Ruger Service Six: Reducing Barrel Length?

[jad0110]

I have an opportunity to acquire a blued Ruger Service Six, 4" barrel, for $250. The gun is in solid mechanical condition with minor holster wear. I'd really prefer either a 2.75" or 3" version, but I've never been able to find one with out mechanical problems.

I am wondering, what are the options for reducing the barrel to 3" in length? Swap barrels? Cut down the existing barrel? What are the costs involved, and who may be able to do this kind of work? I already called Ruger, and they don't mess with this sort of thing.

I'll probably just hold out for a 2.75" or 3" Security/Speed/Service Six, or a S&W M-19 if I can find one for under $500. But I wanted check out this avenue first.

Thanks!

 

[Ed Harris]

My Ruger Police Service Six is the "ugly hammer" that always works. I have fancier guns, but this is the one I grab. Either buy it and leave it alone or let somebody else buy it who will appreciate it for what it is.

 

[Daizee]

Geez, buy it and resell it for that price.

Cutting down a round barrel isn't very hard. A cutting guide, hacksaw, and a couple tools from brownells will do it. The tricky part is replacing the front sight.
If you did it yourself, you could get away with just cold-bluing the front fact where you cut it, but I dunno about the sight. It's probably not expensive to get the barrel drilled/tapped for a front sight.

All added up, you'd probably pay as much as for the 2.75" you want, but it would be this gun that you know is good. And you could make it a full 3", which would be a neat custom configuration for that gun.

When I cut down my .22 rifle I borrowed the cutting guide from a bike mechanic (Park brand) and ordered the Brownells facing and chamfering/crowning tools. The same tools work with many calibers just by swapping out the bore pilot. Then you can use the same tool to chamfer the rear of the chambers for speedy loading - it could be a nice gently customized rig at reasonable cost. Tho stainless is more forgiving finish-wise...

-Daizee

 

[RugRev]

Cutting the existing barrel would probably be cheaper if you use cold reblue. The local gunsmith here gets about $110 to rebarrel and set b/c gap and one would need to find a barrel (Numrich doesn't show any). Alternatively, it is about $60 to cut the existing barrel and mounting a new sight plus sight if one used a dovetail mount would be about $60. The blueing it what could drive the price up. But, like Daizee states then you could have a custom 3" barrel gun and if you reblue the whole gun then it would look like new.

 

[Eightball]

Either buy it and leave it alone or let somebody else buy it who will appreciate it for what it is.

This option gets my vote. If it's not what you're looking for, and you don't really want it in that configuration, why are you thinking of buying it?

 

[Jim Watson]

What mechanical problems have you been seeing in 2.75" Service Sixes and how many of them total?

 

[BlindJustice]

Cylinder & SLide will reduce barrel length, includes recrowning the muzzle and repositioning the front sight = $250 Kinda a waste on a 4" Bbl.
.357 magnum since you're just going to blow more unburned powder out
the muzzle anywa with a resulting BIG Muzzle FLASH.

The new re-intro Model 63 .22 LR is only available in an unbalanced 5" Bbl
and I'm waiting for a 3 1/2" Bbl. version to go with my Model 60 3" BBl

The only other models I'd consider for a C&S barrel reduction would be a
S&W 25-2 -from a 6 1/2" to 4"-5" for something handier for a belt gun.

Wait til you find the right bbl. len. gun.

Randal
.

 

[MADDOG]

There is a 38 special Speed-Six for sale in the handgun for sale section.

 

[Confederate]

Hold out for what you want.

I love my Ruger Security-Six...in every barrel length.

 

[yakkingallover]

buy it and I'll trade you a Security Six with a 2.75" barrel. I am looking for a blued 4 inch.

 

[jad0110]

Thank you for all the replies.

I went back and tried the gun out using my Model 15's FIST #20 IWB holster, and like my 4" 15, the 4" Service Six wasn’t too difficult to conceal comfortably. So considering the $275 price tag, I went ahead and purchased it and will just leave it alone. I can always buy or trade for a 2.75" or 3" Six later. But I'll probably just keep this one, it is already starting to grow on me. I’d say the finish is in about 90% condition, lock up is super tight and the DA trigger is acceptable. The stocks are pretty worn, so I may do some eBay searching at some point for some better condition replacements. I really like the fixed sights on this gun, as the rear notch seems to be cut much more prominently than equivalent S&Ws, but maybe I’m just imagining this.

I just need to find a good, dedicated holster for this gun (I don't want to stretch my FIST). Maybe I'll try a Tucker Gunleather Texas Heritage IWB holster for this one. Any other suggestions?

As for problems encountered on other Sixes, I've maybe been able to handle 4 or 5 in the last few years. They are fairly rare in my area. I recall one had a badly dinged up crown, another had severe rust / pitting (blued finish), a couple more were shot very loose (lots of end shake) and all but one (the one with the messed up crown) and terrible triggers (two felt like they had extra/loose parts bouncing around in the frame). One of the guns was a 9mm version; can’t remember if it was a speed or service six. Too bad. I know, most of those problems could be corrected, but the asking prices were all for guns in 95%+ condition, and I was unable to haggle enough to justify purchasing any of them.

But this Service Six seems to be a keeper. I’ll start a new thread sometime with pictures when I have a moment. I just returned from being on the road for more than a week, so I have plenty going on at the moment.

 

[Big Bill]

Don't cut down the barrel - YOU"LL RUIN IT!!! A 4" barrel is much better anyway!