Ruger single six

[H Richard]

I fell off the S&W wagon a little bit last week, and picked up a Ruger Single Six, with both RF and Mag cylinders. It is a real early one, and has not been sent back for any hammer block install. The gun was in really excellent condition, and I doubt if it has more than a few hundred rounds through it, and the Mag cylinder had never been out of it's little red baggie. This is the 1st western style single action I have owned since a Colt .22 back in the 60's. A friend dated it to around about 1968.

I took it to the range to see how it shot, after giving it a thorough cleaning (which I don't think it had ever had). The Mag loads did not seem to be very accurate, but several brands of RF seemed to do fairly well, and Fed bulk box 36 gr. HP's seemed to be the preference of what I had fed it.

The group with Fed is 24 rounds.

 

[John R]

Nice Find!!!!!!!!!

 

[Erich]

What a nice gun! Keep after it with different sorts of Magnum rounds - I've found my custom Bearcat to shoot very differently with different brand WRM rounds (it likes Winchesters, of all things).

 

[Bob T]

Have a New Model Single Six in SS and it's a great shooter.

Nice find.

 

[phonejack]

When my wife and I celebrated our first Christmas together in 1965 she gave me a super single six. It's still in good shape. Wife is too!

 

[Erich]

When my wife and I celebrated our first Christmas together in 1965 she gave me a super single six. It's still in good shape. Wife is too!

Happy 50th! Hope you're getting her something great.

 

[glenncal1]

I bought this one because I live in Colorado and I think the gun is cool. Great Shooter, I have not put enough WMR through it to give you any suggestions on ammo. They are great BBQ guns

 

[CelticSire]

I bought my oldest daughter a Single Six with both cylinders for her 9th birthday. (She's 21 now) The standard "plow handle" grip was too big for her hand, so I modified it just a bit. Back then you could get Qualite grip frames fairly inexpensively, around a hundred bucks. Spent about 45 minutes in the workshop fitting it. She loves how well it fits her hand, even today. I admit, I have a certain liking for it as well.

 

[gmiller0737]

Great Guns I own 2 & 1 is a 2nd year production "Flat Gate" (Not Converted) & The other is a New Model Convertible with 2 Cylinders both have 5 1/2" Barrels

 

[Watchdog]

I took it to the range to see how it shot...The group with Fed is 24 rounds.

If that's 24 rounds, I don't see a thing wrong with that group!

Those old Single-Six and Super Single-Six revolvers were tops. And practically indestructible. Those are some nice looking grips on yours, too.

 

[Hondo44]

H. Richard,

That's a beauty alright! Made in the ninth year of availability of the 6 1/2" barrel. And from when they still have walnut grips!

You didn't fall off the wagon. It's ok to ride two or even more wagons at the same time! I probably have as many Ruger SAs as I do Smith hand ejectors.

This is my favorite old model super single six, a rescue/restoration/custom:

Before, during and after:

My objective:
Make a .22 all steel flat top with 4 1/8” barrel.

Modifications:
Cut the barrel: to 4 1/8”.
Also pulled the barrel and turned it ¼ turn so the rollmark is on the side to match the OM FT. This had two more advantages: it keeps the relocated front sight from covering the rollmark and it allowed me to clean up the course machine tool marks on the front face of the frame so typical on OM Rugers. That in turn allowed the extra ¼ turn of the barrel after cutting the barrel from the front end.
Install the NM single six ramp style front sight which with its shorter base improved proportion.
Turn down a steel ERH to match the barrel length.
Adapt NM steel XR3 size grip frame. After 1962 the original Colt size XR3 grip frame was eliminated but the XR3s feel perfect on the small frame .22s..
Flatten the top strap and install an original Ruger steel rear Micro sight.
File out all dings, rust pits and polish the steel frame.

About 3/4 done:

Completed:

Here's my 5 1/2" single six the same vintage as yours:

 

[KEN L]

Picked this one up recently, also from 1965.

It's in such nice condition, I'm probably going to remove the scope and replace the rear sight assembly.
Still debating it......

 

[Watchdog]

My objective:
Make a .22 all steel flat top with 4 1/8” barrel.

Completed:

Right offhand, I'd say you succeeded admirably. This one falls into my "Wow" category, no doubt about that.

 

[CajunBass]

I've owned several Single-Sixs over the years. It's one of those guns I like for plinking and woods packing but less so for shooting at a Range. For range use I prefer a Model 17 or a Ruger semi, like a 22/45.

Having said that, we've still got a Single-Six here. It was my wife's first gun after she escaped from the Chicago to free America here in Virginia. She saw it and wanted it because it's a "cowboy gun."

I guess it's the one what will never get sold..



It's a 50th Anniversary Single-Six. It was used when she got it, but it was in the box with all the papers, and probably unfired.

 

[Hondo44]

Right offhand, I'd say you succeeded admirably. This one falls into my "Wow" category, no doubt about that.

Thanks Jim!

I like my one-of-a-kinds that I've 'personalized', but can not bring myself to mess with a premium all stock example, especially original old models. So they seem to sit in the safe while the orphans that follow me home get all the customizing and shooting time.

 

[jack the toad]

I have an older 22 mag with 9.5" barrel (wish I had the LR cylinder) Single Six that shoots minute of beer bottle off hand at app. 50 yards at the old dump we sometimes shoot at. I think was using Winchester and CCi.

 

[STCM(SW)]

I had a Ruger SS single six when they first came out.
I believe I dumped it because it shot .22LR poorly and magnums were
too high in cost to plink with.
Use my M17 6" K22 or GSG 1911 for .22lr shooting now.
Oh well, some work out better then others.

 

[Drm50]

Ruger Single -Six was my first quality .22 handgun. I got It when I was 12,
compared to the H&R and I&J or imported cheap stuff of the 1950s it was
Olympic grade. When I was 14 got K-22, put SS on second string.

 

[Larry from Bend]

Congrats on your SS.

I bought this one, used, about 15 years ago for not much $$$. Hadn't owned one in 30 years as my Model 17 was my favorite.

It had no magnum cylinder, I bought a cylinder from a fellow in Kansas, fitted it and now it's used strictly as a 22 mag.

Very accurate with the mag cylinder -- likes WW 40 grain HPs. Hates Fiocchi.