Scalloped v/s non-scalloped Security Six

Onty · Oct 19, 2022

I am considering Security Six, 6", stainless. I do have now S&W 686-3, 6", nice revolver, but I don't like its weight; almost 45 oz, IMO too much for 357 Magnum revolver. That is about 10 oz more than Security Six.

I found that Security Six comes in two versions, with scalloped shield (left) and non-scalloped one (right)

I looked on internet and found in one post that top strap thickness on scalloped revolver is .250", and on non-scalloped one is .200". Is this correct? Also, is any other significant difference between Security Six with scalloped shield and non-scalloped one? Any other reason to chose one version over other?

Thanks

RoninPA · Oct 19, 2022

I just measured 4 of mine. The stainless non scalloped and the scalloped both measured right close to 0.250 +/- 0.005 just forward of the "protective" part of the rear sight. Then I measured 2 low back (150- serial numbers - the early models), one stainless and one blued and they both measured right close to 0.240 +/- 0.005, so no major differences throughout the years.

As for one or the other, the scalloped will be a bit newer but essentially they are the same (other than the scallop), no significant differences.

IMO, no reason to pick one over the other except for prices, although the one on the left does have the Ruger oversized (target) grips which many people prefer.

hittman · Oct 19, 2022

RoninPA nailed it. Well said.

Cholo · Oct 19, 2022

A minor difference is many, if not all, of the scalloped Security Sixes have white outlined rear/red insert front sights. The non scalloped have blued sights.

hittman · Oct 19, 2022

Good snag….I forgot about them adding the red insert in the front site.

Think also older triggers had grooves and later triggers were smooth.

hittman · Oct 19, 2022

And you know …… older hammers were blued on the sides and newer ones are brushed.
More changes that I thought at first …. Went and looked at mine.

Cholo · Oct 19, 2022

In the OP the scalloped gun clearly has the heavy barrel. Was the heavy barrel even offered on the 6" non scalloped guns?

If Onty is looking to cut weight he might want to consider only the tapered barrels. Might shave an ounce or so.

RoninPA · Oct 19, 2022

As you guys noted there are differences that have been done over the years (RR/WO sights, heavy barrel, stainless hammer/trigger, etc) but to me, those are changes but not necessarily significant changes. Going from the low back frame to the high back frame was a significant change. Once they went to the high back frame there were the changes as you noted (also like the trigger spring) that most people wouldn't ever notice. Ruger really didn't do anything major over the years to the hammer, cylinder, trigger assembly, barrel (yes tapered and heavy but how many average Six series buyers really even noticed that). The only other significant (?) change was to scallop the right side of the frame (for weight reduction or to use less metal (thus saving money, remember WBR was frugal

)

I think discussions like these are interesting, what do gun owners consider to be a significant change to a gun?

hittman · Oct 19, 2022

The only change I find significant is the switch from low back to high back grip.

Everything else is just tweaks or “improvements” like adding the red dot to the front site.

Onty · Oct 20, 2022

Thank you all for info! I didn't know that there is also difference in barrel configuration. IMO one oz more or less wouldn't make big difference, but going from 45 oz S&W 686 to 35 oz Security Six is a significant change. If I want to carry 45 oz of steel, I would rather take 44 Magnum SBH, 5.5".

Terry T · Oct 20, 2022

On the fixed sight Speed Six and Service Six, the top strap is thicker on the scalloped guns. No weight reduction.
Terry T.

weaselmeatgravy · Oct 20, 2022

Another minor change on the later (very late - later than the ones pictured) is that the extractor rod shroud was changed at the front to a longer gentler slope. I can only guess that was dome to make holstering a smoother operation to help reduce snags. That style can be seen in the blue gun posted here:
https://www.rugerforum.com/threads/lookie-what-i-picked-up-security-six.303023/#post-3030660
I remember when the scalloped recoil shield was introduced. It was touted as a change for holster designers as a positive indent for holsters that used spring retention rather than a strap & snap. But I seem to be about the only one who remembers that since every time I mention it, nobody believes it.

The scalloped recoil shield was also used on the Redhawk.

hittman · Oct 20, 2022

weaselmeatgravy said:
I remember when the scalloped recoil shield was introduced. It was touted as a change for holster designers as a positive indent for holsters that used spring retention rather than a strap & snap.

And I remember thinking “who cares” but of course I’m left handed so it just didn’t matter for my application.

sceva · Oct 20, 2022

In the :For what it's worth" department
My non-Scalloped Stainless Speed Six is .200 / .205 in the middle to front and .225 / .230 toward the rear of the frame opening.

Cholo · Oct 20, 2022

RoninPA said:
...barrel (yes tapered and heavy but how many average Six series buyers really even noticed that).

I guess I didn't fit the average LOL I bought my 4" Heavy Barrel Security Six in April '79 and it had taken me awhile to find that one. I did not want the tapered barrel. Skeeter liked them, too

I'm agreeing that the average buyer didn't even care. I doubt they even knew there was a HB option.

hittman · Oct 20, 2022

Cholo said:
I'm agreeing that the average buyer didn't even care. I doubt they even knew there was a HB option.

^ THIS! ^

I’m not sure I knew about HB until I joined this forum.

weaselmeatgravy · Oct 20, 2022

Cholo said:
I guess I didn't fit the average LOL I bought my 4" Heavy Barrel Security Six in April '79 and it had taken me awhile to find that one.

I read about the 4" HB in some mag my dad subscribed to, probably Shooting Times, so I looked for one. That was also 1979, it was a stainless model, the first Security Six I ever bought. But I sold it along with my blue Speed Six of similar vintage after inheriting my dad's guns.

One of the first things I ever did with my 4" SS gun back in the day was drop it in a river. I was wearing my dad's old CAP flight jacket that had inside pockets, and I had the gun in one of those pockets. I bent down to release a fish I had caught and it fell right out into the water. I remember seeing it on the rocky bottom under about 6" of ice cold water and thinking, "Oh, s**t...".

jimbo1096 · Oct 20, 2022

Bought mine in 1980 for a duty sidearm and didn't know it was a 4" HB until someone here pointed it out once when I posted a photo.
I really liked the guns profile and handling characteristics.
For a carry weapon I would suggest the shorter barrel.

BTW- WMG has a 6" on gunbroker right now, if you want a good reference.

Uncle Howie · Oct 20, 2022

jimbo1096 said:
Bought mine in 1980 for a duty sidearm and didn't know it was a 4" HB until someone here pointed it out once when I posted a photo.
I really liked the guns profile and handling characteristics.
For a carry weapon I would suggest the shorter barrel.

BTW- WMG has a 6" on gunbroker right now, if you want a good reference.

If you want a REALLY good reference, buy WMG’s revolver, and add it to your collection!

weaselmeatgravy · Oct 20, 2022

Thanks for the unsolicited plugs!

But the one I have on GB is a boxed Liberty model, so I would expect it to go for a little more than the average shooter.

RoninPA · Oct 20, 2022

sceva said:
In the :For what it's worth" department
My non-Scalloped Stainless Speed Six is .200 / .205 in the middle and .225 / .230 toward the rear of the frame opening.

That is very possible because the Speed Six frames are slightly different from the Security Six frames. Several of us have found that the measurements of a Sped Six and a Police Service Six, in the grip area are different by a measureable amount. When I read you post, I measured the top straps of scalloped and non scalloped, blued and stainless and found some measurements to match yours but found the majority were even from front to back. One oddball was .200/.200/.200 (this was a 150- s/n low back fixed sight Security Six). The others (blued and stainless, PSS and SS) were all in the .240/.240/.240 area.

I would theorize that the differences that show up were probably caused by the casting and machining of the frames.

sceva · Oct 22, 2022

Makes sense;' The polishing step on stainless can give a lot of variation.

Scalloped v/s non-scalloped Security Six

Blackhawk

Hawkeye

Moderator

Moderator

Moderator

Moderator

Moderator

Hawkeye

Moderator

Blackhawk

Buckeye

Moderator

Moderator

Buckeye

Moderator

Moderator

Moderator

44spl

Buckeye

Moderator

Hawkeye

Buckeye

Similar threads