Did a quick "tailgate" review of my Speed Six. Let me know what you think and what I missed. I ALWAYS welcome constructive criticism, it only makes me better. Thanks.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp0GbqSGobs

These were good rock soli revolvers.

Speed Six
Police Service Six
Security Six

Good tail gate review. Don't shoot your truck. Great quality revolver.

You have done your homework!!! Great Job! Your video would have saved me a lot of goggle time.

I just acquired my 1st Ruger, a 1981 security six in 4". A basket case that I brought back to life. The issues were cosmetic, not mechanical. It's a tack driver.

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Criminals don't register guns.

Good review. Rock solid guns. A nice Speed Six is on my want list.

Semper Fi

Welcome! Your video was actually one of the better gun videos that I've seen. You could have made it clearer that the guns came in more than one barrel length. As is, it sounds as if the Sec-Six might have only been with a six-inch bbl., etc.

I've never seen that brand of ammo, and prefer that accuracy or expansion tests also be with better known brands that viewers will be familiar with and likely to seek.

Had you shown the explosive effect of a .357 bullet on a jug of water, that would have been convincing and dramatic. Many today do not realize the power of this load. It didn't shrink just because even more powerful cartridges came along. Your comment that it'll kill any animal in most of the USA is valid, but in fact, one famous Alaskan guide and his daughter use Security-Six .357's as emergency guns where big brown bears live! His published remarks in Handloader or Rifle (I forget which) were that placement is everything, and if well placed, a .357 will work. I have to respect his feeling, although I'd carry a .44 Magnum, the limit of my recoil tolerance and weight limitation.

You could have noted how the stainless construction and easy takedown make this series of guns good choices for use at sea or in coastal areas or in rain or cloud forest conditions.
The later, current, GP-100 series and the SP-101 share these advantages.

Your accuracy results show that you have at least fairly good shooting skills. Some post results on the Net that make it apparent that they have no business commenting on the accuracy of any firearm. However, testing at just 10 feet doesn't say much about the gun's capability.

You noted the substantial recoil with .357 ammo. You wanted Hogue grips. I suggest that you also consider the round butt Pachmayr Presentation Compac grips for this gun. It'll probably fit your hand better, conceal better, and hammer your hand less. That'd be my choice, and if I find one of these Speed-Sixes when I have the loose cash, I'll buy it and fit those stocks. If you are lucky enough to locate a Tyler T-Grip adaptor, that'd be a sound choice, too. You don't want to conceal carry, but many will, and in the right holster, it'll work. Depends on how you dress and how critical the concealment factor is. The smaller SP-101 will obviously fare better in some attire.

You may be interested to know that Winchester's 145 grain Silvertip .357 round will give 1200FPS in chrono tests that I've read, in three-inch barrels. The quarter inch diff. in your barrel can be disregarded. I think you'll get at least 1175 FPS from various loads in that barrel. Later editions of the Speed-Six did, in fact, have full three-inch barrels, but I think your gun looks a little better.

It'll also fire .38 Plus P ammo very effectively, and Speer's Short Barrel loads in .38 and .357 are ideal for your needs when noise or recoil aren't wanted. That info would have enhanced the video.

I think you have a very solid gun there, a little specialized in comparison to a Security-Six with a four-inch barrel, which would be a better general purpose .357. The adjustable sights would help. But if the load you're using shoots to the sights and ranges are not really long, that Speed-Six will do most of the same work.

Nice gun; nice video. I enjoyed it.

Thanks....I'll try not too.

Got pics? Mine's a 1985.

Thanks. Semper Fi!

THANK YOU for all the input. I will be doing ammo test in the near future. I will also do a more thorough accuracy test as well. I am on the hunt for some good grips and will followup with you all as soon as I get some. Thanks again.

I had the herrit wood grips made to the size of my hand. They fit perfect but I have the presentation rubber pachmayer grips on it now.

I also like the Rugers, I change out the trigger return spring and do some polishing. Makes the trigger much better,

Nice review and good shooting.

Nice to hear Cicadas again, don't hear them this far South as much. Central Fl we had lots!

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Still Running Against the Wind

It is the same revo that I pack with the factory Pach grips.
Have had it for many moons. Shoots very well & just fits my hand.
Beruisis

NCHunter, here are 3 links to my sad guns' story:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/firearm...pic-heavy.html

http://smith-wessonforum.com/firearm...ge-report.html

ginzo1958's Library | Photobucket

I am still learning about these fine machines. And will definitely be looking for others. I am trying to find a leather holster for it, as I would certainly carry it as one of my EDC's.

Chuck

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Criminals don't register guns.

I own & regularly shoot 2 Security Six, 2 Service Six & 1 Speed Six revolver.

I also own & shoot a Model 10-5, Model 19-3, 642 and a 686 plus.

Love to shoot them all, BUT if I had to choose just one out of the bunch it would be the speed six first. Some may not agree, but that's my two cents worth

BTW, for accuracy tests, you may want to give Elmer Keith's two-handed seated position a try.

It's shown in his book, "Sixguns", of which you should have a copy. Skeeter Skelton and Jeff Cooper also used much the same position. It's very steady.

Thanks. Yes, we have plenty cicadas. I'll try to send some down your way.

Great video!!

Another Speed-Six fan here, and on my second time around.

I sold my first one because it was also my first "snubbie", all I had shot previously had adjustable sights and barrels between 6" and 14" (Contender), and I couldn't hit my own rear end with it even if I had it stuck in my rear pants pocket, with the short barrel and fixed sights.

A clerk at our rural Post Office was moving out of CA and offered his up for sale, I bought it and did much better this time around having learned how to shoot short barreled handguns.

A Wolff spring kit and a lot of dry firing has made it one nice feeling action.

Ruger website list the SN range as 1982.

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Conrad
SWCA #1830 SWHF #222

My will look like yours soon. I just got a pair of pachymar grips from ebay

I think you'll like those grips. They don't just feel good; they help to reduce felt recoil effects.

BTW, I haven't had a lot of problems with DA Ruger actions. Maybe I've been lucky, but a couple of drops of oil (Break-Free) down the action and normal use has worn the gun in very nicely.

My SP-101 does have a fairly heavy action, maybe to ensure that it detonates all brands of .357 Magnum primers. But it's smooth, and a GP and a Security - Six have been lighter and quite smooth after normal "wear-in."

I've never personally seen a DA (or SA!) Ruger revolver that was out-of-time. I can't say that about rival brands, although I understand that the Colt MK III and later series were designed to overcome that, which has been the bane of their older design.

After I took that pic of my Speed-Six and a few range sessions, I've changed over from the Compac to the Gripper. I decided the smaller grip wasn't for me.

It's weird, I usually prefer Hogue for a non wood grip, but on the Speed-Six it's the Gripper that does it.

Attached Images

DSC01682.jpg (77.9 KB, 86 views)

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Conrad
SWCA #1830 SWHF #222

T-Star: I've tried that position, it's very steady. Once we were out in the desert checking accuracy of some snubbies: even from that position, they were giving pretty large groups; it's hard to get the exacting sight picture you need for accuracy with those guns having such a short sight radius. I was beginning to doubt my shooting ability but we finished up with a K 38; nice small group, I told my friend "My hand has not yet lost its skill".

Maybe some eyes and hands do better with snubs than others. I've been astonished at how well some shoot, esp. those with three- inch barrels.

What ammo did you use? I've found Speer's Gold Dot stuff and Federal's lead HP No 38G to shoot very well. Federal's 129 grain Hydra-Shok is also good.

"What ammo did you use?"
We used handloads. Don't remember exactly what they were but it involved a hollow base wadcutter and about 2.7 grs of Bullseye. Standard target load for 38 Special.

Did a quick vid shooting it off a rest. Started off horrible, ended pretty well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YVfo3aFOGg

I shoot nothing but handheld

Take your ruger apart and moly paste the sear. Moly will refine the rough action.

You need large grips, if you watch the video closely the gun is turning in your hands. That's why it's stringing vertical, all my rugers did this till I changed the grips.

That's good shooting for the orginal grips with average ammO.

This is EXACTLY what was happening. I should've verbalized it better. Sweaty hands, skinny grip.

This one should be arriving at my FFL sometime today.

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Sure you did

Just came back from the local Pawn where I buy all my new guns, he just took in 2 speed sixes, SS, 2 3/4" .357's from the same guy. He has to wait 30 days before he can sell them. I might have a speed six to go with my Security six 4"!!!!!

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Criminals don't register guns.

I REALLY liked your review. Very thorough and informative. I have a 6 inch Security Six that i bought new in 1977 (my first handgun). Great gun! Last year I bought a S&W Md 681 with 4 inch barrel. I have fallen totally in love with this gun. It's incredibly accurate and has a fantastic trigger. I sort of consider it to be a cousin to the Speed Six. Now, I'd love to find a stainless Speed Six with 4 inch barrel just to give the 681 an occasional break. I love the clean, all business look of fixed sight revolvers. Keep up the good video work. I look forward to more.

You are one lucky person!

Thank you.