S&W 65-3, Ruger Security Six, or Ruger Speed Six for carry?

Lake 713,
I like Homer boy have had both K frame magnums from model 13 to 66. They are perhaps the finest shooting revolver ever made from S&W. But the revolver that I have owned the longest is a well use Ruger Police Service Six 4 inch. It has seen many rounds mostly 357 magnum from 125 to 158 grain. Its still as tight with no issues from the beginning in 1985. You have too decide. If you intend to shoot 357 magnums by a Ruger. It not, then a K frame magnum would be a excellent choice. By the way, Ruger did make Speed Sixes with 3 inch barrels. They are not common but are still more affordable than a S&W.
Good luck,
Howard
 
Awesome, thank you, Roaddog. Yeah, I found a Speed Six here in TN but it's a 4" model (this all from private sellers; gun stores are too pricey ATM and probably won't get much better).

I was planning on shooting .357 and .38 SP/.38 SP +P on a 50/50 ratio but I guess I have my Chiappa Rhino for that. My S&W 629-4 Mountain Gun serves as a great open carry/hiking/camping gun and I've been thinking of a Glock 27 as a concealed carry pistol. So when it comes to versatile carry, the S&W 65-3 seems the way to go. However, I'd like to own a Ruger Security Six at some point (or a Speed Six if I can find one in a 3" barrel for a decent price) since I like not being limited in my options as far as power.

The fact that the 65-3 I know of is a 3" model as opposed to the 4" Security Six probably edges out for me. While I'm normally not a fan of redundancy in my arsenal, I'll probably end up owning both before it's all said and done. I like the look of both, for different reasons. The Ruger looks like an older Western style revolver while the M65 has that sleek sexy 20th Century look to it.

I guess I didn't know it before getting into it but this kind of seems like a Ford/Chevy or Mossberg 500/Remington 870 debate. Both are excellent. Both will serve well. Both have their pluses and minuses. Neither really edges out the either.
 
If your intent is 50/50 .357/.38, then I would not get the 65. It will probably hold up if you use lukewarm loads and clean the forcing cone, but if you DO split a forcing cone, you have a paperweight. If by some miracle you hurt the Six, Ruger will keep it and sell you a new GP for below retail (like half price), so at least your ruined Six will get you something. And the Six series does not have the flat spot on the forcing cone that is the issue with K frame magnums. If the 65 is gonna be a concealed carry, shoot 95% .38 and follow it up with a cylinder or two of .357. Internet lore aside, I have had at LEAST 5 different S&W armorers tell me to limit my .357 in the K frames to 158 and only for familiararity.
 
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Lake,

I have several real good carry guns.

1. 3 inch 65 'Ladysmith', bead blasted, red insert front sight, Ahrends grips, my own action job..

2. 2 1/2 M66-3 Combat Magnum, Secret Service stocks, my own action job.

3. 2 3/4 Speed Six, Secret Service stocks, Ruger DAO hammer, and my own action job.

4. 3 inch GP-100, S&W front sight (bit thicker and taller than standard), Secret Service stocks, and again my own action job.

5. S&W 640 (.38 Spl.), red insert front sight, Secret Service stocks, my own action job, and it is my first CCW when CHL started here in Texas.

But sadly I pack a Glock 27... yes I've lost my marbles but I'm a fool for snub revolvers.

Any of the above will do fine. The 2 1/2 Combat Magnum the easiest to pack. The 3 inch GP the one you can load the meanest ammo in. But all of '3m are excellent. I suggest Buffalo Bore 158gr LSWHP .38s (honest velocity from my Speed Six is 1100 fps!)

Deaf
 
Ha, man I have GOT to get my fangs on some Buffalo Bore. That ammo came up often on another forum when I was discussing getting my Marlin 1895 45-70 in fighting condition for Alaska. Buffalo Bore is the bee's knees apparently.
 
I've never fired a Ruger other than a sp101. I really like it and carry it most days. That said I bought a Lnib 3" 13 this summer and I really like it and shoots like a lazer. The only thing I would change would be I wish it were ss
 
I know this is only partially germane to the subject but do you guys find a 4" barrel significantly harder to conceal than a 3" barrel? Does your height and size matter a lot or is it more just a matter of comfort and versatility?
 
The round butt conceals better than a square butt does. With the round butt grip, I like the balance of the 3" over that of the 4". I like the full length ejector rod of the three inch better than the truncated ones of the shorter barrels, too.
 
That's a good point, MLeake; I didn't think about standard ejector rod length being flush with a 3" barrel but now that you mention it most revolvers I see have an ejector rod that size.
 
A few suggestions Lake...

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The last two are my favorite.. AND if you want more power...

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My 625-3 .45 ACP 3 incher fills the bill. Bit heavy but it does fill the bill (and my .44 Mountain Gun is nothing to sneeze at either.)

Deaf
 

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In his second post in the thread, the OP said he likes the ability to shoot magnums.

That would rule out the 64.
 
Very nice collection, Deaf! I've been tempted a couple times to get back into the .45ACP world via a 625. They seem like a great idea. I agree about the Mountain Gun. My 629-4 MG is the powerhouse handgun in my collection and a joy to shoot and own.

What are the others in your pics?
 
Lake,

First picture a M66-3 and M686-3 S&W .357.

Second picture a S&W 60 (no dash) and S&W 66-4 .357.

And third picture a S&W 640 with Secret Serivce stocks, Ruger SP101 DAO also with SS stocks, S&W 60 with banana grips, and Ruger SP101.. all .357s.

Any and all will do for CCW but... the pride of Deaf Smith's little collection is...

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A S&W M66-1 and Ruger Security Six I converted to RB (round butt) both with Secret Service stocks. The Security Six is a bit heavier but can take alot of .357s while the S&W Combat Magnum has a slicker trigger.

Again, either one will do to ride the river with.

My S&W 65-5 'LadySmith' is right now at a gunsmith getting a red insert front sight but later (I hope before Christmas) to have it back in the fold.

Deaf
 
I agree with Homerboy, for what ever that's worth ;)

I meant that in a way that is condescending towards myself, not towards Homerboy. sorry
 
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Ha, I gotcha JibJab. I thought it was funny. Self-deprecating humor is always a good bet. Works for Conan O'Brien!

And, Deaf Smith, oh man, you better start handing out bibs before showing those pieces of work to anyone b/c I don't think I could keep myself from drooling. I put in a call to the seller of the M65-3 but haven't heard back from him. The stainless security six seller hasn't replied to my emails either so I'm just going to have to be tenacious. I'm not too worried about it as I sent off my application and prints for the carry permit last week and, with it being TN and post-Obama-second-term-election and all, I bet there's a stack of carry permit apps a mile high so it may be a while before mine gets back. But who knows, maybe I'll get a Christmas miracle?

Deaf Smith (and anyone else who's interested), do you double carry those or just choose one depending on your mood/need for the day? I'm told carrying needs to be a habit and not a "if I feel like it today" kind of thing.
 
Also, if anyone on here has or knows of a 686-4 Plus (basically, a pre-lock 686 Plus) they want to sell, let me know. That's my holy grail .357 revolver, as far as I know. I found ONE online (guns america) but even that one already has a buyer lined up and would need a barrel swap (it's too long for carry). They are super hard to come by.
 
Lake,

One at a time... and backed by something like a TCP/LCP/P3AT auto as the 'spare' ammo.

See they are kind of heavy and slow to reload so one simply pockets a small gun as the reload. Now a TI S&W snub would be wonderful but when your snub cost more than the main carry gun it gets kind of ridiculous! Maybe a J airweight .38 DAO if you want a revolver for the reload.

I also suggest finding a mousey old revolver that is almost like the one you carry and shoot it often to get your skills up (and reload to so to cut cost.) With just six shots you need to be a better than average shot to make up for it, and yes I'm IDPA expert in all classifications and class 'A' IPSC and have state trophies in stock service (Glock) as well as revolver (stock service revolver.)

And if you are nuts like me you will get a all aluminum non-gun, used to make holsters, just like the carry gun and then at home draw from concealment alot to get gun handling skills.

And add a .22 version to cut cost down. Just yesterday I saw a S&W 18, 4 inch .22, a bit rusty, for about $300. I was tempted to get it to but I have a S&W 34 stainless snub just for that reason.

But hey, shooting is one of my hobbies and thus all that $$ for training is just furthering my hobby as well as defensive skills. Martial arts is my other hobby, done it since college.

Deaf
 
Deaf, you're my kind of hombre. I still hit the 75 lb canvas training bag twice a week after kettlebells and battlerope to try and maintain muscle memory on my old Ishinryu training (from back in high school).

Your advice on carrying a back up gun as the "reload" is great; I never would've thought of that. I was thinking either a S&W 908S, S&W CS45, Glock 27, or my mom's Ruger LC9 (which she doesn't like so we're trying to find her something else). I always have my NAA mini .22 revolver for the sock, if nothing else.

Speaking of which, funny bit of info: one of the many guns I inherited from my grandfather after he died was an RG-14, that infamous little .22lr 6-shot snubby. Arguably the worst handgun ever made. I've shot that thing who knows how many times and it's for real a suicide/execution gun b/c anything beyond six feet isn't going to get so much as a powder burn. It's hilarious. I hang on to it for nostalgic reasons though. My grandfather had good taste in guns and I think the only reason why he bought it was b/c my grandmother was hassling him about having a purse gun. He probably bought it for her b/c he knew if she ever tried to kill him she wouldn't be able to hit him with it! He DID have an old S&W .38 lemon squeezer break-top that's in shootable condition. Pretty gun. Reminds me of a M65 with how sleek it is.

Anyway, I didn't even think about the non-gun idea. I had just stood in front of a mirror and practiced with the real deals (dry). Now that I applied for my carry permit, I'm about to enter the wonderful wide world of holsters :\ . You can tell how thrilled I am. (it seems like an expensive pain finding the right one...guess that's why you make your own)

Reloading is a ways off as I still need to get a decent carry revolver with a longer barrel than my Chiappa Rhino 200DS or a good compact/sub-compact semi-auto.
 
Ah holsters....

Lake I have a bag of 'em. Blessed BIG BAG of holsters.

Here is what I've found the hard way.

Slip on holsters slip.. around. Hard to get a good one.

IWB holsters work if your waist line does not vary to much (and get the pants 2 inches larger in the waist to compensate for the gun.) Best place for the IWB is the appendix carry position if it's a snub. Works very well with me. Even a Glock 27 conceals if you wear a baggy T-shirt. Longer barrels don't work as the gun ends up poking a very tender part of ones anatomy.

Belt slides do work and are very convenient if you have a coat, wind breaker, or sleeveless jacket. Do skip the photovest or fishing vest stuff. It looks stupid and shouts 'gun'. I also find barrels longer that 4 inches poke into the seats of the car so a good 3 inch .357 or .38 works real well. Glocik 27 works well there to!

Ankle holsters work if the gun is very light. TCP/LCP/P3AT do work well. Glock 27s don't unless you like having a brick tied to your ankle. And yes I have a Apache holster for my TCP!

Thunderwear/hotjocks do work if you put a TCP/LCP/P3AT or even NAA .22 revolver (I have the NAA PUG .22 magnum BTW.) Use the Thunderwear stuff with jogging cloths. Regular blue jeans don't work so well as it makes you look like you are a potato smuggler.

Shoulder holsters feel like bras and I DON'T WEAR A BRA. OK?

Pocket holsters do work well with, again, TCP/LCP/P3AT/NAA .22 or airweight snub. Anything heavier the coat swings around like a pendulum.

Fanny packs can work if wherever you are fanny packs are common. Here in Texas they are NOT!

So basically I find myself with a IWB and belt slide for my guns. I can go from a Glock 27/26/33 to a Ruger GP-100 3 inch .357 to a S&W 640 .38 (my first carry gun.. still have it to!) I use the ankle rig very rarely.

Hope that helps.

Deaf
 
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