Buy an SP101 when you want something small enough to carry and strong enough to feed magnum loads. Ruger built it with a solid frame and a stout cylinder, and the 4.2-inch barrel here adds sight radius and takes some of the sting out of .357 Magnum.

This used example is a five-shot revolver and ships with its factory box. Five shots keeps the cylinder thin, so the gun carries comfortably, and it can fire .38 Special as well as .357 Magnum. Many owners shoot cheap .38 loads for practice and keep magnum rounds for the road or the woods. That pairing gives you a gun that is easy on the budget and still powerful when you need it.

On a trade-in revolver, watch for cylinder play, hammer fall, and how the crane closes. Open the cylinder and look for ring marks that show how much the gun was fired. Check the muzzle crown for damage from a cleaning rod. Have a good look at the grips as well, since replacements can change how the gun feels.

For a trail gun, a truck gun, or a plain reliable carry revolver, this one is hard to fault. It is sold as described, in used condition, and ships to your FFL dealer for the background check.