Speed Six or Service Six?

[Coyote3855]

I want to buy a Ruger .357 with 2 3/4" barrel, and am currently looking at a Speed Six blued and a Service Six stainless. The only differance, other than finish, is the round butt on the Speed Six and a square butt on the Service. I've never had my hands either gun. Casual carry for CCW and woods loafing, is the difference in the grips significant? Yeah, I know I could get a GP 100, but I'd prefer the older model. I'd prefer a Speed Six in stainless, but can't locate one. Thanks.

 

[vzenmn]

I would get the Service Six because it is stainless. It isn't all that hard to convert a square but into a round butt if you want to. And I don't think there is all that big of a difference between the two grip types anyway.

 

[GrandmasterB]

The round butt does aid a bit in concealment for carry, but otherwise the guns are identical. They are great revolvers, and will last a lifetime, so get the one you like!

 

[wnycollector]

I have a SS Security Six snubbie ...you cannot go wrong with either the speed or service six. I say buy which one you want and you can get cheapest!

 

[dvcrsn]

Either one would do well as a 357, I would tend to go with the stainless (I have 1 Service Six (4inch) and 4 Security Sixes (2.75, 4 and 2 six inch)

 

[Confederate]

Being somewhat familiar with these guns, here's some other things to be on the lookout for.

1. BUY STAINLESS if you can. Sometimes you don't have that option, but if you do, go for it! Be willing to pay a little more for it, as well.

2. GET THE ROUND BUTT. If the gun doesn't have it, don't sweat, you can grind off the square butt and make it a round butt. (I just did that today with a 4-inch stainless Security-Six. Beautiful!)

3. Examine the FORCING CONE and get the one that's the fullest. Some forcing cones have been cut to make room for the crane when the crane assembly shuts, and though it hasn't caused the same problem for the Rugers it has for the Smiths, I like the Ruger examples without notches cut into the six o'clock position.

4. TIGHTNESS. Close the cylinder, cock each chamber and go with the gun that has the tightest overall lockup. And, finally,

5. Take six 125- or 158- virgin bullets (not cartridges) and drop them head first into the chambers. Make a note of how many drop through to the other side and how many catch. DO NOT FORCE ANY OF THEM THROUGH. The cylinder that catches the most bullets wins.

This last one was taught to me by a friend a number of years ago and has aided me in buying a number of .357s. Most wadcutters will catch, since they're oversized; however, most jacketed .357 bullets won't catch unless they're just the right size. In the early days of the 686, we found a lot of 686s that caught either all or five out of six bullets. Sign of excellent tolerances!

 

[dagger dog]

I thought the speed six had adjustable sights and the service six were not.
But it's been years since I have owned or shot ruger revolvers.

 

[joneb]

I chose a stainless 2.75" Security Six, it allows me to shoot a wide range of bullets of different weights and velocities with the ability to adjust the rear sight for elevation and windage so that POA and POI are the same.
View attachment 73847

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have a Police Service-Six that's Blue and it's a great revolver. Like said above, either will serve you well.

 

[Confederate]

The Security-Six and the Service-Six both came with the square butt. Only the Speed-Six, in .357 and 9mm, came in round-butt. However, any square butt can be easily changed to a round butt with an electric grinder.

Back in the early 80s, a technical fellow at the NRA showed me his converted Security-Six revolver. He'd written an article on the .357 for the American Rifleman in which he reviewed the best selling magnums of the day and it was clear that he favored the Ruger Security-Six by far over the rest. He'd shot a number of K-frame magnums to the point they were no longer able to be retimed (because the frames had warped out of shape), but the Ruger's solid frame made it all but impervious to full house magnum rounds.

But what was really nice, the Ruger, like the K-frame Smith, could have it's grip bobbed for not only great comfort, but greater concealability.

Here are two of my boys, both with originally square butts, but converted to round butts. If you think they're nice looking, you should try holding them. You can't get this kind of configuration out of today's Rugers since all you get, really, is a post, around which your grips must be configured.

 

[Shawnee]

+1 for the Speed Six

 

[one45auto]

The 4" fixed sight, stainless steel Ruger Police Service-Six is my favorite .357 magnum. I highly recommend it.