Fixed-sight Single Sixes: good shooters?

[P. Plainsman]

A couple of months with my Buck Mark have taught me that plinking .22 is a lot of fun. One of my next handguns will be a Ruger New Model Single Six.

I noticed on the Ruger website that they offer a Vaquero-style variant of the Single Six with fixed sights. Very handsome! You don't hear a lot about these flat-top .22s. Hence, my questions for any SS mavens:

1. Are the fixed sights accurate? Since this is a "fun gun," the superior aesthetics (to my mind) of the fixed-sight SS would justify a slight sacrifice in accuracy over the adjustable sights, but not if the difference is large.

2. The fixed-sight SSs come with 5.5" and 6.5" barrels (models NR5F and NR6F). The 5.5 seems a little handier to me. Is it worth getting the 6.5 for extra accuracy?

3. They only come in blued. How durable are the blued finishes on current Ruger SAs?

Thanks!

 

[Old Fuff]

One possible problem. The current Single Six line of .22 revolvers comes with and extra cylinder chambered in .22 WRM. That's good! But the .22 LR and .22 Magnum ofen shoot to different points of impact. For that reason I prefer the adjustable sighted model(s). However if this doesn't bother you by all means buy the Vaquero.

Neither barrel length offers any substantial advantage in accuracy. Buy whichever length you prefer.

I don't think the blue will give you any particular problems. If rust seriously concerns you (it doesn't me) buy a stainless version.

 

[Majic]

The only thing to make the fixed sights not accurate is the eyes behind them.

 

[RCL]

ALL handgun sights are fixed, until you adjust them.

My Bisley Vaquero is just as accurate as my Bisley SuperBalckhawk, it just has a different type of sight.

 

[JohnBT]

I still like my (fixed-sight) Single-Six. I've thought about buying a Super Single-Six (w/adj. sights) from time to time, but I just haven't gotten around to it...and I bought Single-Six in 1972.

John

 

[usp_fan]

I got one of the 50th anniversary model single sixes last year from my wife for our 10th anniversary. It has the 4 3/4" barrel and fixed sights. It is a beautiful pistol and the trigger and action are smooth and crisp. It does print to different point of impact with .22 mag ammo.

I have noticed the pistol does shoot low and right. The groups are consistent and I have been saving targets to send to ruger with the pistol to have them adjust point of impact to match my point of aim with .22 lr ammo.

These are fun and neat little pistols. Get one and enjoy!

--usp_fan

 

[12GA]

3. They only come in blued. How durable are the blued finishes on current Ruger SAs?

The single sixes come in stainless as well as blued. I was at the local gunshop a little over a week ago going, "blued. no stainless. no blued. nope, going with the stainless. no, blued."

Finally decided on the blued with a 6 1/2 bbl. I pick it up today !

 

[Majic]

usp_fan,
You won't be able to have the fixed sighted Single Six adjusted for the POI to be the same for the .22lr ammo and the .22WRM ammo. First that's a pretty big velocity spread, and second you can only set the sights for one particular load. Set the sights for the best grouping load that you will use and then you have to live with Kentucky windage on all others. Otherwise you need adjustable sights.

 

[P. Plainsman]

Thanks for the thoughts, folks!

Usp_fan: So do I gather right that your fixed Single Six shoots on-target with .22LR, but is "low and right" with the .22 Mag cylinder? Or is it low and right with both cylinders? (Kinda counter-intuitive that the .22 Mag would come in lower, since it's the hotter, faster round.)

As long as the .22LR shoots true, I don't mind. I hope, and assume, that the sights on convertible New Single Sixes come calibrated to the .22LR point of impact, since that's how most people will shoot them. Personally, I am not interested in shooting .22 Mag with regularity -- though I'm happy to have the spare cylinder for occasional experimentation.

12GA: The two fixed-sight models (NR5F and NR6F) are blued only. I would probably go with stainless if it were available, but like you, I find both finishes appealing.

And the blued *is* more cowboy.

Please let us know how your new SS performs.

 

[P. Plainsman]

Should be:

"Usp_fan: So do I gather *right* that . . . "

EDIT: Fixed.

 

[usp_fan]

It's low and right with both. Just lower with the .22 lr. I understand my POI will be different with the different velocities btwn .22lr and .22 mag.

I'd like to get it sighted for .22lr and use practice and common sense to adjust for the .22 mag. Right now, the groups are pretty good with .22 lr, just not hitting where I'm aiming.

I had several others shoot the pistol, both supported and unsupported to verify it wasn't a sight picture problem on my part. I then marked (non-permanently) my chambers and proceeded to fire each chamber multiple time at it's own target. I now have a good feel for where each hole in the cylinder is shooting.

This really is one of my favorite pistols and is always a hit with new shooters.

What's realy fun is the single six in one hand and the bear cat in the other while shooting an 18" steel gong as fast as you can. Makes you feel like you're in an old western--just call me 2 Gun Pete.

P. Plainsman, get one, you won't regret it. It has to be one of the most fun pistols to shoot ever. They are easy to work on (if you want the action even smoother), they have some good aftermarket parts available, and Ruger stands behind its product.

For some other perspectives, you may want to check out


http://www.rugerforum.com

Take care and let us know what you do.

--usp_fan

 

[Majic]

Have you tried various ammo? A change in ammo can change the POI also. Sometimes as much as several inches for the group centers.

 

[usp_fan]

Yep,

Everything from Match to cheapo walmart specials. Pretty consistent POI. The only difference is in the size of the groups and as velocity would merit, difference in the amount of inches below point of aim.

I'm not unhappy, this is a fixed sight gun and I would expect some adjustment needing to be made to bring it onto target. Ruger has a good rep for doing this at no charge.

The experimenting has been fun and I've really learned where this little gun shoots and what it likes to eat.

--usp_fan