Some Specifics
I shot a bunch of factory loads, from Black Hills, Federal, Buffalo Bore, SIG, Winchester and a couple of others. Everything ran fine. The .44 Black Hills HoneyBadger (125-gr. solid copper fluted) ran 1,055 fps from that 3″ barrel, their Cowboy Load (a 210 lead) did 680 fps and the Buffalo Bore “Manstopper” (a 200-gr. hard cast full wadcutter) clocked at 980 fps.
Groups at 25 yards hovered in the 1.5″ to 2″ range — with a memorable solid 1″ once with five rounds of BH cowboy ammo! The bold sights and great triggers really helped. Like any big bore revolver, this gun shot like hells-afire, only better. None of the loads were the least bit troublesome to shoot and even the hot HoneyBadger and Buffalo Bore were easy-peasy on the hands.
The two GP100 models conducted themselves as gentlemen. And like any gentleman were courteous, placing all their rounds in 2″ or so at the same 25 yards. We chased 1.75″ a time or three and with better eyes I’m thinking we could have done better. The ammo was a line-up from the same makers so we were shooting good quality loads, in top quality guns — and it showed.
The svelte SP101 could actually be a daily carry holster gun. If your pockets are big enough, it can also live in a pocket holster. Being heavier and a bit bigger than a J-Frame does lend a hand in shootability. It “feels” like a bigger revolver than it is, translating agreeably into handling recoil more easily and offering more reliable gun-handling. A bit of heft makes it easier to hold onto.
Firing some “Fire and Brimstone” .357 loads (even a 180 hunting load) was actually fun — once I doubled up on soft plugs and muffs. Velocities in the rarified air of 1,200 fps and a bit higher were stumbled upon, but the V8 Hybra-Ports do their work and I was impressed with how they modified muzzle flip and recoil impulse in general. But, they can be a bit flamboyant, if you get my drift.