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Grip Options for SP101

13K views 32 replies 26 participants last post by  Trippinhard 
#1 ·
So I'm toying with the idea of throwing a Hogue on my SP101, but the factory grips aren't bad. My question is whether or not it makes a huge difference regarding accuracy and recoil? If theres other grip options, let me know!
 
#3 ·
I put a set of hogues on mine and it helped tame the 357 magnum recoil tremendously. It's nice to have something a little more substantial to hold onto.

The rubber hogues would probably do an even better job, but they ain't the purdiest grips in the world.

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#5 ·
Since I'm not a fan of rubber grips, I put Bagder laminate wood grips on my 2.25" .38 SP and Hogue rosewood grips on my 3" .357 SP and I think they're great. Much better feel, to me anyway.
 
#6 ·
Swapped out the original grip for a Hogue rubber grip on my Sp101 .357 mag 2-1/4". Definitely better recoil management and protects your middle finger from the trigger guard bite on the hot loads. They are longer and a little harder to conceal, but not that bad. That being said, they are not as pretty as the wood grip options that are out there. Seems that the rubber grips would absorb the recoil better than the wood, but I REALLY like the looks of those Hogues and Badger grips in the rosewood color against the stainless steel. Wow, those look amazing. Might be talking myself into something here.
 
#7 ·
The Hogue rubber grips are quite functional, but, ugly and they do make the profile of the SP larger. Worth it to me though because they totally eliminate the old "knuckle under the trigger guard" issue! Plus I have big hands and they just give me more to hang on to.
 
#11 ·
One thing to be aware of when changing grips on the SP 101:

if you have big hands [like I do], adding larger Hogue grips bring your knuckles closer to the rear of the trigger guard. Your knuckles may NOT appreciate the change - especially when shooting .357.
 
#13 ·
You can get really nice grips from Altamont, same size as original but wood inserts that can be checkered. I bought a set for 40+ but went back to the rubber Houges they just fit my bigger hands better.
 
#14 · (Edited)
I have tried several options for my SP101. The originals are ok (knuckle basher for me), and the Altamont inserts make a world of difference in "looks". The Hogue MonoGrip helps with recoil (I have the .357mag, spurless, 2.25in) and hand grip, but alter concealabilty, and are "sticky". I also tried the Hogue Wood Coco Bolo smooth, but too "slippery" when sweaty or wet. Finally settled on the Hogue Pau Ferro Wood with checkering (look very similar to the wood grips on the GP100 Match Champion, and couldn't be happier. Good luck in your search. As far as accuracy goes, seems better to me with my new grips, and recoil, although not as much as the MonoGrip, is better tolerated too.
 
#17 ·
Thanks for all the good insight, guys! I think I'm going to stick with the standard grips for the time being after hearing what you said about the hogue grips. Its my EDC and I can't have that thing being any bigger.

You guys rule. Thanks again.
 
#18 ·
I have had the Pachmayer Compacs, they are very good. Never had Hogue's on my SP101 but did have a set on my Taurus Model 605 .357. They tamed the recoil alot. I just got my latest SP101 in a 3 inch barrel that's .38 Special & I totally love this gun, the stock grips just balance out this gun. So why change things other then take the ugly plastic inserts out. Then add some Chig's wood inserts with the Ruger Medallion & wow. Brings out the beauty of these little guns.
 
#20 ·
I have a 3" SP. The original grips didn't fit me at all, I considered selling the gun immediately after my first range trip, the are that bad in my opinion. I opted to change to the Hogue Monogrip, and now it is my favorite gun to carry and shoot. The Hogues made all the difference in the world to me.
 
#21 · (Edited)
I haven't changed the factory grip on my three-inch SP, because I read that wooden inserts sometimes crack under .357 recoil and because the Hogue would preclude putting the gun in its factory box or in my very nice zipper pistol rug, which just takes it with factory grip. Concealibility may also be too altered, depending on how you hide the gun.

Also, I had a devil of a time finding grips that'd really fit the frame on my GP-100. That tenon is different from some production runs to others, said one grip maker, and it's harder to be sure a replacement grip will fit than with S&W or Colt guns. I finally settled on Pachmayr's Gripper, which fits both the frame and my hand.

But if Grippers are made for the SP frame, the gun'd be too big for its purpose.
 
#22 ·
I never cared for the 'stock' grips on the SP-101, and like others opted for the Hogue Monogrip. I'm hoping, that VZ will make a version for the SP-series.
 
#24 ·
I like my Hogue monogrip. I shoot more accurately with my 3" with them, as they fit my hand better. My dad has Pau Ferro Hogue grips and really likes them. Both are too big to conceal well, but that's why I have a LCR 9mm headed to the LGS right now (plus I miss my old LCR 38).

Altamont makes a snakeskin textured rubber grip, same size as the original, takes the same inserts, gives a little better grip and looks more distinctive. Mine is listed in the classifieds section with Chig inserts right now.
 
#26 ·
Ok guys so first thing I am going to say to each there own opinion thats great. Now apesmash the OP you do have a few options. It sounded like you like the idea of keeping the stock rubber grips that can be opted to to look much nicer with wood inserts. You can go to Chigs grips like I did or another place that also does a very nice job is Altamont Grips they also offer the option of a new set of rubber grips with wood inserts and that with their rubber grips can have stipples on the back and front of the rubber grips. They offer two types of stipple s thats nice and also offer the wood inserts with checkering on them and a few different types of wood. I went with Chigs grips because they offer more varieties of wood plus I can still go back to Altamont just to buy the stock Ruger Rubber grips that my current Chigs wood inserts will fit. Chigs grips also have the rubber gripes but not with the stippling. I am not certain but Altamont might make a all wood grip for your SP101. Now the Hogue grip tamers for your SP101 aren't that bad looking to me but do help tame the recoil. The Hogue Wood Grips that Trigg has shown to you are really nice but Trigg changed out his Hogue Wood Grips to a set of Wood Grips from a guy in Thailand that sells them on ebay. The Hogue grip angle still is close enough to the trigger guard that you might still get some bite from them hitting your fingers if shooting stout magnum loads. Personally I really like the looks of the Wood Hogue Grips. Now Trigg changed out to the Thai Grips because of the issue of the grips hitting his fingers. The Thai grips angle back just a tad more to give you clearance with your fingers. If you PM Trigg he can give you details of how to contact the guy to does these grips but you have to go through ebay. The last option & now the name escapes me from remembering them they are mentioned here on your thread. These grips really taper back more then the Thai grips they are very popular but I personally don't care for the looks of them but many forum members here like them I am just sorry at the moment the name of these escape me. For what its worth the looks of the Hogue Wood grips and the Thai grips are about even I think the Hogue Wood Grips offer more types of wood but the Thai grips will also offer to checker the grips and also checker the Ruger Emblem on their grips thats a very nice feature and they look nice. But either of these grips I like the Hogues are more $$ the Thai grips I think are roughly $42.00. I hope that this helps you out I really like the Ruger SP101 its a great gun that has alot of nice features good luck to you. Ok the other wood grips are Badger Grips
 
#27 ·
I have posted these pictures before, so forgive me for duplication here. However, these do show the difference in size between the SP101 factory grips and both the Hogue rubber monogrip and Rosewood Laminate monogrip. Due to the butt cap, the Rosewood Laminate grip is about 3/8" longer than the Hogue rubber monogrip.

The factory grips were totally useless for my large hands. The new Hogue grips made a world of difference and made the gun extremely comfortable to handle.



 
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