Am I the only one who prefers a blue Ruger Single Six?

Status
Not open for further replies.
F

Frandy

Member
Joined
Jan 6, 2005
Messages
1,354
Location
NC
I have owned two Ruger Single Six revolvers, both stainless. Sold 'em both, the first too long ago to remember why I sold it and the second because it was a 6.5" model and I want a 5.5".

That said, although I totally understand the advantages of stainless, I'm thinking of a blued model simply because I prefer the way it looks. A bit lighter too, which I like. I'm even thinking of getting one with fixed sights. Looks more traditional, and besides, to me, it's a plinker.

Any one else with me on this? Anyone have photos to show of their blue Single Sixes?
 
Last edited:
Never owned a Stainless one. I've had several blued ones and currently have two, a .22/.22Mag and a .32mag both 5.5".

I'm personally biased against fixed sights, but for those who like them I'm glad they are available.
 
The blue models have aluminum gripframes. In this case, the 5.5" stainless is 39 oz and the 5.5 blue comes in at 33 oz.
 
Last edited:
I like the stainless Single Six more for the very reason mentioned by Frandy , the blued models have the aluminum gripframe where the stainless guns are all steel.

The mismatch between the two finishes is seen clearly on the blued guns.

The blued Bisley model of the Single Six is equipped with a steel gripframe. I have considered one of those in the past. For now I'll just stick with my 5.5" stainless.

Not to say I would not own a blued Single Six , have thought of adding the long barrel Single Six and it is blued only these days and the old stainless ones are usually very expensive. I will more than likely end up with a blued Single Six , I like them too! Just like the stainless ones a little more.
 
Wait a second back up there! The blued Single Six revolver has an aluminum frame?

Is that the body frame or the grip frame you're talking about?
 
Blued almost always looks nicer, but stainless is my choice for sake of ease of maintenance. My 5" barreled Single Six is stainless steel, accordingly.
 
Well, wouldn't ya know it, I wound up ordering a steel 5.5" anyway.
I realized the only real reason I was going blue was for the SAA-like aesthetics. But, I already have a Beretta Stampede in blue. The stainless Single Six is far more practical. Should have it by Friday.
 
Last edited:
I have probably owned more Single Sixes than any other handgun. Over the past 40 years I have had twelve that I can immediately recall, and currently own five, two .32's and three .22's.

Out of all those, only one has been stainless steel, and I still have it, a NM Super Single Six .22 with the 4 & 5/8" barrel. There has only been one other stainless version that has ever caught my eye, and so of course it is discontinued, the 9 & 1/2" Super Single Six. Otherwise, I prefer blue. I have owned more 5 & 1/2" versions than any other barrel length, BTW.

Have to admit to always wanting one of the few uncatalogued nickle plated OM's the factory made up. Mebbeso I will find a suitable donor someday and make my own!
 
had to stop and fondle

I was reading this thread and had to stop and go fondle my SAS, I love that thing. Mine is blued with a six inch barrel and fixed sight. I think the fixed sight looks better, but to each his own, yanno.

A stainless is high on my wish list as i love how they look too. Maybe in a month or two:p Wish list is getting mighty long, lol

Will probably go with a shorter barrel just so it is different that what i have now.
 
I've had the Single Six shown below for around 25 years. Used it a lot for carry while hiking and dirt biking when I was younger and it shows. Great revolver! Because of the wear you can easily see the aluminum grip frame. The shiny area visible at the end of the ejector housing is not just worn bluing but worn metal, there is a nice rounded end there. I now also have a .32 Mag version I inherited from my father that has about a dozen rounds through it total and is therefore of course in much better shape!


right_grass.jpg

More pictures can be found here: Single Six Pictures
 
my much loved single six

i bought a used 5.5" blued SS about 4 years ago at a gun show. it had only the LR cylinder so i got it for $195. had some wear on the ejector rod housing so i sent to Ruger for the blued steel one.

344484.jpg


its part of my Western Fun play set! :rolleyes:

427069.JPG


here it is with my marlin 39A, Buck folder, and a triple K leather gun belt and tie-down holster.

i have been realy surprised with the great accuracy i get from this revolver! however, the adjustable sights really help me out. i really like having it cause it'll take three different .22 loads , long, long rifle and shorts, well, four if you count shotshells.

long live the Single Six! - Eric
 
The weight and the looks appeal to me, too, but I'd never sell my stainless model. The second revolver I ever owned was a chromed .22LR RG single-action with plastic grips and fixed sights. I had so much fun with that thing that I've always had a soft spot for that type of gun.

attachment.php

RG's single-action revolver, chrome plated and cheap. It
was perfect to use during off hours, including weekends.
 

Attachments

  • Snap1.jpg
    Snap1.jpg
    21.9 KB · Views: 276
Well, I bought this stainless Single Six...

And no regrets. Icing on the cake is how nicely it fits into my Mernickle crossdraw holster. :D

As for the grips, nicer than any I've had on Ruger Single Sixes (I've had and sold three others. :rolleyes: ) The color of the grips in the holster photo is closer to the actual color.

Tomorrow, the range...

SSS_W_WMR_cylinder_LEFT_and_RIGHT_640.jpg


SSS_WMR_cylinder_Mernickle_holster_640.jpg
 
Last edited:
My Single-Six is the 50th year model, so it is fixed sight, blue 4-5/8" barrel.

But yeah, I like the Stainless. My Vaquero "Sheriff's Model" .357 is the glossy stainless.
 
As for the grips, nicer than any I've had on Ruger Single Sixes

Tomorrow, the range...
Click to expand...

Nice! Of course I am biased since mine is also a 5 1/2" stainless model although your grips are nicer than those I have.

Please let us know your shooting impressions of the new Single Six.
 
I've always prefered blued guns and the longer barrel in .22 handguns and that's what I have, but those are some mighty fine looking stainless Single Sixes pictured above.

Picture298.jpg
 
I've always shot .22LRs through my single-actions. What's shooting the magnum rounds like? And how about accuracy?

Also, when taking game with the mag ammo, does it have much greater stopping power in a handgun than the .22LR? I've heard that it really benefits most from a longer barrel, which is why I chose the longer tube on my Single-Six.

Finally, what type of WMR ammo works best in these guns? Is Wal*Mart a good place to get mag ammunition?

More info at http://www.chuckhawks.com/22mag.htm

strelivo_22WMR_big.jpg
 
As far as accuracy, my gun seems to prefer the 45 gr Win Dynapoints that I have been buying at Wal-Mart but in my opinion they're overly expensive and you lose a lot of energy in a revolver barrel compared to a rifle. Also my Wal-Mart has just about stopped handling any ammo in the last year except a few .22 LRs and some shotgun shells.
 
Because I don't hunt, I have no info on the magnum round capability. I just range shoot and plink.

As for accuracy, I agree that the magnum benefits from longer barrels. I plan to shoot LR far more than WMR through my SSS.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

A
  • Locked
Ruger New Model Single Six -- .22 or .17?
Replies
17
Views
754
MatthewVanitas
MatthewVanitas
A
  • Locked
5.5 or 6.5 single six?
Replies
16
Views
2K
Sarvisian
S
R
  • Locked
Single Six questions?
Replies
2
Views
450
Confederate
Confederate
C
  • Locked
Ruger single Six grips
Replies
10
Views
2K
clamman
C
P
  • Locked
Before I buy a Ruger Single Six - 3 decisions
Replies
22
Views
4K
ECVMatt
ECVMatt
Back
Top