Forcing cone questions for all of you Ruger Security, Service, and Speed Six experts

[schultzie]

I’m a long time Six fan and am looking at finally replacing the six inch Security Six that I foolishly traded around a quarter-century ago:banghead:. Currently, I have a blue 2.75” Service Six and a SS 4” Service Six. Both have completely round forcing cones. However, it seems that somewhere between 1981 and 1984 Ruger changed the forcing cones on Sixes to have a flat spot at 6:00 like the K frame Smiths of the past (no brand loyalty here because I’ve got a pair of 3” Model 13’s that will be among the last I would sell).

I’ve done a brief search but can’t find definitive answers:

1. What year or serial number range did Ruger make the change to flat-spotted forcing cones on the Sixes?

2. Considering the metallurgical advances that may (or may not) have been incorporated into the 1980’s forcing cones, do the flat-spotted forcing cones have a shorter lifespan than the round ones?

3. Is there a difference in longevity of the forcing cones of stainless steel Sixes versus blued Sixes?

I'm not afraid of the flat-spotted forcing cones, but I would like to get the best available example of a six inch Security Six.

Thanks

 

[Drail]

The type of forcing cone does not matter. The type of ammo used does. Stick with at least 140 gr. ammo and your forcing cone will outlive you. Shoot a lot of 110-125 gr. "flamethrower loads" and you can watch it erode away. Whatever else can be said about light fast hot .357 loads the only important thing is they are hard on steel. No one has yet come up with a material or design for a forcing cone that will withstand light hot loads for long. It's just the way it is. A 158 gr. .357 load moving at 900 fps. is more than enough power if you can place it where it needs to go. If you can't then a hot flamethrower load isn't going to make any difference.