Ruger Single Six Range report

This is a little different than your normal revolver review, because I'm about to tell you about a gun I don't own.

I do own a 4 3/4" Ruger Single Six, but it was made in 1958 and at the moment it's at Ruger getting the action parts replaced for the second time in it's long, hard life. I've shot thousands of rounds through that gun, and it's been a good user gun for me, and I've used the heck out of it...

But today, I went to the range with my wife and stepson to shoot some 22's. We took a rifle and two handguns - a Colt Woodsman sport and a Colt Match Target 4 1/2" barrel - both third series.

Anyway there was a guy right next to us shooting with his young son, and he oohed and aahed when I took out the colts, and so I let him shoot them. They really are nice guns too.

In turn, the guy showed me what he was shooting, which was a brand new stainless Single Six with a 22LR and a 22 Mag cylinder. I shot several cylinders of 22LR and 22 mag both.

People believe me when I tell you this was a super sweet little revolver. The only complaint I had with it is the way you load and unload it - which once you got used to not half-cocking it, was really not so bad. It had a good trigger, the action was smooth and slick, and it shot literally lights out smooth and accurate. We were just plinking, but I was doing at least as well with it as with my Colts, and it was every bit as much fun to shoot.

I can't wait till mine comes back from the factory so I can compare - but from what I remember, it's not nearly as nice as the new one I shot - so I think I'll be looking for me a new one soon! I LIKE IT!

 

Interesting. For years I figured three screw was the only way to travel, and anything with two pins was bound to have a trigger pull like my swingline staplegun. I wasn't buying any new ones, I was just buying newer or older used ones, and some of the early new models really sucked compared to old models.

 

I've had both old and new model Single-Sixes and the current new model I have is the best I've had yet as far as accuracy and trigger is concerned. The one I have now is about two years old and is a 3" at 25yd gun with both cylinders from a steady rest and probably better than that with a good shooter behind it.

 

The Single Six is a superb revolver. I have two of them.

 

Agreed, on the Ruger Single-Six as being a fine revolver. I have a SS dual
cylinder model with 6.5" barrel that I picked up for a mere $200 + tax OTD.
In the future, I may be inclined to seek out a 5.5" barrel blued model as
well~?

 

I have four Single Six revolvers, two old model and two new model. The action on the one I shoot the most is the best and it is a new model. The old models are nice too but just by shooting the new one so much has really smoothed up the action.
By the way, the "new model" is actually over 30 years old. Many rounds have gone through that gun.

 

I have two as well, both "New Models". One is a .22/.22 Mag. convertible and one is in .32 H&R Magnum, both with 6.5" barrels. I've put many thousands of rounds through the .22, mostly long rifle rounds. It spent many years riding in a holster while I hiked and motorcycled the Montana mountains in my youth. Its still shoots better for me than any other handgun I own.

 

I really like shooting my Single-Six.
It is the 9.5" model LR and Mag.
My wife really likes shooting it
because it's quiet and has very
little recoil.
I really need to get a better picture of it...

 

What a nice little revolver!



My 1973 4-5/8" Single-Six is fitted-up with Ajax faux ivory grips.

Probably my favorite handgun..

 

They are great little guns. I have a 61/2" Super Single Six with dual cyls and it is without a doubt the most fun gun I shoot. The only thing I would change is make the cyl 8 shoots instead of 6.

 

I only have the old ones too - My Single six is from 1958 and I have two Blackhawks - my favorite is an unconverted 357 with a 6.5" Barrel.

But this new single six (the guy just bought it the day before) was overall much tighter, nicer, smoother and slicker action than any Ruger I've handled or owned. The trigger pull was not as light as my OM 357, but it was not bad at all. It's only one day old after all.

I got the same impression from the couple of New Vaqueros I've looked at too, but I haven't got to shoot one of those yet.

And to be honest, it could be just me. 95% of the shooting I do is with guns that are 40+ years old, so it's possible I may have never fired a gun that was made on modern CNC machines, or manufactured with modern methods - whatever those may be. I might need to get with the times.