Ruger Single Six

B

bailey bud

New member
Dad called and let me know my birthday present is on the way ----
(his FFL called my FFL.....)

A three screw early 1960s Ruger Single Six!

Dad used to shoot it before I was born ---- then well, I came along.......

I don't think it he even shot 500 rounds with it.

What a fun way to celebrate a birthday!

Thanks, Dad!

Any suggestions? Obviously, this isn't a carry gun for me ---- my boys and I simply enjoy shooting at the range most weekends.
 
Your very fortunate to have not had my father. Give your father a big hug when you see him and enjoy your gift. It's a very nice gun and it will give you many years of enjoyment. You're luckier than you even realize.
 
Happy birthday! Enjoy it with your children..........and hopefully someday you will pass it down to one of your kids!!! Coogs
 
Congratulations, what a great birthday present! Old Model Single Sixes are wonderful in their own right but to get one that Dad bought new in the `60's, well that's something special! :D
 
Very nice. Do send to Ruger to get upgraded with the safety bar. Won't affect collectors value but will make it.......uh.....safer and more enjoyable to carry and use.
 
I would NEVER return an Old Model to Ruger for the transfer bar "upgrade". Which is not an upgrade at all. The resulting action is gritty, the trigger heavy and there is little you can do about it. Do as everybody else who owns the millions of traditional single actions do, load five rounds.

Safety is between the ears.
 
That is a wonderful birthday present! I first learned to shoot with one of those that belonged to my Uncle 55 years ago. A few years ago I bought an old flatgate version and it is very accurate. It has not been converted and I always load one, skip one, load four and let the hammer down on the empty chamber.
 
Rifleman1776 said:
Very nice. Do send to Ruger to get upgraded with the safety bar. Won't affect collectors value but will make it.......uh.....safer and more enjoyable to carry and use.
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NOT!

How can you say "Won't affect collectors value"? Of course it will. Any Ruger fan will joyfully pay more for an un-"improved" 3-screw revolver -- or just pass over those that have been "improved" and keep looking for those that haven't. The OP already wrote he won't be carrying the gun, so having the transfer bar installed won't make the gun any "safer." And it will probably make it LESS enjoyable rather than more.
 
Happy birthday and congratulations! My first handgun was a .22/.22mag. single six. Hope you enjoy yours as much as I did mine. yours will almost certainly serve as a wonderful family heirloom as well. Best wishes, Bill
 
+1 to the advice of NOT sending it in to Ruger to have their "upgrade" done on it. I have several "vintage" Rugers which will NEVER go back . . . . as stated, load it with 5 and put the hammer on the empty chamber . . . as has been done for years.

Enjoy your birthday and your present . . . you'll love it!
 
I just bought a Ruger Security Six a beautifull Blued gun with really nice original wood grips, sent it to ruger to have it tuned and for general maintaince,

Got a letter from them that stated it was beyond repair.:confused:

I called them and got every excuse under the sun all but what was actually wrong with it.

Only thing I can figure out is that they didnt have parts any more and didn't want to fix any thing that was wrong.

In return I was offered a new GP-100 for $347 plus tax and shipping.
 
Old 454, I can't believe that Ruger would tell you your gun was beyond repair and refused to tell you what was wrong. That's like going to the doctor who tells you you have a month to live and says go home without saying what's gonna kill you.

Take it to a local gunsmith and have it checked. They're good guns and not overly complicated. A decent gunsmith could fix anything that may be wrong and parts can still be had. As a matter of fact there may be nothing wrong with it. This shows that Ruger may be having a nervous breakdown like some other great manfacterers have had. Lots of luck!
 
I stand by my reccomendation to get it upgraded. Ruger returns the old parts. The gun itself is not affected in any way.
Some stubborn diehards simply like the old, unsafe style. It is a sixgun, with upgrade you can load and shoot all six cylinders. Why have a five shooter when a better (free) option is available?
 
If someone wants a gun that's up to date with whatever safety features are available, or all the bells and whistles that can be had, then buying a new gun would be the thing to due. An older collectable should neither be re-finished, or changed in any way unless a repair was necessary. Five rounds in the cylinder never bothered me in over 40 years of collecting colt SA's. A gun is as safe as the one who's hand it's in.
 
Rifleman1776 said:
I stand by my reccomendation to get it upgraded. Ruger returns the old parts. The gun itself is not affected in any way.
Some stubborn diehards simply like the old, unsafe style. It is a sixgun, with upgrade you can load and shoot all six cylinders. Why have a five shooter when a better (free) option is available?
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What's "unsafe" about the original? You can load and shoot all six withOUT the so-called upgrade. It's a .22, fer cryin' out load. It isn't a duty weapon. The OP stated explicitly that it won't be carried.

bailey bud said:
Obviously, this isn't a carry gun for me ---- my boys and I simply enjoy shooting at the range most weekends.
Click to expand...
I used to have a single action .22 revolver many years ago. I always loaded six and fired six. I fail to see how this is in any way unsafe when it's going to be fired as soon as it's loaded.
 
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It's true that while target shooting loading six rounds are no problem, but I've developed the habit over the years to only load five with just a few exceptions, cause the vast majority of my shooting was on private property where my gun was loaded and then carried away on my hip into the woods.

Going back and forth between 5 and 6 confuses the matter and makes it more possible for 6 to be loaded accidentally when holstering. You get used to loading one, then skip a chamber and load four more. Those who unload their guns after shooting in a range don't have that concern.
 
Newfrontier said it Best "Safety is between the ears." How many tales are out there of stupid (OOPS: UNSAFE) stunts pulled by people who were taught how to shoot, but not taught SAFETY?? Teach your kids or students how to use the sights, proper trigger control, and most of all teach them safe handling of the particular pistol as part of the process. Yes, it's all Between The Ears. Nuff said
 
Guilty as charged !!!

Some stubborn diehards simply like the old, unsafe style. It is a sixgun, with upgrade you can load and shoot all six cylinders.
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First off, it's the way your dad had it and not any more unsafe than the converstion. Recently, another stubborn diehard shooting buddy, asked me whether or not he should send his in. I told him that it was his call but that I wouldn't if it were mine. The month later he asked me if I wanted to buy it and jumped on it, faster than a hawk on a mouse. I love the smooth four or five click. One day I'll pass it on to one of my Grandsons as is and have no reservations doing so. ..... ;)

By the way, it's more desireable without the convertion. Does it have a flat gat and flat-top?? ...:rolleyes:

Be Safe !!!
 
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