Talk me out of a New Model Single Six Convertible

Of the embarrassingly many handguns I own, the Super Single-Six would be one of the last to go if I had to part with most. I've always found the .22 Magnum round more useful to me for the main reason I usually had the revolver along: camping/canoeing trips. With the current price of "regular" .22 rf ammunition, the Magnum version makes even more sense to me for my purposes.

Bought a new one almost a year ago---so I can't talk you out of it.

I call myself frugal. My wife says I am CHEAP. I enjoy trying to get the gun I want for a low price.

I stalked Single Six 22's for at least a couple of months. Finally I found one on Gunbroker with worn finish and missing the little button that you push to remove the cylinder pin. I won it for a $125 bid. A bottle of cold blue and $20 worth of parts (including shipping) later, I had myself a well-functioning Single Six.

The 32 H&R magnum was more challenging. They are more rare, more pricey, and I was probably less patient. I ended up paying BIG MONEY - $300 - to get a decent one.

One of the big advantages of the Ruger single action revolvers is their durability. I own five of them and bought four of them used: two Single Sixes, two Blackhawks, and one Super Blackhawk. The used ones all function perfectly, even the one that is 45 years old. All of them had obviously been shot more than just a little before I got them. If I had it to do over I would have bought the other one used as well.

Just my 2 cents.

Its kinda hard to wear out a Ruger single six. I have my granpas that was made in 1961. Still shoots as good as any new one you could find. It even has both cylinders. The lockwork was updated in 1972 but I have the original parts.

When people ask about the heritage rough riders its just hard to make them understand how much more gun you get for just a little more money when you buy a ruger. Buy cheap, buy twice is alive and well in the gun market.

show_me_2nd said:

Oh darn, guess I'll need to head back to the LGS.

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Pics and a range report, or it didn't happen...

I had a few at different times, but have always sold or traded them off due to one thing, accuracy. They are fun to plink with and I've shot a bunny and a couple of tree rats with them, but for punching paper they just didn't satisfy. I heard or read somewhere that most of them shot minute of pop can. I'd agree with that. I moved to the Mark auto since.

Most .22 Long rifle bullets are .223" in diameter. .22 Magnums are .224"

Ruger Single Six barrels are bored to .224. They feel it is easier and safer for a .223 bullet to expand than to squeeze a .224 bullet down.
I will leave you to your own conclusions

I found one a guy bought new in 1981 and put in his sock drawer without ever shooting it. I was disappointed with its accuracy shooting it free hand. Then I leaned it on the door frame of my Jeep and wow! Silver dollar size groups at ten yards. Not impressed with the new ones that the trigger guards are not fitted very well to the frames so I was on the lookout for an older one.

My Single Six was a gift to me from a very good friend of mine. He use to take it along with him when he was running trap lines years ago. Took a little cleaning to get it looking good again and after going to countless gun shows I finally found pair of factory grips that fit it perfectly. Definitely one of my favorite .22 revolvers.

I will not try to talk you out of it. I will just relate my own experience. When I bought mine I just couldn't see not going ahead and getting both cylinders. For several years I shot mostly LR's in it. But about three years ago I bought a S&W Model 317 Airlite. It is an eight shot double action revolver with a three inch barrel and adjustable sights. Now anytime I am out in the woods or fields I have it on my hip in a nylon holster. It is so light and small that I don't even notice that it is there. It never interferes with anything I am doing. I once made a head shot on a groundhog at about 30 yards with it. Now the magnum cylinder permanently resides in my Single Six. If I am going out with the intention of shooting something larger than a rabbit or squirrel I carry the Single Six. One incident that makes me a believer in the magnum was an encounter with a skunk. I was deer hunting in a ground blind and this skunk was heading straight for my blind. At ten feet I started shooting him with the S&W. I fired all eight shots and I know I hit that skunk at least six times but he still managed to make it into a hole under a stump. You get a definite increase in firepower with the magnum and who knows what you might want to do in the future.

If I could only have one hand gun it would be a Ruger Single Six convertible. The 22magnum is worth it and is far more powerful than 22LR but not worth it just for plinking.
The other hand gun that is a very close rival to the single six in usefulness is the BlackHawk convertible.
So if I could only have 2 it would be them.

I bought one a few years ago and think highly of it. However, when I bought it, I couldn't conceive of the day when .22LR and .22WMR would be difficult and expensive to come by. If there were a reason I'd try to talk you out of it, that would be the one. I shoot my .45 Vaquero more than the Single Six since it is actually easier for me to find reloading components now than rimfire ammo at a price that makes it appealing to me. The revolver itself is a wonderful thing though.

javjacob said:

If I could only have one hand gun it would be a Ruger Single Six convertible. The 22magnum is worth it and is far more powerful than 22LR but not worth it just for plinking.
The other hand gun that is a very close rival to the single six in usefulness is the BlackHawk convertible.
So if I could only have 2 it would be them.

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I have two Blackhawk convertibles, a .45 Colt/.45 ACP and a 10 mm/.38-40, and a Single Six convertible. I bought the 10 mm/.38-40 to a companion to my 1873 Winchester/

Talk me out of a New Model Single Six Convertible

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Well...all that fun you would have shooting it might give you a heart attack.

Or better yet, use that money to buy a single seven in .32. THAT'S the gun I want.

I have 2 of them so I can't do it.

I've got one, love it, I can't shoot it very accurately unfortunately. I'm not sure if it's me or the gun or both but it's still really fun to shoot with either cylinder, not nearly as cheap to shoot now as it was when I bought it though.

I had an absolutely gorgeous .22 stainless Single Six convertible, but didn't find shooting it that satisfying. I sold it because I felt it was too much gun for the caliber. I love, however, my stainless Blackhawk in .45 Colt. The Blackhawk is actually a better gun for my mission profile, which is walking the High Sierra. When I'm hiking in the mountains up at altitude, having that Blackhawk gives me quite a bit of comfort.