Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Ruger Speed-Six


Here's another favorite. This is a Ruger Speed-Six in .357 Magnum. This gun is no longer made, more's the pity. 

If someone forced me to choose between autoloaders and revolvers, I would have to go with revolvers. I cut my teeth on them and it was quite a while before I acquired my first auto. (An original Colt 1911 from 1917, by the way. I still have it and may stick it on here at some point.) Fortunately, unless the next prez gets weirdly hinky I don't think anyone is going to place such a stupid restriction on me. Bets anyone?

Anyway, this Speed Six, as you can see, is DA only. Don't think that this is a disadvantage: a good hand with a smooth double-action revolver will drop them into tiny little groups at amazing ranges with great frequency, not to mention rapidity. PPC revolvers are almost always fired DA only and can put them all in the x-ring at 50 yards if the shooter does his part. I actually prefer DA shooting with revolvers over single-action. I just shoot better that way.

I did a complete action job on this revolver quite a few years ago and it one of the smoothest and sweetest-shooting handguns I own. I love S&W revolvers and have a bunch of them, but this Ruger gives nothing away to any Smith. I carry it a good bit and it's an all-around favorite.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice Gun. I've got some Rugers. I think a couple of Vaqueros and two of the 44 magnum pistols. Blackhawk and Redhawk come to mind. I don't shoot them anymore, my wrist can't take it.

Rio Arriba said...

Can you teach y'self to shoot with your other hand? It's really not all that hard. I taught myself to be ambi when I was shooting PPC and it has stuck. Seriously, give it a try. I have guns I shoot better leftie than rightie. Weird.

Tmagnum62 said...

That is a fine revolver. I prefer revolvers myself. Needless to say after seeing that one, I am on the lookout for a speed six

Anonymous said...

I never thought of trying that. I've been shooting right handed since I was 12, and I'm 55 now, so old habits are hard to break. But I could try it and see.

Rio Arriba said...

At first it will feel really awkward. You're apt to say, "This is impossible!" Don't give up. I suggest you start with a two-handed hold from a barricade of some sort. Just sink a post in the ground. Reverse your normal two-hand grip and go at it. After a while you can try it off-hand. It'll take a little time, but is definitely do-able. Good luck!

Ryan said...

I shot revolvers from time to time as a kid. When it was time for me to get a pistol I got an auto and as I have gathered a modest collection of both I find myself using carrying and shooting revolvers far more then auto's.

Carteach said...

Reading back through your older posts....

I thought I was the only one in the world who knew what a Speed Six was.

Mine was stolen from my vehicle many years, while it was parked at a fine hotel in a dirtbag city.

That Ruger was a fine piece of equipment, and I'd still have it if it wasn't stolen.

Rio Arriba said...

CT-- Sorry about your loss. That must have hurt. Yes, the Speed Six is an underrated classic. I recently bought another one. This one in blue with a SA hammer. I am figuring out what I will do with it as it needs refinishing pretty badly.

You owe it to yourself to find one and repatriate it!

Carteach said...

Been looking for 15 years my friend. I seldom pass a Ruger DA revolver without checking, just in case. Always 'Service Six', never a Speed Six.

Maybe I'll break down and order up a new model one day, just to have one.