Preference: Security-Six or GP-100?

[Confederate]

Just wondered what your preferences would be....

I bought my first Ruger Security-Six in the regular skinny barrel variety. I also have one in the heavy barrel configuration which is just right. I've never much cared for all the weight up front on the GP-100s and felt that Ruger's beefing up of the Security-Six was an ill-advised and unnecessary reaction to S&W's 686.

Security-Six Pros: Better trigger, better balance, easier to carry and has more and better options for grips.

Cons: Aluminum sights are durable, but scratch/wear easily.

The front sights are better on the GP-100 and the recoil better controlled, but it's a bit heavier and tougher to conceal. Grips are limited due to the grip stub. Can't put rounded grips on. Also, on the 6-inch guns, the Security-Sixes were almost perfectly balanced for field use.



The grips and sights on this Security-Six were swapped out
with better options. Millet sights and rounded Pachmayrs were
added, making it a great concealed magnum.



The 6-inch Security-Six was one of the most underrated guns of
all time, I think. Still, the GP-100 revolvers have quite a following.

 

[Barker45]

Any 4" 6-series is the way to go IMHO!!!

 

[Big Daddy Grim]

I gotta say the six they were a nice shootin iron and very accurate with the ajustable sights but the GP is a work horse still gotta say six.

 

[earplug]

Security Six

Why did Ruger axe this model? It never broke and it was a nice all around revolver.
I have several K frame Smiths and I still like my Dad's old used Security Six.
The potential for after market gunsmithing was never realised. I suppose it was caught between the high cap 9mm boom and the end of the PPC revolver competion.

 

[wuchak]

I'll take a 3" Speed Six in stainless please! : ) Just about the perfect CCW revolver for belt carry.

It will go nicely with my 4" stainless Security Six and 2 1/4" SP101.

The Security/Speed/Service Six series were plenty strong for .357 so unlike the S&W's of the time Ruger didn't need to add any extra steel. I like the grip design of the GP because it lets you choose compact, square, or round butt grips.

According to interview with Bill Ruger they never made any money on the S/S/S Six series. I think the GP was cheaper to make.

 

[Blue Brick]

Six!!!!

 

[H2O MAN]

I choose the

GP-100

 

[md7]

having never actually handled any of the six series guns, i cannot comment as to which i would prefer. i can say that the six series revolver would have to be nothing short of perfection to pry me away from my GP100.

i really like my 4" GP100. the more i shoot it, the more i like it. and now i want a 3" GP to add to the collection.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

Have to say the six is the better choice.

 

[wnycollector]

Also, on the 6-inch guns, the Security-Sixes were almost perfectly balanced for field use.

I have both 2.75 and 6" Security Sixes and I could not agree more with this statement.

 

[ceadermtnboy]

I will take the GP100. It the best design going. I am having Gemini customs make it look like Ruger should have.

 

[L-Frame]

The GP-100 3" is my favorite all time revolver, and I've had a number of 6's, many performance center S&W's, Dan Wesson's, a gorgeous Python. You name it, I've had it (within reason, no Korth's, Manurhins, etc.). To me, they're as good as it gets in a wheelgun.

 

[Geezer Glide]

The Security Six, hands down. All of the Six series of Rugers were great. My Security Six is a good shooter but my Speed Six is a fun little gun, too.

 

[jad0110]

In addition to the reasons mentioned above, IMHO, the Security Six has the added bonus of better looks than the GP.

But still not as nice as an equivalent K-Frame though .

 

[Rexster]

The GP100 controls recoil better for me, and I don't think it is just the weight, but the GP's grip being a great fit in my hand. Note that the GP100 does not have that curved step in the pre-Hogue-era factory grip.

It is not like I want to part with my 4" Speed Six or 6" Security Six, of course. They are great sixguns, as are my GP100s. I don't really worry about words such "favorite" or "preference" when speaking about Sixes and GPs. It is all good!

I tend to use milder loads in my Sixes, such as the (relatively) moderate 145-grain Silvertips, and carry the bruiser loads in the GPs.

My 4" Speed Six, with the Pachmayr Compac Professional grip, the one with the open backstrap, is notably a bit more compact and concealable than my 4" fixed-sight GP100. This Speed Six, into which I dropped a factory bobbed hammer, caused me to put off getting a 3-1/16" SP101 for several years, as it is just so handy and easy to carry.

 

[sadp40]

blue 200th year of liberty

service-six for me, 4 inch barrel fixed sights.

i bought a stainless parts kit and made myself a pseudo-pinto

i like it.

 

[WJR]

I agree with L-Frame and others, my 3 inch barrel GP100 is fantastic.

WJR

 

[Tob]

Geezer Glide that is a beautiful gun.

Thanks for posting the pic

 

[GP100man]

six series were hand fitted peices of art & GPs are cnc`ed peices of art!!
the GP lends it self to a little better & refined design , too bad Sturm Ruger added weight to it though.


GP100man

 

[Gambit]

While both have their advantages, the GP is a better (IMHO) combat and hunting pistol. More control with heavier loads and a better stock grip.

As a companion gun for field carry, I might opt for the SS.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Shooting with PyrodexP loads for black powder cartridge matches (3 targets, 6 shots each target), my Security Six ran like my Remington 1858: the second cylinder was not as smooth as the first, and the third dragged badly as fouling built up.
My son's GP100 ran like my Colt 1851: handled extreme fouling better.

The SecuritySix fits my hand much better, the GP100 was heavier (both were 4 inch barrel models), and smokeless is nowhere near as nasty as BP, so I am sticking with the SecuritySix, just not as a BP gun.

 

[greyling22]

if the 6 has a better trigger than the gp100 then the gp must be a real dog. my smith trigger is WAY better than my security 6. (both have had some work.) I really like my 6 though. trimmer gun than the smith and seems more durable. I do wish it was stainless.....

 

[Confederate]

Both the GP-100 and the S-Six series are so good, it's often difficult to say. Why did Ruger stop making the S-Six series? Simple answer: cost. It also didn't help that one magazine writer wrote a warning about the dangers of shooting full house magnum loads through the S&W 19/66. As an almost afterthought, he added that since the Ruger medium sized magnums were about the same size, he was going to put the warning in to cover them, to. Well, Ruger almost popped his cork. His magnums had larger cylinders, more massive topstraps, oversize parts and the cylinder stops were offset so they would not be placed just over the chamber.

The GPs commanded a higher price and also, from what I heard, were slightly cheaper to make (they didn't require the grip part of the frame, but only a stub.)

My only gripe with the new models is that they're bulkier. I like light magnums I can carry easily into the field.