Ruger Single Six versus DW CO2 air revolver

[North Country Gal]

Okay, this is the Ruger Single Six loaded Aguila Colibri versus a Dan Wesson replica CO 2 revolver, both set up with the same model of Bushnell red dot sight, shooting at a distance of 20 yards.


Yes, 20 yards is pushing the limit of accuracy with a Single Six when loaded with Colibri. This 22 ammo is designed for super quiet shooting when loaded in a 22 handgun and nothing else. As I've posted in the past, if you shoot Colibri in your pet rimfire revolver and expect your revolver to shoot at its best, you will be very disappointed. I don't recommend shooting your pet revolver much past 10 yards when using Colibri.

20 yards is also pretty extreme for a replica CO2 pistol or revolver. Again, 10 yards or so is where these air guns are really at their most useful.

I picked 20 yards, though, for this shoot off to increase the odds of getting a clear cut winner and it did just that. I wouldn't rate either rig to be impressive at 20 yards, but at least there was an obvious winner.

And the winner was ... the CO2 DW revolver.


This was a bitter/sweet result for me. Bitter because I had hoped the Colinri would be accurate enough for serious practice when shooting one of my good 22 revolvers in the back yard (and the Single Six when loaded with good ammo is quite accurate). Unfortunately, using the Colibri in the Single Six at 20 yards was a lesson in frustration. I had as many weird, unexpected fliers landing outside the bull as I had shots landing inside the bull. Based on my recent experience with the Colibri, all I can use it for is ammo for testing function and not much else.

The sweet part was the CO2 revolver. The DW replica is obviously no match grade target gun, but even with its mushy trigger, it was worthwhile to shoot at 20 yards. As long as I did my part, I stood a reasonable chance of keep shots in the 3" bull. Next time, though, I'll step up to 15 yards or maybe 10 yards. It will also make a good indoor shooter, come winter.

[daytime dave]

I saw this post and read the first part. I stopped scrolling down and predicted the winner. I thought the airgun would outperform the Colibri rounds, just from past experiences I have had with them.

That was an interesting test. I do wonder if the gap will close as the distance is lessened?

[North Country Gal]

Dave, I have been shooting the Colibri up closer at about 15 yards, but not a lot of improvement. I think I would have to go up to 10 yards or so. Of course, at those distances the CO2 would be more accurate, too.

[DsGrouse]

If i may ask, what wheight were you shooting for pellets?

[North Country Gal]

I used JSB Express 7.87 gr. I use this pellet in quite a few of my 177 air guns, so just grabbed a tin. I think I'll try some wadcutter pellets, though, and give them a try.

[DsGrouse]

I'm a big fan of the JSB express 7.87's. I'm betting you'll run into drift with the wadcutters. I've never had much luck with them out past 12-13 yds.

On a side note. Pop a few of those corbi conicals out. press in a couple of JSB exact 18.13 into the case, seal it with a drop of wax...

[North Country Gal]

At 20 yards, yeah, I'm sure I will see some wind drift with the wad cutters. I've tried them at 20 yards, before. I really need to move closer when shooting those. I use the wad cutters almost exclusively in the winter at 10 meters indoors.

The 7.87s are a great pellet, yes. I always keep a good inventory on hand, especially now that getting anything made overseas is getting iffy.

I haven't tried the slugs, yet. Been reading about them, though.

Meanwhile, I did set up my air pistol swinging silhouette targets at the regulation 10, 12.5, 15 and 18 yards and gotta say, shooting those tiny targets offhand with a pistol is a challenge. It's harder than those short distances would suggest.