Ruger Police Service Six- Durability?

M

Model12Win

Moderator
Hello all!

I am thinking about buying a Ruger Police Service Six in .357 magnum, with a 4" barrel.

From what I've researched, it appears that Ruger hasn't made this gun in a number of years. While I like the looks of the gun, the fact that it's a discontinued model greatly worries me.

As a person who likes to shoot their handguns regularly, I don't want the gun to break on me and I won't be able to get it fixed due to lack of parts. Also, I heard that Ruger no longer services these guns, even worse.

So, are the Ruger Police Service Six revolver considered durable? Will I need to buy spare parts? Will this gun break down on me, or shoot loose?

If anyone could help me on this, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all!
 
You can not go wrong with any Ruger Six. Generally any a for that matter. I have a Security Six that I swear by. It sometimes serves as my bed side gun and that is saying something about trust.
 
You might want to post your questions on one of the Ruger forums. But I'd say go for one - mine is still locking up tight & shooting great after a few thousand rounds in the 35+ years since I bought it new:

Guns082.jpg
 
Ruger no longer offers service for this gun, as in they don't have the parts and will not fix these if they break. Period.

I just need to know if they are durable or will develop problems, or if there are any parts that are prone to breakage.
 
If you wear out or break a ruger revolver from routine use, you have accomplished something and got your money's worth.
 
I've had mine since 1982. I've shot at least 5000 rounds through it, and probably closer to 10,000, when all is accounted for. The only sign of use it has is some holster wear at the muzzle.

It'll probably outlast ME.
 
If you wear out a Ruger, any Ruger, you've done something to brag about.

While I admit that I don't shoot an individual gun a lot, I have NEVER had a gun break. I know it happens, but it's never happened to me. Warranty and parts are just not something I even think about.

If one of my guns ever does break, I've got several others. I'd just pull out another one to use while I figured out what to do with the broken one.
 
Their tough a nails and the price is always going up on them too.
Mine is a stainless Security six w/6" barrel.
Sure, Ruger don't service them anymore but parts seen to be around if you look hard enough?
I'm in SoCal and don't see them for sale very often and when they do..............they go really fast! :D
 
I find the rifling not very well defined and had one gun that had to be retired for lack of another barrel and in light of a tempting trade up offer from Ruger. I have a virtually New Service Six and a Security Six, and they don't look much different eyeballing down the barrel. I prefer the crisp definition of cut rifling.
 
AFAIK Ruger will still service the Security Six if worse comes to worse.

But as others have said the Ruger design is simple and rugged, given minimal maintenance it should last longer than you.

Remember the revolver check thread pinned at the top of the page.
 
I bought my first Security six in 1998, a stainless 2 1/2" model. The friend I bought it from was a heavy-duty handloader who put some punishing handlods through it. He sold several of his guns after he had recently lost his eyesight due to a motorcycle accident. I have shot many, many full-house rounds through it since then. It is as tight as any new revolvers I have owned since then of other makes. Never a single problem or failure. Early this year I came a across a 6" blued Security Six and snapped it up. It too is a great shooter, balances like a Colt Python. I am keeping an eye out now for a 4" model, blued or stainless. They're GREAT guns.

To learn why Ruger discontinued the Security Six/Service Six lines to the GP, check the topic out on Google. The reason had nothing to do with design flaw.

Like the gentleman said before my response, "Your grandkids will love it."
 
That's right. I understand Ruger sold off it's remaining inventory of parts for the Security/Speed/Service Six line.

If that's an issue for you- I'd look at some of the GP-100 versions that are available. The cylinder is slightly larger than the Service Six, but not much.
 
Thank you so much gang! I won the auction in question, and a Ruger Police Service Six with 4" bbl, stainless steel, is headed my way. The gun was advertised as being in great condition with very little wear, and the pictures looked most excellent. I think I got it for a fair price as well.

I am just hoping it doesn't go out on me! I've owned GP100s (still own a 6" one) and they are pretty heavy and I just prefer the old Six series a bit better. I think it's a shame Ruger did away with them.

With luck, this one will outlast this young buck. :cool:
 
AFAIK Ruger will still service the Security Six if worse comes to worse.
Click to expand...

Sort of. When mine broke off the barrel at the threads this year, they paid to have it shipped back to them. Unfortunately, they don't keep parts in stock for them so they couldn't fix it. They condemned it and replaced it with a brand new SP101. While I would personally have rather had a 4" Security Six than the SP101, I'm not complaining. You can't beat that for good customer service.
 
back in the day

In the early to mid 1980's, FLETC (Federal LE Training Center) in Glynco Ga, ran a side by side, shoot till it fails test of all the current at the time medium frame revolvers. Seems like maybe the US Border Patrol was the lead agency.

The Ruger Six's out ran all the Smith & Wesson's and Colts. I have no idea the type or number of rounds, but when I was there in '88 and '89, they were still talking about it. Then the auto pistol craze hit.
 
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