Questions: Ruger Single-Six Series
- Thread starter Center fire
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Center fire
Member
What barrel length do you all have? I'm leaning towards the 5.5".
ECVMatt
Member
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2004
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- 2,867
Mine is a 5.5. I really like the balance. It seems about the right length for hunting and plinking without being overly long. I am thinking about adding a 4 5/8 for the wife though. I shot a friends 4 5/8 and it was pretty sweet. It would be nice if you could handle a few first to find the best fit.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
I really like my one and only Single Six.
The hardest part for me was learning to shoot a single action as consistently as I can an autoloader. Part of it is the grip, part of it may be the Ruger trigger, part of it may be lock time of that longish swinging hammer. All those things combined makes it easier (for me) to drop the muzzle after a shot compared to an autoloader. Maybe having a 9.5" barrel has something to do with that, too.
I did do a moderate trigger job to help me out. That with practice has made the gun plenty fun.
The hardest part for me was learning to shoot a single action as consistently as I can an autoloader. Part of it is the grip, part of it may be the Ruger trigger, part of it may be lock time of that longish swinging hammer. All those things combined makes it easier (for me) to drop the muzzle after a shot compared to an autoloader. Maybe having a 9.5" barrel has something to do with that, too.
I did do a moderate trigger job to help me out. That with practice has made the gun plenty fun.
My 5.5 inch Single Six convertable bought around 1972 has been great, although it always shot high even with the rear sight all the way down.A couple years ago it started spitting lead out of the cylender gap while out shooting with my grandson.I called Ruger and was told to stop shooting it and they sent me a return label to ship it back to them.About 3 weeks later I got it back with a new higher front sight,retimed action,cleaned up forcing cone,replaced some jimmied up screws and touched up blueing.NO CHARGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm a happy camper. Ruger customer service is top notch. hdbiker
bannockburn
Member
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2007
- Messages
- 26,301
My Single Six has a 5 1/2" barrel and I like the way it balances and handles.
Confederate
Member
Yes, there is a small difference between the bore size of the Ruger Single-Six. If top-notch accuracy is required, consider Paco Kelly's ACU-RZR. It's a small tool that, with just a tap or two, allows you to not only make a .22lr bullet just a tad larger, but gives it a gaping hollowpoint Paco calls a Nasti-Nose. (See review here with contact info.)
The Single-Six, on its own, is plenty accurate and Paco's tool is only recommended if you're a hunter or if you just want to wring out all the accuracy you can. It's also excellent for self defense.
The Ruger Single-Six and the Standard Mark II are two of the
best .22lr pistols available. For fun plinking and serious hunting,
it's hard to beat. For sheer firepower, plinking and self defense,
the Mark II is the one to get.
__
The Single-Six, on its own, is plenty accurate and Paco's tool is only recommended if you're a hunter or if you just want to wring out all the accuracy you can. It's also excellent for self defense.
The Ruger Single-Six and the Standard Mark II are two of the
best .22lr pistols available. For fun plinking and serious hunting,
it's hard to beat. For sheer firepower, plinking and self defense,
the Mark II is the one to get.
__
palmetto99
Member
I'll chime in. I have a beater single-six that I think is an early 80's production. It's a convertible with a 4-5/8" barrel. I've never run that many 22 WMR's through it. Seemed to shoot well enough. I had not had it out in awhile and seemed to think it was off. Took it (along with a couple of other .22's) to the range a few months ago. Wow, I was wrong. It was dead on.
Center fire
Member
Today I purchased the SS Convertible stainless steel 5.5" barrel. In 10 days I can pick it up. Can't wait! Thanks all for your replies. They were very helpful in my decision to purchase.
herkyguy
Member
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2009
- Messages
- 1,409
I have nothing but good things to say about my 5.5" Single Six. I carry a cylinder of 22WMR on the land and bring the 22LR cylinder for plinking.... or at least I did until a neighbor said we've got a bear running around now.
But that aside, it's one of the best choices I've made in firearms. I also have one of the leather holsters bought through Ruger's website, a hi-viz front blade, and custom rattlesnake grips to add some flare.
But that aside, it's one of the best choices I've made in firearms. I also have one of the leather holsters bought through Ruger's website, a hi-viz front blade, and custom rattlesnake grips to add some flare.
Have had several. Latest I obtained in the early 80s and it was used. Seemed to want to shoot quite well so I invested in a mount and scope. 2" at 100 yards on a calm day using Eley Club. Problems with the Mag cylinder. Only two of six would fire. Bored too deep for the rims. Contacted Ruger, they said to send it in. I found a cylinder on Ebay, bought it for a song and it worked perfectly. 22 Mag is about half as accurate as the LR (4-5" at 100 yards) but I've had rifles that wouldn't do much better. (My 77-22mag all weather is the first to break the 22mag 2" criteria.)
Got a chance at a single six for a fair price....buy it. Cant break 'em, cant beat 'em.
Got a chance at a single six for a fair price....buy it. Cant break 'em, cant beat 'em.
BCRider
Member
Well, I guess this will be 20-20 hindsight but here goes anyway.
The one gun I have that is a .22LR/.22Mag convertible got the Mag cylinder used for precisely the half box of mag that someone gave me and another 5 .22Mag shot shell loads as well. Since that time the Mag cylinder has sat unmolested in the box. If I want something with more punch I'll pay the same or less for my center fire loads over the .22Mag.
Now this changes for those that might be hunting or pest controlling. But for punching paper or taking down rimfire sized steel hens I'll stick with the cheaper .22LR.
So all in all I would have suggested the .22LR only Single Ten instead.
The one gun I have that is a .22LR/.22Mag convertible got the Mag cylinder used for precisely the half box of mag that someone gave me and another 5 .22Mag shot shell loads as well. Since that time the Mag cylinder has sat unmolested in the box. If I want something with more punch I'll pay the same or less for my center fire loads over the .22Mag.
Now this changes for those that might be hunting or pest controlling. But for punching paper or taking down rimfire sized steel hens I'll stick with the cheaper .22LR.
So all in all I would have suggested the .22LR only Single Ten instead.
JustsayMo
Member
Center Fire: Congrats on you choice. Sorry you live in a commy state and YOUR gun is in jail.
There is a bit of a learning curve with a plow handled single action - follow through is critical. Some pick it up quick, others... not so much.
It is a revolver that your great grandkids could enjoy. Buy lots of ammo. You'll be amazed how fast it disappears even with the deliberate pace a single action dictates. That is easier to appreciate later in life. My nephews (and grand nephews) can burn through a brick before lunch and want another afterwards. The grin on their faces is worth the price of ammo in my estimation. I suspect they'll remember it too long after I'm dust - one of those bargains in life that is worth way more than what it cost.
Targets are fine for getting familiar with your Single Six. Getting it out into the woods, plinking, taking game... that is where you'll fall in love with it.
There is a bit of a learning curve with a plow handled single action - follow through is critical. Some pick it up quick, others... not so much.
It is a revolver that your great grandkids could enjoy. Buy lots of ammo. You'll be amazed how fast it disappears even with the deliberate pace a single action dictates. That is easier to appreciate later in life. My nephews (and grand nephews) can burn through a brick before lunch and want another afterwards. The grin on their faces is worth the price of ammo in my estimation. I suspect they'll remember it too long after I'm dust - one of those bargains in life that is worth way more than what it cost.
Targets are fine for getting familiar with your Single Six. Getting it out into the woods, plinking, taking game... that is where you'll fall in love with it.
HankR
Member
You'll love it. The mods may even let you change your moniker.
I'm not sure I agree with that statement.
One of my single six revolvers shoots every bit as good as my slab side Ruger MKII target
pistol and better than my Ruger MKII in stainless with 4 inch barrel
ten days !!!!!!
Holy moly, are you kidding me.
That is crazy.
Sorry that you have to wait
I doubt you'll be disappointed in the Single 6. Every one I've ever shot has worked very well. Remember they were designed at a time when semi-autos weren't as reliable so they were very popular guns. Getting a .22 semi-auto to function well was especially hard to do way back when. So revolvers were the cat's meow. Ruger made very good ones and they kept on making good ones well after they started making good semi-auto pistols.
For certain things you still can't beat a revolver like shooting shot shells to kill snakes or whatever. It's hard to get a .22 shot shell to kill anything though but still that's one area where it's best to go with a wheel gun.
As for the accuracy of revolvers not matching the accuracy of semi-autos all I can say is I have a very accurate revolver (it's not a .22 or a Ruger). I was showing off with my Sig P220 when the range master decided to try to show me up with a revolver just like the one I have. He matched me shot for shot for about half an hour. Then I went to the truck and got my S&W 629, just like the range master's gun, and brought it back to shoot. I told him I needed to get in a few warm up shots at which time he decided it was getting late and time to close the range. I think he believed I would do better with that revolver. I had only owned it a short time before that and I needed some practice time to be honest. But he sure thought it would do better than my Sig. The truth is both are very accurate handguns.
I don't know if the comment was just about lower priced revolvers (if you think $500 is a low priced revolver - I guess it is compared to what I could get out of my 629 right now) but I've seen lots of them do very well in lots of calibers and made by lots of companies. I have my reasons fo wanting to have both. I like the high capacity of a good semi-auto (I wish my Sig held more rounds but it's more of a duty gun than a CCW gun anyway) and I like the ability of revolvers to deal with large calibers. Yes I know about Desert Eagles etc. but I prefer guns I can actually afford.
There are lots of reasons to own a revolver not matter wht caliber it is. And some of them are very accurate. I could talk about Bob Munden for a while I guess. He certainly didn't have any problems making a wheel gun hit what he aimed it at.
For certain things you still can't beat a revolver like shooting shot shells to kill snakes or whatever. It's hard to get a .22 shot shell to kill anything though but still that's one area where it's best to go with a wheel gun.
As for the accuracy of revolvers not matching the accuracy of semi-autos all I can say is I have a very accurate revolver (it's not a .22 or a Ruger). I was showing off with my Sig P220 when the range master decided to try to show me up with a revolver just like the one I have. He matched me shot for shot for about half an hour. Then I went to the truck and got my S&W 629, just like the range master's gun, and brought it back to shoot. I told him I needed to get in a few warm up shots at which time he decided it was getting late and time to close the range.
I think he believed I would do better with that revolver. I had only owned it a short time before that and I needed some practice time to be honest. But he sure thought it would do better than my Sig. The truth is both are very accurate handguns. I don't know if the comment was just about lower priced revolvers (if you think $500 is a low priced revolver - I guess it is compared to what I could get out of my 629 right now) but I've seen lots of them do very well in lots of calibers and made by lots of companies. I have my reasons fo wanting to have both. I like the high capacity of a good semi-auto (I wish my Sig held more rounds but it's more of a duty gun than a CCW gun anyway) and I like the ability of revolvers to deal with large calibers. Yes I know about Desert Eagles etc. but I prefer guns I can actually afford.
There are lots of reasons to own a revolver not matter wht caliber it is. And some of them are very accurate. I could talk about Bob Munden for a while I guess. He certainly didn't have any problems making a wheel gun hit what he aimed it at.
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