Ruger Security Six Silhouette Load

[MarkL_01]

I hope this is worth reading. I had fun with it, anyway. I wrote it for the Ruger forum, but it wasn’t about extra-heavy .45 Colt loads…. (kidding)

In the early 1980’s, I shot IHMSA matches using a .357 Security Six with 6” barrel. I used .357 because that’s what I had, but people told me that it wouldn’t knock over the rams, which I think weighed 55 pounds. I bought 100 Remington cases and loaded them almost every month for over two years, and then for an occasional match, without losing a case. The load used Hornady’s now-discontinued 160gr flat-point FMJ bullets, WW296 and CCI primers; a little less than max per the old manuals and a little more than the max in current ones. It never failed to push over any ram that I hit, which was not true of the same powder charge pushing a 165gr hard cast bullet. Those would often ring the target like a bell and rock it, but fail to drop it.

Recently, I was stirring around and found a leftover box of the Hornady bullets. I still have the cases I used then and the same revolver. Thought it would be fun to chronograph the old load, using the same cases and old bullets. Powder and primers were new, but the same types.

I lost my first case out of that batch when I ran it into an expander die that was adjusted for .38 special.

Back then, I hoped that the velocity would be close to 1300fps. Was close: five shots averaged 1348, with standard deviation of 11.7.

I shot groups at 25 and 100 yards, with my wrists supported on bags. The group sizes weren’t bad, but both groups had four shots close together and one out. That looks like driver error to me. The 25yd group measures 1.75” center-to-center, with 4 shots in 7/8” (darn it). The 100yd group is 4.125”, with 4 in 2.5”.

Someday I'll learn to take better photos...maybe.

25yards.jpg

100yards.jpg

-Mark

[Doubless]

That is some flat out wicked shooting from a stock 6" revolver. I am impressed!

[Double-O-Dave]

Originally Posted by MarkL_01

I shot groups at 25 and 100 yards, with my wrists supported on bags. The group sizes weren’t bad, but both groups had four shots close together and one out. That looks like driver error to me. The 25yd group measures 1.75” center-to-center, with 4 shots in 7/8” (darn it). The 100yd group is 4.125”, with 4 in 2.5”.

Attachment 249746

Attachment 249747

-Mark

So what? You act like that's some good shooting. I mean, I could do the same thing with my 6.0 inch barreled Model 686...with 2x Leupold scope, and a bench rest with sand bags, and a lot of luck, and no wind, and maybe if I choked up and shot a lot closer than 25 and 100 yards, and...

Just kidding, Mark. That's some fine shooting, and the Ruger Security Six is my favorite .357 Magnum revolver. I actually own two of them, but with 4.0 inch long barrels. I actually shot silhouette back in the late 1970s, but with a .30-06 rifle. I don't think the rams would have much to worry about with me and a handgun.

Regards,

Dave

[MarkL_01]

Originally Posted by Double-O-Dave

So what? You act like that's some good shooting. I mean, I could do the same thing with my 6.0 inch barreled Model 686...with 2x Leupold scope, and a bench rest with sand bags, and a lot of luck, and no wind, and maybe if I choked up and shot a lot closer than 25 and 100 yards, and...

Just kidding, Mark. That's some fine shooting, and the Ruger Security Six is my favorite .357 Magnum revolver. I actually own two of them, but with 4.0 inch long barrels. I actually shot silhouette back in the late 1970s, but with a .30-06 rifle. I don't think the rams would have much to worry about with me and a handgun.

Regards,

Dave

The turkeys were the ones that thumbed their noses at me. Those things were absolutely hard to hit.
I'll bet the rifle silhouettes were fun.
-Mark

[BUFF]

I shot IMHSA back in the later 1970's. I ended up using a T/C Contender in .30-30 Winchester in the production class. Since factory-made bullets for the .30-30 were all flat-nosed, I loaded some pointy surplus 150 grain FMJ's designed for the .308/7.62 X 51. They blew right through the metal targets leaving a nice round hole. Turned out they were armor piercing that had been tumbled and had lost their black painted tips.

I got told I couldn't shoot them any more.

Nice work with your Security Six. Excellent revolvers. Most of the steel chicken shooters here who used .357's ended up using 180 grain cast or jacketed bullets loaded really hot in .38 Special cases. When they hit a ram, it was like slow motion, watching the ram slowly tip over. The suspense was acute.

[vonn]

Really like those,one of my first revolvers. Your post makes me want to get it out and give it some exercise !

[6518John]

WOW! I can barely (rarely) shoot that well with a rifle! Excellent and interesting post.

[VAdoublegunner]

I still have around 400-500 of those bullets and probably used the same load for them
In fact, looking at the load slip I put in the box of them that still remains, I'm relatively sure of it.

The last time I shot any of them it was in a Marlin 1894-C. They are quite impressive in the carbine. Reports of 357 Mag achieving 30-30 power levels, sometimes dismissed as coming up short, are not far off when using that load. I switched to using Lil'Gun powder in the carbine loads and they are even more impressive.

The Security-Six is one tough handgun. I don't think I'd be as comfortable shooting a lot of those loads in my S&W Model 27-2.

[MarkL_01]

Originally Posted by BUFF

I shot IMHSA back in the later 1970's. I ended up using a T/C Contender in .30-30 Winchester in the production class. Since factory-made bullets for the .30-30 were all flat-nosed, I loaded some pointy surplus 150 grain FMJ's designed for the .308/7.62 X 51. They blew right through the metal targets leaving a nice round hole. Turned out they were armor piercing that had been tumbled and had lost their black painted tips.

I got told I couldn't shoot them any more.

Nice work with your Security Six. Excellent revolvers. Most of the steel chicken shooters here who used .357's ended up using 180 grain cast or jacketed bullets loaded really hot in .38 Special cases. When they hit a ram, it was like slow motion, watching the ram slowly tip over. The suspense was acute.

I used a 10" .30-30 Contender with 170gr factory loads for one match. I rested my elbow on the ground for the freestyle category and got bruised halfway to the wrist and elbow. It slapped the rams down, where the .357 sort of tipped them over. I used a .357 Contender for a while with the same load as the revolver. Tried the Speer 180gr, but never did much with them. They seemed very accurate but that was about the time I got away from shooting for 20 years or so.
-Mark

[MarkL_01]

Originally Posted by VAdoublegunner

I still have around 400-500 of those bullets and probably used the same load for them
In fact, looking at the load slip I put in the box of them that still remains, I'm relatively sure of it.

The last time I shot any of them it was in a Marlin 1894-C. They are quite impressive in the carbine. Reports of 357 Mag achieving 30-30 power levels, sometimes dismissed as coming up short, are not far off when using that load. I switched to using Lil'Gun powder in the carbine loads and they are even more impressive.

The Security-Six is one tough handgun. I don't think I'd be as comfortable shooting a lot of those loads in my S&W Model 27-2.

I don't feel much need to push the .357 anymore, but this revolver has survived some substantial loads, including 140gr bullets at 1550fps (over 1800 in the contender) and big charges of 296 with 110gr bullets that I never got to chronograph and wouldn't try again. Loads were from old Speer and Hornady manuals. I wouldn't guess it to be stronger than a Model 27, though. It might have a larger locking bolt and the locking recesses on the cylinder are between the chambers, so that might be some advantage.
-Mark

[H Richard]

I did similar, and also using that bullet. But I found I had to hit the Ram high on the back or in the head to take him down. I switched to a 7 TCU in a Thompson Contender.

[gwpercle]

Next time your at the range , try shooting groups of 10 , 15 or even 20 shots, I find these tell me a bit more about what that load is actually doing, where the group center is and how big the overall displacement is , than just just 5 shots.
Last range trip I shot a group of twenty rounds, vertical span 2 inches x 1 inch horizontal , they look real impressive too !
Gary

[VAdoublegunner]

Oh, it's not that I think the Model 27 is any less strong than a Security-Six, not at all. But mine is a very high condition and rich blue beautiful 27-2 with oversize target stocks and 8 3/8" barrel and, seeing how this is the S&W Forum, I just think it deserves a little more respect for its finely crafted elegance!

[MarkL_01]

Originally Posted by gwpercle

Next time your at the range , try shooting groups of 10 , 15 or even 20 shots, I find these tell me a bit more about what that load is actually doing, where the group center is and how big the overall displacement is , than just just 5 shots.
Last range trip I shot a group of twenty rounds, vertical span 2 inches x 1 inch horizontal , they look real impressive too !
Gary

Bigger groups are definitely more informative. For both of the groups I posted, I wish I could have stopped at four shots...if I could have picked which four.

[MarkL_01]

Originally Posted by H Richard

I did similar, and also using that bullet. But I found I had to hit the Ram high on the back or in the head to take him down. I switched to a 7 TCU in a Thompson Contender.

That would probably have been my next choice. Instead, other things came up and shooting was shifted to the back burner.

[sasu]

Uuhh! Ruger Security Six and Silhouette. Sweet!

I saved this one from Scotland just before they banned handguns.



The Al Mar is from the same time period, too, that one found in Germany.

[clang444]

Discontinuing the Service/Security/Speed Sixes has got to be one of the dumbest things Ruger has ever done.

[JohnRippert]

Originally Posted by VAdoublegunner

Oh, it's not that I think the Model 27 is any less strong than a Security-Six, not at all. But mine is a very high condition and rich blue beautiful 27-2 with oversize target stocks and 8 3/8" barrel and, seeing how this is the S&W Forum, I just think it deserves a little more respect for its finely crafted elegance!

Sounds like you need a shooter M27 to try those loads out in. Would be a fun experiment, I bet.

[cowboy4evr]

VAdoublegunner , glad to see you posted here . You're the man that got me started using WSF in all my revolver calibers , 38spl --45colt and the magnums in between . My 357 magnum load is the lyman 358156 with a plain base (approx 160 grs)instead of gas checked . Tom @ Accurate molds made it for me . Loaded in 357 cases and crimped in the top crimp groove sitting on top of 7.6 grs WSF is THE most accurate load I have ever came across for the 357 in midrange load. I have used it in several S&W 357's , it shoots well in all . .WSF has replaced Unique for me and I have never looked back . Thank you sir !

[Cyrano]

Fascinating string, everyone. Makes me want to drag out my old Security Six and see what she can do. As you can tell, she's been in and out of that holster many times and lost a lot of blueing in the process.

[sasu]

Shot silhouette chickens and pigs today with my 4" GP-100, standing. I had no sight settings and no spotter. Managed to hit with maybe every third or fourth shot.

The red ramp front sight is not conducive to silhouette accuracy so I placed an order today for a couple spare sights to paint black. I could not find partridge style or undercut replacement front sight yet but will buy the moment I find one. I need such a front sight for the Super Blackhawk Hunter 44 Mag, too.

[Aircrewman]

I guess that the targets shown speak volumes about the quality and utility of the Ruger Security Six line of revolvers..... I'm with clang444 in thinking that Ruger made a regrettable decision to discontinue the Security Six line. Although one can understand the decision making process. The use of the model was likely at its end given the fact that U.S. police agencies had moved completely away from revolvers for general duty issue. Still, you would think that there is a "market" for the Security Six line among shooters who want and like a medium framed revolver for packing in sports like hiking, as a general packing holster gun for hunters, home owners as personal protection, etc.

The GP 100 line is a very good (excellent) line of rugged revolvers and would do very well at the things mentioned above. However, they are a larger gun frame and heavier, which, of course, make them perhaps longer lived for heavy shooting duties. Still, I think it is very regrettable that the line was discontinued. They were a quite viable alternative to the medium framed line of revolvers made by Smith and Wesson. And, one did not necessarily worry about the use of heavy 357 ammo as one does with the Combat Magnum or other medium framed Smith 357s. A very good gun unfortunately relegated to the past as a "bottom line" does not allow a manufacturer to keep too many products in a catalog. A shame. Glad that I have lived in a time to be able to make the statements that I have in regarding a topic like this. I have been re-reading some old gun magazines recently that have shown the advertisements of the "New line of 'Security Six' revolvers from Ruger." Wow.... Am I feeling old....

[cowboy4evr]

The k frame smiths can take heavy use of 357 mag loads when you shoot what it was designed for , 158 gr or heavier bullets . It was the light police loads , 125 gr. or smaller that knocked them loose . I know of a Ruger security six that was rebarreled twice shooting too many hot police loads . I will agree with you the security six is a good firearm .

[Erich]

A good read! Thanks, Mark!

[VAdoublegunner]

Glad to hear you like it, Cowby4ever! It was something I started to use probably 15 years ago and developed many loads for it. When the "great powder crisis of xxxx (name the year for whichever one) hit and everyone was scrambling for Unique, I was a happy camper. But more importantly, it is a pretty danged good powder for midrange to some pretty impressive standard level cast bullet loads in a wide range of revolver cartridges.

btw, that's an excellent 357 Mag mid load

Originally Posted by cowboy4evr

VAdoublegunner , glad to see you posted here . You're the man that got me started using WSF in all my revolver calibers , 38spl --45colt and the magnums in between . My 357 magnum load is the lyman 358156 with a plain base (approx 160 grs)instead of gas checked . Tom @ Accurate molds made it for me . Loaded in 357 cases and crimped in the top crimp groove sitting on top of 7.6 grs WSF is THE most accurate load I have ever came across for the 357 in midrange load. I have used it in several S&W 357's , it shoots well in all . .WSF has replaced Unique for me and I have never looked back . Thank you sir !

[Biggfoot44]

I used a Super Blackhawk for IHMSA.

A gun club friend used 8 3/8 M686. He used Sierra 170gr, and 296 charges typically seen with 158gr. Fired over my chrono gave 1400 plus. These loads also turned bowling pins into a spray of splinters.

[kbm6893]

I have a 4" Service Six that I love. Always felt more confident shooting magnums in it than I did any K frame .357. It's a shame Ruger no longer supports them, though.

My friend inherited his Dad's Security Six when his dad died. Thst gun was bought new in about 1976. His dad must have put 20,000 rounds through that gun. All .357 since he was a handloader. That was the first .357 I ever shot. His father died in 2005. The gun was a bit loose after all those rounds and my buddy sent it in to Ruger for an overhaul. They paid for shipping both way, and completely restored that gun. Even reblued it. Sent it back in a factory Ruger case. Didn't cost my buddy a cent. They didn't replace the worn grips, but a few years back there was some factory Ruger target grips still in wrapper for 10 bucks. So those are on there now. He shoots it every now and then, but never holsters it. He wants to pass it down to his son one day and wants it to be as nice then as it is now. Ruger will no longer repair those fine weapons.

I've owned a GP100. Nice gun. But I'd rather have my Service Six.

[sasu]

A photo from yesterday when I was shooting my GP100 357 Mag and Super Blackhawk Hunter 44 Mag. I was the only one on the silhouette side but there were many people on the other side with rifles and paper targets because the hunting season just began.

[MarkL_01]

Originally Posted by sasu

A photo from yesterday when I was shooting my GP100 357 Mag and Super Blackhawk Hunter 44 Mag. I was the only one on the silhouette side but there were many people on the other side with rifles and paper targets because the hunting season just began.

That photo made me smile. I think the last time I was on a silhouette range was in 1984.
-Mark

[sasu]

Originally Posted by MarkL_01

...the last time I was on a silhouette range was in 1984.

The fascination of long range handgun shooting has not disappeared even though the sport of Metallic Silhouette is not so popular anymore. There will certainly be a new coming of long range big bore shooting in some form or another. I am actually thinking of setting up a small scale local shooting contest for big bore handgun owners.