My Single Six Screw-up

[Robereno]

I’ve been warned about posting idiotic newbe questions on gun forums so I’ll just go ahead and post my idiotic newbe screw up.

Purchased a used Single Six (older 3 screw model) that the seller described as a 22 cal revolver. I guess technically he was right though he didn’t mention that the cylinder was for 22 magnum rather than 22 LR. Or maybe, if I was more experienced, I would have easily noticed without needing to have it pointed out.

I’ve since resolved that problem and am having Ruger fit a 22 LR cylinder to the gun. I don’t think I did any damage to the magnum cylinder though the cracked shells were my first hint that something wasn’t right.

Live-n-learn. :banghead:

 

[Spartacus451]

Glad things stayed safe. In the future always remember that the caliber the gun is chambered for should be stamped on the gun, and in the case of guns with interchangeable cylinders the manufacturer better put it on the cylinder too (I don't know if Ruger does this). On some guns you will see it on the slide and barrel, some only on the barrel, but it will always be marked somewhere.

/Just got certified to teach NRA basic pistol

 

[bakert]

I don't think you will have any damage but they do swell up don't they. Best to check very carefully to make sure a cartridge is the right one even if it will go in the chamber(s) of any gun. Glad no harm done and don't feel too bad about screwing up, you learned something and there are a lot of more experienced shooters that make some pretty silly mistakes at times.

 

[Robereno]

Yeah, the cylinder that came with the gun had no markings at all which is odd because I've read that Ruger does mark their interchangable magnum cylinders. The only way I was able to confirm that it was the magnum was by downloading the manual and comparing photos.

 

[Working Man]

Live and learn. Things can and do happen and if it makes you more aware in
the future then it is a lesson well learned. It may help prevent a more serious
mistakes down the line.

As for the cylinder I doubt any damage was done but give it a good look-over.

 

[Fer]

My single six only reads .22cal, does not specify magnum or lr, I guess this is because a factory revo will come with both cylinders.

Fer

 

[MCgunner]

I once grabbed a box of .380 and loaded my 9mm. I'm thinkin', "Why are these things rattlin' in the magazine so bad?" Then, the first one fires and the slide doesn't extract. I eventually figured it out. :banghead:

 

[Spartacus451]

Sounds like something of an oversight by Ruger. Not good...

 

[Old Fuff]

Single Six and Super Single Six cylinders chambered in .22 RF are fluted, where the Magnum cylinders are not...

It does say on the side of the barrel to read the manual...

Glad you didn't get into serious trouble. From a safety point of view Ruger products are way overbuilt.

 

[Jim March]

DDP

 

[Jim March]

Yup. Odds are vastly against having hurt the gun any.

NOT that this is a good idea. The 22LR bullet will fly down the oversize Magnum cylinder bore at a cockeyed angle and hit the forcing cone off-center or even not quite pointed straight downrange (eek). Batters the heck out of the gun. The only reason the guns *usually* hold together is that the cracked shell drops the pressure down.

Even then, I've seen the front sight literally pop off a minirevolver fired in this fashion, and the owner never did find it!

Hmmmm...come to think, my recollection vaguely says the shell did NOT crack in that particular situation...it stretched to hell and gone but held the gas seal. Remington Yellowjacket I think it was...which is a fairly hot .22LR.

If my memory here is accurate, you may have gotten lucky that the shells blew like that. Good time to have eye protection of course but assuming you did, better this than beating the gun up even more.

 

[Outlaws]

Single Six and Super Single Six cylinders chambered in .22 RF are fluted, where the Magnum cylinders are not...

That isn't correct. Some, but not all.

My Old Model Single Six (1961) has both cylinders fluted from the factory.

 

[Robereno]

Yeah, this is a photo of the gun that's now at Rugers. A little hard to see but the cylinder is fluted.

And I agree about reading the manual. I just had to download it from the Rugers website and was able to use it to figure out my mistake. And, I'm looking at the manual right now and it says, "Do not accept delivery of a single-six unless the serial numbers of both cylinders match the last three digits of the serial number on the frame."

I can say for a fact that the cylinder in my gun had no numbers or any markings at all.

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

The old model single six my grandpa had neither cylinder was stamped.

 

[Outlaws]

Mine as I said, is form 1961 and both cylinders are factory. Apparently, from what I gathered, is its a very early Single Six Convertable. The frame says "WIN. .22 RF MAG. CAL." The Mag cylinder is not serial # because it was still basically a 22 mag and they were just offering the extra cylinder, so they didn't feel it neccessary to number the mag cylinder. Then when they matched a 22LR cylinder, at the factory, they added the last three so you knew you were getting the proper cylinder.

Basically there are lots of possibilities as to how a Single Six is configured so lesson learned eh?

 

[Sharps Shooter]

"That isn't correct. Some, but not all."

"My Old Model Single Six (1961) has both cylinders fluted from the factory."

I read that it was in 1973 that Ruger went to the unfluted .22 Magnum cylinders for their Single Sixes. Both my wife's and son-in-law's Single Sixes have unfluted .22 Magnum cylinders. But their Single Sixes were built in 1976 - "200th Year of American Liberty" models.
At any rate, this is a good thread Roberino. And thanks for the picture. I've only been a member of this forum about a year, but in that time I've seen at least 3 questions posted about shooting .22 Long Rifles in .22 Magnum revolvers. I'm glad you weren't hurt and I doubt you did any damage to your Ruger.

 

[JohnBT]

A lot of the magnum cylinders on the 3-screws were marked with the last 3 digits of the serial number using an electric pencil - or whatever that thing is that scratches faint handwritten numbers on metal. A little dirt easily covers them up. I've never seen one with stamped numbers, but I'm no expert.

My '72 Convertible Old Model has fluted cylinders and the easiest way to tell them apart at a glance is to look for the countersunk holes in the magnum cylinder. The LR cylinder has a groove connecting the holes and the mag doesn't.

John

 

[Robereno]

Lesson Learned

Thanks all. Yep, lesson learned.

I’ve just recently developed a fascination with handguns and specifically revolvers. Been reading everything I can get my hands on and you can bet that on my next gun purchase, I’ll have done my homework.

 

[Seven High]

Robereno: That single six should have come from the factory with both cylinders. I would try to hunt down the seller and see if he has the other cylinder for it before buying a new cylinder.

 

[BluesBear]

Before 1974 both cylinders were fluted and the .22 mag cylinder has individually recessed cylinders. The .22 Long Rifle Cylinder had a "trough" recessed between chambers.
After 1973 the Magnum cylinder was unfluted.

If you send your three screw back to the factory it will come back to you converted to transfer bar ignition. Ruger will return the parts they removed but they will NOT allow a traditional three click gun out of their possession.

If the seller has lost the cylinder look for a used one in one of the online auctions. I've never seen one (that wasn't damaged/abused) that didn't drop right in and work perfectly.

 

[TimboKhan]

For the first time ever, I loaded a single 7.62x39 round into my Mini-14 mag without ever noticing. I am what I would call an expereinced shooter, and even with the fairly obvious difference between a .223 and a 7.62x39 round, it took me a little bit to figure out what the hell was going on....

 

[Robereno]

Yeah, the gun is already back at the company. It will take them 6 weeks to fit the new cylinder and do the safety conversion. (They also shut down the factory for two weeks in August so it will be September till I get the gun back).

I suspected that a used cylinder (without being fitted) would probably work fine but so many people recommended otherwise that I sent it in anyway.

And yeah, the safety conversion was an issue with me. Though I’m not into gathering guns for investment, I am kind of a purist so I’m regretting losing those 4 clicks when you pull back the hammer. On the other hand, since they return the parts, I guess I could convert it back.

And yeah, I'm shopping for another .22 wheel gun to add to my collection. I seem to be bitten.

 

[Old Fuff]

I am going by memory, which is getting more feeble by the minute...

But I believe that the Single-Six conversion retains the 4 clicks. At least we will hope so.

 

[SwampWolf]

My SuperSingleSix was purchased new in 1975 (don't know the manufacture date, ser. no. 62-874xx). It came with both cylinders fluted. The manual cautions: "Do not accept delivery of a New Model 'Single-Six' Convertible unless the serial numbers of both cylinders match the last three digits of the serial number on the frame." Naturally, neither of the cylinders provided with my NIB revolver came with any number whatsoever, serial, cal. or otherwise.

The manual went on to show an illustration depicting the differences between the two cylinders; in the case of the ".22 W.M.R." advising, "Note the absence of firing pin groove", and, in the case of the ".22 caliber", advising, "Note the firing pin groove."

At least in the case of my particular revolver, I don't think Ruger made it very easy to distinguish between the two cylinders. Regardless ,of course, it is still the individual shooter's absolute obligation to insure that each decision and action he takes is completely safe and fully understood.

 

[mljdeckard]

Ok, since it has come up,

I bought my dad one a few years ago for father's day. He fishes a lot in mountain streams, and wanted a pistol to take with him because he sees a lot of rattlesnakes. Neither of us had ever had a magnum before, so the extra cylinder was a bonus. We asked an old gunsmith friend of ours if we could shoot LRs through the magnum cylinder, and he said it was probably a bad idea. So we didn't.

BUT, if you can shoot .38s through a .357, and you can do the same with .45/.454 revolvers, etc, why can't you do it with a single-six?