Ruger Single Six Question

[CTPhil]

I'm in the market for a Single Six Convertible. So far I've checked out 2 locally, a 5 1/2 inch SS model, and a 4 5/8 inch blued basic model. The 4 5/8 inch by far feels better to me, so I'd like to get that barrel size. But I love the look of the SS with wood grips vs. the blued with plastic grips. Ruger doesn't list a new pistol in SS at the 4 5/8 inch barrel length, but I can find them on line. I doubt that I will have the luxury of actually handling a Stainless model in 4 5/8 inch.

So my question is, will the balance of a SS model be more or less the same as the same barrel length in blued steel?

Thank you in advance.

 

[Coyote3855]

Should be the same. I agree that the 4 5/8 barrel is has the best balance.

 

[rcmodel]

No.

There is very little practical difference in the weight of carbon vs stainless steel.

However, the difference is, the blued gun has an anodized aluminum grip frame, and the S/S gun has a polished S/S grip frame, so it will weigh 5-6 oz more.

It will also balance with more weight in your hand, and not as weight forward as the blued gun.

rc

 

[CTPhil]

Less weight forward will be good. How noticeable is a 6 ounce difference in overall weight?

 

[rcmodel]

Well, many folks prefer more muzzle weight for a steadier hold on target.
More weight in the hand seems to let the front sight wobble all over the target more.
Thats why target pistols have heavy barrels, and sometimes barrel weights added

From Ruger website:
5 1/2" stainless & rosewood weighs 39 oz.
5 1/2" blued & plastic weighs 33 oz.

However, nothing can happen to the polished stainless grip frame, even 50-75 years from now.
The black anodized aluminum one will probably not look as nice by then.

rc

 

[CTPhil]

Thanks for the responses!

 

[BlkHawk73]

Oddly, I find the 6 1/2" models balance best for me. Then again, I also like the 9 1.2" model too. Find the 4 5/8" models less attractive.

 

[gdesloge]

As mentioned above, the grip frame and the ejector rod housing are aluminum on the blued model and steel on the stainless model.

You did not mention if you held the revolvers side-by-side. Since they are smallish revolvers, the weight difference is very pronounced, regardless of barrel length.

Because it is "only" a .22 and a smaller frame to boot, I enjoy the lighter weight guns. The stainless, because it is heavier, seems to have the heft of a larger gun, and it works well with the magnum cartridges. 95% of the time, I shoot the LRs, however.

Here is the bottom line. Whichever revolver you purchase, you will want another Single Six. That is the grim reality.

Enjoy,

gd

 

[thunder173]

I have the blued Single Six in the convertable 22LR/22 WMR in 5 1/2,..and and another in .32 H&R in 4 5/8's inch ..... Though the 5 1/2 is an excellent shooter,..I find the shorter barrel on the .32 to feel a lot better balanced ,...for me at least. YMMV,...try to handle both if you can. Good luck on your search. Either way,...you win. The Single Six in ANY configuration is a keeeper IMHO.

 

[CraigC]

Six ounces is a significant difference, making the stainless version 18% heavier. Personally, I like the shorter barrel with the balance of the steel grip frame. Unfortunately, Ruger has never catalogued a stainless 4 5/8" .22 Single Six. There was a handful that made it out in the `70's that are now rare collectibles and there has been a limited run or two made in the last couple years.

 

[CTPhil]

You did not mention if you held the revolvers side-by-side. Since they are smallish revolvers, the weight difference is very pronounced, regardless of barrel length.

I have not had them side by side, hence my nagging uncertainty. I am a little worried about the extra weight. The blued steel 4 5/8" I handled seemed really perfect in balance, I'd hate to get the SS and find it less so.

I love the look of the stainless model, but would probably also love the blued if it had a nice set of wood grips instead of the black plastic.

The grim reality that I will want more than one Single Six is something I can live with but I'd like to feel like I made the right choice on the first one.

 

[dennis228]

I have a new blued adj. sight 4NRL Single Six Conv. with the 4 5/8 bbl. I also have a KRN5 5.5 Stainless Single Six Conv. with adj. sights. Could not resist the shorter blued version when I picked it up. The blued weighs about 32 oz. and the stainless about 39. That's a big difference and I prefer the 4 5/8 gun for its easier carrying ability. Both are great shooters though, and both need a good holster for carry (Ruger's holsters are nice) so I don't mind the extra weight of the 5.5 all that much, and it is a great shooter as is its shorter brother. Like the poster said earlier, Single Six's can be addictive. If I had to keep only one, it would be the blued 4 5/8. Just feels better in the hand and on the hip. Cannot go wrong with either. Now if Ruger would only build a standard line Single Six Stainless 4 5/8 Conv. with adj. sights and use the aluminum grip frame to keep the weight at 32 oz. and you would have near perfection. Oh, I have a Bearcat too. I have to stay away from the dealer's store.

 

[CTPhil]

Thanks for the side by side comparison, that helps a lot.

 

[BAREIN97]

My wife bought a new SS Single Six convertible in a 4 5/8 last year. I din't even no that it was uniuqe until we were leaving and the dealer said that it was a "dealer exlusive" and that there was not that many of them. Odley a few months late my wife seen the 5.5 and said that she wished that she had that one because it "looked cooler" LOL. Keep looking I bet there are some more out there.

 

[CajunBass]

The blued steel 4 5/8" I handled seemed really perfect in balance,

It does indeed.



Never handled a SS one.

 

[CTPhil]

Nice.