Low back Security Six

[ACORN]

As I mentioned in my CZ thread. When I went to pick up my CZ83 the shop had a nice stainless steel Ruger Security Six 4". I've wanted a Sec. Six like this for while. I have a nice 6" blue but wanted the 4" stainless.
What to do, what to do?
I went back a week later after scraping up whatever loose change I could find, figuring it would be gone. Luckily for me it was still there.
The owner accepted my measly down payment on lay away being I'm a repeat customer.
Doing some research on the Ruger forum I discovered I had found a low back Sec Six which is good and bad. The good is they're sought after. The bad is the grips(stocks) are very worn. Replacements can be had, but at a premium. I've scored high backs grips for $15. Lows start at 3 times the price for a nicked and scratched set.
As nice as the rest of the gun is, it needs new grips.
Oh well, now it gives me something to search for while hitting the shows.
I'll post some pics when I take possession.
Like the man says, "Life is good"

 

[bulletslap]

I have a blued four inch low back from 1974, a great revolver. It has Herret shooting star stocks, and I have been looking for a good affordable factory set for two years to no avail.

 

[jpage]

What is a "low-back" ?

 

[bulletslap]

The first few years of security six series haves differently shaped back strap, that sort of angles downwards Behind the hammer. I believe these are all series 150 marked revolvers, series 151 and later series have a different shape with a less angularity in the grip.
I recall gun writers of the time complaining the original handles slipped and twisted under recoil.

 

[BB57]

Low Back:

High Back:

The switch from low back to high back occurred between 1970 and 1974 in the high 150 to low 151 prefix serial ranges. There was no definitive cut off as Ruger seemed to use whatever it had on the shelf rather than using all the low back frames before shipping the first high back frames. You'll find 151 prefix low backs and 150 prefix high backs.

 

[bulletslap]

Those photos illustrate the difference very well !
And it is good to know about there not being a hard cut off on the change.

 

[ACORN]

Looking at the grips themselves, the highback grips have a high horn shape at the rear top. The low back are rounded front and back.

 

[Watchdog]

The bad is the grips(stocks) are very worn. Replacements can be had, but at a premium. I've scored high backs grips for $15. Lows start at 3 times the price for a nicked and scratched set.
As nice as the rest of the gun is, it needs new grips.

You didn't ask for suggestions, but I'll offer one anyway.

I had the snubbie version of the stainless Security-Six. When I got it, it had horrible looking Pachmayr grips on it. I found a pair of NIB factory target stocks in their original box and snapped them up as fast as possible. Loved them, and the gun shot like a dream.

I'd suggest keeping the gun "pure" by finding some factory stocks, even if you do have to pay a bit more for them. Those early pre-warning Six-series Rugers are becoming much sought after. You should love it.

 

[Old Corp]

Have owned both frame designs, and no surprise that the latter is much more comfortable to shoot, especially with magnum ammo.

My older low-back/150 series had Herretts ('Shooting Star' model) on it, as that was THE go-to aftermarket grip for those back in the 70's when it was purchased.

 

[Muley Gil]

Some of the gun writers, back in the day, liked the low back Sixes. Elmer Keith liked it as it felt, to him, more like a single action.

 

[fishwishin]

I have a low back. In terms of how it feels under fire, the recoil is sharper and more noticeable than a K frame. I've never shot it side by side to a high back.

 

[silverstateS&W]

I had some new oversize Mesquite wood target grips manufactured for these guns.
they are $85 per set and very nice
25 e bay buyers have been very happy with them.
please e mail me direct at [email protected] for photos.
Much more confortable than the huge Jay scotts you sometimes find.
Larry in Reno

 

[Ashlander]

I had both a low back and a high back Speed Six. The low back tends to want to roll back in your hand on recoil. The more vertical rise of the high back where the web of your hand meets the gun is much better at minimizing the roll. I sold the low back.

 

[ACORN]

I have a low back. In terms of how it feels under fire, the recoil is sharper and more noticeable than a K frame. I've never shot it side by side to a high back.

Probably only going to shoot .38s in it so I am not really concerned with the recoil.

 

[Gripgrabber]

Hello, a good friend got a very used 150 low back without grips and I donated a used pair of high back stocks and some time and his trusty Dermel tool he made them fit, quite nicely I might add. I'm lucky to have a ss 4" a ss 2 3/4" security six and a 2 3/4" ss speed six all pre safety stamp on the barrel. I love my SW's but still maintain (a lot) of ruger revolvers.
Semper paratus

 

[ACORN]

Hello, a good friend got a very used 150 low back without grips and I donated a used pair of high back stocks and some time and his trusty Dermel tool he made them fit, quite nicely I might add. I'm lucky to have a ss 4" a ss 2 3/4" security six and a 2 3/4" ss speed six all pre safety stamp on the barrel. I love my SW's but still maintain (a lot) of ruger revolvers.
Semper paratus

Good to know. I was wondering if it could be done and look presentable. I have a extra set of high backs that I may try to "convert".

 

[BigBill]

I have the six in the 2 3/4" barrel in 357. It's my only magnum snubby.
I did find a new looking used 6" in blue. I'm missing the 4" now. I had Herret grips made to my hand on the 2 3/4" barrel. I am not fond of short barrels.

 

[S-W4EVER]

I was a S&W guy revolver back in the day, I can't believe I ever poked fun at the (few) guys that carried Rugers.

 

[fishwishin]

Probably only going to shoot .38s in it so I am not really concerned with the recoil.

Trust me when I say my post is an observation only and not a complaint

 

[CajunBass]

I had some new oversize Mesquite wood target grips manufactured for these guns.
they are $85 per set and very nice
25 e bay buyers have been very happy with them.
please e mail me direct at [email protected] for photos.
Much more confortable than the huge Jay scotts you sometimes find.
Larry in Reno

I bought a set of grips from Larry not too long ago. Nice grips I might add. Sorry, I don't have a picture, but his add is on ebay.