Single Six or Ruger MKII/22/45?

[GunNut]

I'm in the market for a .22lr plicking handgun.

Local pawn shop has a SS Ruger Single Six w/the .22lr and mag cylinders. Gun appears to be in excellent condition. Should be able to pick it up for $250.

Or should I look for either a MKII or 22/45? Either of these will set me back about $300.

So what do you think revolver or semi auto? Why?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Cosmose]

well you can't go wrong either way. i have both the single six and the 22/45 both are ultra reliable. i did have a pin to break in the auto but i called ruger and they sent me another one. i've put 7,000 rounds since then and no trouble. i had the same problem trying to decide which one to buy everybody i know had both and now i know why

 

[Majic]

It's really a matter of personal preference. Only you can do that. Other's can only express what they prefer. Take both out and give them a try if you can or handle both and see which one you like best.

 

[Steve in PA]

Get both......like me

Seriously....there are some days I love blasting or plinking away with the MKII......and other days I grab the Six.

As stated, you can't go wrong with either. I ended up getting the Single Six first....and the MKII later......but it could have easily have been the reverse.

 

[WonderNine]

Personally I like shooting a Single Six a little bit more. But I like both very much.

 

[rugerfreak]

Both here too----lol

 

[PlayTheAces]

I had a Six years ago, and found it to be a good gun. The last fifteen years I've had a MKII, and have grown fond of it.

As far as differences, the Six gives you the option of shooting mags, which is a pretty good option. For that one reason I wish I had kept mine.

The MKII gives the advantage of using 10 round magazines, which I prefer over trying to load little bitty .22s into a cylinder. I also have a scope on mine, which along with the 10" bull barrel gives me good accuracy. I don't know how feasible it would be to scope a Six.

Either one is a good choice. Really comes down to whether you prefer a wheel gun or an auto chucker for blasting away with .22s. I'm a revolver guy all the way, but in this case I like the MKII.

 

[10-Ring]

I have shot both & like both, but bought a Mk II.

 

[CWatson]

I have shot and like em both.I think you can get a 22/45 cheaper than $300 though.My brother bought one NIB for $200 at [www.turners.com] just this week.CWatson

 

[GunNut]

Well, I made up my mind.

Went today and bought a MKII with a 5-1/2" bull barrel.

Stainless steel of course.

Hopefully the weather will hold out tomorrow, so I can go try it out.

Steve

 

[Greek]

.22 Rugers

I must have been thinking along the same lines only I went and bought the Mark II Bill Ruger NRA Commemorative and the New Model Six 50th Anniversary models. These are more collectors items than shooters but I do plan to shoot them some. They set me back about $350 each.

 

[SavannahSteve]

I currently own three different 22LR pistols that I paid from $199 to $260 dollars for. They include a semi-auto (Ruger 22/45 with a 4-in barrel), single-action revolver (EAA Small Bounty Hunter with a 6.75-in barrel), and double-action revolver (Taurus Model 96 K-frame). I don't think you can go wrong with any of the Ruger 22's. They are all going to be well-made reliable guns that are extremely fun and inexpensive to shoot. I often shoot 500+ rounds of 22LR at the range, having a ball while spending less than $10 for ammo.

 

[Greek]

.22 Rugers

Savannah Steve:
THanks for the reply. I guess I paid more because they are sorta anniversary or commemorative issues. I still plan to shoot them and looking forward to some fun with them. The other .22 pistol I have is a S7W 617 which is a sweet gun and some CMP M44 rifles which I refinished and shoot very well. I plan to put a scope on those.

 

[tbeb]

(I can tell you that my 1995 Gun Traders Guide says a stainless Single Six in excellent condition is worth $235. Excellent condition stainless Mark II at $215, 4 3/4" barrel 22/45 at $165, and 5 1/4" & 5 1/2" 22/45 at $210.)

Both guns have a single action trigger. The Single Six does come with .22 mag cylinder, but you don't need that for plinking--magnum ammo is fairly expensive. With the Ruger semi-auto you won't have to be cocking a hammer for every shot. Semi-auto may be best choice if ever called upon to double as a self defense gun. I guess it depends on what you like and what you shoot better. I personally would buy the semi-auto. I once owned a Ruger Mk II with 5 1/2" bull barrel and it was an excellent plinking gun. Oops. I just saw you bought one already...

 

[Penforhire]

Must...be...patient. Just two...more...days until I can pick up my new MkII Gov model and the CA D.O.J. can kiss my @ss. But images of this firearm keep dancing in head like dreaming of Christmas ornaments on the tree. Am I obsessive or what?

Well, obviously the MkII was my choice.

Now... must... resist... lust for Ultradot sight...

 

[461]

Good choice, now next month go buy the Single Six.

 

[Pilot]

The MK II was a great choice. I've had a 5.5 inch bull barrel MK II for about 10 years a its still one of my favorites. I like my friends Single Six also, but have heard its not as accurate in .22 LR as the barrel is sized for the slightly larger .22 Mag. Don't know if this is true as I never shot a Single Six for accuracy, just plinking.

 

[mdsteele]

mkII!
It shoots ten times, it's accurate, it can be accessorized from here to the moon and it just plain looks cool.

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

Have to ask -- sorry for the dumb question. I'll be getting the New Single Six soon. What ammo does it take -- specifically: long rifle, short, etc? I get confused looking at the Winchester page and it just doesn't say revolver. How much does the ammo go for for this gun?

 

[pberzk]

The Single-six will shoot them all.
Change the cylinder and shoot 22 mags.
Nice gun.

 

[SavannahSteve]

Greek,

I really wanted a S&W Model 17 or 617 like yours, but bought the Taurus Model 96 because it was such a good deal. I paid $175 for it and then spent $50 more to smooth the very un-S&W trigger. The Taurus is fun to shoot, and it is currently my favorite 22 pistol; however, one of these days I going to get that S&W too.

I used to own mostly bigger caliber revolvers (38 spl, 357, and 44 spl), but I have finally traded them all away and do most of my shooting with my 22's. I can send the bullets down range a whole more often for the money invested and with much less recoil and noise. (I have never understood why someone would want to be physically assaulted by his gun ever time he pulls the trigger when throwing quarters down range would accomplish much the same thing without all the pain.)

Enjoy your Ruger 22s--they are great guns.

 

[Ron L]

Well, I've had experience with both. I currently own a Mk II with the 5.5" bull barrel and I used to have a Single Six with the 6.5" barrel. Like an idiot, I sold it in a moment of weakness. :banghead: It's the first and only gun I ever sold and I don't ever want to do that again.

The SS certainly made you slow down and take your time with shots. Sure you could blaze away, but it was much more pleasant to just plink away. With the magnum cylinder, we used to hunt rats at the foundry once each week. The Mk II can be more fun at times, but loading the mags can wear on your thumb if you don't have one of those plastic dohickeys. I do prefer the grip to the Mk II over the SS. The stock grip on the SS just seemed a bit smallish until I found a Pachmayr for it.

Stainless steel of course.

Well, mine were both blued, but does it really matter?