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Posted: 1/26/2017 9:19:24 PM EDT
[#1]
Security Six: Square butt and adjustable sights.
Speed Six: Not a true round butt, they had a slightly rounded butt and fixed sights. Service Six: Square butt and fixed sights. They were mostly in .357 Magnum but some were .38 Special only. They were a direct attempt by Ruger to get into the law enforcement market that was dominated mostly by S&W and to some extent, Colt. Great revolvers, very robust. You can shoot any level of .357 in them and they will beg for more, unlike your hand. |
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Posted: 1/26/2017 9:22:26 PM EDT
[#2]
It is my understanding that they were designed for Law Enforcement use. I am not sure how many agencies adopted them though. S&W pretty much had the corner on the police revolver market back then. As stated above, the Security six had a square butt and adjustable sights. The Service six had a square butt and fixed sights. The Speed six had a round butt and fixed sights.
I had a 4" blued Security six for a while. It was a great pistol, but I sold it in a moment of weakness. I had a buddy some years ago that had a 4" blued Speed six. That was a pretty cool pistol as well. I would love to have any of them........ 
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Posted: 1/26/2017 9:36:17 PM EDT
[#3]
My dad has a 6" model he lets me shoot once in a while. How do they compete with modern revolvers? Have there been any relevant improvements in revolver technology lately?
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Posted: 1/26/2017 10:09:43 PM EDT
[#4]
I had a security six in a .357 and it was a good gun and fun to shoot but it was HEAVY for its size.
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Posted: 1/26/2017 10:32:39 PM EDT
[#5]
I have a stainless Service Six 4 inch (square butt fixed sights) that was originally in 38 only. I bought a .357 cylinder and a trigger group on Gonebroker, the trigger group for the spare parts if I ever need them and the cylinder was a drop in replacement. Great revolver, damn near indestructible and worth the the less than $300 bucks total I have in her. It had been engraved with an electro pencil with the name of some security company and scratched all to hell when I bought it. Looks good now.
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Posted: 1/26/2017 10:36:18 PM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I have a stainless Service Six 4 inch (square butt fixed sights) that was originally in 38 only. I bought a .357 cylinder and a trigger group on Gonebroker, the trigger group for the spare parts if I ever need them and the cylinder was a drop in replacement. Great revolver, damn near indestructible and worth the the less than $300 bucks total I have in her. It had been engraved with an electro pencil with the name of some security company and scratched all to hell when I bought it. Looks good now. So are the frames the same size and strength? Just the cylinders are different? |
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Posted: 1/26/2017 10:55:33 PM EDT
[#7]
Most owners throw away the original grips and get something which fits them.
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Posted: 1/26/2017 11:00:38 PM EDT
[#8]
I bought my 4" Security Six in 1974, just after I got out of the USAF... SW stainless K frame, 357mags were unobtanium around here...my first pistol, Rogers' grips and Clark rear sight...
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Posted: 1/26/2017 11:11:26 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I bought my 4" Security Six in 1974, just after I got out of the USAF... SW stainless K frame, 357mags were unobtanium around here...my first pistol, Rogers' grips and Clark rear sight... Very nice. Pics? |
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Posted: 1/27/2017 12:02:51 AM EDT
[#10]
Although the triggers were not as good as S&W or Colt's were in those days, they could be made better. The entire Ruger GA-34 series were what the K framed S&W never were, that is strong enough to stand up to thousands of full magnum loads.
I have owned several, and should not have traded off my last two, a 2.75" stainless Speed Six and a round butt GA-34H 4" Security Six. |
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Posted: 1/27/2017 12:18:28 AM EDT
[#11]
Good guns, buy one if you can find it, it will outlast you.
Bill Ruger admitted that they never made a dime of profit on the 'six line, which is why they transitioned to the GP100 line. They are not as well finished as Smith K frames and the triggers are not quite as good but they are stronger and can handle a steady diet of 357. I have a used 4 inch blued security six I rescued from a pawn shop. The blueing leaves a lot to be desired but it's in great mechanical shape. I really prefer the half underlug barrels with adjustable sights of the 'six line to the full underlug GP100 line. They seem to point a lot quicker. |
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Posted: 1/27/2017 1:47:35 AM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Although the triggers were not as good as S&W or Colt's were in those days, they could be made better. The entire Ruger GA-34 series were what the K framed S&W never were, that is strong enough to stand up to thousands of full magnum loads. I have owned several, and should not have traded off my last two, a 2.75" stainless Speed Six and a round butt GA-34H 4" Security Six. My truck gun when I was in high school, then became my EDC for years. Night stand back-up now. As mentioned, it's a heavy, reliable, tank that will digest more .357 than one can stand. |
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Posted: 1/27/2017 2:18:37 AM EDT
[#13]
Looks like your questions have all been answered, so here's some Security Six porn. It's going to be great.
Dad bought this one new in '76. He gave it to me a couple of years ago and it is by far my favorite handgun. I carry it everywhere and, remarkably, it is completely original and stock, down to the last spring. It runs great.  Attached FileL |
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Posted: 1/27/2017 11:51:38 AM EDT
[#14]
finally got Photobucket to load... 4" Security Six, no warning label, Bill Rogers' grips and Clark rear sight, rounded trigger... I shot some cannon loads with this thing...
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Posted: 1/27/2017 11:55:53 AM EDT
[#15]
The best advice I can give you about a Security Six is don't ever take it apart.
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Posted: 1/27/2017 1:17:17 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
It is my understanding that they were designed for Law Enforcement use. I am not sure how many agencies adopted them though. S&W pretty much had the corner on the police revolver market back then. As stated above, the Security six had a square butt and adjustable sights. The Service six had a square butt and fixed sights. The Speed six had a round butt and fixed sights. I had a 4" blued Security six for a while. It was a great pistol, but I sold it in a moment of weakness. I had a buddy some years ago that had a 4" blued Speed six. That was a pretty cool pistol as well. I would love to have any of them........ Feds bought a fair number of them. There were several years where the contract flipped between Smith and Ruger. BP used them, Postal Inspectors, a fair number ended up in military service. New Jersey State Police, I think PA State Police but don't quote me on that. NYPD allowed it. |
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Posted: 1/27/2017 3:55:35 PM EDT
[#17]
was a very underrated gun for a while, but prices have gone up a lot over the last ten years.
compared to a 686, how do you rate the strength? |
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Posted: 1/27/2017 4:59:40 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
was a very underrated gun for a while, but prices have gone up a lot over the last ten years. compared to a 686, how do you rate the strength? Comparable. Maybe even a bit better. They were designed from the start for magnum loads. |
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Posted: 1/27/2017 6:15:46 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
The best advice I can give you about a Security Six is don't ever take it apart. Why do you say that? I find them to be one of the easiest revolvers to take apart and re-assemble. |
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Posted: 1/27/2017 8:27:37 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Why do you say that? I find them to be one of the easiest revolvers to take apart and re-assemble. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
The best advice I can give you about a Security Six is don't ever take it apart. Why do you say that? I find them to be one of the easiest revolvers to take apart and re-assemble. Yup, pretty simple. Ruger made some nice target grips that fit the square butt versions of the Six-Series as long as you do not have the early ones. I bought three sets of them from Ruger a few years back. One for $19.99 and two sets for $9.99 when they were on sale. I saw a set sell on Ebay for about $70 so I put all three up and got $240 for the bunch. Here is a pic of my Security Six with a set on. 
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Posted: 1/27/2017 10:38:59 PM EDT
[#21]
I miss my 4 in SS Security Six. And ex girlfriend had gifted it to me when I was 19, I loved it but had some not so fond memories of some bad decisions. Sold it to my buddy because his wife wanted a revolver. I regret it now, they got a divorce and she kept the revolver.
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Posted: 1/28/2017 1:16:59 AM EDT
[#22]
My Mom was looking for a handgun to have in the house a few decades ago as they had had a few break-ins of the farm repair shop. At that time, the DA revolver was the king of the heap. I convinced her that a 2.75" blued Speed Six was the best bet for her to have. She passed a couple years ago and I inherited it. (Other than her cast iron skillets I wanted nothing else.)
Any who, this is now my truck gun. It sports a set of first gen Pachmyer grips and rides in a Lobo Gunleather Tom Threepersons holster. Three Safariland Comp II speedloaders also reside in my console along with the gun. The gun has 6 of my remaining 11 Black Talon cartridges loaded in it while the speedloaders are charged with Buffalo Bore 125 grain JHPs. I'll never part with this gun. When I die, it will go to my daughter. |
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Posted: 1/28/2017 1:52:57 AM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
So are the frames the same size and strength? Just the cylinders are different? I think (just from looking, haven't taken measurements etc) the ONLY difference is the depth of the chambers. I am sure a chamber reamer would have done what putting the other cylinder on, but I figured that out too late. That is the only detectable, visible difference. The 357 cylinder was a drop in replacement on my pistol, zero fitting required. As far as taking them apart, so simple a child can do it. It is designed to be stripped in the field with minimal tools. I like that feature. |
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Posted: 1/29/2017 2:59:45 AM EDT
[#24]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Why do you say that? I find them to be one of the easiest revolvers to take apart and re-assemble. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
The best advice I can give you about a Security Six is don't ever take it apart. Why do you say that? I find them to be one of the easiest revolvers to take apart and re-assemble. This, like AK easy to field strip and slap back together. Really just need a coin or other tool to get the grip screw out with original grips and assuming the little pin is still in the frame. Paper clip works too. |
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Posted: 1/29/2017 10:31:17 AM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
So are the frames the same size and strength? Just the cylinders are different? Yes. The only difference is that the .38 Specials were just short chambered for .38 Special rather than .357 Magnum. This was a not uncommon practice with police departments that wanted .357 Mag performance, but without the potential bad press of arming officers with a .357 Magnum. This was after all an era of "shoot to wound". The end result was that many departments then ordered .357 Magnum revolvers chambered for .38 Special, and then used a "+P+" load, similar to the older .38/44 loads. These loads often approached .357 Magnum pressures and performance in the shorter .38 Special case. One federal agency for example used a "+P+" load that generated 30,000 psi - well over standard (17,000 psi) or .38 +P (20,000 psi) pressures and approaching the 35,000 psi of the .357 Magnum. |
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Posted: 1/29/2017 10:35:20 AM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Security Six: Square butt and adjustable sights. Speed Six: Not a true round butt, they had a slightly rounded butt and fixed sights. Service Six: Square butt and fixed sights. They were mostly in .357 Magnum but some were .38 Special only. They were a direct attempt by Ruger to get into the law enforcement market that was dominated mostly by S&W and to some extent, Colt. Great revolvers, very robust. You can shoot any level of .357 in them and they will beg for more, unlike your hand. There were a few early fixed sight revolvers marked as "Security Six" revolvers: 
Later fixed sight Six series revolvers were stamped as both the "Service Six" and "Police Service Six". |
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Posted: 1/29/2017 10:47:29 AM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I had a security six in a .357 and it was a good gun and fun to shoot but it was HEAVY for its size. That's not actually the case when you compare them side by side and look at the actual weights. Top to bottom on the left are a 2 1/2" S&W Model 686+ (L frame revolver), 2 3/4" Ruger Speed Six, and a 2 1/2" S&W Model 66 (K frame revolver). Top to bottom on the right are a 3" Ruger SP101 and a 3" S&W Model 60. 
Weight wise: (unloaded and loaded) Model 60 = 23.35 oz, 25.64 oz SP101 = 27.09 oz, 29.35 oz Model 66 = 34.18 oz, 36.90 oz Speed Six = 34.81 oz, 37.53 oz Model 686+ = 36.90 oz, 40.07 oz. Thus, even with a 1/4" longer barrel, the Speed Six weighs only 0.6 oz more than the S&W K frame Model 66, when both are wearing the same model Pachmayr Compact grip. And the Speed Six is about 2 oz lighter than the L frame 686. Even if you add the extra weight of the Security Six's adjustable rear sight and larger front sight, it's still no heaver than a comparable L frame revolver. That's significant as the Speed Six has a heavier forcing cone that holds up to full power .357 Magnum loads much better than the K frame .357 revolvers, which is why S&W developed the L frame revolvers in the first place. In short, the Speed/Security/Service Six revolvers deliver L frame durability at essentially the same size and weight as a K frame. ---- The SP101 is however almost 4 oz heavier than a Model 60, and that's even more significant when you consider that the SP 101 doesn't have a full grip frame, so the weight is located much farther forward. The SP101 does however have a heavier top strap and a much heavier forcing cone than the J-Magnum frame S&W Model 60. The extra weight and location of much of that that extra weight in the barrel of the SP101 makes it more pleasant to shoot with full power .357 Magnum loads. In addition, the heavier forcing cone makes it much more durable with a steady diet of .357 Magnum loads. |
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Posted: 1/29/2017 11:55:14 AM EDT
[#28]
During Gulf War 1, some of the 'copter crewmen stationed aboard
the ship I was on were issued brand new in the box 4" Service Sixes. |
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Posted: 1/29/2017 10:57:57 PM EDT
[#29]
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Posted: 1/29/2017 11:18:06 PM EDT
[#30]
I don't really understand why anyone would buy a 38 special Security Six when there is no weight savings over a 357 magnum. If you want to shoot 38s, just put them through the 357 version!
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Posted: 1/29/2017 11:45:41 PM EDT
[#31]
I had a stainless Service Six 4" years ago and it was a good shooter. I traded it to a buddy for a stainless Blackhawk when I was on a western kick and he wanted a DA .357. I have several S&Ws so I haven't missed it much but it was a good gun.
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Posted: 1/30/2017 9:47:28 AM EDT
[#32]
TacticalGarand 44.... re: .38spl vs. .357mag... private security guards in Florida, and probably other states, for many years were limited to .38spl, and for liability, corporate lawyers probably didn't want to give them the option
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Posted: 1/30/2017 1:15:53 PM EDT
[#33]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
TacticalGarand 44.... re: .38spl vs. .357mag... private security guards in Florida, and probably other states, for many years were limited to .38spl, and for liability, corporate lawyers probably didn't want to give them the option I see. thanks. |
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Posted: 1/30/2017 1:21:50 PM EDT
[#34]
I love mine. I havea 2.75" that is my primary concealed carry gun and a 6" that is my main field handgun. My snubnose carries the standard TINY ruger grips. Good for concealment and I'm not pouring thousands of rounds through it.
I am going to be selling my GP100 4" shortly and purchasing a 4" security six. There's no comparison, the security six is that much more natural and quicker handling in addition to being lighter. |
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Posted: 1/30/2017 2:46:13 PM EDT
[#35]
Do they have a big safety warning stamped on it?
Trying to decide between a 6" Security Six or a GP100. |
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Posted: 1/30/2017 2:59:02 PM EDT
[#36]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Do they have a big safety warning stamped on it? Trying to decide between a 6" Security Six or a GP100. The early ones don't. Like the first two years of production. |
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Posted: 2/2/2017 9:03:23 AM EDT
[#37]
I bought a 4 in Speed Six in '76. No warning on it and then eventually sold it. Have seller's remorse on that but I did pick up a GP-100 4 in and love it. Bone stock.
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Posted: 2/11/2017 11:32:46 PM EDT
[#38]
A pawn shop local to me has a 4-inch and a 2.5 inch, both blued. Other than some respectable holster wear, both look to be in pretty good shape. I'm thinking the 4-incher might be mine, come Monday.
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Posted: 2/16/2017 7:32:14 AM EDT
[#40]
Great revolvers, very robust.
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Posted: 2/21/2017 9:23:07 AM EDT
[#41]
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Posted: 2/26/2017 10:42:47 PM EDT
[#42]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Security Six: Square butt and adjustable sights. Speed Six: Not a true round butt, they had a slightly rounded butt and fixed sights. Service Six: Square butt and fixed sights. They were mostly in .357 Magnum but some were .38 Special only. They were a direct attempt by Ruger to get into the law enforcement market that was dominated mostly by S&W and to some extent, Colt. Great revolvers, very robust. You can shoot any level of .357 in them and they will beg for more, unlike your hand. Ruger also made the speed-six in 9mm. |
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