Posted on 12/09/2017 5:28:44 AM PST by Oshkalaboomboom
Edited on 12/09/2017 8:16:27 AM PST by Sidebar Moderator. [history]
Cabela's may be addressing this reality. I just got a Cabela's ad flyer with some serious discounts across the board for the guns they sell.
If S&W sales are down it’s not because I have been a slacker!
You might be interested in knowing that among those that shoot in competitions (USPSA, Steel Challenge, ICORE, IDPA), revolver class, 99% of those shoot S&W revos.
It is true that a current production S&W 327, TRR8, 627, 686, 625, 986 and 929 absolutely require after sale pistol smith attention to make competition ready, the fact remains that no one at the highest levels is using anything else, be it vintage S&W or other gun makes. We refer to them as “kit” guns but once dialed in they are fantastic.
The Ruger is cast, so they had to beef it up, making it heavier than a forged S&W. I have an M&P 340 scandium frame 1.87 barrel, very light and it is brutal on the hands with the .357 rounds. I think I’ll go to the gun store & rent the Sp101.
They need a good government contract.
“The Sigma pistols were poor replacements”
And FYI, the Apex trigger kit is a waste of time and money.
It’s a bear to install and I can’t tell any difference.
“I think I’ll go to the gun store & rent the Sp101.”
Try it with some of the +P .38 cartridges. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Merry Christmas.
L
Yes. Exactly.
There are a few models (like the 642) that can be had off the rack, but the selection seems to be pretty limited, at least the last time I checked. Iit would be way cool if they would dump the lock for anything sold outside the coastal leftist collectives.
I have owned a number of S&W firearms over the years, but have never kept any of them. Looking back, I should have kept the 3913, a 2206 and maybe one of the 617s. The others wouldn't fit in my life anymore.
I have had a few of them and liked them, but QC is all over the place even more than the newer S&Ws. We found the 4" SP101 in .357 to have delightful balance and be perfect for informally running .38s through all afternoon long, but it is a bit big for a kit gun, a bit small for a hunting .357, and has less capacity than I care for as a defensive piece of that size. We "Monogripped" ours, deciding that the cross-section of the trad SP101 factory grip was becoming less comfortable over time.
“BUT, sounds like some deep discounting ahead with the built-up inventory.”
that’s be nice ... i’m in the market for a 638 or 638ct
Is it a decent gun for conceal carry? Im used to the 1.8" barrel with my older 5 shot .38 with a couple of speed strips so the SP's capacity wouldn't be a deal breaker for me.
Will do, and Merry Christmas to you too sir.
I put a set of Eagle grips on mine. Brazilian Rosewood. Fit my hand like a glove. And they look fantastic on that gun.
They’re a local custom shop that works in exotic woods. Check them out on the web. Located in Carol Stream IL.
Best,
L
SP101s are less delicate than a J-frame Smith & Wesson, but I don't consider the "innards" to be a whole lot more rugged than a Smith; the Rugers overall will take more pounding from extensive firing though. Rugers are a lot easier to take apart and reassemble, and you can easily clean up the rough spots inside them... and there WILL be rough spots. A little deburring and a bit of polishing here and there on small components can really do wonders on a Ruger DA, as can playing around with reduced-rate hammer and trigger return springs.
My old and beat-up "carry" SP101 is a "spurless" 2-1/4" barrel variant that is heavy by "snubbie" standards, and larger overall than a 642 or similar S&W. I have the old factory CTC laser grips on it (that I rarely activate), and I replaced the front blade with an XS Sights 24/7 tritium front blade (the standard size, not the "big dot"). It is on the upper limit of what I would want to conceal carry both size-wise and weight-wise. CCW is where the factory grip may be a better choice from a concealability standpoint, because the monogrips are quite a bit "longer." Some consider the snubbie SP101s to be boat anchors vis-a-vis CCW, but I've carried it off and on over the years.
Thanks for your insight on the Ruger, it makes my decision a little easier.
Unfortunately it’s probably 50-50 whether it will need to back for warranty work. Legacy gun makers have outsourced QC to their customers.
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