Ruger Single Six .22 WMR Cylinder

[TheNewbie]

Recently I was given the honor of receiving my grandfather's Ruger Single Six .22 lr revolver. He purchased the gun back in 1954 and has had it for fifty-five years. Obviously, I'm very proud to have it and I want to take good care of it. That's why I'm wondering about whether or not I could get my hands on a .22 WMR cylinder for it, and whether or not it would cause a problem.

The revolver is old but it has the conversion kit on it. Were the guns back then specifically made only for one caliber, one cylinder? It doesn't seem like it considering you can simply slide the cylinder out, but I'm not going to act like a know-it-all on the subject. Is it possible to swap out the cylinders, and if so where could I get my hands on one?

 

[rcmodel]

The one-caliber guns may have used a slightly smaller bore size in keeping with .22RF ammos smaller lead bullets.

The .22 Mag uses a slightly larger jacketed bullet, and I think the convertable guns have that bore size.

The other thing is, Ruger has changed the interal parts through the years, and a recent cylinder may or may not work correctly in an early gun.

I know folks add .22 Mag cylinders to guns without them all the time.
But I would call Ruger first and see if they can/will do it based on the serial number of your gun.

rc

 

[MovedWest]

Not to be a stick in the mud, but Ruger won't touch it, or even advise you on it until you send it in to have the safety update done. This is something I refuse to do with my old model super single six because mine is also a hand me down from my dad. I want to keep it original, and I also love the action on it.

If you have a standard single six, you're stuck with the 22LR caliber. Fitting a cylinder to a pistol that it is not made for is begging for trouble. Also from my findings, most people just use the 22WMR when they first get it and then end up always using the 22LR after that. Mainly because of the cost of the ammo and the fact that 22WMR can be tough to find at times. A box of 500 WMR rounds will run you about $80, versus a box of 500 LR rounds costing about $25.

If you really want a 22WMR I'd recommend picking up a new pistol. But as for your grandfather's pistol, I'd shoot the way he shot it and think of him when you do.

-MW

 

[280shooter]

I have one with both cylinders. and the bore is a tad dif then the ones that are for only the LRs,, some guns shoot better with the mag, and some shoot better when shooting LRs,, but i would say, not to mess with it.. go buy another one,,look for a used one,, I was over at gander mountain last week they had a blue ruger, 22,convertable for little more then 250..

 

[Fburgtx]

The 22 WMR cartridge wasn't introduced until 1959, so a gun of your vintage wouldn't have come in this caliber. Frankly, even if you could get one of the later model cylinders to fit, I wouldn't bother. As mentioned above, the 22 LR is so much cheaper, that you'll find yourself shotting that most of the time anyway. Also, the 22 WMR will likely require a different point of aim than the 22 LR, so you'd have to aim a few inches low (most likely) when you shoot the WMR.

 

[QuietEarp]

Lots of good info in the above posts, I agree with all of it.
+1 on people with convertibles rarely using the mag cylinder.
I bought exactly 1 expensive box of .22WMR. If I want to shoot expensive ammo I won't be using my Single Six.
The OP said

The revolver is old but it has the conversion kit on it

I am assuming that that is the transfer bar update.
Enjoy your "new" gun! It is a great firearm. What I like about the gun is just like what happened to you. Generation after generation will be able to shoot a Single Six. They are built like tanks and shoot .22s!