Saw a nice stainless one at the shop today. Kinda like the looks and feel of it but know nothing about them. I know they do not show up very often. Are the accurate guns? Don't have any Ruger revolvers so thought it might be nice to add one.
Any idea of what they go for? Looks in nice shape, wood grips adjustable sights.
Thanks

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Still Running Against the Wind

Kinda indifferent personally.

Good guns, if the price is right. I don't have a clue to pricing.

I have one in .38 S&W (not special) but never shot it though.
AFAIK, they didn't sell too well.

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Lost it all in a boat accident

My outfit issued them to us way back. They are built like a tank. Ours were fixed sighted 4" with round butts. They felt good. Usualy though, I still was a holdout and mostly carried a old colt offical police most of the time as we had to use .38 special and the colt was lighter to pack.

If the price is decent, I'd go for it. They're very basic, reliable guns. Not quite as "polished" as most Smiths, but well made.

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LEO since 1981.

I have a 4 inch and a six. Both are fine in my opinion.

I am a fan. The round butts with fixed sights are called Speed Six. The square butts with fixed sights were the Service Six. Most Security Sixes were adjustable sights, but fixed sight versions are cataloged. Later ones had the ridiculous "Read the Manual" warning plastered across the barrel. I would look for one old enough not to have that. The 1976 models are nice with the "Made in the 200th year of American Liberty" engraved on the left side frame. They aren't particularly rare, as all Rugers made that year carried the roll mark, but it is a nice touch. I have three of them.

The design for detail stripping them for cleaning is very ingenious. There is no excuse for a dirty one. The guns are strong and reliable. Compared to the later DA Rugers, I think they are quite handsome. Accuracy is combat grade - adequate but not stellar.

ETA: On pricing, they can usually be found for good prices, but some people (think popular gun auction site) think they are worth the moon. I have bought them LNIB for less than $400 but have seen them over $600. The snubs go for more than the 4-inchers. Because they are less common, nice 6 in. specimens sell higher than 4-inchers as well. Post warning guns go for less than pre warning guns. 200th year commands a small premium. I prefer the fixed sight models because they are cleaner in design but I have both designs covered. A fixed sight square butt iSecurity Six is rather difficult to find. I don't think they made an adjustable sight round butt (Speed Six). The Speed Six is generally pricier than the Security or Service Six. There is not much premium for stainless over blued. I am pleased to say that I have never seen a nickel plated one.

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I have had a 6" stainless since 1976, trigger pull was too heavy, an aftermarket main spring solved that, the factory grips uncomfortable, Pachmayrs solved that. One of the most consistently accurate revolvers I own.
IIRC the ones chambered in 38 S&W were manufactured for an Indian (as in Republic of India) police agency. Being ex British Empire they prefer the 38 S&W in revolvers. Never seen one, wouldn't mind having one.
The reason they don't show up too often is because like the Dan Wesson Pistol Pac or the Colt Trooper, those who have-keep them.

In my opinion, the Security Six was the best DA revolver Ruger ever built. Yeah, the trigger was a bit heavy, but otherwise an outstanding revolver.
My brother -in-law had one and I shot it many times. But I was (and still am) hooked on S&Ws at the time. I regret not buying a Security Six when they were still being made.
One of these days I'll run across a nice one at a good price at a time when I have the cash to spare and no other major items on the current want list. When I do, I'll grab it quick!

Excellent platform. My PPC gun is based on a Security Six and has 10's of thousands of rounds through it. Most reliable revolver I've ever owned. Ruger did it right and strengthened the gun...

All Ruger DA revolvers have a much more massive bearing surface between the cylinder and crane (yoke in a S&W). You almost never see a Ruger with excessive endshake, even after 10s of thousands of rounds of magnum loads.

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Non gratum anus rodentum

I've got one.

Personally, I hated them, probably more than any other guns I've ever owned. I've had two Security Six's and a Speed Six. Traded the Speed 6 for some welding equipment, traded one Security 6 at a big loss, and gave the last one away.

They were bulky, barrel heavy, not accurate enough for my liking, and had a bad habit of pinching my chubby trigger fingers.

I was issued a Security Six while working security at a hospital. Once while we were qualifying along with a rent-a-cop agency I out shot their "ace" shooter so bad it was almost funny. Well, it was a riot. I was using my issued SS and he had a 6" model 19 that shaved lead really bad to the left side. He walked up to me and said that the reason I beat him was because my gun was better than his, to which I replied, "what?". He said that the Ruger was a better gun than the 'Smith and named off a bunch of reasons why. I told him to hold on a minute and I'd even the field a little for him, and pulled my own model 19 out of my car. I shot a 296 out of 300 and told him my version of the truth about S&Ws vs. Rugers.

I later found a Ruger ad in a gun magazine which listed every reason he had given me and I still wonder if he had ever really shot one.

It's all a personal preference on what you like and don't like.

I like them. Factory triggers are not the best, but that is easily fixed with a spring kit. And the gun is dirt simple to work on. I especially like the short barrel Speed Sixes and Security Sixes.

Double Sharp, your stags look better than mine )-: . I have a Security Six with a 2 3/4" barrel that was sold as a Speed Six. The only real difference is a slightly heavier barrel on the Security Six. I got it lettered from Ruger. The gun was built at a time when Speed Six frames were not available. The box states its a Speed Six along with Ruger records. Interesting little side bar.

Out
West

I have one, a blue four inch with the manual **** on the barrel. I bought it because they offered it to me for $200.00 OTD if I payed cash. So I did.

I like it, there is a lot of holster wear but mechancally it is solid. I can carry it on hikes and not worry if I (and it) slide down a mountain. It has a very nice trigger but I have no way of knowing if somebody had a triggger job done. It came with rubber stuff on it so I don't know about the grips. Just a very nice working gun that I have no problem carrying any where. (Except in bear country.)

I passed up a rather rough lookin' Security Six a few months ago at the local fun store, it was offered to me at 250 OTD.....I am still kicking myself.
Over the years I have owned about 5-6 Service/Security Six's...and always loved them. Fine shooters, rugged as a anvil, easy to work on or clean,
That one I passed up should have been mine, I won't let that happen again.

Put me down as a fan of the S.S. Sure they are not as sexy as a S&W and the DA is different but the dang thing's work and work well. I have two.

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Stay safe people!

Wow, a lot of "closet" Ruger fans.

This is a 4" square butt, wood grips Adj sights(security six) If it was a snub I would have it NOW.

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Still Running Against the Wind

Mine is pretty worn- I bought it from a co-worker, who got it from Century Arms years ago... I think it had been sent to South America somewhere, then Century bought a boatload of them for re-import. Not my prettiest revolver, but of all my 4-inchers, this one is an absolute tack-driver!!!

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LEO since 1981.

Looks like a miniature Redhawk.

Imagine, with a name like mine, I have a 4" blued version.I found one new in box the first of last year.I have since picked up a Speed Six, they are both nice revolvers. I just can't shoot them as well as my S&W's.

A few years ago I bought this Ruger Police Service Six .38 special for $125.00 from Bernie's Sports in Lilburn, GA when the store lost it's FFL. I glass bead blasted it and gave it to my brother. I consider the Security/Service/Speed Six series the Glocks of the revolver world. Easy to strip, well built, accurate enough, borderline ugly. A nice one brings silly prices in my area, something I do not understand. I would rather have a S&W.

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I have one of the earlier models - a 4.0 inch barreled, blued steel version with adjustable sights. It took me quite a while to find it as I haven't seen any used Security Sixes for sale for many years. I am in agreement with what other forum members have said about it. It is built like a tank, and it requires a gunsmith to do a trigger job to it. Mine is as accurate as any of my S&W .38/.357 revolvers. By the way, the SS uses the same speedloaders and leather as the K frame S&W revolvers. I think Ruger did a really good job with the adjustable rear sights. They are built into a bit of a recess which helps keep them from getting banged up, or snagging when you draw, but they are still visible. By the way, mine was used, but in good shape when I bought it for $325.00 OTD. That's about the going price for a comparable S&W, but the scarcity of the SS on the used gun market helped me make my decision. I've got my eyes on a stainless steel SS now, but the owner wants too much for it.

Best of luck,

Dave

Carried a 4" .357 Ruger for years for work; put thousands of factory .357plus plenty of wadcutters through two of these guns in those years. Had to replace barrels on both for forcing cone erosion (and spitting) but truth was that it was pretty abusive use. (I was an instructor). The guns themselves held up fine and I still use them. In 2 3/4" it was the agency issue gun. They're not elegant but tough and will outlast a K frame gun.

They are still my choice for a medium frame .357 to be carried all day. Dropping them from the line was not a smart move.

Worst revolver I've ever owned. Even after being sent back for repair the ejector star wouldn't seat properly without help. Everyone told me that my gun was a fluke.

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Regards, Ron
USASA 1965/69

Security company trade-ins are selling for $300 to $350 almost always in Stainless Steel and .38 Special. .357s are selling at $400 - $450 for a nice one with box. A few Speed Sixes in .357 disappeared fast from a local dealer.
I have a 4" Heavy Barrel blue Security Six, it's my best "all around" revolver, but heavy. Front sight has a white insert and the rear a white outline.
Geoff
Who shoots lighter bullets in .357 Magnum as he ages.

I have handled them and if I were to buy a used gun today it would be a Speed six or security six it looks like it would make a great field piece.

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Stan

I just bought one a couple of months ago. My trigger is exceptionally good; it must have had some work done somewhere along the way. It was built in 1978.

The gun is very accurate and reliable. It was very dirty when I bought it, but cleaned up well and is now a good looking gun.

All of this for only $300 bucks... if they had another one, I would buy it too.

I read two reports that I found online of range rental guns that had over 1million rounds fired through them... I guess you can take that with a grain of salt, but it seems to me that they are built like all other Rugers... tough as hardened nails, woodpecker lips or whatever other cliche that you want to use.

I don't have a Security Six but have this early model "lowback" Speed Six...round butt, fixed sights. Its tough enough and I have no doubt it will keep on going...shoots good too but not as slick as my S&W and Colt .357's.

If I had to pick a .357 revolver from my stash that would probably last forever this would be the one.

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C & L

Never heard that one.Hope it's not copyrighted cause I'm gonna use it!

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Still Running Against the Wind

I have two, and I'll buy any I see at a decent price.

This is my nightstand gun, loaded with .357 Silvertips and currently sporting Pachmayr round butt compacts:



I got this early 150 series for $275 about three years ago.



I never worry about them breaking.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

Here are my Speed Sixes, a 4" blued and a 2 3/4" stainless:


Also have a stainless 6" Security Six. They usually had terrible triggers from the factory, but they are monkey-easy to put in a good trigger pull. Hell-for-tough, very accurate. I keep mine loaded with Remington 125gr. SJHP Nuclear loads.

I ran into one of those deals that don't happen too often. My brother wanted a .357 revolver, and I found a friend who had a Service Six that he had aquired from a LEO. He said he didn't shoot it or want it around anymore, and I got it for $75 bucks. My brother has used it for target shooting, HD, IPSC, and IDPA. He really likes it. I have a GP-100 that is my work horse for testing reloads, and instructional purposes. It is one of my more accurate revolvers. I won't be getting rid of it anytime soon!

If you can get it for a good price, grab it. Like was stated above, they are built to last.


WG840

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Freedom above all else.

While I had to carry the issue M15 from my agency on duty, I used a 6" Security Six for competition in our Police Pistol League. With a Trapper spring kit and a light hone job, the DA pull was as smooth as any S&W. For me, it was plenty accurate shooting .38 Special 158 grain LSWC.

Tank strong little guns. I've never owned one, but have shot a couple. My local gun pusher had a really beat one a while back, and had it priced like it was NIB or I would have bought it for a truck gun. It had an amazingly smooth action, but looked like the North end of a southbound mule on the outside. Would have made a perfect shooter.

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I hope I copied that right

I picked up 3 within the last few years. Sold one to a friend and kept two. Really like them as range guns. I bought a near NIB one from a co-worker for $300 (way to good a price to pass up) and another LNIB one from AA for a little over $300.

The SS was my first .357. I had it for years, it was a great handgun, extremely accurate, but I traded it for an SP-101. Now, among my .357's, is the GP-100, which I also think is an excellent pistol, just a SS that's been improved.

I realize this borders on blasphemy on this site, but I've been shooting Rugers since I was a kid in Alaska, and have always had at least a few in my collection.

Dang, now I want a Speed-six w/a short barrel!

The first handgun I bought back in 1977 was a 4" stainless Security Six. I still have it and after thousands of rounds including lots of reloads, its still going. The action has gotten smoother with use. It was worth every penny of its relatively modest price when I bought it new in April 1977. I always liked the ability to "field strip" it without tools for cleaning and repair(not that any repair has ever been needed). In short, go get it!

Well, I went and picked it up. Even had a box for it. Do not know if it is the original box but they did not serial number them so its the old cardboard box for a SS, and barrel length. I need to clean it and take some photos.

Pics to follow

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Still Running Against the Wind

I've had a few. My favorite was the SS in 9mm. I had to give up fixed sights as my eyes aged.

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You are what you learn.

I always thought the speed six was round butt and fixed sights, security six was square butt and fixed sights and security six was square butt and adjustable sights. I'm not sure if they ever made a round butt with adjustable sights.

I've got a six inch Ruger Security Six, blued that I purchased in about 1980 at Gallenson's in downtown Salt Lake City. (Ferrellmerrill should know where that is.)

The Ruger is an excellent revolver. I think kinda of "under estimated" by the S&W crowd? Much heavier than comparable S&Ws, but to borrow a much used expression..."built like a tank."

I think now, as time passes, people are beginning to see these fine revolvers for the true value that they are.

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G.P. Charlie

In the early 1980's I saw a good many Security Six revolvers with Colt Python barrels fitted to them. This made a attractive, good shooting gun.

I have a stainless Speed Six and love it. These are the only Ruger guns I like and will buy. I almost bought a Security Six but it was blued. I like stainless guns. The Speed Six shoots just as good as most of my S&W and like the others have said they are built like a tank. Full .357 loads are easy to handle.

Have just one - 4" SS Sec. Six. Rested, with Ruger target grips shoots 1.3" @ 25 yards w/Magtech 158 gr, about same as a good S&W. Trigger is less clean than S&W, but a fine revolver overall.

Regards,

Dyson

I bought mine, with a 6" barrel, in the early 70s. Got an El Paso Saddlery Tom Threepersons holster for it and carried it about 500 miles for many years out in the desert. I used to carry it sighted in for 100 yds; standing I could usually hit a torso sized target, and prone I could nail it every time. Gave me an unexpected standoff capability. I didn't like the Ruger wooden grips: tried the large Pacymyrs (sp?), too large. Tried the small Pachmyrs, still too large. Tried Hogues; just right, they're on the gun now. It's been in and out of the hoslter perhaps a thousand times, as I used to practice instinct shooting with it, until I realized I didn't have the instinct. Got Woolf springs for the trigger and hammer: the hammer spring was too light and wouldn't kick off the primer, but the trigger spring really improved the pull. One of the guns I'd never part with.

Picked it up, cleaned and polished the sear/hammer. Not sure if it even needs a Wolf spring kit. Not to bad as is. Might also redo the grips to give them a little more sheen.

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Still Running Against the Wind

I gave up on Ruger handguns when they started putting the condensed version of the manual on the barrel... I mean - Come On! The idiots that need that info printed on the barrel can't read anyway - Duh

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In dog years I'm dead.

I would love to get a 2-3/4" fixed sight gun since the 3" M-65s are so high, but the Rugers are catching up in price. The GP-100s seem too big and heavy and have never had the appeal to me of a S&W.

ocd1- that is the correct box for that gun. the serial# was on the brown cardboard box that covered the printed box. ga was the prefix for adj. site stainless guns and rda was the prefix for adj site blued guns. don't remember the rest of the models. sold many of these back in the day. they last forever like most ruger guns,but not very pretty.

Thanks. I wasn't sure. Appreciate the info. Went and shot it today. Not used to shooting with wood grips as I take them off and put Pacs on. It shoots fine but is no 686 which I brought along also.

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Still Running Against the Wind