Ruger Single Six cylinder question

[lebshiff21]

I just recently purchase a New Model Single Six which only came w/ a .22LR cylinder. Am I ok to buy a cylinder from eBay or another site and use it? Or are there "matching" considerations?

 

[TrafficMan]

not sure on the new models. my dads came with the .22LR & .22Mag cylinders. I would assume, you would be okay though.

 

[lebshiff21]

Right, this model was supposed to have a .22 mag cylinder, but I only have the .22LR, just wondering if any .22 mag cylinder for any Single Six would work.

 

[unspellable]

Extra cylinders

Aside from questions of New Model vs Old Model, there is a question of fitting with another cylinder. I have just recently been going through this with four revolvers. The nearest one to yours is a Ruger new Model Blackhawk 357/9mm. I bought a third cylinder with the intention of converting it to 357-44 B&D.

There are four points on which a Ruger single action cylinder must match. They are overall length, neck length, and ratchet length. (With a S&W cylinder, the distance from the rear face of the ratchet to the bottom of the well replaces the neck length measurement.)

The neck length will determine the cylinder gap, the ratchet length will determine headspace and the overall length will deterimine end play. These dimensions vary by a few thousandths from one frame to the next and may require adjusting. The measurements can be a little tricky. Keep in mind, it's easier to take metal off the ends of the cylinder than it is to add it. A brand new unused factory cylinder will be a tad long to allow for fitting.

The fourth considertaion is alignment, that is, with the bolt in the notch and the cylinder locked, do the chambers line up properly with the barrel? There is not much you can do to correct a misfit here. Fortunately, it has been my experience that the alignment is usually OK as is. But I've seen misaligned cylinders.

 

[20cows]

I purchased an "old model" (three screw) single six that only had the 22 mag cylinder. I acquired a 22 LR cylinder from eBay. It fit with no problems. In fact, it's the one that is used the most.

 

[unspellable]

Fit

yes, you can luck out and find one that just drops in. It's a bit of a crap shoot. Come to think of it, I did this on a fifth revolver, a Colt style cap and ball, I got lucky and the cylinder dropped in.

1. Smith & Wesson Model 28. Had two frames, the first was a no go, for the second frame the second cylinder had too much end play and too much cylinder gap. You can put in a shim and get rid of the end play but I had to get a third frame to get the cylinder gap right.

2. Ruger Blackhawk. New cylinder was too long, comes that way from the factory. I took a few thousandths off the neck only to find I should have taken it off the ratchet. Now it has no cylinder gap. Proves the measurement process is a bit tricky.

3. Ruger Old Army, blue. Had the opportunity to try more than one cylinder, the second one fit OK.

4. Ruger Old Army stainless. Same story on the second cylinder, the original was a tad out of alignment.

Then I got conversion cylinders for the ROA's, had to juggle them around to find which one fit which frame. Lucky to have two shots at a fit.

5. Colt style cap & ball. Got lucky, second cylinder was a drop in.

6. Taurus 44 Special. Didn't try to find a second cylinder, but the original was out of alignment.

I have another S&W with dual cylinders, a factory job.