single six problems

[Ian Johnson]

ok so friday i was in my local pawnshop and I see a 1976 singlesix, stainless, 6.5in barrel, but the cylinder was blued, the cylinder had no markings on it whether it was lr or mag, it was advertised as lr, it was a little scratched up and the grips had seen better days but it was tax free and $165 so I brought it home, yesterday when I shot it, all six lr cases were split, is my cylinder a mag? the guys at the shop swore it was a lr and the cylinder is fluted and from what ive seen the lr cylinders are fluted where as the mag cylinders aren't, I checked and 22mag rounds do fit perfectly in the cylinders, and if it is did the gun get damaged by me shooting lr rounds out of it?

thanks
Ian

 

[GCBurner]

If you can fit a .22 Mag in the cylinder, then it's made for .22 Mag. I wouldn't make a habit of shooting .22 LR in it, but other than splitting the cases, spewing out hot gasses from both ends of the cylinder, and poor accuracy, it's most likely not going to go any real damage to the gun. Possible damage to the shooter is another question.

 

[gyvel]

It sounds like someone had the chambers in a .22 lr cylinder reamed out to take .22 mag. As far as I know, .22 mag cylinders were marked as such.

.22 lr cylinders for Single Sixes aren't that expensive. Just keep checking on Gunbroker or at gun shows.

 

[hoghunting]

My Super Single Six's cylinders aren't marked for lr or mag, just the last 3 digits of the serial number are etched in the face of the cylinders. Both of the cylinders are fluted.

 

[rcmodel]

did the gun get damaged by me shooting lr rounds out of it?

No, but don't make a habit of it.

rc

 

[M3stuart]

Well, I guess you could just start singing; "don't worry, be happy" that you now have a .22 mag! Ammo costs more than .22LR but less than a lot of other stuff.

I mean really, for 165 beans, you made out fine.

 

[danjet500]

Cylinders from the late sixties and early seventies were fluted and unmarked for both lr and magnum. As others have said, if a magnum cartridge fits, that's what it is. Take a look at this photo.