[kludge]

'New-to-me' Service Six, .357Mag, 4". Yes I do reload, and will shortly find out, but I'm looking for someone who has found a factory defensive load that will shoot to POA in a Ruger Service Six (1977 vintage if that matters).

[James T Thomas]

Too many variables to answer definitively for your particular firearm.

Investigate the various rounds available.

In general the higher velocity rounds will strike the target lower and the lower velocity ammo -strikes higher in relation to each other.

Windage adjustments? I'm presuming you have fixed sights. Adjust your point of aim.

[dbarale]

It semes that most Ruger like heavy bullets. I would try a 158 grains...

[Confederate]

I agree that heavier bullets might be the way to go.

Smith & Wesson and Ruger seem to have two different approaches. Smith optimizes their guns for lighter bullets. But Ruger, recognizing that lighter bullets are more likely to be used for defense -- close in, optimizes their guns for heavier bullets, more likely to be used at greater distances. I've found that all the Security-Sixes I've shot like the heavier bullets, while the 686s I've shot like the lighter bullets.

Ruger has the best approach, I think. Hunters and outdoorsmen are more likely to use heavy bullets at longer distances. Lighter bullets, on the other hand, are more likely to be used for defensive shooting.

I've used my Rugers to shoot 125-gr. JHPs at 100 yards and have been able to hit man-sized targets, but the guns clearly like the heavier 158-gr. bullets. I suspect the barrel twist rates on both guns are slightly different.

The only way to tell for sure with your individual gun is to try different loads. Published results from magazines dating back to the time the Ruger-6 guns were in production also seem to reflect the guns' preference for heavier bullets. If anyone has any results that conflict with these observations, I'd like to know.

[defiant73a]

My Service Six shoot POA with 158-grain JHPs.

It has nothing to do with Bill Ruger "recognizing that lighter bullets are more likely to be used for defense.' The Service Six was designed for LE at a time when 158-grain bullets (both in .357 Magnum and .38 Special) were more or less standard. FWIW, my S&W M65 shoots POA 158-grain JHPs as well--it is certainly not "optimized for lighter bulllets."