Ruger "SIX" (security, speed, service)

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Cosmoline

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I thought it would be nice to have a thread on these cult favorites. I didn't see a dedicated thread so if there is one please forgive.

I fell in love with the line when I bought my first security at a pawn shop many years ago. It was a liberty model, unfortunately one I traded off since then. I found them to be the golden mean between the GP-100 and large frame Smiths and the K frame magnums. They handle so easy and balance so well once you've had a taste it's hard to go back to anything this side of a Python. For a long time they seemed to be at bargain basement prices, but in the past year or two I've noticed the stickers are headed north. I haven't seen any for under $200 for some time locally.

My current favorite is a speed six. It's rather beaten up but with hogue monogrips on it, the piece makes me feel like Munden. The balance is so perfect I can fire six in rapid fire and stay in the circle at 10 or even 15 yards. Shooting faster than any other firearm I own. If heaven forbid I ever get in a firefight and have no long gun, I hope I'm carrying this revolver. It's not as accurate as my little Colt, and not as powerful as my big SRH, but it launches a wall o' lead like nothing else I own. Those who complain about stiff Ruger triggers haven't felt this one!

I also love having a revolver you can field strip. Even though it's not stainless and it's been exposed to a great deal of moisture in all forms from steam to snow, it hasn't had any rust problems. A periodic strip down and cleaning with CLP does the trick perfectly.

speedsix.jpg

speedsix2.jpg
 
I'll play...

Security Six modified for CCW:

10Tactical_Six-med.JPG


And plain Security Six, this one is the house gun:

10sec6resizedJPG-med.jpg
 
When I want to look good I carry my S&W 19 snubby.

When I want to be good I carry my Ruger Speed-Six snubby.

Great, solid revolver that will not let you down when the going gets tough.
 
When I want to look good I carry my S&W 19 snubby.

When I want to be good I carry my Ruger Speed-Six snubby.
Click to expand...

I don't know.. some of the pics in this thread may change that position. The Ruger black may not be Royal Blue, but it's really nice looking in its own way.
 
I've got two Security Six stainless. Very nice guns. For several years they have been car guns.

I haven't shot them in a few years. I recently got the short barrel from the truck to try some (weak) left hand, left eye shooting.
I almost forgot how smooth and accurate those Rugers are.:)
THR10ydchallangeRugerSS.gif

The other one is in the car.
Carbinetruckgun.gif
 
I don't know.. some of the pics in this thread may change that position. The Ruger black may not be Royal Blue, but it's really nice looking in its own way.
Click to expand...

You haven't seen mine. Let's just say that it is a bit "blueing deficient" and I won't be posting any pics here.
 
I have one of each, (why have just one) and may get some more. I also have a GP-100, but one is enough. The GP has had an action job and is a sweet shooter, but I still like the Sixes better.
 
All of these are very pretty.

I used to have one. I ended up giving it to a family I am friends with. They live out in the country and it turned out to be a good HD gun.
 
The first new handgun i ever bought was a 4" stainless Security Six back in 1978. It had a place on the headboard or night stand for years untill i decided i wanted an auto for a home defense gun. I've carried it on my hip while hunting, fishing, feeding livestock, driving tractor and just general farm work. It's been carried on the dash board, in the glove box and under the seat of my truck. It's been carried on ATV's and in my jeep. It's been to Kentucky, Mississippi and Louisiana and back with me. It's had about a zillion rounds of mostly .357's run through it. It's still as tight as the day i brought it home. I't on my list of never get rid of guns. I hope to pass it down to my grandson some day.

I picked up a real nice blued 4" Security Six at a gun show a couple years back. I just went to buy some ammo, but the price was right, and it just looked liked it needed a good home, so $150 later it was mine.

I also have a GP100, same deal the price was just to good to pass up, but i really like the Security Six better. Maybe if i had never owned a Security Six i would like the GP100 alittle better.
 
Here's my 9mm Speed Six... Which doesn't work worth a crap with any of the moon clips that I could find for it.

speedsix9mm_m.gif
 
No pics, but I have a stainless Police Service Six .357 (but loaded with .38 Special 158 grain LSWCHP +Ps) as my bedside gun. The *Six series are superb revolvers.
 
After years of shooting my buddies Security Six, I bought my own. I will pick it up next week. (I don't feel bad about shooting his all these years, he shot more of mine than I did his. :) )


As usual, that's pretty dang good shootin' M2 Carbine. I'm glad I'm a good guy.
 
I'll take that 9x19 Six that doesn't work off your hands ;-)

does this thread include us "single" guys?
Click to expand...

The single sixes deserve their own thread. Aren't there like fifteen subtypes and all those rare early models?
 
Is it weird that I have a GP 100 I'm perfectly happy with but I also want a Speed Six or Service Six as well?
 
Epoch, welcome to THR. That's a wonderful plumb blue on that Six. Are my eyes fooling me or is that a first issue grip frame on that one? I haven't seen one of those for awhile. That's the one Skeeter complained about in the article under my Speed, and Ruger changed it shortly thereafter. Skeeter said the prototypes he and his buddies test fired would "ride up" badly. Though personally I think it depends on how you hold it.

Is it weird that I have a GP 100 I'm perfectly happy with but I also want a Speed Six or Service Six as well?
Click to expand...

Not at all. The GP's are in the same line of evolution, but are very different revolvers. They're almost as big as a Redhawk and have a different balance in hand than the Sixes. The reason for the changeover had more to do with cost savings than anything else. Bill Ruger said he lost money on every Six that went out the door. Though I suspect part of the reason for that was his effort to underbid Colt and Smith & Wesson which dominated the market for law enforcement sales. The period press about the Sixes always mentions how they're a notch less expensive than the better known brands. It's really only now, after decades of use, that folks are realizing how good the "cheap" Rugers were.

I find the Speed Six superior to the SP-101 as well. It's slightly larger and a few ounces heavier, but that just makes it better with full house magnum loads. And it's just as concealable, except perhaps in pocket carry. There's no need to shoot .38's out of Speed Six. Plus, I just like having six shots instead of five. That's the main reason I've shifted from an SP-101/Model 36 combo to a Speed six/Detective Special combo. Five shots always leaves me feeling like I'm missing a sock.
 
I was curious about the plum color too. I've seen that in older aluminum guns before but not steel - looks cool even if it is a lighting thing.

I have a 150 prefix sec six I'll try and get some pictures of in the next day or so. Picked it up a few months ago in 99.9%+ condition for $215 .. :evil:
 
The plumb color happens as a result of a certain chemical reaction over time. I've seen it with some Mosin barrels as well as the older Rugers. On my Speed, it's the cylinder that has a subtle plumb color.
 
I have seen the plum color on several Monson era Dan Wesson revolvers as well. Seems to happen only on the frame and not the barrel shrouds.
 
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