ruger security six?

[coosbaycreep]

A double action .357 is another of the many guns on my current wish list. I really like smith and wesson, but even a used one is expensive. I know ruger GP100s are built like tanks, but they're kinda spendy too (I'm dirt poor and incredibly cheap). I once owned a titanium taurus, and while it shot alright, the trigger was crap, and I prefer American made unless there's a big difference in price or quality that would justify buying foreign. The only other cheap .357 I know of is the security six, but I know nothing about them.

I already have a bunch of .38/.357 ammo and brass, and plan on shooting this caliber quite a bit, so durability and reliability is real important. So how does the security six compare to used S&Ws and the gP100? Which .357 is the best deal for the money?

 

[OrangePwrx9]

Get one!

The Security Six is one of the best .357 revolvers out there. I've got a stainless 4" model I bought new back in the '70s that I'll never part with. Neither my Python, 686, 586, nor Bisley Blackhawk can outshoot it....though the 686 can equal it. My departed GP100 never came close.

The SS is Ruger tough and supposedly capable of digesting many thousands of full power loads without problems. M. Ayoob reportedly favored them for his revolver training sessions back when they were current production.

But, having said that, it's different strokes for different folks with double action revolvers. Some folks like a smooth glitchless double action pull right up to hammer-fall. The SS won't give you that. What it will give you is the ability to stage each shot fired double action.

In double-action, you pull the SS trigger smoothly aft until you feel the cylinder lock drop in. At that point you pause, cleanup the sight picture and then carefully continue the pull a very short distance to hammer fall. Using this approach I can shoot the SS more accurately double-action than I can single-action.

If you've got a line on a good clean Security Six with no issues that you can afford, you'd best jump on it. Many are looking for them.
FWIW
Bob

 

[ADKWOODSMAN]

Mine is blued and the only complaint I have is the heavy double action pull.

Owned it since the 60's and carried it many miles.

 

[W.E.G.]

I got one when I was a teenager in the 70's.

The only gun I ever really regretted letting go.

There was a lull in the market for Security Sixes a few years back, and quite a few turned up.

I did the only smart thing.

I bought TWO!

 

[David E]

Owned it since the 60's and carried it many miles.

That's a pretty good trick for a Ruger Security Six..........seeing as how they were introduced in 1971......

An after market spring kit fixes that heavy double action right up.

 

[jad0110]

An after market spring kit fixes that heavy double action right up.

If you don't mind, could you please specify exactly which one? Does it help reduce stacking?

The trigger on my recently acquired Police Service Six (same as the Security Six, but with fixed sights) has a smooth DA trigger, but it does have rather pronounced stacking. Not as much as say, a Colt Detective Special, but more than a S&W.

I have to agree that for the money, it is pretty tough to beat the Ruger Six series revolvers. I really have a tough time justifying the current asking prices for S&W K-Frame magnums, though I did recently pick up a 13-3 3" for $450, including the original box, manuals and cleaning kit.

Most would agree that the Ruger Sixes are more durable than the S&W K Frame, and in the same class as the GP and S&W L Frame.

Doesn't hurt that the Six Series guns, particularly the ones with fixed sights like mine pictured below, look better than the GPs. Just my opinion though.

A few months ago I picked up a well worn, but mechanically solid .357 Police Service Six for $279 (generally less expensive than the Security Six with their fixed sights). An excellent value, IMHO. This gun points nearly as well for me as a 4" K-Frame .357. My life has been crazy busy lately, so I've not been able to shoot it, but look forward to doing so soon:

 

[Confederate]

I have some stacking in one of my Security-Sixes, but there has to be a spot one can stone on the hammer and/or trigger.

One doesn't need a spring kit for the SS; all one needs do is remove the spring from the strut and then grind or file the strut shoulders down. Replace the spring and the action will sing.

 

[roaddog28]

As the previous poster said. The Police Service Six to me is like the Smith and Wesson model 10. Everything you need and nothing you don't need. Its reliable, the fixed sights in my opinion are better than most revolvers and if you find one that is well used the trigger will be almost as good as a Smith. I have eight double action service type revolvers. All either Smith or Ruger. Two of them are my "go to revolvers" for home defense. Along with my Smith and Wesson model 10 my Police Service Six is the other. And the Service/Security Sixes will always be less than a Smith. My Service Six even beats my Ruger GP100. My suggestion is find one. You will never regret it. My Service Six is one of the revolvers I will never sell. I would sell a lot of my Smiths and keep my Service Six.
Good luck, and here is my favorite revolver,
roaddog28

 

[wnycollector]

I own two Sixes (2.75 and 6" securities) and I'm on the lookout for a 4" Speed Six to round out my collection. My Sixes are reliable, accurate workhorses that will eat lots of heavy duty ammo 24/7 w/o complaint. I am still lucky that I run across 4 and 6" Sixes in my area for less than $300 regularly. If you are low on cash you cannot go wrong and buying yourself a 4" .357 Six...the gun will outlast you and your kids!

 

[coach22]

When I got my 4 inch Security Six Stainless in the early 80's,
it came with instructions to dry fire the gun 200 times.
In those days, that was an unheard of suggestion.
What it said to me was how strong Ruger built their gun.
I added a 2 & 3/4 inch Speed Six Stainless 357 a couple of years later.
I'm in CA, earthquake country. There is a bag in my house called "Emergency".
In it is the 4 inch with Pachmayr Grippers and 300 rounds of 357.
If I had to either make a run for it, or stay and defend, that's the bag.

The go to gun in the house is the Speed Six with Pachmayr Compacs.
It's loaded with Buffalo Bore 158 +P's.

I have Smiths, Colts, Sigs and others in revolver and auto configurations.
But as you can see, in an "emergency" it's the Rugers for me.
They just don't break, are built like tanks and you could use it as a hammer
to build a house, that is if you were nuts, and it would still work perfectly.

It also matters that my wife greatly prefers a revolver.
I will admit though, that when I left the house during the riots in 1992,
I had my Nickel Combat Commander 45 and 2 extra magazines,
all loaded with 230 Federal Hydra Shocks with me at all times.

LOVE my Rugers.

 

[gwnorth]

I picked up a 4" Service Six just before the holidays for $390. It's 1982 production, but still sound as ever. I may add a Security Six to it when I see one in as good condition, they are great guns. About the only flaw with mine is that the very initial slack in the DA trigger take up drops the cylinder latch just enough to allow the cylinder to rotate slightly clockwise (latch is still up high enough to stop any counterclockwise movement), enough to move the cylinder notch out of line with the latch before the latch binds on the side of the cylinder. Timing is not affected though and it shoots just fine (lockup with hammer back is nearly as tight as my GP100's).

 

[Vonderek]

I had a 6" Security Six that I regret letting go.

 

[jad0110]

the fixed sights in my opinion are better than most revolvers

I agree. They are noticeably better than the fixed sights on most S&Ws.

 

[JR47]

We have a pair of stainless 4" versions. I bought one in 1973, and changed the sights to Milletts decades ago. I also added Daley Combat grips at the same time. The gun has been awesome, eating a steady diet of .357 Mag fodder. The second gun is a 1980's vintage, with Pachmayr Grippers, and the original sights cleaned up. It was bought as a gun for my wife, so that she'd leave mine alone!!

Both are remarkable in trigger pull, accuracy, and durability.

 

[Confederate]

I've heard a number of people say the Security-Sixes seem to have better accuracy than the newer GP-100s, and one of my friends believes he shoots better with his Security-Six because of the lock-up. Although the GP-100 is supposed to have the better lock-up, it may or may not make a difference. I would say if there is a difference, it most likely is due to differences in tolerances.

I like the weight and balance of the older guns, though I admit the extra barrel weight of the new ones retards the blast of full-powered magnums. The only way accuracy differences can be empiracally deternined is by bolting the guns into rests and shooting the same loads through each -- and this is something gun rags no longer do.

 

[joneb]

One of my favorites,

I found this one used in VG condition for $300.

 

[dogngun]

The Security Six and its variations may be the best mid frame

revolver ever made by anyone, better than the GP 100 that replaced it.
They are usually pretty inexpensive compared to other brands, too - makes them that much better.

mark

 

[Starter52]

I'll never sell the 6" Security Six that I bought back in the 1980's. We've been through a lot together.

 

[madcratebuilder]

IMHO the Ruger DA Six series are the best DA revolvers Ruger has made. I'm very fond of my 2.75 inch Security Six. While not as smooth as it's S&W counterpart it's a great shooter. I prefer it over my 2.5 inch M19 Smith. To bad the prices have skyrocketed as of late.

 

[Walkalong]

The Security Six is one the great small sized .357s out there. Love my 4". Would buy a 6" and a 2 1/2" in a heartbeat when I find the right deal/spare cash.

Those two pics of 2 1/2" Sixes makes me jealous.

 

[D R Greysun]

A double action .357 is another of the many guns on my current wish list. I really like smith and wesson, but even a used one is expensive. I know ruger GP100s are built like tanks, but they're kinda spendy too (I'm dirt poor and incredibly cheap). I once owned a titanium taurus, and while it shot alright, the trigger was crap, and I prefer American made unless there's a big difference in price or quality that would justify buying foreign. The only other cheap .357 I know of is the security six, but I know nothing about them.

I already have a bunch of .38/.357 ammo and brass, and plan on shooting this caliber quite a bit, so durability and reliability is real important. So how does the security six compare to used S&Ws and the gP100? Which .357 is the best deal for the money?

Some guns you take to your grave, the Security Six is one of them! Of course after I'm rolled in a dirt blanket I'm not going 'TGAS' about my SS 6" Security Six.

151-02225
Started life with a 4" Barrel!

D R

 

[trickyasafox]

I have 2- a 4inch and a 2-3/4inch. both have been very reliable and comfortable to shoot. I stumbled into good deals on both of mine, but the sixes are going up in price these last few years. I paid 250 for the shorter version and 175 for the 4inch. there is a 6inch for sale by me in good shape, but I don't have 300+tax sitting around that I don't have a need for.

if you can find one- it'll serve you well.

 

[jad0110]

madcratebuilder,

What stocks do you have on your Six? Are they factory Ruger/OEM?

 

[Confederate]

Beauties...All My Children

Photos.....





Speed-Six with 3-inch barrel.




With a little grinding, a Security-Six can take round-butt rubber
grips, which make them feel like a completely different gun. Can't
do this with a GP-100!




The strength of these revolvers can be seen in their
revolutionary design.




The latch-notch is offset on the Ruger, and the ratchet is
oversized for very long wear.

 

[dbarale]

Thanks Confederate, I had been looking for a good pic of a Security Six with a Millet orange bar for a while now...
Now I just need to find one to buy for my carry gun.