Ruger Speed Six 2 3/4in or Ruger GP100 3in 357 Magnum

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I guess I'd lean toward the current model for support. Although I have a 2 3/4" speed six that I installed a XS big dot and wears Badger boot grips that's as good of CCW revolver as any and I'm sure I'll never wear it out.
My biggest problem is it's about the same size and weighs more than my XDm 3.8 compact 40 that holds 2X the ammo.
 
I think the GP is the smarter way to go .... however, I don’t get the fact that Ruger no longer supports the Six series. What, exactly does that mean? I can rebarrel one. I can get springs....so what is lack of factory support? No more frames?
 
If I remember right, the advantage of a 3” is a full length ejector rod. If this is right, that’s what I’d go with. When reloading having a case that won’t fall out and a short ejector sucks.
 
I would go with the lighter handgun. The speed six does have a little collector appeal. Tuff choice both are nice revolvers!!!
 
They aren't making any more Speed Sixes. That is a plus or a minus depending upon your perspective.

I have a 2 3/4" blued Speed Six that I can't see ever getting rid of. But then again, I have a number of other revolvers, so if the Speed Six were to "go down" without parts, it would not be a big problem for me. It would be, however, for the guy with only one revolver.
 
I'd also go with the Speed Six. It's a NYPD .38 Spl off duty gun that I acquired and it's one that I don't think that I can ever break. Point of impact = Point of aim at 7 yards and shoots very well with its slicked (not lightened) trigger.
Compare frame sizes with the GP and see what is more concealable for you.
All that said, I like size efficiency and that's why I carry a G19. Fully loaded it equals the empty weight of the Speed Six or any K frame Smith with almost 3X the capacity. However..... I prefer a revolver as a woods/hiking gun.
 
Anchorite,

I contacted RUGER a couple of years ago with a problem I was having with my SERVICE SIX. They told me they do not support or repair SERVICE SIX revolvers, but offered my a discount coupon to use when buying a GP-100. I passed and was mightily disappointed that RUGER did not live up to the reputation for service that they have enjoyed.

Out of these two choices, I would go with a stainless SPEED SIX as soon as I replaced the factory grips with PACHMAYR grips. The SPEED SIX is controllable with 110 and 125 grain .357 magnum ammo if you replace the grips, otherwise, I would limit it to +P .38 Special. It is a nice light, good handling gun without the bulk or weight of the GP-100.
If you are going to carry a 3 inch GP-100, you might as well get the 4 inch and have less recoil and higher velocity.

Jim
 
Anchorite,

I contacted RUGER a couple of years ago with a problem I was having with my SERVICE SIX. They told me they do not support or repair SERVICE SIX revolvers, but offered my a discount coupon to use when buying a GP-100. I passed and was mightily disappointed that RUGER did not live up to the reputation for service that they have enjoyed.

Out of these two choices, I would go with a stainless SPEED SIX as soon as I replaced the factory grips with PACHMAYR grips. The SPEED SIX is controllable with 110 and 125 grain .357 magnum ammo if you replace the grips, otherwise, I would limit it to +P .38 Special. It is a nice light, good handling gun without the bulk or weight of the GP-100.
If you are going to carry a 3 inch GP-100, you might as well get the 4 inch and have less recoil and higher velocity.

Jim

Thanks for the reply Jim. I guess I was trying to figure out what problems one would have that could not be fixed. I have a couple of Six revolvers. I don’t shoot them much anymore. However, I can get springs for them, rebarrel them, find cylinders and hammers for them, so for the most part they are “serviceable” from a gunsmith standpoint, from what I’ve found. The GP enjoys far more support, yes, but the Six series seems far from unserviceable in. Y limited experience.

Were I starting today, sure, I’d opt for a GP because they are far, far more prevalent than the Six.
 
Anchorite,

I contacted RUGER a couple of years ago with a problem I was having with my SERVICE SIX. They told me they do not support or repair SERVICE SIX revolvers, but offered my a discount coupon to use when buying a GP-100. I passed and was mightily disappointed that RUGER did not live up to the reputation for service that they have enjoyed.

Disappointed? Tried to get parts for a 1988 (last year the Six Series was manufactured) Ford Bronco at your local Ford dealer lately? Yet, just like the Bronco, you can find plenty of parts on the secondary market.
 
I think the GP is the smarter way to go .... however, I don’t get the fact that Ruger no longer supports the Six series. What, exactly does that mean? I can rebarrel one. I can get springs....so what is lack of factory support? No more frames?
We have had posts on this site about Ruger being out of most Security/Speed/police six parts. Most parts are on eBay. I would carry the Speed just for size and smoothness. I've got two Security Sixes, one 2 3/4" blue and a 4" stainless and don't worry about breakdowns. For carry, my 3" SP101 with Hogues and a really slick trigger.
 
Anchorite,

I contacted RUGER a couple of years ago with a problem I was having with my SERVICE SIX. They told me they do not support or repair SERVICE SIX revolvers, but offered my a discount coupon to use when buying a GP-100. I passed and was mightily disappointed that RUGER did not live up to the reputation for service that they have enjoyed.

Out of these two choices, I would go with a stainless SPEED SIX as soon as I replaced the factory grips with PACHMAYR grips. The SPEED SIX is controllable with 110 and 125 grain .357 magnum ammo if you replace the grips, otherwise, I would limit it to +P .38 Special. It is a nice light, good handling gun without the bulk or weight of the GP-100.
If you are going to carry a 3 inch GP-100, you might as well get the 4 inch and have less recoil and higher velocity.

Jim

how much of a discount did Ruger five you on a new GP?
 
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Which would you choose for every day ccw? And why?
Both are SS and fixed sight guns.
Choose the GP100 because I'm afraid you might out bid me on the 2.75" Speed Six.;) The Speed Six is a few ounces lighter and one of the best revolvers Ruger ever made. The cylinder locking system is improved on the GPs / SPs and Ruger will repair if needed unlike Six Series. Photo: GP100 4",Speed Six 3", SP101 2.25" for size comparison.
 
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I fell in love with the Six series back in the 80's and waited way to long to get one. I picked up my first one (Police Service Six) just a couple years ago (SS 2 3/4" barrel). She had been ridden hard and dropped a time or two, but she functioned like a smooth clock. It only took a little work to get her spruced back up and put a nice set of grips on it. Not a safe Queen. The Six series guns are built like a tank.
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I think the Speed Six would be just a tad trimmer, lighter and easier to carry.
The real question is what kind of shape the gun is in.

On the other hand, you can get a 3" GP100 brand new and know that it will probably outlive you assuming all but the most demanding of usage.


The used Six should in all likelihood be cheaper than a brand new GP100. So there's that.
It's a tough call, but if the Six is in good shape I would probably go that way.

You can get a new GP most anytime and anywhere. No so nowadays for the Six series.
 
Homeboy,

It was not that much, just $50.00 or $100.00 and that would be to get a gun I did not really want.

I think the GP-100, like the S&W 686 are great revolvers, but they are both heavy. I used to carry a S&W 681 and owned a 581 as well. It was a lot of weight at the end of the day. My next carry gun was a GLOCK 19, which was a joy to carry for 8 or 10 or even 16 hours compared to the 681.
Last year, I came across an early model stainless GP-100 with fixed sights and a NON-FULL UNDERLUGGED barrel. I bought it and found it to be an excellent compromise. Still, I think RUGER should consider a run of new SECURITY SIX revolvers, even if just a limited run. They would probably sell like hotcakes. Even a run of 4 inch, non-full underlugged GP-100's would be nice. The limited production 5 inch GP-100 does not have a full underlugged barrel and is much handier, in my opinion than the standard 6 inch version.

Oh, and Anchorite, I shoot my Sixer's as much as possible as they are some of my favorites revolvers.

Jim
 
Homeboy,

It was not that much, just $50.00 or $100.00 and that would be to get a gun I did not really want.

I think the GP-100, like the S&W 686 are great revolvers, but they are both heavy. I used to carry a S&W 681 and owned a 581 as well. It was a lot of weight at the end of the day. My next carry gun was a GLOCK 19, which was a joy to carry for 8 or 10 or even 16 hours compared to the 681.
Last year, I came across an early model stainless GP-100 with fixed sights and a NON-FULL UNDERLUGGED barrel. I bought it and found it to be an excellent compromise. Still, I think RUGER should consider a run of new SECURITY SIX revolvers, even if just a limited run. They would probably sell like hotcakes. Even a run of 4 inch, non-full underlugged GP-100's would be nice. The limited production 5 inch GP-100 does not have a full underlugged barrel and is much handier, in my opinion than the standard 6 inch version.

Oh, and Anchorite, I shoot my Sixer's as much as possible as they are some of my favorites revolvers.

Jim

That’s a shame. Like 5 years ago somebody on here posted about a Security Six they sent in to Ruger and Ruger couldn’t fix it. They offered him a brand new GP for like $350.

I currently own a 2.75 inch blued Speed Six and a 4 inch stainless Service Sjx. I just sold a 4 inch blued Security Six just cause I have a 4 inch 681 that I really love and I knew the Security Six wasn’t gonna be shot much. I wanted a 6 inch GP and I got it. Really nice gun. Heavy, sure. But what a cannon.
 
Well, I’m not as big a fan of the Six’s. I had a four inch stainless Security Six years ago, and I liked it a lot. But not as much as some others, so I traded it away.
Today, I own a 3” GP100, and I like it much more than my old Six. Shoot it better, too. I would say the trigger pull is much nicer. With the compact grip, it’s pretty easy to carry, and I find the Lett compact grip fits my hand very well.
I got some of the Silvertip 145gn during the last production run, and use that for my carry load.
I sometimes like to put on the full size grip...makes it a different revolver altogether. 12E6165E-51D9-46C7-BE44-68ECA0A2F9E0.jpeg 1E34D896-86AC-4E64-BD2E-DCCF1A5FDE4D.jpeg
 
Not a fan of the GP100. The one I had felt like a brick and went down the road. But to be fair, it had a 6" barrel.

Love my two Security Sixes (2-3/4" and 4"). The 4" has the same zero at 25 yds for 125gr. Full-house magnums and for 148 gr. Wadcutter loaded to 38 Spcl spec.The wadcutters are most of what I shoot in them anymore. Easy to shoot and very accurate in both SA and DA.

I'd get the Six in a heartbeat; you can always pick up a GP 100 later if you have to have one. The Sixes are scarce. If the Six is gone, I'd look at a S&W K or L frame before I'd go GP100.
 
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