Ruger Single Six

[MacGuyver77]

I've been looking for a .22 revolver for my fiance to get into shooting with. I've been looking for a decent one second hand for a little while, and would like to find something to give her as part of her wedding gift. One of my local pawn shops has a nice Ruger Single Six, probably 95%, blue, wood grip, asking $350. I don't know a whole lot about these guns, but I know the new blued ones, with plastic grips are MSRP for about $510. She really likes the look of the old style, SA revolvers, so I'm thinking this may be a good find for her (although I would prefer a DA/SA Smith).

So I ask, what is there to know about these guns, and is the pawn shop in the ball park?

PS - I tried to do a search with the terms "SINGLE SIX" and it said it turned up to many results to display. I guess those two words show up in a lot of posts...

 

[batmann]

The price sounds a little high to me, maybe $300 range. All they can say is no.

 

[Blank Stare 73]

I would buy it for that price, It's definately in the Ballpark, as long as it comes with both cylinders. Great gun I love mine.

 

[MacGuyver77]

I think it only comes with the .22LR cyclinder. Or just one cylinder anyway. I guess I need to look closer at it to see what it is. I remember seeing .22LR on the frame somewhere. I didn't really look it over too well since I was really looking for a Smith.

 

[kdstrick]

Great revolvers. It seems a bit high to me, but it does have both cylinders. I'd feel good about $275. Haggle with them and see what they can do.

EDIT: Without both cylinders I wouldn't pay $350. Shop around.

 

[Line Rider]

Find one with wooden grips and no lock. .22 Mag cylinder is a plus.

 

[Blank Stare 73]

They usually shoot one cylinder more accurately than the other. Mine is more accurate with the Magnums. I wouldn't mind having a blued one though. I've got a stainless with Sambar Stag grips, just ran across it one day sittin all by it's lonesome and gave it a home..

 

[MacGuyver77]

no lock

I'm sorry I don't even know what that is.

 

[MacGuyver77]

Well I bought it last week. Paid $275, but no .22 magnum cylinder. Are the magnum cylinders available to buy separately? Looks like it's going to be a fun little gun.

 

[Glockman17366]

Well I bought it last week. Paid $275, but no .22 magnum cylinder. Are the magnum cylinders available to buy separately? Looks like it's going to be a fun little gun.

You can get one fitted, if you want to spend the dollars. I wouldn't...just enjoy those .22 LR rounds! $275 is a decent price as long as the revolver is in nice condition.
Anyway, you bought it...don't look back and pay no attention to the Monday Morning Quarterbacks!

no lock

I'm sorry I don't even know what that is.

The "lock" is in the grip of the revolver. IF you want to prevent unauthorized use of the gun (for example, you have kids at home), you can use the lock.
Ruger's lock is about as unintrusive as it can get. Some guys get totally freaky about these locks which, on a Ruger, are non-issues. Pay no attention to them.
I've got a Blackhawk and a New Vaquero. Both have the lock. Unless I go through the process of removing the grip panels and actuating the lock, there's no effect on the revolvers. I have no plans to do this.
If you want to know more about your new revolver, I think you can download an owner's manual from the Ruger website.

 

[Two Cold Soakers]

Yes, $275 for 22LR only seems fair.

 

[TheVirginian]

I had an old "flat top" and it was a great gun. I put a lot of rounds through it and it was a tack driver. I'd not worry about the mag cylinder. If you have some time and are in a relaxed setting with friends, these are great as you can shoot for a long time really inexpensively. It takes a while to load and unload.
-Bill

 

[foghornl]

I have the 50th Year Single-Six with both the .22LR & .22Mag cylinders.

WAAAAAAYYYY UP on the "Fun Gun" list. I keep the .22Mag cylinder in mine, because a few years back, one store i was in had the .22Mag ammo mis-priced a the same as .22LR ammo...tried to point out the error, but clerk insisted it was right. So, I bought out the shelf...1,500 rounds .22mag.

 

[jjohnson]

Good Purchase

Yeah, even if your girlfriend winds up liking other handguns (uh, that's a common disease among many of us shooters) you got a decent deal on a really, really solid beginner's revolver. It's not big, and doesn't have the blast of, say, the .357 - but hey, it's something you can take to the range every weekend forever and not go broke feeding it. I've had mine for over 30 years and use the Mag cylinder about once a decade. I can load .357 cheaper than the price of .22Mag, so I never bother.

Rugers are very solid, and are manufactured well - even the little Single Six was built to last a very long time. The fact that the design hasn't changed hardly at all in about 40 years tells you how good the basic design is.

 

[Furncliff]

I bought a single six at the local gun show last month. I paid $350.00, it came with both cyl.. The last one of these I owned was in the 60's, (paid $78.00 at the base BX) great shooters. I have found with both of mine that the magnum cyl. gets used much less. Now go and find her a nice western rig for it.

 

[Blank Stare 73]

Congratulations on your purchase. I'm sure you will get your money's worth out of it and then some! Fun Fun Fun!

 

[MacGuyver77]

You can get one fitted, if you want to spend the dollars.

So it's not as simple as finding a magnum cylinder on a Gunbroker auction and popping it in. No worries. It was intended for shooting LR rounds anyway for cheap fun. I'm real excited to give it to her. I even made an oak presentation case for it. Thank you for all the great responses.

 

[461]

A lot of times a cylinder from gunbroker or wherever will fit, I'd actually say most times. If you do it, just make sure the timing and cylinder gap are good and you'll be fine, if it doesn't fit, you can always sell it for what you paid.

You got a great gun at a great price that will give you a lifetime of use, be happy. Be even happier when you teach your grandkids to shoot with the same gun your kids learned on. The Single-Six is that good.

 

[paochow]

The Single Six is one of a few models that I actually own more than one of, mainly because I like it so much. Accurate, dependable, and old school in function, the Single Six and a brick of .22 is a great way to kill an afternoon.

$350 is too high for a blue model, I paid $400 for a stainless LNIB and likely paid too much at that. My wife bought me a new Single Six Hunter for $375, but that was 6 years ago...