Hi guys, I'm not too familiar with Ruger revolvers or products in general. I recently came across a Ruger Speed Six at a local gun dealer for a pretty good price and it's in very nice condition. It looks like simply a Security Six with fixed sights. I've got most of my handgun needs covered but am looking for a 4" fixed sight .357 revolver as a hiking gun here in Colorado and thought the Ruger might be a nice pickup. Does anybody have any experience with the Speed Six? How does it compare with the Security Six? Do they handle full-house Magnum loads well? Thanks.
Ruger Speed Six
- Thread starter cje1980
- Start date
Difference is that Speed Six has round grips & fixed sights, versus full butt & adjustible sights on the Security Six. There may be other differences, but I am not familiar with them.
Used factory .357 in mine with no problems; Qualified with .38 +P however. Great gun in my opinion. Still one of my favorite revolvers.
John
Used factory .357 in mine with no problems; Qualified with .38 +P however. Great gun in my opinion. Still one of my favorite revolvers.
John
As shrpshn, said, the only difference between the Speed Six and the Security six, is the fixed sights and the round butt grip frame(And, the fact that the Speed Six, was only available in the 2-3/4" and in the 4" barrel length!)whereas the Security Six was available in 2-3/4", 4", and in the 6" barrel length! Mechanically, both the Speed Six and the Security Six are identical revolvers! There is also, the Police Service Six, which is identical to the Speed Six(Also, with fixed sights!)EXCEPT, for having the exact same(Square butt)grip frame as the Security Six, and was also only available with the 2-3/4" and the 4" barrel length! 
I love these old guns... I carried a 4" blue Speed Six in .357 on duty '81-'82, and it was one of the most accurate .357 sixguns I ever fired. I'd like to find another one of these days- I like them much better than the GP-100's.
Mine handled a lot of Federal 125 grain magnum HP's without a bobble.
Mine handled a lot of Federal 125 grain magnum HP's without a bobble.
One of my favorite, ................ no, wait .......... my favorite revolvers of all time are the Ruger Speed Sixes in .357. I have two blue ones that I have acquired in the past six months after looking for 98% specimens for five years.
One has been fired at the most maybe six rounds. It will stay in the safe unfired. The other one might have had a few boxes thru it due to the discoloration of the cylinder face. On that one, I tuned the trigger, hammer, hammer strut and went with a Wolff spring kit. It has a super trigger pull now and shoots to POA at fifteen yards with 158 grain bullets. I once read that the Speedys were regulated for 125 grain bullets but mine favor the 158s.
They are also one of the sturdiest handguns you can buy anywhere, in my opinion. Heavy to carry but supremely comforting when you can use them effectively.
You made a great choice, Sir. I owned two back in the 80s and carried them as a bodyguard/licensed P.I. and am really happy to have replaced them.
Rabbi
One has been fired at the most maybe six rounds. It will stay in the safe unfired. The other one might have had a few boxes thru it due to the discoloration of the cylinder face. On that one, I tuned the trigger, hammer, hammer strut and went with a Wolff spring kit. It has a super trigger pull now and shoots to POA at fifteen yards with 158 grain bullets. I once read that the Speedys were regulated for 125 grain bullets but mine favor the 158s.
They are also one of the sturdiest handguns you can buy anywhere, in my opinion. Heavy to carry but supremely comforting when you can use them effectively.
You made a great choice, Sir. I owned two back in the 80s and carried them as a bodyguard/licensed P.I. and am really happy to have replaced them.
Rabbi
Thanks for all your help guys. Like I said it looks exactly like a security six but with fixed sights and it doesn't have the billboard warning signs on the barrel like newer rugers. It really feels good in my hand and I think it will be the perfect hiking gun for my Colorado excursions which involve mainly mountain climbing and camping. I bring a 12 guage shotgun for the campsite but use a handgun for alot of the hiking. This is the reason I want fixed sights, because I don't want my sights snagging on anything and I'm afraid to break adjustable sights. I think I will probably go in today and see if they still got it.
CJE - "It really feels good in my hand" - That was the very reason I bought mine back in 1981; plus I compared it to a Model 19. and thought the Speed Six had a slightly faster lock time. Stocks grips were almost perfect for me. I carried it as an authorized substitute for my issue weapon; (S&W Mdl. 36).
John
John
The Security/Service/Speed six guns were great guns when new. They make exellent used guns. Out of my 10 .357's (2 security Sixes) my stainless 4" Security Six, bought nib in 1977, is my favorite .357.
A couple of years ago you could pick these guns up fairly cheap. Now people are starting to realize what great guns they are. I'm still looking for a Speed Six for a reasonable price.
A couple of years ago you could pick these guns up fairly cheap. Now people are starting to realize what great guns they are. I'm still looking for a Speed Six for a reasonable price.