Picked up a Service Six

S

skidder

New member
I went to the gun show yesterday and could not keep my eyes off this thing. Excellent condition, like brand new. The only downfall was it was a 38 and not a 357 :(.

After comparing it to my 4" Security Six, it looks like the only thing they did different, from the 357 version, was the depth of the cylinder bore (to prevent inserting 357s).

I remember somebody posting a real hot Elmer Keith load, but can't remember what that was. You guys have any suggestions for hot 38 loads? I have a feeling this thing can take the hottest out there.

service3.jpg


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SecurityService.jpg
 
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Kind of rare in .38, I have one "Made in the 200th year of American Liberty" on the side, blue, .357 Magnum. Bought for $99 in 1978. Still have it! Did not even know they made them in .38 spl. Most were in .357, so no fear about shooting hot loads in the thing. This was obviously one made for users who didn't want their employees loading .357's... these were fairly common police choices in the 1970's, I think the NJ State Police used them in .357, for example. .38 was obviously an option for rent-a-cops or small town police departments who were still in the S&W Model 10 mold. It's a full strength revolver, so load it up!


Ideas:

You can either leave it as-is, buy a spare .357 cylinder (same as Security Six so ought to be common), or give it to a smith to run a chamber reamer into the thing.

Try swapping in your Security Six cylinder for fun. Dunno how collectable they are, but for preservation reasons I'd probably not ream the current cylinder.




Willie

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Yes, the frames were all treated the same so you can put .357's through it if you swap the cylinder, but that may require some gunsmith fitting. I just load up .38 Specials with 5.2 grains of Unique behind a 158 grain RNL bullet. It feels like a mild .357. If you want even more kick, put some Buffalo Bore +p's through it...
 
That's to allow the milled out area for the adjustable sight to be installed on the Security Six.
Nothing to do with anything structural.

Just a little Googling found this:


Service SixBrought out shortly after the Security Six, the Service Six model, or alternatively the “Police Service Six” was an attempt to capitalize on the lucrative law enforcement service revolver market. The Service Six was a basic fixed sight model, and like the Security Six mostly manufactured in .357 Magnum, however some police departments specified .38 Special-only and 9mm Luger chamberings. 9mm models boasted a cleverly designed patented sprung cylinder ring which engaged the grooves of the rimless 9mm semi automatic cases. Barrel length options for the Service Six included 2, 2.75, 3, and 4 inches.


Taken from the article here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruger_Security_Six


As`well as my own personally owned example in .357


Willie

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The only thing I notice is that the top strap seems to be thicker on the .357
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wsp-- Sorry about the confusion, the comparison I was referring to was between the two different Service Six models. I just showed my other gun side by side because I didn't have another Service Six in 357.

Thanks for the info Willie, I'm leaning as I go. I'm a history nut, so if you got any more nuggets on this gun...keep em comin ;).

I've always wanted a Service Six, and this was the only one at the gun show. I paid $329
 
$329 seems like a good deal, makes my $99 seem like a good investment rather than something that caused me to eat beans for a month while I recovered from the financial trauma of the event.. :eek:

NJ State Police were definately users, and it has a good predigree. Glad to see it in appreciative hands. NJSP replaced it with H&K P7M8's which themselves have long since been replaced. Troopers managed several self-shootings in the leg with the P7's, never figured out why, other than that firearms are dangerous when placed in the wrong hands... :o

At one time there was an aftermarket top rib available incorporating adjustable sights fore and aft for these, at one time I considered it, but never did it. Can't remember who made it, but it was one of the known makers of ribs at that time. Apparently some of the PPC guys preferred at that time to add a rib to a Service Six rather than to use a Security Six, but dunno why... never shot PPC.

I do know that my own one was my car-pistol for many years, was sent back to Ruger once for a refinish after getting wet and sitting in a holster for a day rusting without me knowing about it ($15.00 and was as good as new), and shot my first (and only) armadillo, which we roasted and ate. God Bless hungry college students. Roasted armadillo.... who would have guessed.




Willie

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I have a Speed Six in .38 Special and I have some extra parts and cylinders for the Six series. I have a .357 cylinder in it now and it is stainless steel. I just change it back and forth.

I also have an extra cylinder for sale in the B/S/T section of this forum.

Here is my two tone Speed Six.

SS2tone.jpg
 
Thanks again Willie, never new that about the NJSP. I've heard similar stories about the Glock during these revolver/auto transitions.

I have a .357 cylinder in it now and it is stainless steel.
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OxyGuy-- I was wondering if anybody had ever tried it. Did everything line up ok?
I'll checkout your cylinder for-sale.
 
I tried 3 different cylinders. One, the timing was off too much on the chambers, the next didn't have any cylinder gap, the third one fit like a charm. If neither one would have worked, I was going to have a local gunsmith fit one for me. It's not a big deal to get one fitted.
 
"Bomar and Wichita made those ribs. Don't drill and tap it, please."

It was a Bomar that I looked at, and I FULLY agree... don't DREAM of modifying it. Purely historical observations.


Willie

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it looks like the only thing they did different, from the 357 version, was the depth of the cylinder bore
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Something that may be different that can't be seen is the level of heat treating.
I would guess that gun could shoot 38spl +P all day, but 38-44's probably not.
You could ask Ruger.
 
One of my hotter 38 loads is with 9.0 grains of SR4756 and a 158 grain semi-wadcutter. (Speer 8)

I have used (when I still had the mold) a Lyman 358429 bullet (about 175 grains or so) in 38 cases with 12 grains of Alliant 2400 This was shot out of a heavy N frame .357 and a Ruger Blackhawk....you may want to back it down a grain. I was getting 1300 from a 6" barrel Small pistol primers...non-magnum.

My favorite bullet mold for .357/38 is now the Lyman 358156. I load 12.5 grains of 2400 and crimp on the outer crimp groove when I use 38 special brass. In .357 brass I crimp on the closest groove and use 14 grains of 2400 and have been getting between 1300 to 1400 depending on barrel length and which gun I use. Again, non-magnum small pistol primers.
 
I just tried swapping out the cylinders and they would not close all the way. Although, I didn't change out the cranes, didn't want to take it that far. I was just curious.:rolleyes:

Thanks for the reloading data. My Speer and Hornady books are kinda wimpy. The 140's top out at 950 and the 158's top out 850. My boys and I will be using my three Six models (two 357 Six's and this 38 Service Six) for hiking when the snow melts, and I was wanting something for the 38 model with a little more mustard than the lawyer loads in my books. I already have some stout 357 loads.

Thanks again
 
Knowing Ruger, *every* Security/Speed/Service Six cylinder went through the same heat-treat process. I'd deepen the chambers in a heartbeat and not look back.
 
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