New to me Security Six

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Springer2

Bearcat
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Do you know if the previous owner did any or had any work done to it? 0.002 barrel/cylinder gap is pretty tight for a DA handgun as is a 0.004 at the rear. Is there any movement fore and aft? It is also possible, thought rarely seen, that the ratchet was sized incorrectly and is too short. The ratchet when it touches the frame sets the distance of the cylinder to the frame. A "short" ratchet will cause the cylinder to be too close to the frame and binding can happen. Also since you said it only happens at the top that the end of the crane cylinder is worn or has been modified and now is at a slight angle where it should be perpendicular (90 degrees) to the crane cylinder.
It never had work done. It was bought new by a family member, shot little, and I acquired it when he passed. I agree 0.002" is very tight at the forcing cone. It is about 0.056" at the rear and usual is 0.060"+ meaning it is about 0.004" undersized. There is more clearance in the bottom of the frame as that is how the frame is designed.
 

hittman

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Man oh man ….. is this something so simple we're all overlooking it?
I'm stumped on this one.
 
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Here is something to think about - You said, "It was bought new by a family member, shot little" and you got it after he passed. Was there any conversation on why it was "shot little"? Might it have had this problem from the get go and that is why it was not shot much? The bad part about that is Ruger will not even look at it and if you call them, they probably will tell you that. If you send it in they will probably just offer you a new gun (GP100, SP101, etc.) at a discounted price. Ruger does not have any spare parts for the Six series since production ceased in 1988 and there may also no one there with Six series experience any more. There are people who are pretty knowledgeable about the Six series guns who can work on them if you decide to go that route. You might also want to pick up Jerry Kuhnhausens book - The Ruger Double Action Revolvers-A Shop Manual Vol.1 and that should help you out.
 

T.A. WORKMAN

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I took Ron's advice and looked in the trouble shooting section of Kuhnhausen's book.

Headspace & Clearance for Security-Six Models 117 & 717 - .357 Mag - Headspace Min.- .060 - Max .066 - Endplay - Max - .002 - Barrel clearance - Min. - .003 - Max - .008

Cylinder won't rotate - Lists 9 symptoms - 7 of the nine solutions involve the pawl or paw spring

Cylinder Binds - lists 6 symptoms -
- with rounds in chamber - Check recoil plate / headspace ?**
- Cylinder drags on barrel ? ***
- ejector rod unthreaded (stripped ?) re-tread rod & replace washer
- pawl tip width to thick/to thin
- ejector / clean & deburr ejector fingers
- check long ratchet lug

I don't think the gun was fitted properly at the factory / she needs to see a competent gunsmith. JMHO
Best of luck
Terry
 
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Springer2

Bearcat
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Messages
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Location
Florida
...Headspace & Clearance for Security-Six Models 117 & 717 - .357 Mag - Headspace Min.- .060 - Max .066 - Endplay - Max - .002 - Barrel clearance - Min. - .003 - Max - .008

Cylinder won't rotate - Lists 9 symptoms - 7 of the nine solutions involve the pawl or paw spring

Cylinder Binds - lists 6 symptoms -
- with rounds in chamber - Check recoil plate / headspace ?**
- Cylinder drags on barrel ? ***
- ejector rod unthreaded (stripped ?) re-tread rod & replace washer
- pawl tip width to thick/to thin
- ejector / clean & deburr ejector fingers
- check long ratchet lug...
That is consistent with what I found. The headspace is 0.004" below minimum which causes many of the rounds to drag and binds the cylinder. The barrel clearance is also too tight which may be a problem if the gun gets hot.

On the other hand, that revolver presents an opportunity to get a minimum spec revolver with just a little talented work. I need to give it some more thought as good revolver gunsmiths are not so plentiful anymore.
 

T.A. WORKMAN

Hunter
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That is consistent with what I found. The headspace is 0.004" below minimum which causes many of the rounds to drag and binds the cylinder. The barrel clearance is also too tight which may be a problem if the gun gets hot.

On the other hand, that revolver presents an opportunity to get a minimum spec revolver with just a little talented work. I need to give it some more thought as good revolver gunsmiths are not so plentiful anymore.
Sure would be a big help if you knew some one with a gun like yours and could temporally swap out the cylinder & crane assembly and see how she worked then. My gut tells me you either have a cylinder out of spec or the recoil shield needs fitted to your present cylinder. I have owned several revolvers like yours and they have all been a joy to shoot. I hope it turns out to be something simpler.
Best
Terry
 

hittman

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Sure would be a big help if you knew some one with a gun like yours and could temporally swap out the cylinder & crane assembly and see how she worked then.
This! ⬆️

And, wonder if there is a schematic somewhere that shows how long the cylinder is supposed to be. I dont have calipers here to measure one of mine for you.
 
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Terry, you beat me to the punch, I was getting ready to post what you posted from the book :)

Springer2 - If you can't find someone in your neck of the woods to check it out, you can send it to me - I happen to collect and specialize in the Six series guns. I have worked on a number of them for people and have a pretty good parts supply for them. I think you would find positive remarks about me from people on the forum. If it comes to that (shipping to me), let me know and I'll tell you what needs to be done to get it here.
 
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Just measured 12 cylinders. Length varied from a low (1) 1.607" to a high (1) of 1.615". 3 were 1.610". 3 were 1.608" and 3 were 1.609" and 1 was 1.612"
These cylinders were from low backs, high backs, .38 spl, .357 mag, and 9mm. Average is 1.609"

But remember, the fit in the frame (barrel/cylinder gap and rear headspace) comes from the crane barrel and the ratchet, barrel set back and the cylinder length. But since the cylinder length has been a pretty good constant through the years, I would concentrate on the crane barrel and the ratchet as possible suspects, although probably not causing the OPs problem, I would be concerned about the very small B/C gap and want to open that up just a tiny bit.
 

hittman

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If it were my gun, I'd pay my FFL to ship it to Ron.
It's a super nice desirable gun … and a family history as well.
Should have decades of shooting left for it.
 

3manfan

Single-Sixer
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Feb 18, 2018
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Just call Ruger C.S. & tell them what's going on, set up a return service ticket & send it in, they'll get it fixed up.
Ask for it to be warrantied so no charge for you. All they can say is "no". You never know, you might get lucky.
Even if they charge you, it needs to be fixed or it's just a paperweight.
 

Springer2

Bearcat
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Just measured 12 cylinders. Length varied from a low (1) 1.607" to a high (1) of 1.615". 3 were 1.610". 3 were 1.608" and 3 were 1.609" and 1 was 1.612"
These cylinders were from low backs, high backs, .38 spl, .357 mag, and 9mm. Average is 1.609"
Thank you for the measurements, that was very helpful. The problem is more and more obvious, the frame opening is small. The cylinder measures 1.610" with my caliper. Using the same caliper, the frame opening from the forcing cone to the firing pin hole is 1.668". That means there is only 0.058" of clearance. It does not matter what the crane, or ratchet is doing; the opening is not big enough to allow the minimum 0.003" barrel gap and 0.060" headspace. If everything is spaced perfect, you need at a minimum 0.063" so the frame opening is about 0.005" short of that.
 
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Thank you for the measurements, that was very helpful. The problem is more and more obvious, the frame opening is small. The cylinder measures 1.610" with my caliper. Using the same caliper, the frame opening from the forcing cone to the firing pin hole is 1.668". That means there is only 0.058" of clearance. It does not matter what the crane, or ratchet is doing; the opening is not big enough to allow the minimum 0.003" barrel gap and 0.060" headspace. If everything is spaced perfect, you need at a minimum 0.063" so the frame opening is about 0.005" short of that.

I am going to mull over a theory I came up with a bit ago to be able to remedy this problem and I'll expand on it tomorrow, got things here at the house I have to do tonight.
 

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