Ruger "Six" series vs. GP100

M

Model12Win

Moderator
The question is in the title:

Which would you choose, and why? Would you rather have the older Ruger "Six" series guns (Service, Speed, Security) in hand, or the newer GP100 style guns?

GO! :D
 
For me the Ruger Security/Service Six would win. Thats because I still own a Police Service Six. I have owned two GP100. They are excellent revolvers. My reason for not keeping them was not liking a full lug barrel. I prefer the half lug barrel. You can't go wrong with either. Try to handle both and make a decision on which one feels the best in you hand.
Good luck,
roaddog
 
I have one GP-100, I'm currently shopping for a Security Six.

Why? Own the GP-100 because I think the .327 Federal round is fun and I do enjoy goofing with some off-beat stuff and for .327, I wanted a double action. If Smith & Wesson made a K-frame .327 Federal with a 5 or 6-inch barrel, I'd have bought that instead. The GP-100 and it's 4.2-inch barrel is where I landed. It's a fun revolver but I have more than a half dozen S&W revolvers that I like better than my one GP.

I'm chasing a Security Six because of nostalgia. The first centerfire handgun that I ever shot was a 4-inch Security Six stoked with 158gr .357 Magnum. I was 15 years old and quite apprehensive at exactly WHAT it was going to be like. :eek: Apprehension transformed in to passion somewhere between #1 and #6 chamber. :D So I believe I ought to own one of these revolvers, many years later, but I refuse to pay -any- more than I think I ought to pay for one. To that end, I missed a stainless 4-inch Security Six at a gun show one week ago over a TEN dollar difference in price between myself and the seller. He tagged it at $450, I would have been happy to pay $375, but I elected to go over my comfort level and offer $400. He said he had $400 in it, so he wouldn't go a penny under $410. He said it was just on principle -- and I felt exactly the same way. The entire discussion was as friendly & good-natured as could be, and we parted ways with smiles.

I'm glad I didn't bring that one home. It felt very nice but it was far from mint. I'm not at all scared of a used gun that's far from mint, but I've got to be happy with the deal.
 
For 357, I would rather shoot the GP100. For carry, I prefer the Security or Police Service Six but have to remember to grip high or get punished by recoil. The Service Six in 38 S&W Special is the more user friendly gun.
 
About three years ago I went to my local gun shop to look at the gp100.
I tried both the four inch and the six inch out for size. both were nice handling guns especially the four inch.
In the case I spotted a stainless Security six in .357mag. It hardly had a turn line and was just as tight as either GP 100 I had looked at...................and diffidently was a better balanced gun..............(at least to me)?
With a price of $350 I'd be a d@mn fool not to buy.....................turned out to be my favorite hand!:D
 
I've had a couple GP100s. I like my Police Service 6 better. It's smaller and lighter... Just a handier weapon. The GPs are good, but seemed a little too big and clunky to me.
 
I have had both. I liked the trigger of the GP better, balance of the Security Six, looks of the SS, but the GP more comfy to shoot. Especially in 357. I traded my GP for the SS, now I wish I just had both.
 
Hard choice.. it's like asking a Smith fan if you like a K frame vs. an L frame.. though my GP100 is almost as big as my 629.

I wish Ruger would make the GP100 with a 7 shot cylinder, then it would be a no brainer. I like the handling of my wife's Model 66 Smith for a .357, if I had a Security Six I would probably not use my GP100 very much.
 
About three years ago I went to my local gun shop to look at the gp100.
I tried both the four inch and the six inch out for size. both were nice handling guns especially the four inch.
In the case I spotted a stainless Security six in .357mag. It hardly had a turn line and was just as tight as either GP 100 I had looked at...................and diffidently was a better balanced gun..............(at least to me)?
With a price of $350 I'd be a d@mn fool not to buy.....................turned out to be my favorite hand!
Click to expand...

Good call, but you, like so many others, still need to add the other gun to your arsenal. If liking a gun that is actually enjoyable to shoot in .357, consider the 5" or 6" GP100. If wanting a better carry choice than the GP100, consider the Service Six or Security Six or, if you can find one, the Speed Six. In my opinion, all the Sixes are better suited to 38 S&W Special, and I'll bet that is what many of them were fed and still are.
 
I have a few of all 3 models ... I had a 70's security six have a cylinder failure using standard ammo , lucky did not explode but large crack in the cylinder , Ruger made good on the firearm repair free of charge , still good guns but think the investment casting is better on the GP line ... Plus I like the full lug better .
 
Security six is how revolvers used to be made

The GP-100 is how they are made now. I prefer the older revolvers.
Both are quality products.
 
I had a 6" Security 6 I bought new. Really liked it, but then found an early model 6", used GP 100 at a gun show. I sold the security 6 to my brother, and never regretted it. My preference was easily for the old style GP 100.
 
Security / Speed were also investment cast same as newer Rugers . Investment casting done correctly is stronger than forged steel . Ruger did have problems in the 70's .
I have all the Rugers covered and like the GP series much better that the Six .
They also have a politically in correct line ... those poor Redhawks ... they offered a Redhawk in .357 which was a bit on the heavy side but is on the must have list if your a Ruger collector .
 
I own both. in 1976, I bought my first .357, a blued 6" Security Six. Of the many handguns that I own, that is the one that carries the most memories for me. It still shoots as well as it ever did, and it still looks almost as good as when I first took it out of the box. When I look at the Security Six today, it looks small and lean when compared to many other .357's. I'm almost surprised that it has been so strong and has held up so well to so many 1400fps .357 rounds. In all those years, I've fired only one box of .38's from it.

Just about a year and a half ago, I finally bought a GP100. It, too, is a 6" model, but in SS. I wanted an older one, with the old style rubber/wood insert stocks. I found a very nice one at a reasonable price on Gunbroker, and I snapped it up. I love the way that it shoots, too, and I like the extra weight on the barrel.

I like the nimbleness and lighter weight of the Security Six, but, by the same token, I like the heft and feel of the GP100. I don't think that I could choose a favorite in this fight.
 
Own a few of both, prefer the GP100. I have had better luck tuning the triggers on my GP's and the gun points works better for me.
 
If I were looking for another revolver I would choose a 4" Security Six. I passed on several many years ago out of inexperience and stupidity. I have been kicking myself ever since.
 
Some how I ended up with pair of 2 3/4 security six , they were police issue from Puerto Rico ... They are like new , but my favorite is a NIB 2 3/4 speed six , compared to GP100 the Six has a better finish and trigger .
 
I have a 6" Security Six that was one of my first guns as a teenager in the 80's. I love the thing. However, my wife recently bought her first wheel gun and went with a GP100 Match Champion. That gun is nice.
 
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