Ruger Single Six

Includes all Pre-1973 Old model Single-Sixes, Blackhawks,
Super Blackhawks, Bearcats, Super Bearcats, Hawkeye
and Black Powder Old Army.
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ICEMAN550
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2020 6:17 am

Ruger Single Six

Post by ICEMAN550 »

Single six
Single six
Single six pic 2
Single six pic 2
I have this old single six serial number 812372. Is this a 22 magnum or LR. Any idea when made and how to tell what cylinder I have if convertible?
flattop44
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Joined: Tue May 06, 2014 2:31 pm
Location: Alabama

Re: Ruger Single Six

Post by flattop44 »

Probably made in 1968. Easiest way to tell which cylinder you have is to open the loading gate and see if there is a firing pin groove between the chambers/cartridge holes, if so it is a long rifle cylinder. Also, a magnum cartridge will not chamber in a 22 LR cylinder. If no firing pin groove and the rear of the cylinder is flat between the chambers it is the magnum cylinder. To see if it was shipped as a convertible remove the cylinder and look for the last three digits of the serial number to be electric pencil scratched on the face of the cylinder. If they are there then it was shipped as a convertible. You may have to look really hard and wipe some oil on the face of the cylinder to be able to see them and make out the numbers. If the numbers match your gun's last three it was shipped with the gun. If not it was shipped with a different Single-Six. If there are no scratched numbers it may have been shipped as a long rifle only and would be a scarce gun. To really know when it was shipped and its configuration when it left the factory send $10 to Ruger for a factory letter.
Bill
ICEMAN550
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Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2020 6:17 am

Re: Ruger Single Six

Post by ICEMAN550 »

Front
Front
Back
Back
Here are the cylinders. This would just be 22LR correct?
flattop44
Posts: 2351
Joined: Tue May 06, 2014 2:31 pm
Location: Alabama

Re: Ruger Single Six

Post by flattop44 »

Yep, that is a .22 Long Rifle cylinder.
Bill
ICEMAN550
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Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2020 6:17 am

Re: Ruger Single Six

Post by ICEMAN550 »

I hope so. I actually called Ruger and they are telling me that serial number is for a 22 mag. They did say made in September 1968.
zebra55
Posts: 348
Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2016 6:55 pm
Location: Michigan

Re: Ruger Single Six

Post by zebra55 »

not an expert, but what I have seen is that the 22LR cylinders are fluted and the 22 mags are not.
flattop44
Posts: 2351
Joined: Tue May 06, 2014 2:31 pm
Location: Alabama

Re: Ruger Single Six

Post by flattop44 »

Old model 22 Mag cylinders were fluted. Look through a chamber and the long rifle will be straight thru. The Magnum has a shoulder at the muzzel end. If you have a Mag cartridge try to put it in the chamber, if it is a long rifle it will not go in.
Bill
chet15
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Re: Ruger Single Six

Post by chet15 »

ICEMAN550 wrote: Wed Dec 02, 2020 6:07 pm I hope so. I actually called Ruger and they are telling me that serial number is for a 22 mag. They did say made in September 1968.
I will bet 99.99 percent the info they gave you is incorrect. First it is a 5-1/2", and those were only shipped as convertible (RSS5X) or LR only (RSS5W), never as mag. only.
When they finally send a letter to you, it will come back either as RSS5W or RSS5X.
Chet15
ICEMAN550
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Joined: Wed Dec 02, 2020 6:17 am

Re: Ruger Single Six

Post by ICEMAN550 »

Thanks for the replies.
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