1979 Ruger Security Six and hot ammo

[ZeSpectre]

I asked this question in another thread but I suspect the title of the thread sort of hid the question so I'll re-ask it here.

I understand that the Ruger Security Six is supposed to be a darn tough gun but I was wondering if one made in 1979 is going to be okay with a regular diet of full power .357 Magnum loads (maybe even slightly hot ones) or if I should take it a little easy on this gun?

Thanks
Ze

 

[JohnBT]

I know of no reason to take it easy. Of course, a steady diet of hot loads is going to loosen it up sooner than a steady diet of wadcutters, but it won't be anytime soon.

John

Edited to add: My thinking has always been that if you can afford $5000 or $10000 (or whatever) worth of ammo to wear a gun out you can afford another $300 gun.

 

[ZeSpectre]

I just tend to have this...caution...about any gun made before about 1985. So I tend to treat them carefully unless I know it's not a problem.

 

[Sistema1927]

What is magical about 1985?

 

[ZeSpectre]

It is my understanding that refinements in metallurgy changed a lot in the early to mid 80's and the strength of a lot of guns changed (for the better) along with it. Of course I could just be misinformed or overcautious.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Are you talking cor bon, buffalo bore, or some wild hadloads here?

If the former 2, you should be just fine. The latter? Each gun is a law unto its own.

I find that this is the one 357 I have that truly hurts me with full snort stuff. That wide steel part at the top of the backstrap really beats up the web area of my hand.

 

[Cosmoline]

It is my understanding that refinements in metallurgy changed a lot in the early to mid 80's and the strength of a lot of guns changed (for the better) along with it.

That sounds very much like something a clerk would say to get people to buy new firearms. In this case you are being overcautious. There were no magic improvements in the 80's. Indeed most modern metal "improvements" in gunmaking since WWII have involved the use of cheap metals to save on production costs. Unless your six is really beat up or you want to keep it a safe queen, don't worry.

 

[ZeSpectre]

Ben Shepherd, I'm talking Cor-Bon for the "slightly hot" stuff.

Cosmoline, I wondered about that. I'm not even sure where I picked up the notion it's just been with me for a long time. Probably another mythos that needs to be killed <grin>.

 

[Dienekes]

Blast away. I did wash out the forcing cones of two "Sixes" while an instructor, from thousands of rounds of 125 grain loads--but that load was pretty abusive in anything. I literally put cases of that stuff through the guns. In both cases I had the guns overhauled and rebarrelled at the factory and they are still going strong today.

I try to limit my use of 125s these days, but otherwise anything in the normal range is fine. The gun will probably outlast you.

 

[longboard]

It "will" out last you! I bought mine in that year and all of my friends helped me shoot it because none of them had a handgun.
I still shoot my Security Six and it is alittle loose but puts all the rounds right where the sights are pointed.
If you are going to shoot .357 save your hand and put on some good rubber grips, the small wood ones don't help at all.
Longboard

 

[Ben Shepherd]

With cor-bon stuff, you'll wear out before the gun does. Just keep the slug weight at or above 140, and it'll live longer than you do.

 

[ZeSpectre]

Mostly I intend to shoot 158gr range ammo (relatively light loads) and Federal/American Eagle 158gr JSP.

I also like to occasionally shoot Cor-Bon 110gr or 125gr SD ammo and I really like Georgia Arms 110gr ammo (which is easily as hot as the Cor-Bon stuff and is my most preferred SD load for .357 Magnum).

I'm sure it'll also get a steady diet of 130gr Winchester White Box .38 Special just 'cause it's cheap to get

I guess the bottom line is that it's a solid gun and my concern was unfounded. Thanks for the help/advice.

Ze

 

[Jubjub]

I shoot at an indoor range that has been around since the early 70's. They have a few Security Sixes that have been rental guns there pretty much since the place opened. The one I shot a few years ago was nice and tight, slick as glass, and grouped about as well as my 586. They don't get shot nearly as much as the Glocks and such these days, but I'd hate to guess how many rounds they've been through in the last thirtysome years.

 

[jad0110]

I think as long as you keep the 125 grain and lighter stuff to a minimum, you should be fine. Since you said you will be shooting mainly 158s, I don't think you have anything to worry about.

 

[tube_ee]

The gun is plenty strong, but...

It's a bit light for comfortable shooting of full-house .357s, IMHO. A fast .357, especially with a light bullet, makes Shootin' Bro's 4" Security Six ring like a tuning fork. It realy increases the felt recoil, as it stings the shooting hand. Up through mid-range (158 grain, 10.3-10.6 grains Blue Dot) .357s, it's a sweet shooting gun, with a good packin' weight, for field carry anyway, and a pretty nice trigger. Great gun. I may well buy it from him, athough I get to shoot it all the time anyway.

My 4" Colt Trooper MKIII is more comfortable loaded hot, even with the stock wide-butt service grips. The Ruger wears rubber Pachys. Sootin' Bro's 6" King Cobra with Houges is better still.

I've got no worries as to strength with any factory load, or any well-referened handload, with any of these guns. All of them are built like a brick... wall.

--Shannon

 

[ZeSpectre]

Made it to the range

Let me say right off the bat that I seemed to be "in the zone" tonight. It started off with sighting in my new Marlin 336 and getting a terrific grouping of shots from it.

Then I pulled out the Security Six, fully expecting to have to dink around with the sights for a while. Holy smokes, first shot blew the "10" right out of a shoot n see target! So I'm thinking "well there's my lucky shot for this trip" but then I proceed to do this (single action slow fire)...



HOLY COW! This is the best pistol grouping I've ever done with anything bigger than a .22LR!

So then I decided to just blast away double action, first single handed Left (strong) and then single handed right (weak).



Okay, not quite so impressive but man was it fun!

Ze

 

[Jubjub]

Very nice indeed.

There's something so endearing about a gun that plops its first shot ever right dead center. My SP101 .22 did that, and I've had a soft spot for it ever since.