Ruger Security Six

[oneflycowboy]

I just picked up this Ruger Security Six. I changed out the wood grips and installed some Hogue grips.

I wonder why Ruger stopped making the Security Six?

This 4 inch model weighs in at 33.5 oz's. It feels pretty good. I'm looking forward to some range time and will post a report thereafter.

Here are a few pics.

 

[19ontheslide]

I'd guess Ruger stopped the Six series of revolvers simply because the later GP-100s were quite a bit stronger from a mechanical standpoint. Still, there's no arguing that the Six series guns are fine revolvers. I keep hoping to run into a good deal on one myself.

 

[shouldazagged]

You'll like it. Wish I still had mine, but I let it get away many years ago.

 

[Watchdog]

I'd guess Ruger stopped the Six series of revolvers simply because the later GP-100s were quite a bit stronger from a mechanical standpoint.

Can you expand on that a bit for me. I'm not sure how the BP-100 can be much stronger than the Six. Unless maybe it's made from some alien mega-metal from a planet in a galaxy far, far away.

In all seriousness, do you know of some area or part(s) that are stronger or better made in the 100? I've never fired one, but my Security-Six handles every ammo and situation with zero problems.

If you look at the Six's cylinder window and the upper half of the frame with the hammer, it looks almost like Ruger took it from the Super Blackhawk and morphed it into a DA revolver. All it needs is a plow handle grip and they'd be almost identical.

 

[Grayfox]

I keep saying it over and over. I truely believe the worst mistake Ruger ever made was discontinuing the "Six" Series revolvers. They were great guns, good size, accurate and strong as an ox.
To me the GP-100 is a clunky brick.
I have a 4" Security Six and have been keeping an eye out for a nice 2 3/4" gun.

 

[19ontheslide]

Can you expand on that a bit for me. I'm not sure how the BP-100 can be much stronger than the Six. Unless maybe it's made from some alien mega-metal from a planet in a galaxy far, far away.

In all seriousness, do you know of some area or part(s) that are stronger or better made in the 100? I've never fired one, but my Security-Six handles every ammo and situation with zero problems.

If you look at the Six's cylinder window and the upper half of the frame with the hammer, it looks almost like Ruger took it from the Super Blackhawk and morphed it into a DA revolver. All it needs is a plow handle grip and they'd be almost identical.

-- What I meant is that the GP-100 (and SP-101, Redhawk, and Super Redhawk while we're on the subject) utilize a different and stronger method to lock their cylinders into the gun's frame than on the Six series revolvers. The Six series is basically Ruger's beefed-up copy of a Smith and Wesson; the cylinder locks into the gun at the rear of the cylinder and the front of the ejector rod. The GP-100 locks at the rear of the cylinder and the front of the crane/yoke, utilizing a pivoting tab that locks into a groove cut into the frame. This later method is far and away stronger than the previous rear of cylinder and front of ejector rod system. All of this is no dig on the Six series guns or S&Ws; if the old method of locking in was that fragile we'd probably have heard about it by now. But it still remains that the GP-100 (and its modern brethren) are inherently stronger guns mechanically.

 

[BigBill]

I have two early sixes and my first 1976 is awesome. The second one I don't think was ever shot she looks like new about 6 years ago my lgs had it marked $199. Couldn't pass that up.

My S&W couldn't handle the stout loads that I put through my rugers. I'm not knocking my S&W for I like them too I just don't hammer them.

 

[k22fan]

[...] I wonder why Ruger stopped making the Security Six? [...]

The main reason the Six Series was dropped was it costs less to manufacture a GP 100. A higher profit margin is the name of the game. Before writing the other big reason let me say I have a couple of Security Sixes and like them. Compared to 19s and 66s there are pros and cons. The Six series doesn’t have the stress riser on the bottom of their forcing cone so they don’t have the problem of cracking after firing large quantities of magnum cartridges. Their DA pull is darn near as good. They cost a lot less but the price was kept lower partly by giving up classy touches like wide hammer spurs and triggers and a gas ring. Ruger’s inability to wrestle a significant portion of the police and security market away from S&W was the other reason for replacing the Six Series. The then new 586 and 686 were being well received and to attract the same buyers Ruger copied their larger cylinder diameter and full lug.

The relative strength of the Six Series vs. GP100 is otherwise moot. Neither has any durability problems. L fames loosen up faster than either of them.

 

[BobC357]

I like my Security Six and it has been flawless over the years. I am not familiar with the issue with the stress riser and cracking after a lot of rounds. I've pumped over 100,000 magnum rounds through my Mod 28, an N frame, and it hasn't cracked. I usually only run 38 spl in the Security Six.

 

[gunnails]

I'm sitting here looking at the Security Six I just obtain as an early inheritance from my father and it appears to have three locking points for the cylinder? But maybe I am not understanding what I am seeing?

So Dad gave me a 150 series that I understand will not work with after market grips, does any one know if this is correct?

 

[k22fan]

BobC357,

Metal is removed from from the bottom of K frame barrels under the forcing cone to provide clearance for closing the yoke. That flat creates a stress riser. Only K frames have it and it is only significant when they are chambered for .357. IMO cracking isn't a significant risk until after erosion thins the forcing cone. Most owners never fire enough magnums to erode off the tooling marks left cutting the forcing cone.

Your 28 should last darn near forever.

 

[Andyd]

Like K22fan wrote, the Six-series are strong and fine revolvers. Ruger priced them to compete with S&W's appeal and market position and always claimed not to make any profit on them.

I have an older Service Six that I got when they were overlooked by the general public and have about $135 in the gun. I worked the internals over and rust blued it and it has by far the best action of my four Ruger D/A revolvers.

 

[k22fan]

[...] So Dad gave me a 150 series that I understand will not work with after market grips, does any one know if this is correct?

Most but not all 150 prefix Six Series revolvers have the original low back frames. Their frames are lower around the hammer, hence the name. Also the tops of their back straps slope forward but not as much as a plow handle single action. 151 and later prefix frames are shaped more like S&Ws and cover up more of the hammer. Some of the early modern shaped frames still received 150 prefixes but they are unusual. Herretts used to have different model letters for grips built for low backs and later Six Series revolvers.

BTW, low backs are worth more as collectors' items.

 

[robin990]

I prefer the Security Six to the Model 19......Somehow i got one with the smoothest and most perfect trigger ive ever felt. And don`t worry about durability , just don`t . The model 19 has better overall finish , but i have no complaints about the Rugers finish.

 

[gunnails]

Serial starts with a 150, is this a low back?

 

[k22fan]

Yup. It's a low back, and in nice shape too. Don't sell it cheap!

 

[gunnails]

Yup. It's a low back, and in nice shape too. Don't sell it cheap!

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It's an heirloom gun, some day to belong to my 2 year old grandson. Thanks for your help K22.

Sorry to barge in on your thread oneflycowboy.

 

[oneflycowboy]

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It's an heirloom gun, some day to belong to my 2 year old grandson. Thanks for your help K22.

Sorry to barge in on your thread oneflycowboy.

No problem at all. This is all good information.

 

[flundertaker]

I have a couple sixes and love them. My question is why do some have the recoil shield recessed on the right side and some do not?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

 

[IraIII]

Ruger as Smith&Wesson made changes during runs of their fireams, and the never say never rule applies to them. The GP weighs 40 ounces plus, and the Security weighs 33 ounces roughly depending on barrel length. Not all GP's have the full underlug like the 686, I had an early half lug GP100 in 6 inch. Some security sixes had a cut under the barrel like the 19/66 Smith&Wesson revolvers do. Some have a scalloped recoil shield, some do not. The "low-back" security sixes have a different shape to the grip from later versions, sloping more from the hammer to the top of the grip panel, a "break" in the rear shape of the tang, and grip instead of a smoother rounded shape, and a long point on the rear of the lower grip/ tang. And lastly all Rugers do not follow the Security six is adj. sights square butt, service six fixed sights, square butt, speed six fixed sights round butt rule, the early fixed sight revolvers were marked security six.
Here are some pictures comparing the lo-back grips to the "normal" grips, my Gp100 half-lug, a comparison of two take off barrels from security sixes' also note the difference in barrel profile and rib width, and lastly my security six fixed sight 2 3/4 revolver. My security six had been bubbaed before I got it, they ground away the rear portion of the grip tang to make a "round" butt poorly, and added a HIViz sight. I smoothed the ground off grip, fitted the HiViz better, bobbed the hammer, and contoured the grips to match the frame. No collector value but I like it.
Ruger Compilation Slideshow by IraIII | Photobucket