Sell a 4” Ruger Service Six for a 3” GP100?

[Homerboy]

I have a very nice 4” Service Six in stainless. Near perfect shape. I shoot it every now and the , mostly .38 special with the occasional .357.



A local shop near me just got in 3 3” older GP100’s. CAI import marked. Older style Lett grips. Handling marks but stainless cleans up. $450.

I rarely shoot the Service Six but I like it. I don’t have a 3” wheel gun at the moment and the GP is still supported by Ruger but I’m not sure that would ever be an issue.

I just bought a CMP 1911. I’m not spending $500 without selling something to cover it. What’s the fair price on a stainless Service Six with original stocks and a set of factory Ruger target grips?

 

[sabbfan]

I would guess around $400 give or take, I think the Service usually bring slightly less than the Security. I bought my stainless Security in good shape, 4” barrel for $425 with the last couple of years. I say go for it if you’d rather have the GP100, but the six series are pretty darn nice.

 

[NoirFan]

Hm, I wouldn’t trade. I consider the Sixes to be a better gun in almost every way compared to the GP. Most importantly I think they’re the perfect combo of size and strength for the 357 magnum cartridge.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Naw, keep the Service 6.

As good as the GP is, its entire reason for being is its cheaper to produce than the "6" series. I have both and in no way consider the GP to be a better gun.

 

[bannockburn]

I wouldn't sell or trade-in the Service Six either. Loved the Security/Service/Speed Six Series and never really cared for the overall design and ergonomics of the GP100. If you really want the GP100 maybe see if the gun shop has a layaway program.

 

[MachIVshooter]

A local shop near me just got in 3 3” older GP100’s. CAI import marked

That's an odd thing. Has me scratching my head wondering what foreign government bought a bunch of American .357s and then sold them back to a US importer


Anyway, since you say you mostly shoot .38s, I'd probably stick with the smaller framed Service-Six. The forcing cones on the -Six guns are thin & weak, but unless you hammer them with lots of full power .357, particularly the lighter bullets, it shouldn't be an issue. I did manage to crack a cone on the Security-Six I used to have, and it bound up the crane, but I was able to get it loose and then cleaned up the deformed metal and continued using it, though I stuck to lighter loads after that, save the nuclear stuff for my 686 & 586.

 

[PapaG]

Only problem down the road is factory support. I believe they don't do the "six" series any longer. Lots of parts on eBay.

 

[stonebuster]

Keep the Service Six and buy the GP100 if you can. I sold a performance center Shield too cheap to finance a 4"model 10 I found and now I'm looking for a Shield again(for more than I sold it for)

 

[Waveski]

I admit that I am not addressing your specific question , but - DON'T DO IT.

I would not make that trade straight up. The older Ruger is more desirable in multiple ways. If I were considering the trade for some reason , the import mark would put me off.

 

[tubeshooter]

In cases like this, I usually consider the ability to replace.

Although that sounds like a decent enough price on a used 3" GP and they aren't quite as common as the 4" variety, I would say to keep the Six. Especially if the Six is in "near perfect shape" and gets shot only occasionally with mostly .38 Spl, which really mitigates the concern for replacement parts.

 

[golden]

If you want a .357 magnum to carry and shoot on a regular basis, you need to get the GP-100. The Service Six, Security Six and Speed Six are great guns if you are going to shoot .357 magnum on occasion and mostly .38 Special. A steady diet of +P .38 Special should be ok with the SIX'S. That is what I shoot in my SIX'S.
I just bought a GP-100 because I wanted to shoot more .357 magnum and the SIX'S are just too light in my opinion. I feel the same way about S&W'S K-frames.

I would put the price of a very good stainless SERVICE SIX at between $450.00 and $500.00 for private sale.

Most important, do what you think is best for you.

Jim

 

[PapaG]

I'd be much more confident in either of my security sixes being able to handle a steady 357 diet than I would my old 19. My 4" stainless 200 year model, LNIB, would have to bring at least five bills, if I were to sell it. My 2 3/4 blue is my go to farm buddy.

 

[bassjam]

Another "Don't sell the Service Six" here!

You still like the Service Six, and it's going to be harder to replace if you regret getting rid of it than it'll be to get a GP100 later down the road.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

The price on Six-series revolvers has gone steadily upward in the last ten years. Ten years ago they were as common as dirt for $300, but now prices are $400 even for beaters. Bonus bucks if you have stainless ones or 2.75" barrels.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

IMO the Six-Series Ruger revolvers are similar to the older K frame S&W revolvers and worth keeping. I like the size and feel of the slightly smaller guns.

Many people talk about the K frames needing to be replaced by the L frame revolvers for strength but the same holds true for the Six-Series guns and the GP-100 revolvers. Remember, they aren't making them any more so if you can swing buying the GP-100 without selling your revolver I would go that way.

If you can't I would sell the Six and buy the 3" GP-100, it sounds like a good gun.

 

[Homerboy]

To hell with it. The owner is a nice guy and I've bought probably 6 guns from him in the last 2 years. I know what he paid for the GP100's and I inquired as to what he might accept in a trade for my Service Six towards the GP. He said he would like to personally own the Six and offered me $300 for it, so I'd still be out over $150 to buy a CAI marked, far less condition than my Service Six, GP100. For $150 more, I could get a new GP100 in 3" without the import markings.

Yeah, I could sell it online but with fees and transfer it isn't worth it. If he offered me $400 for the Six we would have a deal, but I'm not throwing away $100.

 

[Eddietruett]

I think you did good. I'd much rather have the Service than the GP. I know the GP100 has a huge following and for the most part, great reviews, but I've never been a fan. They are built like a tank, but for some reason just not fun to shoot. I can't put my finger on why. I've owned several in 4 and 6" and just wasn't impressed. None of the GP100 and the SP101's that I've shot had any sort of decent action. I hear you can dry fire them into a smooth gun but why not just get a smooth gun to start with? Only Ruger I have right now is a 6" Security Six and its a lot of fun to shoot. Stay with the Old.

 

[Lucky Derby]

You made the right decision.
Back in the 80s S&W upgraded the K frame to the L frame. The Six- series Rugers did not need an upgrade, except in profits. Bill Ruger himself said that the GP100 was only made to increase profits. He even said they lost money on the Six-Series.

As to what country used GP100s: Canada. RCMP issued them back in the day.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

To hell with it. The owner is a nice guy and I've bought probably 6 guns from him in the last 2 years. I know what he paid for the GP100's and I inquired as to what he might accept in a trade for my Service Six towards the GP. He said he would like to personally own the Six and offered me $300 for it, so I'd still be out over $150 to buy a CAI marked, far less condition than my Service Six, GP100. For $150 more, I could get a new GP100 in 3" without the import markings.

Yeah, I could sell it online but with fees and transfer it isn't worth it. If he offered me $400 for the Six we would have a deal, but I'm not throwing away $100.

I have an idea you might like. Since the Six is not a collector gun you might consider having the barrel cut down or changed to 3". It won't cost you as much as the deal you turned down and you will have a gun you know is good. I could be wrong about the price but it's worth look in into IMO.

 

[silvermane_1]

Hm, I wouldn’t trade. I consider the Sixes to be a better gun in almost every way compared to the GP. Most importantly I think they’re the perfect combo of size and strength for the 357 magnum cartridge.

I feel the same way about the DA Dash-Six series, they are Ruger's answer to the S&W K(iirc?) Frame 9mm/38/357 revolvers, i am a proud owner of a blued 4" Ruger 357 MAG " '76 Liberty" Security-Six.

 

[Eddietruett]

I believe Ruger made a Security Six or either a Single Six with a 3" Barrel on a limited run. Or I could be mixing up my thoughts with the 2.75". Maybe a Ruger expert can straighten me out.

 

[shafter]

I wouldn't sell. I would save up and add to the GP100 to the collection.

 

[becket]

GP100 later; keep the Six!
Very nice Service Six prices are commonly pushing $550-$600 on many closed sales on gunbroker. Yes transfers and shipping put it back toward a strong $500, but opening bids taken are in the mid $400s. That was a month back when i was looking. Snubbed are the most money at the moment and a nice Service will b $700+ .
Yes there are deals. I bought a Security Six in great shape for $380 but waited weeks to find one overlooked late in the wee hours of a weekday morning, to spring. I am referring to the pinned barrel models (pre 1980). Once they start hitting 40 yrs old they started being collectible I guess as a series of all 3.
I had a 6” gp100 yrs back and it was a fine .357 range gun, but too big to carry all day for me anyway. I love the Six series and had I a Service , would plink with .38 and carry +P or standard .357 with a damn good hollowpoint. With very limited choices, Flat nosed lead semi jacketed; wadcutters, and truncated cone lead, ( 90% lead and 10% antimony here) reloads were just what many used for everything in my early revolver days of the 60s and 70s; but the choices in bullets, better powders and loads available now can be tailored to any revolver size and task. When gun funds are available again I’d love to find a beautiful $500 Service and I’m not alone; so for any sale or trade you may want to consider (as the other poster already mentioned) their increasing collectability.

 

[NWPilgrim]

God no, do not sell the Service Six!!! I like the GP100 but it is a bit oversized for a .357 in my opinion. The Sixes I think were perfect sized for .357. If you sell the Six, who know how long you would have to look to find another in as good as shape for a reasonable amount? The GP100 is almost generic like a Glock: sturdy, reliable but compared to the Sixes, not much personality. You can buy a good GP100 any day of the week in the next ten years. I rarely see Sixes on the market probably because the owners like them so much.

If you desperately want a 3" then either have the Six chopped or wait until you can afford to buy the GP100 without selling the Six. And if you do the sell the Six, PLEASE do not tell us on this forum! It would ruin my day.

 

[Blue Brick]

No trade.