Solid Near Perfect Revolver
I had both a Ruger Security Six & a Ruger Police Service 6.
BOTH wonderful wheel guns.
Both will take a high quality action job and slick up as smooth as Teflon coated silk.
The Security Six is basically indestructible with normal factory loads.
I traded both of mine in...way back when I decided to carry Semi~Auto only. :aargh4:
Very dumb of me to do that. :yup:
Go For It.
Blatantly Stolen From The Web:
RUGGED YET ELEGANT, RUGER'S DOUBLE-ACTION REVOLVERS WERE--AND ARE--THE FINEST EVER MADE.
With the introduction of the Security Six line in 1971, Bill Ruger reinvented the double-action revolver and made an aggressive foray into the world handgun market. At that time and for some years afterward, revolvers were the "weapon of choice" for most police agencies as well as a significant portion of the civilian market.
Major selling points included ease, of disassembly, great strength and durability by virtue of solid-frame, modular construction and relatively massive action components. Ruger's sales reps traveled the planet gleefully shot-putting the Security Sixes around police ranges and running over them with trucks. These tactics were quite successful.
By 1985, 1,210,000 examples of the Security Six and the fixed-sight Speed Six variation were in the field. When the dynamic duo was retired in 1988 with the introduction of the GP-l00, their final count exceeded 1.5 million.
Caliber options included the ubiquitous .38/.357, 9mm and even the .380 British revolver cartridge in deference to former members of the Empire. The revolvers had proven as rugged in the field as advertised and the Ruger division dedicated to servicing them was quite small. It consisted, in fact, of one employee in a small office.
The Security Six had barrel length options of 2.75", 4" and 6" with the latter variation being quite popular among outdoorsmen. The Speed Six featured a roundbutt and an option of two shorter barrel lengths.
The revolvers presented, relative to the traditional designs, a low barrel-to-grip axis and an overall aspect that could be accurately described as "Victorian streamline." The frame-fitting standard grips were quite easy to conceal, but were notorious for their capacity to transmit recoil to the shooter's hand. Wood and rubber target grips soon became a factory option.
All things considered, the Security Six was a resounding success. Out of print now for 15 years, excellent examples abound in the second-hand market. Generally priced between $200 and $250, they represent a particularly good bargain because Ruger retains a supply of parts and continues to provide full service.
Enter The GP-100
In 1985, Ruger redesigned the mid-frame revolver line to incorporate certain advances pioneered in the .44 Redhawk. The GP-100 retained the proven modular design of the Security Six. It was, and is, promoted as being specifically designed for unlimited use of full power magnum loads.
The basic 4" adjustable sight model weighed in at a hefty 41 ozs. in contrast to the 33.5 oz. Security Six. The full-size cushioned grips, attached to a stud rather than the traditional grip frame, featured wooden inserts inspired by the dash panel of Bill Ruger's BMW.
Available in blue steel or stainless, basic barrel lengths include 3", 4" and 6" with a multiplicity of barrel weight options among the fixed and adjustable sight variations.
In deference to the concealed market, Ruger kept the Speed Six in the catalog until 1988 and developed a down-sized five-shot dubbed the SP-101. Introduced in 1989, The SP was to be Ruger's contribution to the snub market. This 25 oz. (with 2.4" barrel) revolver was so massively constructed as to invite experimentation with high pressure loads. An historic meeting between Ruger and Massad Ayoob culminated in an early upgrade to .357 Magnum.
Originally available in 2.25" and 3" barrel models, the SP-101 has expanded into the kit gun realm with 4" tubes in .22 LR and .32 Magnum.
A Share Of Rugers
Over the years, I have owned several Ruger double-actions and examined a great many more. After returning my gently used Smith & Wesson Performance Center 627-8 for retiming, it occurred to me that I had never seen a Ruger of any vintage that had developed significant problems from wear.
I had put thousands of rounds through an early stainless Security Six and, while it had become incredibly smooth over time, no functional problems ever developed. My SP-101 carry gun has digested a full measure of the kind of handloads no longer published in the loading manuals and it remains as tight as when new.
I began examining used guns at gun shops and gun shows and talking with other shooters. I was unable to come up with a single example of a Ruger going out of time. I called up 10-Ring Precision and talked with former APG president Alex Hamilton. He has had quite a number of these through the shop for custom work and could not recall ever having seen any timing problems.
He added that he has never seen any problem with Ruger DA coil springs and the Rugers he has Rockwell tested have all met optimum specifications.
Terry Murbach at CorBon Ammunition told me that the Sturgis, S.D. company uses a 4" GP to test their trademark high pressure loads. Quite a number of vociferous rounds have gone through this revolver, producing no ill effects.
By this time, I understood that it was time for another revolver. I picked up a stainless GP-100 with the shrouded 4" barrel. It came complete with the highly visible adjustable sights comprised of a white outline rear and interchangeable front. The trigger weighs in at 55 lbs. SA and 12.5 lbs. DA. While spring kits will reduce these numbers, I decided to leave things as is.
The stout Ruger mainspring is noted for its ability to detonate any and all primers. The action is quite smooth and the ergonomics of the design make for a good, straight-back trigger pull.
Bring Me Saddam's Head
I had already chronographed several examples of the much loved 125 gr. JHP in my SP. I now wanted comparison numbers from a GP. Arriving at the range, I found that somebody bad abandoned a target representative of a well-noted Iraqi boogey-man. The top half was free of bullet holes so I decided to use the head as a reference while chronographing.
It was 45 yards downrange and I was sitting, knees upraised and back rested against the bumper of my jeep. After the first five rounds, I adjusted the rear sight and landed 14 of the next 15 smack dab in Saddam's face. I knew this revolver was gonna work.
I had four factory loads which included the traditional Remington short JHP. This is the one with all the exposed lead and the scallops.