Single-Six Magnum Cylinder not fitting....

Greetings!
I have a Single Six (according to the serial number search it appears to be a "Magnum .22" from 1962.

It has a .22 LR cylinder installed (working perfectly) and came with a .22 magnum cylinder as well, but it simply will not fit into the frame.

I'm assuming it simply did not come (originally) with this revolver.

1: were there single-six models from that timeframe that cannot use a .22 magnum?
2: can a gunsmith machine this cylinder to make it fit?
3: any other thoughts?

Thanks!

Yes, there were 22LR only Single Sixes. Hard to tell exactly what you have from the description.
But, one way to check if your gun was originally intended to use both cartridges: if a 7/32" drill bit enters the muzzle, it is bored to shoot 22Mag (.219), if not it's for LR only (.217).

Thanks for the tip... I'll have to try that out after work!

When having to fit a cylinder to a gun it is better to have one that is too long rather than one that is short. Can you carefully measure the length of both cylinders?

Maybe the previous owner put the WRONG cylinder with the gun, they get swapped around (mixed up) all the time............as noted above,better to be too long as it can be cut back, and properly 'fitted' to work in your gun .......check the overall length of the cylinder that actually fits and works in that gun, make 'em "match" 8) :roll: :wink:

Any numbers scratches/engraved on the face of either or both of the cylinders?

If yours is actually a "Magnum", the LR cylinder would be the "fitted" cylinder, and should have the last 3 digits of the serial number on it. If the Magnum cylinder has the numbers, it would almost certainly not have been a "Magnum", but rather a convertible.

If either has numbers that don't match the gun, you know they've been lost/switched somewhere along the line. If neither one has numbers, there's no way to tell. In any case, a gunsmith or machinist could make the magnum cylinder match the LR cylinder.... you can make it shorter, but it's really hard to make it longer.

The Single-Six convertibles will have a serial number of 150000 or higher.

BrandonS said:

Greetings!
I have a Single Six (according to the serial number search it appears to be a "Magnum .22" from 1962.

It has a .22 LR cylinder installed (working perfectly) and came with a .22 magnum cylinder as well, but it simply will not fit into the frame.

I'm assuming it simply did not come (originally) with this revolver.

1: were there single-six models from that timeframe that cannot use a .22 magnum?
2: can a gunsmith machine this cylinder to make it fit?
3: any other thoughts?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

If your revolver was made in 1962 and is a Magnum marked gun then it will be a 6 1/2 in. bl. The left side of the frame, (point the gun away from you.) will have "Ruger Single-Six" on the top line and on the second line it will say " Win. .22 RF Mag. Cal.

Even if your gun has this marking on it, by 1962 it could be a convertible. As this gun was a Mag. marked gun then the mag cylinder will not be marked and the .22 LR. cylinder will have the last 3 numbers stamped on the front of the cylinder. One other thing if your gun is a magnum marked gun then the serial number will be between 300,000 and 340,000.

And the last thing and the most important thing is "PICTURES, WE NEED PICTURES." If we had pictures then we would already have the answers for you.

ok, Answers!

1: the 22LR cylinder is stamped with numbers matching the frame serial no.
2: the 22Mag cylinder is etches (not stamped) with non-matching numbers.
3: 7/32" drill bit fits perfectly into the bbl of the firearm, so it *appears* it can shoot 22Mag
4: the 22Mag cylinder is indeed too long, so a gunsmith's help may indeed be called for.
5: the frame is only marked Ruger .22 CAL. Single Six (no mag mentioned)

Thanks, all!
(and sorry for not being able to post pics at this time )

P.S. just spoke to a local gunsmith... he mentioned the pin that locks the cylinder in place could potentially not match a "newly machined to fit" mag cylinder perfectly enough to ensure proper firing and cylinder rotation (something I hand't thought of before) so... that's something else!

BrandonS said:

ok, Answers!

1: the 22LR cylinder is stamped with numbers matching the frame serial no.
2: the 22Mag cylinder is etches (not stamped) with non-matching numbers.
3: 7/32" drill bit fits perfectly into the bbl of the firearm, so it *appears* it can shoot 22Mag
4: the 22Mag cylinder is indeed too long, so a gunsmith's help may indeed be called for.
5: the frame is only marked Ruger .22 CAL. Single Six (no mag mentioned)

Thanks, all!
(and sorry for not being able to post pics at this time )

P.S. just spoke to a local gunsmith... he mentioned the pin that locks the cylinder in place could potentially not match a "newly machined to fit" mag cylinder perfectly enough to ensure proper firing and cylinder rotation (something I hand't thought of before) so... that's something else!

Click to expand...

What is the serial number, you can substute XXX for the last 3 numbers if you like? Also what is the barrel length, and is the magnum cylinder fluted or non fluted?

The magnum cylinder appears to be from another gun as it doesn't fit. The magnum cylinder for your gun should be fluted and if your gun is a 6 1/2 in bl. gun then it is possible that the magnum cylinder will not have the last 3 digits of the serial number stamped on the front of it. Some did and some didn't. There has been a record of at least one Single-Six with one cylinder stamped and one cylinder engraved with the last 3 digits of the serial number. Of course the gun could have been sent back to the factory to have a new cylinder replaced and that would be the reason that one cylinder was engraved with the 3 digits.

BrandonS said:

ok, Answers!

P.S. just spoke to a local gunsmith... he mentioned the pin that locks the cylinder in place could potentially not match a "newly machined to fit" mag cylinder perfectly enough to ensure proper firing and cylinder rotation (something I hand't thought of before) so... that's something else!

Click to expand...

Hi Brandon,

He's talking about the cyl latch if he said "pin" that locks the cyl, but the chance of that is so remote as to be virtually nonexistent based on my over 50 years of gunsmithing Rugers. So if he does the work and charges you for fitting the latch, he's almost certainly padding the bill.

Besides, the cyl is so easy to fit if you have two hands, at least one eye, and can use a hone to sharpen a knife, or use a file.

Hondo44 said:

Besides, the cyl is so easy to fit if you have two hands, at least one eye, and can use a hone to sharpen a knife, or use a file.

Click to expand...

I have seen people that have two hands and one eye but at no time should they be allowed to use any tool for any reason. :lol: :lol: :lol:

LOL