Who prefers old Ruger vs. new Ruger revolvers

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I have both Security 6 and GP-100 revolvers. I really like both of them. The GP-100 has the advantage of being a newer and stronger design with some trendy features like the full lug barrel. The bad news is that it is HEAVY! I prefer the old NON-FULL LUGGED BARREL. I have a stainless, fixed sight early model and it shoots well enough with the old Ruger rubber grips that I have left it as is. I may have it Magna-Ported, when I get a chance.
I also have several Security Six and a Speed Six. I bought the Security Six used at a gun shop after trying the trigger. It was terrific and as good as my favorite SMITH & WESSON'S. It is one of my favorite revolvers. It is about the same size as a S&W K-frame, so it is lighter than the GP-100 and much more pleasant to carry on my hip.
I bought the Speed Six when I saw it and just had to have it. It looked so good. It had a smooth trigger and shot well with .38 Special and +P, but when I tried .357 magnum ammo, I had to stop. Those small wooden (banana style) grips were just not up to the job. I put a pair of PACHMAYR round butt grips and it was a night and day change. I would love to find a stainless Speed 6 with a round butt and 4 inch barrel. It might be the best ccw revolver ever.

Jim
 
I have Ruger revolvers made from the early 60's until just a few years ago. Most of them are excellent, but I have seen a few duds, across all of the generations. I have inspected two lightly used middle 70's guns- a Bicentennial Blackhawk and an early Old Army, that you could drive a bus through the cylinder gap, easily over .015". How they left the factory that way is a mystery. Some of the newer DA guns I have fondled at various LGS have also seemed pretty breezy, but it not like S&W hasn't been having the same problem.
 
I prefer the older ones, I have only bought one of the new GP100s and the forcing cone was burned up with less than 5k rounds through it. Mid range rounds at that.
My old models, the forcing cones still look like new. That GP is the only revolver I have ever owned that had forcing cone problems.

I may have gotten a bad apple, I don't know. There's lots of pictures of GP100 on the internet with burned up or split forcing cones.

Problem is we don't know what they were running them. I know what went through mine.
I have four Ruger revolvers now, If I buy another one, it will be another Security Six or an older Redhawk.
 
Three Screw Super, 1976 4" Security Six, slightly earlier 2 3/4" Security Six, for old. Love em all. Have a 4 3/4" stainless 1976 Blackhawk 357, a couple later convertibles and a 44 special flat top. Best trigger of all is on my 3" SP101.
 
Dicky, that's one well worn, OM BH! And in my book that's a compliment to a long carried side arm. How's it shoot?

And ... Driftwood ... those are absolutely beautiful....you've managed to garner a fine collection over the years. Best Regards to you both....and keep posting....Rod
 
Rodfac said:
Dicky, that's one well worn, OM BH! And in my book that's a compliment to a long carried side arm. How's it shoot?

And ... Driftwood ... those are absolutely beautiful....you've managed to garner a fine collection over the years. Best Regards to you both....and keep posting....Rod
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Shoots fine when I shoot it, which isn't a lot anymore. The second trigger/hammer set is about worn out and I haven found a new set. I got it when I was 15 and bought a Herters reloading setup. From then on all my money went into powder, primers and bullets!
 
Dickydalton: "I got it when I was 15 and bought a Herters reloading setup. From then on all my money went into powder, primers and bullets!"

Yep, bought my Herter's Model 3 press and dies for a .243 when I was 16, ie. 1962. The press cost me $13, which at a penny each for delivering newspapers in Buffalo, NY, was a considerable sum. Still have the press, tho, do most of my rifle loading on it, but my short gun's loads are put up on a pair of Dillon 550B's. Incidentally, I checked the run out on some 5.56mm I loaded for Camp Perry back in '07 and found the Herters produced rounds with less than 0.003" run out.

Again, I do like that well worn BH...never had any problem with a holster worn side arm. Saw a cpl in Colorado, back in the mid '60's that had sights gouged by fence staples and grip bottoms that had been used for nailing. Rancher I rode fence for, east of Colorado Spgs, and his lovely daughter, both carried Single-Sixes in El Paso holsters...good times, that. Best Regards, Rod
 
bannockburn said:
I like my older Ruger single actions as well as the Six Series (Security, Service, and Speed Six), but I never have cared all that much for the SP101 or the GP100. Love my newer Flattop Blackhawk in .44 Special as well! When it comes right on down to it just about any revolver, Ruger or otherwise, is welcome in my gun safe!
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Sweet collection you have!:thumbup::thumbup:
 
I've owned a variety of Ruger revolvers since about the mid '60s. I like them all. Where the single actions are concerned, I much prefer the single actions with the transfer bar. Our department investigated an incident in which a man dropped a loaded, pre-transfer bar, Blackhawk .357. It discharged; he was hit and died...
 
I much prefer the Old Model, 3-screw Rugers to the "just don't feel right" New Models, but then I'm an old curmudgeon.

YMMV,
Dave
 
The best Ruger revolvers are the new GP 100's. I have a Wiley Clapp 357 and a Lipsey's 10mm. Both are head and shoulders above friends and family's older ones. Older GP 100's and Security Sixes that is. Don't have experience with the single action ones. Also, all long barrelled GP 100's should have a half lug barrel. Balances perfectly.
 
I have two Ruger revolvers - one a Blackhawk, the other a Super Blackhawk. I bought both as used guns, but I believe the Blackhawk is a newer model. The Super Blackhawk was made in the early 1980's. I can't really say that (in my mind) the older gun outclasses the newer, but I admit that the older gun has that has that ultra smooth action that older Ruger single actions are known for. However, I still think of both guns as high quality firearms.
 
Blnt4rcetrauma said:
When I was a cook at a local bar and grill. There was a regular there who,besides to being an energy company executive’s heir, he also successfully sued Ruger for a faulty trigger that when he dropped it it went off and shot him in the ankle and won millions. Biggest coke head I knew.
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I'm betting being a coke head had more to do with it than the gun being dropped there Blnt4rcetrauma.;)
 
silvermane_1 said:
I'm betting being a coke head had more to do with it than the gun being dropped there Blnt4rcetrauma.;)
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I didn’t believe it either. Until I went to his mansion. And the pictures of him with various former Halliburton execs. And yes that one too. Very interesting who you run into in the Houston heights and river oaks neighborhoods.
 
The older Rugers were fitted together by skilled craftsmen. The current ones are "assembled" by guys with absolute minimal training and production quotas. The "bean counters" are also much more involved in manufacturing these days. It's a brave new world.......
 
Drail said:
The older Rugers were fitted together by skilled craftsmen. The current ones are "assembled" by guys with absolute minimal training and production quotas. The "bean counters" are also much more involved in manufacturing these days. It's a brave new world.......
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Rugers have always been made with far less attention to detail than Colt or S&W. It's kinda their claim to fame.
 
They all look the same but those made in the last 10 years have included some lemons for me.
Poor timing, sharp edges on stainless, defectively assembled rear sight.
If you can find something made around 2000 or earlier that you can examine personally for wear this might be a good way to go. If you simply order a used Blackhawk you may just be buying the accumulated problems that led the owner to sell it.
 
i have a 357 magnum blackhawk made in 1973 that had cylinder throats from .356" to .358". i called, they said send it in, and i got a brandy new cylinder with all the holes @ .357" (it even has the last four digits of the serial number stamped on it like a pre-model smith!!!). so, i don't care when the blackhawk was made cause ruger will fix it if i can't fix it first.

murf
 
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