Henry Rifle Forums

So I was never a big fan of Ruger revolvers. I always liked the lines and performance of the Smith and Wesson revolvers. I did buy a Speed Six brand new as one of my second or third handguns. It was too good a deal to pass up. It was a bit chunky and after shooting it and getting a set of Pachmyrs for it, it has remained in the drawer for a long time. This spring, I found a Security Six that had been very well preserved. It was in 2 3/4" and .357 magnum. I picked it up for a good price at my favorite dealer, along with a few other guns and some ammo. I took it out back today, in between yard chores. I found a Tyler t grip in my spare drawer that almost fit pretty good. It was not for the Ruger six series, but pretty good worked well. I went out with some 130 grain .38, 148 full wadcutters, 125 grn .357 and 158 grn .357. I varied the range and was from 5, 7 10, 15 and 25 yds. It shot pretty much to point of aim with all the rounds. The magnums were surprisingly light feeling in that gun. I enjoyed it and would not hesitate to take it out for everyday carry now and then.
I put it in my old border patrol holster I cut down for a 3" K frame. I paired it with my new 1 3/4" pants border patrol belt and some Safriland speed loaders and pouch. It didn't like the speed loaders too well. I enjoyed the shooting and the feel of the magnums.













I guess I never gave the six series a fair shake. While I still prefer the Smith and Wesson s in the same style, the six series guns are pretty decent. This one had a good double action trigger and shot well.

I had an SP101 I carried as a backup for a while, and I really liked Ruger's Customer Service when I called with a question. The reps were spot on, part came next day air back then.

Congrats, Dave. I'm a Ruger Six series fan these days, ever since getting my late 70s Security Six with a 6" barrel.

When Bill Ruger brought out the Six series DAs, the goal was to compete with the Smith K frame 357s, especially the Model 19. The idea was to offer a DA revolver that was built stronger than the Smith Model 19 and do it at a lower price, to boot. While he was at it, Bill Ruger also designed the Six series to be totally modular so that a user could field strip it in a minute, something you can't do with a Smith. The Ruger Six series was a a moderate success, but it never dethroned the Model 19 in popularity. In fact, Bill Ruger said he never made a dime on the Six series. It did, however, pave the way for the later Ruger GP-100, which continued the modular take down approach.

We Ruger fans, though, still love the Six series. It's not as big and clunky as the GP-100, but still a bit larger than the SP-101, so easier to shoot 357s. And it is stronger than a K frame Smith. It will take all the 357s you can feed it without going out of time or cracking a forcing cone and so on. I use my 6" as my bedside gun and trust its reliability 100%. Nothing fancy, but just a workhorse of a 357. I also shoot mine in DA, very well.

I would LOVE to find one in 2 3/4", though. Those sell quick when they come up for sale. You did very well. Congrats and welcome to the club.

Very nice score Dave. I haven’t been able to find one local. I’ve asked and the shops all say they don’t stay on the shelf very long.

Oh, and here's my Liberty Security Six, unfired with box and papers, just so you can see what one looked like back in 1976 when brand new. I don't shoot this one.

Nothin wrong with Ruger Revolvers they are all built like tanks. I’ve always liked the Redhawks. But I still like the looks of a Smith better

And I like Smiths, too. Hard not to appreciate the fit and finish and triggers. Vintage Colts, even more so. I've never worried about scuffing up a Ruger DA, though, or shooting it too much, or wearing it out. Yeah, sometimes it takes a little tweaking to get a Ruger trigger up to par, but once there, a Ruger DA is the best load 'em and shoot revolver there is.

Great looking pistol! Ya have to always love one of those " new to me" guns.... its great to find a good gun....

I still prefer my 2.5" model 19, but the way this Security six handled the magnums makes me take a lot more notice of it. I wouldn't think of shooting very many .357s out of the model 19 with the stock grips and a Tyler T. This one was no problem. I'll have to take it out a lot more and see what I get out of it. Plus it was well preserved.

I love that 1976 gun NCG. It's a sure keeper.

I do have an early GP100 in 3" that seems a lot chunkier than it probably is. I'll have to take another look at it too.

I've had a couple of GP-100s. They are great target and hunting 357s, but I tried a 3" and did not care for it at all as something to carry. Just needlessly overbuilt as a carry gun. The SP-101 was mu ch better as a carry gun, but you really have to cherry pick to find one with a decent out of the box DA trigger.