http://www.magtechammunition.com/sto...details597.php
If you're not using .38 Special at the range, this is good, cheap .357 mag ammo.

I also use the Magtech .38 Special for target use.
http://www.magtechammunition.com/sto...details514.php

Enjoy!

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

Perfect! Thanks for the info!

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

Congrats! You'll love it. I'll have my second SP101 DAO in about a month. Mine shoots any brand of 125 gr. JHP .357 mag well. I've been meaning to try Speer 135 gr. Gold Dot JHP designed for short barrel revolvers.
http://www.speer-ammo.com/ballistics/ammo.aspx
Take care,
Mod1

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

As I've suggested to others....a 357 has too much muzzle blast and report for home use and night.....you will give up 2 very important aspects....night vision and hearing if you shoot 357 loads in the home.

Do you have a garage? Go out there and make a big pile of scraqp 2x4 lumber....at least 8 inches thick keep them tight together....might even use a few nails to hold the pile together.

Put on your hearing protection......turn off the lights...keep eyes open when you shoot.....you will notice a massive muzzle blast from the 357 but very little from the 38 specials. Next - take off your hearing protection and cut a 357 loose - your ears will be ringing.....and this is in a garage....just think what it will be like in a hallway of small room....

Just use 38 Spl +P for the home load. Get a lighter weight bullet .....125 grain ....JHP....this will be plenty good.

Either do the above experiment or trust me....i've done a lot of night fire training....also the shorter the barrel the worse the muzzle flash....tons of unburned powder....thus the flash.

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

I told a couple of my friends....they think I am nuts and paranoid, yet they agree that TSWHTF (will hit the fan) at some point in the very near future. It amazes me that some people are you so afraid of being the owner of one of these despite knowing that things will get very ugly. I told them that I hope I never have to use either one, but that the peace of mind of having them is well worth it.

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

LOL, yes go and try the garage experiment...I guarantee you'll be in for a treat! :emotions16:
I agree the +P's are quite adequate.

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

Nice choice, I have sp101DAO and absolutely love it! I use it as a night stand gun and stock it with buffalo bore’s "Speer Low Velocity uni-core 125 gr. Jacketed hollow cavity" for the reasons some one mentioned above, full load .357 will make you go blind at night and possibly deaf. But for my truck I use Double Tap 158 gr. gold dots.

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

Ruprick, I've read your posting on night-firing .357 mag versus .38 Spl before and though I've never done it, I should, as I have my .357 mag as my night-stand gun. Do you have a preference in .38 Spl. defensive ammo? I looked at the Speer Gold Dot and the numbers look good. People tend to dismiss the .38 Spl as old school, not a "real" defensive round, but the ft-lbs are about the same as 9mm.

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

I know an ex cop that is deaf in one ear from shooting a 357 in the car.

They are a loud hyper velocity suped up 9mm. Best used in out doors.

THAT SAID, THEY DEFINETLY GET THE JOB DONE.

I know you do not get to pick when trouble comes to you.

.38 specials ---I have Federal low recoil 110 hydra-shok in the 642.

E-A

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

A .357 revolver is an excellent choice.

What's not to like about a Ruger?

This weapon will not let you down.

Sell the Sigma and get another SP101.

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

you will want to shoot 38 specials at the range....just like the guy said..

as for defense i load the 357mags...but they will hurt your hand you will not enjoy shooting the mags

the 35sp are very comfortable to shoot...+ps are comfortable also

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

For those who own the Ruger SP101 5-round, what speedloader do you use if any?

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

Alright...thanks to the advice from others here, I made my first .357 ammo purchase at the local hardware store of all places.

1 box of Magtech Guardian Gold 125 gr JHP with 20 rounds
3 boxes of Starfire Law Enforcement 125 gr JHP with 20 rounds per box
1 box of Magtech 158 gr SJSP with 50 rounds
1 box of Winchester 38 Special 158 gr with 50 rounds

Total: 180 rounds for $97.00 with tax

How did I do?

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

Not bad, good choices and a great investment in your safety! I like the Win White Box .38 special ammo for target use, I have a couple hundred rounds of it in the ammo locker. Clean ammo, unlike the reloaded junk they want you to buy at the pistol range I frequent.

Let us know about how you like the defensive ammo you bought and if at all possible, do a night-firing excerise with the .357 ammo, as Ruprick suggested.

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

I'm not sure if I am going to try the night firing in my home. We live in a neighborhood where the homes are close enough to each other that I think someone would call the cops. I have only lived here 6 months, but my impression of my neighbors is that they are rather passive, and would be shocked to know that I have two handguns. If they heard a gunshot, I think they would freak out...honestly I do. Plus I dont want to go deaf or blind in my home. :bear_w00t:

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

I'm in the exact same situation! That's why I haven't done it. I know firing a .357 mag in my garage would get the cops called in a hurry!

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

Ok time for some gun porn since I picked up my new baby after the waiting period. First one is the Smith and Wesson 40ve Sigma with 200 rounds of target/range Winchester ammo, and 20 rounds of Federal hollowpoint. I ave two more 14-round mags that should be here soon.

The second picture is my new Ruger SP101 .57 Magnum with 230 rounds of mixed ammo (target/range and hollowpoint). I'm hooked...this sucks.

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

That looks to be exciting, very nice pistols. Join a gun club, assuming they have any up there, you will learn more and a lot faster by being around other shooters than any other method.

If you haven't been around guns, take a safety class.

But overall, I envy you your path of gun discovery, it's great fun.

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

Thanks...and that's a good idea about the gun club. I have lots to learn thats for sure.

I need to tone it down a notch. All of the stuff in those 2 pictures was purchased this month so that should be it for awhile (I hope, but there were some nice looking Berettas and Springfields at the gun shop....lol). :9536:

Re: Just purchased #2 today
 

If you ever shoot in the garage or basement ...just a few rounds....tell anyone that asks (Law/Neighbors) you were driving some nails into the floor with your HILTI nailer.....

This is 357 muzzle flash:


That was from a 5 or 6 inch bbl ......much more flash from a snubby. Also revolvers let out a lot of gas from cylinder to bbl.....where this semiauto does not.

Your eyes adjust to the flash...and you will have very poor night vision.


They look much worse from the shooter perspective because of side-ways gas escaping from the cylinder to barrel. One shot and your night vision is ruined.

Go for 38 specials....P+ is not too bad. I like 2 rounds of JHP in about 125 grains followed by 2 rounds of 158 grain SWC, followed by 1 or 2 rounds of 357 mag JHP.

By the time i get to the last 1 or 2 rounds....the night fighting is done and the gun is empty.....I do not carry a reload around the house for the revolver.

Here is some video of 38 special snubby with 38 special standard loads and then +P loads: Standard loads have nearly zero flash. It is all a function of unburnt powder exiting the bbl and then burning.


For comparison 45 ACP muzzle flash:


In my semi-automatics....I chamber JHP....but the first round in the magazine is a round nosed FMJ...just to make sure I have the highest probability of good feeding for round #2....after that all FMJ.......this loading does 2 things: Pretty sure of at least 2 short and #2 has better penetration capability.

As for sound of 38/38+P/357....the 357 seems to me to be at least 2X as loud....i have not applied science to it....but i bet the sound level has a lot to do with pressure levels generated within the cartridge...and the 357 is nearly 2X a 38 special.

Remember - keep your support hand well back of the cylinder face.....in fact do not place the off hand on anything but the 3 fingers of the strong hand holding the grip ....you can push forward with the strong hand and pull back with the weak hand. I am not kidding how serious this is.....I have seen several fingers destroyed by cylinder to barrel gas blow by.....it is 35,000 PSI!!! It takes off finger tips and nails and makes very deep gas cuts into the hand with nasty dirty powder....it is easy to forget....esp when a husband gives the gun to a gal or friend that has never fired a pistol before...