nitesite
Member
I have a 4" Police Service Six in .38-Special and am wondering if the basic strength of the frame and cylinder is similar to the Security Six.
Ruger Service Six as strong as a Security Six?
- Thread starter nitesite
- Start date
- Status
wad
Member
I have been curious about this as well. I have both a Speed-Six and a Security-Six. The frame top strap is noticeably thinner on the Speed-Six.
nitesite:
You don't need to worry, because the Service-Six, the Security-Six, and the Speed-Six are identical guns mechanically! They have the same frame and innards! The only differences between these three revolvers are as follows:
1)Security-Six has a square butt grip frame and adjustable sights. Standard barrel lengths were: 2.75", 4.0", and 6.0".
2)Service-Six(Also known as a Police Service-Six)has the same square butt grip frame as the Security-Six but the main diference is that this gun has fixed sights. Standard barrel lenths were: 2.75" and 4.0".
3)Speed-Six has a round butt grip frame profile but with fixed sights like the Service-Six. Standard barrel lengths were: 2.75" and 4.0".
Note: There were some less common barrel lengths that I didn't mention above as the standard barrel lengths listed are what is normally seen on the average!
You don't need to worry, because the Service-Six, the Security-Six, and the Speed-Six are identical guns mechanically! They have the same frame and innards! The only differences between these three revolvers are as follows:
1)Security-Six has a square butt grip frame and adjustable sights. Standard barrel lengths were: 2.75", 4.0", and 6.0".
2)Service-Six(Also known as a Police Service-Six)has the same square butt grip frame as the Security-Six but the main diference is that this gun has fixed sights. Standard barrel lenths were: 2.75" and 4.0".
3)Speed-Six has a round butt grip frame profile but with fixed sights like the Service-Six. Standard barrel lengths were: 2.75" and 4.0".
Note: There were some less common barrel lengths that I didn't mention above as the standard barrel lengths listed are what is normally seen on the average!
Gordon
Member
I would say it's ultimate strength is less,but the .38special even with +p+ ammo is not gonna approach that. I wouldn't use reall heavy .357 loads in a .357 though. I have a 9mm Speed Six and it has been ok and I don't worry about the thinner top strap.
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2002
- Messages
- 22,531
The Speed Six frame is thinner on the top (I've got both a Security Six and a Speed Six). However, it's a Ruger and Rugers are typically overengineered. I haven't killed myself with my overloaded Old Army yet. Ruger figured there'd be idjits like me who'd stuff as much black powder as they can down a cylinder. I wouldn't try that with Bullseye though.
nitesite
Member
Thanks everyone. My recollection of the Security Six I owned years ago was of a (slightly) thicker topstrap than my Service Six. But my memory may be faulty. Perhaps I should peruse some photos of Security Sixes and see about that topstrap dimension.
4v50_Gary~ If you have an inclination to measure your Security Six topstrap right behind the forcing cone and your Service Six in a similar manner I would sure appreciate it!
Never owned a Speed Six to compare against either the Security Six or Service Six. I noticed that the Service Six cylinder is quite long for a .38-Special. That's precisely why I bought it, as I was looking for a strong .38-Special chambered revolver with long throats for shooting the #358429 LSWC.
4v50_Gary~ If you have an inclination to measure your Security Six topstrap right behind the forcing cone and your Service Six in a similar manner I would sure appreciate it!
Never owned a Speed Six to compare against either the Security Six or Service Six. I noticed that the Service Six cylinder is quite long for a .38-Special. That's precisely why I bought it, as I was looking for a strong .38-Special chambered revolver with long throats for shooting the #358429 LSWC.
MCgunner
Member
The speed six/service six may have a thinner top strap, but it doesn't have to have any holes drilled in it or troughs machined into it for adjustable sights.
W.E.G.
Member
Hey!
Somebody needs to get over to Wikipedia and write this up!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruger#Pistols
For double-action revolvers, the source is silent on the Security/Sevice Six.
The only thing covered on double-action revolvers is these:
Double-Action Revolvers
GP-100
SP-101
Redhawk series
Somebody needs to get over to Wikipedia and write this up!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruger#Pistols
For double-action revolvers, the source is silent on the Security/Sevice Six.
The only thing covered on double-action revolvers is these:
Double-Action Revolvers
GP-100
SP-101
Redhawk series
Security Six top strap = 4+ mm, just a shade over 4 mm vertical measurement. I then moved the calipers to the Speed Six, and had to open them just a bit, the measurement still being just over 4 mm, but too close to tell the difference. Of course, the Speed Six has the trough down the center for the sight picture. I think all Rugers are plenty strong enough for all FACTORY-spec .357 ammo. I have no worries shooting up to 180-grain factory stuff through my Rugers, from SP101 to GP100, with the DA Sixes in between.
Firearms forum that the GP100 was developed to meet the requirements for a Customs Service Contract spec of holding up to 10,000 full bore (125gr?) 357mag loads.
I never heard about this. Customs never adopted the GP100. There was no need to develop another firearm for this purpose. The GP100 came out to compete with the L frame or maybe it was the other way around. The Border patrol adopted the Speed/Service/Security Six in 1981 0r 1982. The testing was 10000 rds of 125 gr 357s. All the Rugers passed the test and I think went between 14K and 20K rds before they had timing issues. The guns were pretty much abused shot in 500 rd strings as fast as the shooter could reload and get the rounds off. You had to wear gloves so you wouldn't burn your hands. Cleaned every 500 or 1000 rds. I helped test them. The L frame came out as the S&Ws (Model 66s) did very poorly in these tests.
I never heard about this. Customs never adopted the GP100. There was no need to develop another firearm for this purpose. The GP100 came out to compete with the L frame or maybe it was the other way around. The Border patrol adopted the Speed/Service/Security Six in 1981 0r 1982. The testing was 10000 rds of 125 gr 357s. All the Rugers passed the test and I think went between 14K and 20K rds before they had timing issues. The guns were pretty much abused shot in 500 rd strings as fast as the shooter could reload and get the rounds off. You had to wear gloves so you wouldn't burn your hands. Cleaned every 500 or 1000 rds. I helped test them. The L frame came out as the S&Ws (Model 66s) did very poorly in these tests.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
nitesite,
Are you sure that your Service-Six is a .38 Special, it might be a .357 Magnum? My Service-Six is a .357 Magnum and your's might be too which might explain why the cylinder is longer.
nitesite
Member
Thanks, everyone, for your input and help.
Arch~
Yep, I'm sure. The cylinder is long enough to be a .357 Magnum but it is chambered for .38-Special only. It says so, roll marked into the right side of the barrel; but I checked with a magnum case and it's definitely a .38-Special cylinder.
I wish I had kept that Security Six back in the early 80's...
This gun shoots hard-cast 173-gr Keith loads at over 1000-fps right to the sights and I love that old heavy-duty load.
Arch~
Yep, I'm sure. The cylinder is long enough to be a .357 Magnum but it is chambered for .38-Special only. It says so, roll marked into the right side of the barrel; but I checked with a magnum case and it's definitely a .38-Special cylinder.
I wish I had kept that Security Six back in the early 80's...
This gun shoots hard-cast 173-gr Keith loads at over 1000-fps right to the sights and I love that old heavy-duty load.
Carl N. Brown
Member
I hope I am corrected if I am wrong, but I always thought
the top frame strap on the Service Six (fixed sight version)
was engineered to be as strong as the Security Six with top
strap cut for the adjustable sight. In other words, it is somewhat
thinner but of equal strength since it is solid.
the top frame strap on the Service Six (fixed sight version)
was engineered to be as strong as the Security Six with top
strap cut for the adjustable sight. In other words, it is somewhat
thinner but of equal strength since it is solid.
Cosmoline
Member
They're essentially identical revolvers with some minor difference due to sight type and grip shape. The .38 Special only version is good to shoot any .38 Special including the .38 +p+ "LEO only."
I never heard about this. Customs never adopted the GP100.
I think Customs adopted the L frame S&W. Doesn't mean Ruger didn't try to win contract. I may be mistaken in my memory -- I think gist of Ed Harris's comment was that the GP100 passed 10000 round test without loosening up measurably.
I think Customs adopted the L frame S&W. Doesn't mean Ruger didn't try to win contract. I may be mistaken in my memory -- I think gist of Ed Harris's comment was that the GP100 passed 10000 round test without loosening up measurably.
You have to realize that Bill Ruger had designed both the Security-Six and the Service-Six(As well as the Speed-Six)to fire all standard loads of .357 magnum ammunition, under the same continuous conditions! Also consider that history has proven all three of these revolvers to have stood up in the field under all of the stresses put to them without their blowing up! If the fixed sight "Six Series" revolvers were weaker than the Security-sixes-then, Ruger would have indicated this! Remember, all of Bill Ruger's guns were always developed to have superior strength to their competitor's offerings! Bill Ruger didn't believe in building weak guns! He was obsessed with building in extra srength-above and beyond the call of duty!
- Status
