Advice on trade requested please.

[Dandecoteau]

I have been offered a ruger security six CHP. Stainless steel 6 inch barrel. Looks clean. Stamped 38 special on the side,
The guy said it will shoot 357 and 9x19. Not sure about that.

He's wanting to trade that for my 5906.

Advice?

Is this a decent trade?

Thanks

[gboling]

PT Barnum's admonishment comes to mind!

[Arik]

I don't know about 9x19 unless there is some sort of a cylinder swap.

Around here the price is about same. One LGS currently has 3 Ruger security six in 357 @ $399 and 5906 range between $250 and $450 depending on condition

[k22fan]

The CHP ordered those specifically to be unable to fire .357. If you can load 9x19mm or .357 into its cylinder it has been reamed which devalues it from a collector to a shooter. If it was still a .38 Special I'd make that trade in a heart beat. As a reamed out shooter I'd value it less than a standard 6" stainless .357 Security Six. Other members here who pay to have their S&Ws similarly reamed might value it more than a standard .357 but I don't think even they would argue that its collector value has been compromised.

I like Security Sixes and do not like double stack 3rd generation S&Ws so I would probably make the trade even if it was reamed but that doesn't mean one is worth more than the other.

Edit to add: Expect some of the S&W guys here to be unaware how collectable the .38 Special Security Six was in original condition. You'd find more appreciation for it on a Ruger forum. I like the one that ends in dot com.

[diyj98]

Without some custom work with a special extractor, there's no way that Ruger will shoot 38 special, 357 magnum, and 9mm from the same cylinder.

[k22fan]

Six Series revolvers were manufactured in 9 mm. Ruger sold half moon clips for them. They had standard extractors that would not function without the clips. The factory 9 MMs were 2 3/4" and 4" fixed sighted Speed Sixes and Service Sixes. The point is the clips exist so the extractor would not have to be altered.

[Howie6267]

I had at six in 38spl and loved it. Don't know that I would trust shooting 357 even if it did fit. I have read others saying they were made off the same setup and just stamped with different numbers but I never really trusted that.

[Stargater]

Noooooooooooo!

And I'm a wild fan of the Security-Six. But I'm also a fan of the 5906, which is one of the all-time greats. True, the gun most likely shoots .357mag, as the CHP most likely reamed the chambers. But the 5906 is an incredible gun. Why get rid of it? If you want a Security-Six, buy a used one.

But first, do you have any photos of your 5906? Is it the latest two-tone model? The 5906 will take 10, 15 and 20-round mags. The Ruger goes six. Do the math. If you need a .357 and can't afford one, get a Taurus. Better to have those than trading for the Ruger.

But don't do that deal. You'll be getting the short end because I think you'll regret it in the long run.

Regarding the .38 Spc version, I bought two Ruger Speed-Sixes and had both reamed. The gunsmith who did it was a stickler for precision. He reamed them so that any .357 JHP would catch in any of the chambers. This has resulted in amazing accuracy for JHP magnums. I had planned on selling both because when I bought them, the .38s were hard to sell. And reaming wasn't that expensive. But once I saw how they performed on the range, I decided to keep them. The guns also had 3-inch barrels, which probably would have made them nice collectors, but if I could do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. Those guns are the best bugout bag guns I've ever seen. They also are the best camping and trail guns. The actions on both are incredible, too.




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[k22fan]

Originally Posted by Stargater

[...] the gun most likely shoots .357mag, as the CHP most likely reamed the chambers. [...]

I respectfully disagree. The CHP bought 6" stainless .38 Specials from both S&W and Ruger. Their policy was no .357 cartridges allowed. Both brands were surplused as .38 Specials. Both brands sell for substantial premiums over the equivalent .357 models. Both brands were stamped CHP. Before they were sold as surplus the CHP over stamped the P with a B.

While Ruger did not assign theirs a different model name S&Ws are Model 68s. They look like 6" 66s except for their shorter cylinders.

Don't read too much into my dislike for 3rd generation double stack pistols. They just do not fit my hand.

[Stargater]

I'm amazed that the CHP wasn't allowed to use .357s...or maybe I should not be surprised at the things California does. The .357 round was actually developed for highway patrols. Back in the 30s, many .38Spc rounds wouldn't penetrate cars or tires. But the.357 would do both, and it really impressed the patrol officers because it could penetrate car bodies, seats and ultimately, the bad guys. I don't know why they'd order .38Spc Rugers, but I suppose they thought an innocent person might be hit, especially if the state eschewed hollowpoints.

I understand about the grip. Its just that the 659/5906 just happens to fit my hand perfectly. But I also have a 3906, which also feels great.




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[Dandecoteau]

Thanks for the replies and information. After taking my 5906 out of the safe and just holding it, I forgot how awesome it fits my and how well I shoot with it.

What was I thinking?

As reguards to pictures of it, I can't post on here through my phone. It's the stainless model round trigger guard with a flat grey cerakote. Left the sight ears, safety, slide catch, etc all stainless. I traded a rock island 1911 for it.

Thanks for all the input.

[diyj98]

Originally Posted by k22fan

Six Series revolvers were manufactured in 9 mm. Ruger sold half moon clips for them. They had standard extractors that would not function without the clips. The factory 9 MMs were 2 3/4" and 4" fixed sighted Speed Sixes and Service Sixes. The point is the clips exist so the extractor would not have to be altered.

But that's not what the seller claims to have. He says it shoots "38 special, 357 magnum, and 9mm". The 9mm Six guns were 9mm only. They were a 38 or 357 cylinder that used moon clips to shoot 9mm's in. I don't think a 9mm moon clip would fit and work in a 38 or 357 Ruger.