Roundbutting a Security Six?

[mountaindrew]

I know, I'm crazy!
But seriously, can it be done? Does the grip frame have enough wasted material to round but the grip without losing strength? I would be aiming for the grip shape of a speed six or something like that.

One thing I love about stainless guns is that you can modify, polish ,grind, sand, or cut on them and it still looks good as long as you make the finish match the rest of the gun.

I am a natural born tinckerer who has never settle for any product as-bought. I would rather have things just to my liking.

 

[albanian]

I'm sure it can be done but it would be more than just cutting some metal off. I had both my Speed and Security Six side by side to see if this could be done but it looks like the Security Six would not be able to get down to Speed Six size. It wouldn't fit standard Speed Six grips unless the grips were altered as well.

The good new is, Hogue makes a rubber finger groove grip for the Security Six that feel almost exactly like the Hogue on the Speed Six. I have Hogues on both of my SS Rugers and they feel the same. If you don't like rubber Hogues, there are some wood grips other than factory that can be made to fit.

I wish I had a pic of both the grip frames with the grips removed so you could see what it looks like. I am not 100% sure it wouldn't work but I remember wanting to do just what you said and decided it was not worth it. If all there was to it was a little grinding and polishing, I would probably have done it.

 

[medmo]

Yes it can be done

I have round butted, (just created a new verb...), two rugers. The first one is a 2.75" Service Six and the second is a 6" Security. Originally I was only going to do the Service Six but liked it so much I did my Security Six. The Service is blue so I had to have it reblued. It was polished and fully prep'd for the gunsmith who just had to run it through his tanks and return the parts to me. The Service is stainless so I only needed to polish and blend the stainless steel.

I used a set of factory wood Speed Six grips as a template to shape the metal correctly. You can find these grips at www.gunparts.com I used a bench grinder, belt sander, bastard file, 100/240/400 grit emory cloth. It takes awhile because you have to go slow to make sure you don't take too much off. It's a bit of a chore so make sure that is really what you want before you start making sparks on the grinder. When you are done grips for the round butt Speed Six will now fit the gun.

I did the Service Six because I could not find a reasonably priced replacement Speed Six for one that I sold years ago. I stumbled across the Service Six at a good price so bought it. I wasn't completely happy with the square butt and mounted an old set of wooden Speed Six grips from my previous Ruger. That is when I lost my mind, strapped on my safety glasses and disappeared into the garage for the rest of the day.

I really liked the way the Pachmayer grips fit the gun so a few months later I again lost my mind and spent another day in the garage with the Service Six.

I think it was worth it and would do it again.

 

[medmo]

And while you are at it....

Just another thought if you decide to take the leap.... While you have it disassembled you can really spruce up the action by replacing the stock springs with a set of Bullseye/Brownell's reduced power. They are lighter then factory and really make the Ruger DA enjoyable. You can find the springs at www.brownells.com. Be careful cruising through their web catalogue. You may accidentally find all kinds of neat gizmos that will keep you in the garage for the rest of the week.

 

[JNewell]

This is probably obvious...but be careful around the serial number when you are taking metal off. Some of the square butt guns have the serial number rather far aft, and you don't want to remove part of the s/n by accident.

 

[magsnubby]

I did basically the same thing with a 150 pre-fix Security Six. Since grips are a little hard to find for the older guns, and i had a pair of nice walnut grips i had taken off my 151 pre-fix SS i decided to modify the 151 gun. I used the same process as medmo. It turned out great.

I've been eye balling my stainless Security Six wondering if i could round butt it and maybe chop the barrel down to 2 3/4".

 

[medmo]

Maybe obvious but REALLY important

Both of the Sixes that I round butted have the serial number centered on the very bottom of the butt. With these two I did not have to remove any metal anywhere close to where they are stamped. If Ruger did manufacture revolvers with s/n's stamped in some other location and you just happen to own one then I would refrain from making any modifications. It would be a really bad idea and violates serious federal firearm legislation.

www.gunparts.com now doesn't work. the correct address is
www.e-gunparts.com (numrich gun parts corp.)

They sell 2.75" bbl.'s. You would have to check to see if they have any in stock. MAGSNUBBY, you won't have to "chop" if they have one. You might have to "time" the replacement bbl if they have one. You would cut the relief so that when it tightens to the frame the front sight aligns with the rear. Also, an action wrench is a must for any of this work so you don't spring, (twist), the frame when un or re screwing the bbl.

As you can tell I really dig my Ruger .357 Sixes. One is for the outdoors and hunting, (Security), while the other is for CCW safety, (Service). The Security Six was my first center fire handgun that I owned. That was a long time ago....