Weight Difference Between Ruger Speed Six and SP101?

[scotjute]

Looking to find the weights of the Ruger Speed Six with 2 3/4" barrell and the Ruger SP101 with 3" barrell.
So far found the 4" Ruger Security Six weight was 33.5 oz. and SP101 was 25 oz (assume it was for std 2 1/4" barrell).
Always heard that the new Ruger GP and SP pistols weighed more than the older Security/Service/Speed Sixes but have not seen it spelled out just how much more weight is involved.
Thanks.

 

[gearhead]

If no one else supplies the info before I can get home today I'll weigh my 1977 Security Six. It's a stainless steel 2.75" barrel model. It does have aftermarket rubber grips but that is actually pretty equivalent to the stock SP101 grips so I'm not sure that would be an issue.

 

[Cosmoline]

I think the 35 oz is for the 4" Security Six. The Speed is more like 30 oz. And the SP is more like 26 or 27 oz loaded.

I've carried them all, and the SP-101 is a little easier to tote in pocket. That's about the only difference, other than the extra bullet in the Six.

 

[KevininPa]

Don't know about weight but......

........this thread convinced me to get my Speed Six:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=6101195&postcount=10

I asked for pics to compare sizes between the Six and the SP. Since I wasn't planning on pocket carry, size was more of a matter than weight. As you can see, the Six isn't that much bigger.

 

[roaddog28]

Hi,
I don't know he exact weight of the two but my choice between the two would be the Speed Six. Extra round and I still feel the Sixes series was the best DA revolver Ruger ever made. The sp and GP100 are good but I like the old Sixes series better.

Howard

 

[jad0110]

With a quality belt and holster, you likely won't feel much difference in weight. It's all about which feels more natural in your hand, keeping in mind the fact that you can switch grips. I personally shoot the Ruger Six series a hair better. So I went with a 4" Police Service Six. The sixth round is a nice bonus too.

 

[slick6]

1)My 1985 Ruger catalog shows the Speed-Six with the 2.75" barrel to weigh approximately 32 ounces, chambered in either .38 Special or .357 Mag.

2)My 1994 Ruger catalog shows the Ruger SP101 with the 3-1/16" barrel to weigh 27 ounces, chambered in either .38 Special or .357 Mag.

 

[edrice]

scotjute, I own both in stock configuration and just for you I got them out of the safe and weighed and also photographed them to show relative size. I used a digital scale which is quite accurate - the Speed-Six is 34.6 oz. and the SP101 is 27.1 oz. for a difference of 7.5 oz. I cropped the photo in such a manner as to reveal similarity in length.

The SP101 tends to go on hikes because of its lighter weight, but if I were forced to choose between the two, it would be the Speed-Six.

Ed

 

[Cosmoline]

Well that's interesting. I would have sworn the Speed was lighter than that. I think the felt weight is reduced due to the excellent balance.

 

[edrice]

Well that's interesting. I would have sworn the Speed was lighter than that. I think the felt weight is reduced due to the excellent balance.

This one has the Ruger factory rubber grips which are bit more substantial than the lighter, smaller wooden grips that used to come on these. Maybe that could be where the difference lies.

Ed

 

[Cosmoline]

Mine has T-Grips on it which are heavy brass and weigh more than the plastic. But still I'd be hard pressed to feel the actual weight difference between it and the SP. The SP feels more "brickish" in the hand. The Speed must just be balancing better. It only feels a few ounces heavier. Interesting!

 

[slick6]

This one has the Ruger factory rubber grips which are bit more substantial than the lighter, smaller wooden grips that used to come on these. Maybe that could be where the difference lies.

Ed

Ed: Yes, you are right that the rubber grips add substantial weight over the wooden grips. Also, your Speed-Six is the heavy barrel version, which also adds more weight compared to the original skinny 2.75" barrel! The weight that I'd indicated in my post above was for the skinny 2.75" barrel with the wooden grips!

 

[edrice]

Ed: Yes, you are right that the rubber grips add substantial weight over the wooden grips. Also, your Speed-Six is the heavy barrel version, which also adds more weight compared to the original skinny 2.75" barrel! The weight that I'd indicated in my post above was for the skinny 2.75" barrel with the wooden grips!

I had forgotten about the skinny barrel version...

For a lark, I weighed my blued 4-inch Speed-Six with the same grips, and my 4-inch Security-Six which has larger Pachmayr grips. The 4-inch Speed-Six weighs exactly 36.0 oz. and the Security-Six is 39.4 oz.

Ed

(Ok, so I'm a Ruger pig!)(And that's not all either)

 

[gearhead]

My pre-billboard stainless steel 2.75 Security Six with aftermarket rubber grips weighs in at 39.0 ounces on the postal scale.

 

[scotjute]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Quite interesting the way it turned out.

 

[MCgunner]

I've carried them all, and the SP-101 is a little easier to tote in pocket. That's about the only difference, other than the extra bullet in the Six.

Prolly get away with that in Alaska, but down here, I tote an ultralite .38 for a pocket revolver. My SP101 was carried IWB, wish I had another. If I get another, it'll be a 3" version. There is no way my Security Six was as easy to belt carry, was heavier, but fatter inside a belt and just not as comfy. The SP101 gets my vote hands down, plus, it's a much stronger design. Over the years, my security six did shoot a little loose. Wasn't to the point of a trip to Ruger or anything, just sayin' they're not as strong as some seem to think. That thing got a steady diet of hot .357, though. It's no Blackhawk in strength. The SP101 with its better lock up system was about as strong as such guns get IMHO. My personal preference, anyway. Guns like the Security and Speed Sixes get a cult following of believers over the years, the "don't make 'em like they used to" crowd. Well, they were good guns, a step up in strength over the K frames, all that, but they are lauded out of proportion now days on boards IMHO. I know, I actually owned one for quite a while and lived with it. I actually prefer my Taurus 66 for just shooting, a lot more accurate, better trigger out of the box, far more refined, just as my M19 K frame was even though neither was as strong a design as the Six. The little SP101 is smaller, though, and for a carry revolver considering the brute strength of the design, in .357s, IMHO it has few equals. Add to that the trigger is smoother out of the box than the Six was and a spring kit lightens it considerably as does the Six. Also, I much prefer the grip frame design, allows for a round butt Hogue grip which just feels awesome on the SP101 and is MUCH more compact than the Hogue I put on the Six. It's a true round butt profile. My six was a square butt, but I would still prefer the SP101's grip frame over a round butt six.

Again, JMHO as one that has owned both in the past. Neither gun is a BAD choice for carry. No one's a loser, here.

 

[Cosmoline]

I've never heard that the SP is stronger than the Six. From what I've read, the SP is just less expensive to make. As BR said they lost money on the Sixes. The SP and GP can be made more efficiently, with fewer steps at the factory. But the Sixes are very strong. I'm also not sure where you're getting the idea that the SP has a "better lock up."

Beyond that, everyone has a preference. I found the SP's triggers to be stiffer than the Sixes. They were only tolerable when I put in a spring kit. But they're fine carry guns and a little narrower and lighter.

 

[jame]

There is a a lock up on the front of the crane as well as the rear (similar to the Redhawk). Thus the assumption that the lock up is better than the Sixes.

As an owner of both, The SP101 is a stronger gun, IMO.

 

[Cosmoline]

Are you saying your Six doesn't have a front latch?

I've owned many of both, and shot both types loose. The SP-101 is not stronger than the Six. You could make a case that the GP-100 is stronger than the Six series based on sheer mass. Certainly the Redhawks are stronger. But between the SP and the Six, strength is not really a factor. The sixes give you an extra round, the SP's are a little leaner and lighter.

The reason more and more people like the Sixes isn't because of a "cult" as you suggest. It's simply because they've held up remarkably well over the years and they can (or used) to be available at a serious discount vs. Colts and Smiths. I've owned many K frames from that vintage, and some Colts as well. Short of a primo Python, they haven't held up as well over the years. Plus, the Sixes have smoother triggers than modern Rugers. They're popular magnums for people who like to shoot magnums. SP's are also great guns. Just not *as* great.

 

[slick6]

Cosmoline is right on target regarding the Sixes! I have a stash of Sixes and plenty of gp100's/SP101's and I can attest to what he's said!

 

[MCgunner]

jame has made my pont. The Sixs do NOT have the lock on the crane. They lock up at the forward end of the ejector rod like a Smith. They also rotate the ejector rod with the cylinder which has less bearing surface than does the SP101 system. It's in the crane area where I feel the SP101 has the extra strength, not the frame necessarily, though either is plenty strong with a similar side plateless design. The new lock up was a big step in strength. Yes, I do consider the Six a weaker design. I shot mine pretty loose before I traded it for a Blackhawk and it didn't take all THAT much to do, maybe 10K rounds 50 percent of which were hot magnum handloads. I didn't shoot the SP101 as much, but I had no qualms about firing hot loads in it. If I got another six, I'd be putting mostly 38 through it. JMHO, though, for the sake of discussion.

 

[MCgunner]

Another thing I didn't like about my Security Six, had a lot of muzzle flip on firing. The SP101 was actually more pleasant to shoot with hot loads, especially with the rubber Hogue on it. I had a Nylon Hogue on the Six. I think that was because the Six sat so high in the hand.

Anyway, I much prefer the SP101 and will get another. I saw a security six a while back in a pawn shop for 400 bucks. for that i could get a new SP and live happy.

 

[Cosmoline]

Sounds like you needed T-Grips for your Six, but to each his own. More for me ;-)

The first generation grip frame does tend to "ride up," which is something they fixed shortly after introducing the revolver. I find that, particularly with the T-Grip in place, the Sixes are a dream to shoot and a lot easier to shoot accurately than the SP's. I used to like the rubber Hogues on the SP's, but after a while they started to get mealy and sticky. I also found they had a bad tendency to grab any cloth material on draw. With the short bbl Security I've got the T-Grips and trigger shoe. It draws smoothly, carries easy and gives me excellent groupings. I wouldn't trade it for three SP's.

I'm also not sure why the crane area needs the lockup. I haven't seen any Sixes with cracked rods. I saw one with a rod that had got bent and unscrewed itself, so that might be considered a design flaw. But it was an easy fix.

 

[Confederate]

I also like the Speed-Six, because it's not so much weight as balance. The extra shot and balance of the Speed-Six makes it a no-brainer.

It's my favorite hiking gun.