Six Single Six

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BigBlue 94

BigBlue 94

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So for a long while now ive wanted a ruger single six with a birdshead grip. Ive had the conversion frame in my cart many times, and finally ordered it. Stainless version.

The other day i was reorganizing my pistols in the safe and came to the realization that i had 5 single sixes. A 32 bisley, an old model, two NM, and a 50th anny edition.

My thoughts were to make this 50th anniversary short barrel into a birdshead. Also while retaining the ability to put it back to stock. But while out shopping for an AR15 lower receiver yesterday, Academy had a Wrangler for 199.99. I also happen to have 70 bucks worth of gift cards there.

Im leaning towards buying it and doing the conversion on the wrangler. Am i crazy for wanting another single six, even if it is a wrangler? I love the vaquero style top strap too. The one in question is the gray cerakote. The other LGS has a black one for $219.

I did get a lower receiver yesterday too, in case you were wondering.

Thoughts? Criticisms? Encouragements?!
 
chicharrones said:
Yeah, where are the pics of all these Rugers? :D
Click to expand...

I have a couple handy...

The 50th anniversary model
index.php


32 HR mag Bisley
index.php
 
BigBlue 94

I had a Single Six Bisley in .32 H&R that looked like yours except mine didn't have the engraved cylinder. Had a nice balance to it and felt good in my hand. Only trouble was I couldn't find any .32 H&R ammo for it! This was in the Pre-Internet days when you could order ammo online so I ended up selling it.

Let us know how the birdshead grip modification goes.
 
bannockburn said:
BigBlue 94

I had a Single Six Bisley in .32 H&R that looked like yours except mine didn't have the engraved cylinder. Had a nice balance to it and felt good in my hand. Only trouble was I couldn't find any .32 H&R ammo for it! This was in the Pre-Internet days when you could order ammo online so I ended up selling it.

Let us know how the birdshead grip modification goes.
Click to expand...

The bisley will shoot some lesser 32s as well. Like 32 SW long i believe. But yeah, its kind of a niche cartridge. I though all of em were engraved!? The 32 H&R is the perfect inbetween round: powerful enough for a larger animal, yet not hot like a 357M.

Ill be documenting the birdshead transformation here, though in the gunsmithing section. I ordered some walnut Hogue cowboy grips to modify, if my blocks of ebony at home are too small.
 
I have been wondering if a short-barreled Single Six in 32 H&R might be a viable SD revolver for me.

Mine is the 6.5" version and I just don't have the heart to cut it off short. If I run across a ragged one for cheap, I'll probably be tempted.
 
A short SS or bearcat in 32HR would certainly be cool and very handy. I too, would have trouble cutting up something that isnt beat up.

So everyone is familiar with the cautionary billboard ruger prints on the barrel... Well on the Wrangler, its on the underside of the barrel, smaller, and partially filled in with the cerakote. The rest of the barrel is completely void of any markings. The Wrangler name and serial number are very well defined and in a nice western style font, on the left side of the frame.

The trigger on mine is very crisp and breaks with no creep. It is firm, but not too heavy. Ill get a measurement sometime. Overall im pretty impressed for a $200 gun, let alone a ruger.
 
That does find like a neat conversion. I, too look forward to seeing the results of the transformation and hearing how well it shoots for you :thumbup:.

Stay safe.
 
Last edited:
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Love that Anniversary model!

Cant wait to see the Wrangler conversion when its done too.:thumbup:
Click to expand...

I was comparing the two last night while putting the wrangler in the safe.

Barrels are exact same length. The SS weighs ever so slightly more. Otherwise, by visual comparison, they are mirror duplicates dimensionally.

That being said, im sure the wrangler will be offered with a longer barrel at some point. Though im kind of fond of the 4.625" barrel. Seems to me they literally made a poor mans single six.
 
BigBlue 94 said:
I was comparing the two last night while putting the wrangler in the safe.

Barrels are exact same length. The SS weighs ever so slightly more. Otherwise, by visual comparison, they are mirror duplicates dimensionally.

That being said, im sure the wrangler will be offered with a longer barrel at some point. Though im kind of fond of the 4.625" barrel. Seems to me they literally made a poor mans single six.
Click to expand...

The 4.625" barrel is just right on a Poor Man's Single Six in my opinion. If Ruger put a drift adjustable rear sight on the Wrangler (like old Single Sixes), I'd add a Wrangler to my collection. :cool:
 
chicharrones said:
The 4.625" barrel is just right on a Poor Man's Single Six in my opinion. If Ruger put a drift adjustable rear sight on the Wrangler (like old Single Sixes), I'd add a Wrangler to my collection. :cool:
Click to expand...

I actually think the gutter sight looks better. Harder to use, but really has a western feel to it. Quicker draw too...
 
BigBlue 94 said:
The bisley will shoot some lesser 32s as well. Like 32 SW long i believe.
Click to expand...

A gun chambered in .32 H&R Magnum can also safely shoot .32 S&W, .32 S&W Long, and .32 ACP. Double actions might not reliably extract .32 ACP cases, depending on the ejector star and the the tiny rim of the particular batch of ACPs being fired. That's of course not a factor in a rod ejector like a Single Six.

A problem I ran into when burning up a box of .32 S&Ws in my H&R 733 and Ruger Single Six Vaquero is that they are so dirty burning, that the chambers got gunked up enough to prevent insertion of longer cartridges. It was so bad in the H&R that I had to clean out the chambers with a wet bore brush chucked in a drill.
 
I always lusted for a bird's head single six but have never seen one in the flesh. I finally settled for a HRR. It's kind of cheesy compared to a single six but you know what, it's a can killin' son of a gun at 10-15 yards.
 
Ugh Midway why do you ship USPS!? I want my grip frame!

Usually i get my midway shipments from UPS next day since im a mere 4 hours west of them. But when they ship USPS it takes a week or more, even pre-covid. Ups would've had it here yesterday at the latest. My package is still sitting in the post office in Columbia, MO waiting on acceptance. No hazmat or orm-d items. Hasnt moved since they got it from midway.

Just irks me off!
 
CraigC said:
I think they all suck right now. I just ordered a bunch of stuff that UPS lost or damaged. I ordered a Scout rail from Skinner for my Ruger American and it took over a month to show up.
Click to expand...

My two prior midway orders, in the last month, came next day through UPS. Every one of em in the last 9 months have been next day unless they choose USPS.

I live outside a town of 150k with another 100k outside the city limits. Even if i want to send a letter to my direct neighbor, the letter goes to Topeka, then 75 miles east to KC, then back to the same exact post office in topeka, then here and delivered. A couple local towns with 100s of people no longer even have USPS service. They are forced to go to the next town over to pick up their mail.
 
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