Was bummed out earlier before…

[Wambli Ska]

I ended up making a deal on my last Christmas present from my wife and started the process to have it sent to my FFL but got bummed out that it would not be here before the end of 2025 to finish off a great gun buying year…

Then I remember… I saw an old model Ruger Single-Six at the local Bass Pro with a highly attractive price tag last week and decided to take a drive to see if it was still there. And it was…. Yay!

I already have a 5.5” Single-Six of similar vintage. These guns are not the new Convertibles. The 5.5 is a dedicated .22lr gun and unlike the new guns with the compromise bore barrel this sucker is a great shooter with any .22 LR ammo I feed it.

So why would I want another Single-Six in 6.5? Figured I’d decide which one I like better later and sell the other one!

At the store I hurriedly look up the serial number to see if I could figure out year of manufacture but a quick search doesn’t find it within the serial number ranges of the Single-Six…. Oh well these were made before computerized records and it’s obviously a real Ruger so I push that out of my mind.

I get home and I start looking again at the gun. Something is odd. So I take out the cylinder and realize the damn holes for the chambers look big. I find a .22 LR round and it drops in too easily with some slop in the fit!!! Ooooooooh hell yeah!!!!

BPS mislabeled the gun and it’s a Single-Six MAGNUM!!! Easy mistake to make since Ruger roll marked both guns Single Six Tuger .22 Cal. The new gun was made in 1968 and it’s a dedicated .22 Mag gun!!! I’ve never even bumped into one before

So now I have the set! The 5.5” 22 LR on top is a 1960 gun and the 6.5” .22 Mag is a 1968 gun. I guess Santa Clause thought I was a good boy this year

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[Wambli Ska]

Already pulled out some ammo to go test it tomorrow

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[GrapeApe]

I wonder why the WRF has "Not for use in revolvers" on the label??

Edited to add: NVM, CCI lists why on their site https://www.cci-ammunition.com/rimfire/ ... /6-69.html

Not for revolvers. Most 22 WRF revolvers have undersized bores that cannot use a jacketed bullet. Performance data derived from industry test barrels; provided for reference. Velocities from production firearms may vary. Specifications subject to change without notice.

[rberg]

Nice find, years ago I bought a single six from a lady whose husband had recently left her. I figured that she had lost the LR cylinder but maybe she didn't. Guess I will have to get it out of the safe and check it, Should be about the same year as yours.

[Wambli Ska]

I wonder why the WRF has "Not for use in revolvers" on the label??

Edited to add: NVM, CCI lists why on their site https://www.cci-ammunition.com/rimfire/ ... /6-69.html

Not for revolvers. Most 22 WRF revolvers have undersized bores that cannot use a jacketed bullet. Performance data derived from industry test barrels; provided for reference. Velocities from production firearms may vary. Specifications subject to change without notice.

The early Rugers did not have undersized bores since they are dedicated for mag ammo. In any case I’ve shot these in New Rugers and they shoot fine. They are a great compromise when you want better accuracy than you normally get with .22lr ammo but don’t need full Mag punch.

[Wambli Ska]

This post or Rimfire Central kind’a summarizes the subject well.

“I spent some time communicating by e-mail with CCI about this a couple of years ago. They told me they were most concerned about older WRF revolvers in poor condition, and that some of the cheaper ones were produced with .22 long rifle diameter barrels. I told them I was have good luck with them in my Smith and Wesson 648 and was essentially told that if they work for me, go for it.

I find WRFs quiet accurate, much quieter than mags, and they shoot to the same point of aim as magnums at 50 yards in my scope sighted Smith and Wessons. The WRFs (I shoot the CCI hollow points) are perfect for small game. They add a great deal of versitality to my magnum firearm.“

[Wambli Ska]

Nice find, years ago I bought a single six from a lady whose husband had recently left her. I figured that she had lost the LR cylinder but maybe she didn't. Guess I will have to get it out of the safe and check it, Should be about the same year as yours.

Definitely worth a check!

https://ruger.com/dataProcess/serialHistory/

[LMLarsen]

Nice!

[Bigslug]

Neat! They are purty - even the one with the cancer grips.

I never did scratch the childhood Single Six itch, due to a combination of a MKII semi auto moving into the house first, learning that they tended not to shoot LR as well as Magnums and having no interest in shooting Magnums, and, much later, learning to shoot double action and never looking back.

They still occasionally whisper from the used gun shelves. . .but probably not.

[Wambli Ska]

Nice!

Thank you sir!

[Wambli Ska]

Neat! They are purty - even the one with the cancer grips.

I never did scratch the childhood Single Six itch, due to a combination of a MKII semi auto moving into the house first, learning that they tended not to shoot LR as well as Magnums and having no interest in shooting Magnums, and, much later, learning to shoot double action and never looking back.

They still occasionally whisper from the used gun shelves. . .but probably not.

I love single actions, always have. Then again my dad put me on a rocking horse in front of the TV before I could form complete sentences so I grew up shooting my cap guns at the bad guys and Indians on Gunsmoke and Bonanza.

But as a bonus that long hammer arc is highly unforgiving of poor form and will teach you follow through really well. I find I’m a better handgun shooter since focusing more on SAs.

[Wambli Ska]

And I’m already shopping for stags for it

[Bigslug]

I love single actions, always have. Then again my dad put me on a rocking horse in front of the TV before I could form complete sentences so I grew up shooting my cap guns at the bad guys and Indians on Gunsmoke and Bonanza.

I dimly remember wanting to be a cowboy, but I think the Peacemakers of Gunsmoke couldn't hold a candle to Sgt. Saunders' Thompson or Kirby's BAR. When the F4U Corsairs of Black Sheep Squadron flew in with their .50's, it was all over.

[Diver43]

NICE!!
I thought Ruger made the .22 mag cylinders smooth?

[Elk Creek]

NICE!!
I thought Ruger made the .22 mag cylinders smooth?

Not the early ones…

[GrapeApe]

The early Rugers did not have undersized bores since they are dedicated for mag ammo. In any case I’ve shot these in New Rugers and they shoot fine. They are a great compromise when you want better accuracy than you normally get with .22lr ammo but don’t need full Mag punch.

The Rugers, technically, aren't WRF's either

[Wambli Ska]

I love single actions, always have. Then again my dad put me on a rocking horse in front of the TV before I could form complete sentences so I grew up shooting my cap guns at the bad guys and Indians on Gunsmoke and Bonanza.

I dimly remember wanting to be a cowboy, but I think the Peacemakers of Gunsmoke couldn't hold a candle to Sgt. Saunders' Thompson or Kirby's BAR. When the F4U Corsairs of Black Sheep Squadron flew in with their .50's, it was all over.

Well it was going to be cowboy or military but my dad blocked me from joining the Navy, he’ll he wouldn’t even let me join the Boy Scouts. He knew if I signed up I’d volunteer for something stupid and he’d never see me again…

But he put me on a real horse when I was 3 years old and it was all over. Shopping for a new horse as we speak…

[Wambli Ska]

NICE!!
I thought Ruger made the .22 mag cylinders smooth?

For the new model convertible Single-Sixes they do. Has nothing to do with strength. Regular cylinders are MORE than strong enough. They do it because it makes it easy to identify the different cylinders AND it saves them machining time. For the old dedicated Magnum Single-Six it’s not an issue since you are not exchanging cylinders.

[Wambli Ska]

The early Rugers did not have undersized bores since they are dedicated for mag ammo. In any case I’ve shot these in New Rugers and they shoot fine. They are a great compromise when you want better accuracy than you normally get with .22lr ammo but don’t need full Mag punch.

The Rugers, technically, aren't WRF's either

They aren’t but the WRF is nothing but a shorter, less powerful .22 Mag so if you can handle one you can absolutely handle the other no problem. Again I’ve shot tons of these in Rugers and .22 Mag rifles to great results with zero issues. No worries here with this gun regardless of what the label says.

But I’m good that other folks don’t do it because every year when CCI makes their seasonal run I clear out the shelf of stock for my stash. I hate competition for favored resources.

[Rugerfan]

Never heard of that gun. I do know Ruger made a Super Single Six. I found out when I was trying to pin down the age of my 3 screw model. Mine is 22LR.

[Elk Creek]

This is a 1968 convertible old model. The cylinders are the same outside just bored for specific cartridges. Back when gin companies assumes you weren’t an idiot or mental defect……

[Wambli Ska]

Yeah there was a transition period between the old style single chambering dedicated guns and the convertibles. Yours is a pretty early gun!

Does the serial number on tour’s have a dash in it? I don’t remember when the change to the new numbering system happened. That’s when Ruger only made ONE type of SS Cylinder and bored it for the chambering they needed. As you said we weren’t stupid back then.

[Wambli Ska]

Never heard of that gun. I do know Ruger made a Super Single Six. I found out when I was trying to pin down the age of my 3 screw model. Mine is 22LR.

Unless you’re interested in Ruger S-S history most folks don’t really know the iterations they went through before they went to convertibles and almost no one knows that Ruger made dedicated Magnum S-S revolvers before they came up with the convertibles I’d actually never had my hands on one until this fell on my lap by “mistake”. I’d read about them and that’s about it.

I love the dedicated LR guns too. I think they are the sexiest vintage RF revolver out there and between them and the Mark I pistols, they made Ruger what they are today.

[sakodude]

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Sexiest rimfire, hardly

[Wambli Ska]

Can’t see your picture. In any case I meant to say you”one of the sexiest” and BTW it is THE gun that made Colt bring back the SAA from the grave.