Range Report! 6-1/2 inch Ruger Single Six with pics and velocities

[flip180]

Well just last week I picked up a stainless Single Six with black grips and a 6-1/2 inch barrel. It also came with the .22 WMR cylinder. I got it out today to try it out. This thing is great! It's built like a Tank. It doesn't feel like a .22, it feels like a hand cannon the way it is built. Everytime I open the loading gate to eject the cases, I keep expecting to see empty .357 mag cases sitting there. The trigger is a little on the heavy side especially when trying to shoot groups. I chrono'd four different loads using ten shot strings ten feet from the barrel. I then shot for groups as best I could at seven yards with the wind blowing me around. I used Remington "Golden Bullet" 36 gr. HP's, CCI Stinger 32 gr. HP's, CCI Velocitors 40 gr. HP's and Wolf Match Target 40 gr. RN's (I did not shoot groups with these). I didn't have any Mini-Mag 36 gr. HP's but will try some out as soon as I get some. The groups were measured from edge to edge.






The Velocitors were the most accurate, the Stingers were the fastest and the el-cheapo Remington had the most consistent velocities. I bought this gun new from my local gun store for 433.00 NIB OTD. I know I could have gotten it cheaper elsewhere especially used but I don't feel bad at all about buying this gun there for that price. It is really a very nice and versatile revolver to have.

Flip.

 

[Seafarer12]

Thanks for the info. I have one just like yours, it's a 93 vintage I think. Picked it up at a gun show cheap because it would misfire a lot. Sent it into Ruger and they fixed it no charge. You need to get some 22 mag now and see how they do out of it. Since everyone says 22mag isnt worth it out of a pistol. I know shooting it out of mine it feels like a 38. What range were your groups at? I know mine doesn't group the greatest but I haven't figured out its favorite ammo yet either. I just run the cheap Remington stuff through it.

 

[flip180]

I was shooting at seven yards. I had the pistol's barrel resting on my rifle rest but the table I had it on was too high. I was sitting on a plastic case that my rest comes in and it was too low. My body and arms weren't well supported and the wind was bucking me around. I'll have to bring a real chair next time. I know the stingers had some larger groups than the velicitors but if you noticed there were some fliers that opened the groups up. I don't know if that's that 100 fps extreme spread or just the wind. I wouldn't have a problem putting anyone of those rounds in that gun as far as accuracy goes. I know there's athread floating around somewhere about .22 mags out of a pistol. I'm going to try to get out next week and do a range report with at least three .22 mag loading if I can find some around here. I'll also test some 36 gr. mini-mag hp's since they are probably one of the most popular .22 LR hunting rounds.

Flip

 

[MikeJackmin]

If you take off the grips, you can lift one of the legs of the hammer spring off the little peg that holds it in place. This will reduce the weight of the trigger pull, and of course this modification is easy to reverse if you decide you don't like it.

I've done it with all my Rugers without any loss of reliability.