$RUger Single six?

[ZVP]

I am trying to justify (to myself)using my 6 7/ inch Single Six as a House Gun.
I estimate the 40 gr solid .22WMR to be leaving the Muzzle @ 1200fps I calculate the ME to be 128 foot pounds. My .38 Special Cobra Derringer shoots a 158gr bullet at about 500 fps and calculates out to roughlly 170 foot pounds.
Granted neither is a manstopper but overall I think the 6 shot Single Six would be a better bet than the limited capacity Derringer.
In my experiences with the .22WMR fired from this revolver, solids and H/P's act similarlly, and I chose solids because of clothing's deflection and low penetration with a small light .22 bulet
My usual Home defense gun is a .357 Magnum Ruger Vaquero. There are evenings when I am getting packed to go shooting and I have the Vaquero emptied out and packed away.
I have had the Single Six for about 20 years and am very familliar with it. Naturally, shot placementk ood ammo and pratice help to qualify the Single Six for this task.
I am working with the guns I have on hand and don't want too buy another OK?
Can I get your opnions?
ZVP

 

[BCRider]

Up this way if I used a handgun for defensive use bad legal things would happen.

But if I were using a .22LR or .22Mag gun for home defense I'd think that the whole point would be to put a lot of rounds into the guy in a hurry. In that light 6 rounds shot with the need to cock the hammer between shots does not fit the bill.

In such close quarters unless you hit something important to survival there's an excellent chance that the bad guy would be upon you and bludgeon, knife or even shoot you with something bigger before you could get even half the rounds out of your SS.

As a stand in for the .357Vaquero it's likely going to do the job of scaring the bad guy away. After all, most BG's are not going to stand and confront when looking down a barrel of any size. They're going to turn and run. But if it comes down to actually needing to pull the trigger then my thinking is that it's a pretty iffy thing.

Let's also consider that home invasions are not all that common. They do happen but not all that much. So in a way it's sort of like you're gambling with a deck loaded in your favour. First advantage, you normally have a .357 available. What are the odds of a break in. Then what are the odds of a break in during a night when your stuff is packed and ready to go out the next day. Second advantage, you've at least got a gun which can be pointed at anyone that busts in. That alone is a huge intimadation factor. Third advantage, MOST will turn and run at the sight of a hole in the end of a barrel.

First disadvantage, if it goes badly and you do need to shoot you may not do enough damage to subdue the assailant before he is on you and attacks out of payback for hurting him with the .22. He may well die later from bleeding. But that doesn't help you if you're dead from his knife or whatever else he brought in with him.

Up this way the reports of home invasions have always involved at least two assailants as well. Criminals that are not doing breakins to buy drugs tend to be pretty chicken and seem to like to do their dirty deeds in groups. A single Single Six isn't going to have enough ammo to go around and is too slow or will prove nearly impossible to reload in the adrenaline stress of such a situation.

All in all I guess I'm saying exactly what you don't want to hear. And I'm suggesting what your bank account doesn't want to hear either....

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Any gun is better than no gun when you need it. However, a single action, particularly in .22WRM, would not be my first choice for defense.

 

[tarosean]

A single Single Six isn't going to have enough ammo to go around and is too slow or will prove nearly impossible to reload in the adrenaline stress of such a situation.

WOW... how did mankind survive all these years without 17rd Mags and other High capacity versions?


In all honestly I keep a Ruger Single 6 by my front door.. However its only for stray dogs, and other pests that wonder into my pasture.

 

[BCRider]

Probably because back then they heard the bad guys coming on horseback and met them at the front porch with a proper double barrel shotgun in hand....

On the other hand things are going to play out differently when you're faced with two or more bad guys within 10 feet or less inside a house.

 

[Chindo18Z]

My usual Home defense gun is a .357 Magnum Ruger Vaquero. There are evenings when I am getting packed to go shooting and I have the Vaquero emptied out and packed away.

I know it's convenient to get organized and pre-packed for a range outing (I'm the same way), but why not simply pack the Vaquero last...just before you actually depart? Possibly change your habit of convenience in favor of changing your defensive battery?

In any event, the Single Six would be a much better choice than the Derringer. More shots, better ergonomics, better sights, better accuracy, better penetration. And, as you have mentioned, you are handier with the Ruger due to long practice with single actions and lengthy time of ownership.


P.S. - Everyone should own a derringer at some time in their lives. I did...and got it out of my system. They are a hoot to play with. But the self defense downsides should be self-evident. Do you really want to fight to the death with a two-shot miniature hand-musket firing a bullet at barely threshold effective velocity?

 

[rcmodel]

In the past I have recommended the Single-Six convertible to friends who were non-shooters and not likely to spend the money to get good with a larger caliber gun.

If you can afford to practice with .22RF and keep the mag cylinder in the gun for HD, you are much more likely to use it well then a .357 or .45 you never shoot.

Check ballistic gel testing here and see if anyone would volunteer to get shot six times in the chest with one.

PS: All this out of a 2" barrel.
The Ruger's longer barrel will add performance.
http://brassfetcher.com/index_files/Page1504.htm

rc

 

[DPris]

My opinion is you should stop trying to justify the idea of a single-action .22 Mag for defense unless that's absolutely the only choice possible.
If you can afford a serious defensive gun, get it.
If you can't, pack the Vaquero last & keep it where you can get at it.
Denis

 

[tomaz45]

Given all the reasons for something bigger, and faster, if this is the weapon you decide to use so be it. Be proficient with it, practice regularly, and look at some of the newer ammunition available for self defense in 22 mag.

 

[-eaux-]

Practice with it until you are confident that you can dump it fast and accurate and then dismiss the opinions. 6 .22mags to center mass is nothing to sneeze at.

 

[JRH6856]

I'd go with the Single Six. Fast single action fire is a skill that can be learned with practice and you can use the 22LR cylinder for that at low cost. Keep the derringer as a backup.

 

[chicharrones]

If a Ruger Single Six and the Cobra derringer is all you have and you can't buy anything else, then I'd do as mentioned by sticking the Cobra in my pocket while the Ruger is in your hand.

Although, I'd use the Vaquero in .357 magnum as my house gun over either one.

 

[chicharrones]

My usual Home defense gun is a .357 Magnum Ruger Vaquero. There are evenings when I am getting packed to go shooting and I have the Vaquero emptied out and packed away.

I hate when I misread things, which is common with my eyesight.

Do you mean you pack the Vaquero away to take it on the range trip, or you pack the Vaquero away in the house?

 

[Furncliff]

My Single Six is doing HD at the moment. I don't consider the .22 magnum at close range a love tap.

If you are comfortable and proficient with the Ruger, then it's a good choice.