Ruger Single-Six

[kingpin008]

Ok, folks - I'm considering picking up a Ruger Single-Six sometime soon, and I'm looking for experiences.

Tell me about 'em. What do you like, what do you hate? What broke, and how'd it break? Amazing gun, or total junk? And please, post pics if you got 'em!

 

[mnrivrat]

They been around for a long time and I have owned a few in the past. Never a problem, they always shot well and are strong guns with no reliability issues that I am aware of.

 

[possom813]

I've only had this one for a couple of weeks. It's the new version. I had an older one several years ago that had both .22lr and .22mag cylinders. I never had any problems with it and my dad bought it in the late 70's IIRC. It had probably 10-15k rounds through it.

This one my wife bought after shooting the .22 rifles. We went to the pawn shop to pick up a layaway and she saw it. So far we've put about 500 rounds through it with no problems. It's .22lr. Gotta love 550 rounds for 12 bucks

Anyways, on with the pic.

-John

 

[Jim March]

Welll...there IS an issue.

All .22 Single Sixes are set up with a barrel sized for .22Mag ammo - .224. 22LR really needs a .223 barrel. This unfortunately includes the Single Sixes that are NOT "convertible" - pure .22LR in other words.

You have four options for peak accuracy:

* Try a bunch of .22LRs until you find one that shoots in your gun (you usually can).

* Use Paco's weird tool to "mash" the 22LR bullets, which often resizes 'em a hair bigger.

* Shoot 22Magnum when you want peak accuracy - not a bad option.

* Re-barrel it.

All that said, they're unbelievably tough and once set up with the right ammo are quite accurate. There's also a ton of aftermarket modifications possible - swapping grip frames, triggers, hammers, etc.

On edit: look, worst case it still won't be *bad* for accuracy, just...not up to it's potential. Set up right, 1" at 25yds is quite possible with a rimfire SA. 2" should be a breeze. You can usually find *something* that will group 2" with most Single Sixes. Sometimes...not.

Run "the checkout" on any Ruger, new or used. That will help. They sometimes respond well to a Belt Mountain base pin (tightens the action).

 

[kingpin008]

Possom - That's a sweet looking gun right there. The local shop has a blued model, but the more I look the more I like the stainless better.

Jim - I won't be using it for anything serious, just a little plinking and punching paper. Maybe, possibly, someday for going after a squirrel or two, so perfect accuracy isn't essential. Good to know though. Thanks!

 

[possom813]

That's a sweet looking gun right there.

kingpin-Thank you, but according to the wife, all of the stainless firearms became hers after she bought this one. I'm not sure how that works, but I reckon it's ok.

Jim-This is the second single six I've had and I never knew that. When I had the mag cylinder in the older one I just thought it was a flatter shooting ammo. Good to know.

Out of this one we've been shooting Super X with the lead bullets, no jacket. The best I could do on bench rest was 2" group at about 75 feet, give or take a couple of feet. The gun is probably capable of a tighter group, but I'm not, yet.

-John

 

[nero45acp]

I own 2 Single-Sixes, a 50th Anniversary model and a 7-1/2" Hunter. They're hard to beat for an affordable, fun, rugged, SA plinker. I prefer the stainless model over the aluminum frame, blued model. I'm planning on also picking up a 5-1/2" stainless model after the holidays. I have noticed that some have rather poorly fitted grips (like my Hunter), but there are a ton of after-market grips available to fix that.


nero

 

[Neophyte1]

Single Six

Single Six will out last your shooting desire. [i.e. life] What "Jim March" says is true; but you will enjoy finding that accuracy isn't that bad. Mine is 1981 model blue, 5 1/2" and next will be the 4 1/2"-9" chase the squirrels and rabbits with an occasional groundhog without "Paco's" gadget. In time I'll have a "Paco" gadget; just for fun
You folks buy the stainless I want the blue ones

 

[DMK]

I've got a 6" barreled new model 22LR/22Mag convertible. Probably had it about 5 years now. I love the gun. It feels very well made, never gave me a hint of trouble. I'm not the worlds best shot, but it seems just as accurate out to 25 yards in either caliber, but I only shoot handguns off hand, never from a rest. I use it to pop a little metal spinner target all the time (3" plates).

I really love the sights and the ability to shoot both 22LR and 22 Magnum. The 22Mags are especially fun.

 

[woof]

I have a new single six and find the grip too short for my large hands. Are there some kind of extender grips for it?

 

[JustsayMo]

I have two, I've had three. Excellent guns. None of mine have been finicky and all are capable of good accuracy, even with the cheap stuff.

http://www.grovestreet.com/jsp/onepic.jsp?id=1061572

I believe there is a learning curve to shooting a single action revolver. Once mastered they point like an extension of your hand. If your attention span is short you might find the deliberate nature of single action shooting somewhat tiresome though you'll be amazed how fast your son can burn through a box of 500 rounds... You may find it more fun too and end up preferring and buying centerfire single actions.

Mine see most of their duty as a hunting sidearm so I can pot Grouse while rifle hunting. They also saw rat patrol duty this summer in the barn.

 

[nero45acp]

I have a new single six and find the grip too short for my large hands. Are there some kind of extender grips for it?

I think that Hogue makes a rubber monogrip for the Single-Six. IMHO, I think it'd look a bit out of place on a SA revolver, but it may fit your hand better. A better though little more involved option (that I just read about on the Ruger Forum), would be to have Ruger put a Super Blackhawk grip frame on your Single-Six. That grip frame is larger, and may fit your hand better. Give Ruger a call and see what they can do for you.



nero

 

[foghornl]

I have a Single-Six Convertible.....WAAAAYYY UP on the Fun Gun list. 4-5/8" barrel model.

Quite a "Blast" with the .22Mag ammo. Somebody always wanders over to see if I am shooting a .32 or .38

 

[kludge]

Like: Old Models

Hate: New Models

 

[phoglund]

I've had mine for many years and have used it extensively. Never any problems, in fact it gets better the more I shoot it! Every shooter should have one.

 

[kingpin008]

Kludge - Mind telling us why?

Phoglund - Looks nice! I'm pretty sure at this point that picking one up is a good idea. Whether or not it'll be my next purchase is still up in the air, but seeing all these replies has convinced me that they're one of those "gotta have" guns.

 

[DennisB]

My wife--bless her heart--got me this one for Christmas in 1982 when we lived in Alaska.

Oddly, I carried it with the LR cylinder up there for spruce hens, snowshoes, and tons of plinking. Now, its fitted with the WMR cylinder and goes with me whenever I step on the hunting lease. First two rounds are snake shot, next 4 are HPs. Never had any sort of malfunction. (The grips are from a chunk of ironwood).

 

[kingpin008]

Once again, I'm struck with how good these guns look. I've never held/used a single action revolver, but there's something about the design of them that just...works.

And those grips are very sharp.

 

[Iggy]

Had one since 1961.. First handgun. Still have it. I was aware of the barrel diameter difference, but mags were to expensive, so I bumbled along with LR's.

I have no vaguest idea of how many jack-rabbits it has killed. At $.50 a rabbit, it kept me in spending money in high school and college.

I've got a grandson that is learning to shoot with it now.

 

[CoRoMo]

Have experience with the two my dad own. They are fabulous! Been tried and true for so long you can rely on it. I've shot rabbits and just plinked away, and they've never come close to breaking. They're just too tough. Enjoy every minute of it!!

 

[bannockburn]

I got this one from a friend of mine, several years ago. Still love the way the old style action works, with that great sounding click...click...click. Nothing else like it a single action .22.

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[stevekl]

I'd like to get THR's opinion on something.

Should I put a pistol scope on my single six?

 

[Jim March]

Depends entirely on your needs.

Most people view rimfires as "trainers" for their bigger guns, myself included. If "bigger guns" includes iron-sighted defensive handguns, your quality of cross-training with a glass-sight rimfire goes down. If, for reasons of cost, the majority of your handgunning is in .22, I'd call that a good argument to stick with iron sights.

But, you may have eye issues that are helped by glass (in which you might consider glass on defensive pieces), or you're "seriously using" your rimfire for pest control, small game, woods survival, etc, maybe glass helps.

There's no one right answer, and none of us should second-guess your call.

My personal opinion is that "to be traditional" isn't a good reason in and of itself to stick with iron. Functionality for your needs should be top priority, "authenticity" way down on the list unless this is for "cowboy sports" use (there are some rimfire side matches in CAS/SASS).

 

[phoglund]

Jim March has it right of course...but a scope on a single action revolver just looks wrong!

 

[Shawnee]

I've used the same Ruger convertible since 1968. It's accurate, completely dependable, stout as an ox, and was the "fun gun" for both my sons as well as myself.
The length of the hammer fall on any single-action affects the accuracy 20 times more than a piddly .001 bore diameter, as will the length of the space between bullet and cone. With all due respect - Trivia is great stuff for making discussions but much less valuable for making decisions.