Interesting fact about Ruger SP101 .22LR "Kit Gun

This is from the Walt Kuleck facebook page.

For those that do not know Walt, he is a member of the gun club and has written many fine books on firearms. He has been a personal friend to many of the leader in the firearm industry over the past 50+ years. Below you will find a link regarding his books*.

Books*: Scott Duff Publishing or Amazon

This week's Thursday Day at the Range (26 September 2019) features an SP101 .22LR "Kit Gun." But...didn't we just do that? Well, yes we did (19 September 2019). However, the previous SP101 .22 was made in 2011; this one, in 1990. Yes, 1990, the second year of SP101 production.

There are some differences between the 1990 and 2011 guns, some obvious, some less so, and at least one that's not easy to discern. The obvious differences include the sights and the half-lug vs. full-lug barrel. What you might not notice is that the early revolver seems to have a discrete frame lug, but the late revolver's frame is different in that area and seems to dispense with the lug.

The subtle difference one might overlook (though my friend Dale, our Rangemaster noticed) is the frame window. The original SP101 has a window about 1.67" from front to rear. The SP101 was originally designed for a .38 Special-dimension cylinder. When a .357 Magnum variation was introduced, the cylinder length did not permit the insertion of any but lightweight .357 loads with their shorter overall length. This limitation, of course, was undesirable because it limited sales. Consequently, the frame window was lengthened so that a longer cylinder could be used.

You've probably guessed by now that the later revolver has a longer window, about 1.73" from front to rear. This allows the longer cylinder needed for the use of any .357 Magnum cartridge. Because Ruger evidently wanted to continue to use the earlier-dimension .22LR cylinder with the longer window, the late revolver's barrel protrudes just a tad more into the frame window than does the barrel of the early gun. That's what Dale noticed, and I overlooked.

OK, down to the shooting. The usual protocol applies, seven yards, unsupported standing Weaver, best of five, five-shot groups, .22LR CCI Mini-Mags. Note that 21 years has made little difference in results! These are good little guns.

NOTE: the early gun has Chigg's Grips grip inserts, the later gun, Ruger-branded Hogues (yes, they really are Hogues this time!).

* Walt has offered to personalize and sign your copies, just let Dale know.