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Thread: Ruger Police Service Six 38 Special

  1. #21
    Boolit Grand Master FergusonTO35's Avatar
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    This question should be asked rugerforum.com. The folks there are real Six series experts and some of them worked for Ruger in the heyday of the Six.

    As I recall, the story goes that the Security Six was originally intended to be sold strictly as a .357, WBR saw no point in producing a nearly identical gun at the same price in a weaker cartridge. However it became apparent Ruger was losing LE sales because so many agencies did not authorize .357's, especially the lucrative NYPD. Also, adjustable sights were an extra cost that many agencies didn't want. So they shortened the chambers to .38 Special depth and added simple sized sights, thus creating the Service Six. A round butt was added later creating the Speed Six. Of course, either gun could also be had in .357. Interestingly, Ruger did occasional runs of .38 Special Security Sixes when requested.
    Currently casting and loading: .32 Auto, .380 Auto, .38 Special, 9X19, .357 Magnum, .257 Roberts, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30 WCF, .308 WCF, .45-70.

  2. #22
    Boolit Mold
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    I started the thread.

    Thank you for the replies.

    I went back after my 30 day wait for another hand-gun and the service six was still there. I own it now. Actually the model 13 was probably in better condition then the ruger, but I'm happy as a clam. Hopefully the pictures post. One pic is the service six and and model 13, the other pic is the model 13 and my fixed sight gp100. The two future son-in-laws can take a 4-inch fixed sight 357; first married, first pick. The model 13-2 is 1979. The GP100 I bought new in 2011. As nice as the model 13 is, the GP was the first gun I owned and will always be my favorite. The boys can have them. I'll keep the service six; I reload, they don't yet.
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  3. #23
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by maclords View Post
    I started the thread.

    Thank you for the replies.

    I went back after my 30 day wait for another hand-gun and the service six was still there. I own it now. Actually the model 13 was probably in better condition then the ruger, but I'm happy as a clam. Hopefully the pictures post. One pic is the service six and and model 13, the other pic is the model 13 and my fixed sight gp100. The two future son-in-laws can take a 4-inch fixed sight 357; first married, first pick. The model 13-2 is 1979. The GP100 I bought new in 2011. As nice as the model 13 is, the GP was the first gun I owned and will always be my favorite. The boys can have them. I'll keep the service six; I reload, they don't yet.
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    Good For You
    Well Done..I am in lust with the Security/Service/Speed six's...

  4. #24
    Boolit Buddy

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    They are fine six guns. My favorite is a 3” Speed Six made for the USPS. .357.

  5. #25
    Boolit Mold
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    The Six series guns are the size of a K frame Smith and as strong as an L frame. Some need a bit of smoothing of parts and maybe a shim or two to eliminate some wiggle between parts. You can probably find a .357 cylinder on ebay if you want.

  6. #26
    Boolit Master
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    The "serious medicine" defensive load for a .38 Special is a 160 gr. LSWC at 1000 f/s, a 140 gr. at 1150 f/s, or a 125 gr. at 1280 f/s. With judicious handloading, these specs are within reach of a medium frame 4" .38 Special without straining things. This is especially true of the Ruger Security Six series revolvers, which are built like main battle tanks.
    The Skeeter Skelton load certainly qualifies in this respect, but there are other loads that will also fulfill these criteria, with propellants that burn more completely in abbreviated barrels. Powders like Unique, BE-86, Herco, or AA#5 will develop similar velocities.
    For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Ecclesiastes 1:18
    He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool become servant to the wise of heart. Proverbs 11:29
    ...Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40


    Carpe SCOTCH!

  7. #27
    Boolit Grand Master FergusonTO35's Avatar
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    I have a 1988 Service Six .38 in stainless and bought it from the original owner's estate. Love that wheelgun!
    Currently casting and loading: .32 Auto, .380 Auto, .38 Special, 9X19, .357 Magnum, .257 Roberts, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30 WCF, .308 WCF, .45-70.

  8. #28
    Boolit Master 35 Whelen's Avatar
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    Here's how I handled a similar situation-

    Four years ago I found a Ruger Police Service Six in .38 Special that was from the Cook County Memorial Hospital (Chicago, IL)...security team, police force, whatever (Stamped CCMH on the frame)...on a forum for $200-



    Bought it then trotted over to eBay and paid, as I recall, $50-$60 for a Security Six cylinder and crane like this one, popped the .38 Special cylinder and crane out and popped the .357 cylinder and crane in.

    Now I have a sort of Ruger Security Police Service Six .357 Magnum that is kept in our cabin in the mountains. Winner winner chicken dinner.

    35W
    Last edited by 35 Whelen; 01-21-2023 at 10:18 AM.
    The biggest waste of time is arguing with the fool and fanatic who doesn't care about truth or reality, but only the victory of his beliefs and illusions.
    There are people who, for all the evidence presented to them, do not have the ability to understand.

    NRA Life Member

  9. #29
    Boolit Master
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    I have always owned a Security Six of some sort for close to 50 years. There is a 2 3/4 in. Stainless Service Six Bi-Centennial in my safe that my Dad bought new. I turned it into a round butt because he couldn't find a Speed Six. It lived in his night stand till he was no longer able to handle it.

    I have a 4 in. that developed end play in the cylinder and started rubbing the barrel. I shimmed the cylinder to take it out. Maybe not the best fix but at almost 71 it will probably outlast me. I bought it used but in very nice shape in 1978 so it took 45 years to get there.

  10. #30
    Boolit Grand Master FergusonTO35's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by maclords View Post
    I started the thread.

    Thank you for the replies.

    I went back after my 30 day wait for another hand-gun and the service six was still there. I own it now. Actually the model 13 was probably in better condition then the ruger, but I'm happy as a clam. Hopefully the pictures post. One pic is the service six and and model 13, the other pic is the model 13 and my fixed sight gp100. The two future son-in-laws can take a 4-inch fixed sight 357; first married, first pick. The model 13-2 is 1979. The GP100 I bought new in 2011. As nice as the model 13 is, the GP was the first gun I owned and will always be my favorite. The boys can have them. I'll keep the service six; I reload, they don't yet.
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    Didn't know Ruger was still making the fixed sights/half shroud GP in 2011. Still kicking myself for not buying one new for $400 in the early 2000's.
    Currently casting and loading: .32 Auto, .380 Auto, .38 Special, 9X19, .357 Magnum, .257 Roberts, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30 WCF, .308 WCF, .45-70.

  11. #31
    Boolit Mold
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    Quote Originally Posted by FergusonTO35 View Post
    Didn't know Ruger was still making the fixed sights/half shroud GP in 2011. Still kicking myself for not buying one new for $400 in the early 2000's.
    I did think the fixed sight/half shroud GP I bought new in 2011 was old stock, but I just did a serial number lookup and it says "shipped in 2011"

  12. #32
    Boolit Grand Master FergusonTO35's Avatar
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    Sweet wheelgun you have there! Hopefully I'll cross paths with one someday.
    Currently casting and loading: .32 Auto, .380 Auto, .38 Special, 9X19, .357 Magnum, .257 Roberts, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30 WCF, .308 WCF, .45-70.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check