O/S grips for my New Model Single Six?

[Mike Armstrong]

I got a NM Single Six .32 several months ago and love it with all the .32s it will chamber. It's especially accurate with Fiocci .32 S&W Long wadcutters and my equivalent handload, but Black Hills 90 gr SWCs come in a close second.

I have one problem with it tho, and it isn't Ruger's problem. My 80-year old right thumb has serious arthritis which causes me serious pain cocking conventionally stocked small-frame SAs (same problem with my Colt "New Frontier" .22 WRM). I don't have nearly as much pain with Bisleys, Colt or Ruger, but don't want to alter my "new" 1985 Single Six--it's flat cherry!

So I'm going to try a longer, fuller stock to see if that makes it a little easier to cock. Anybody have any suggestions as to a source for one? I'd prefer one that is smooth walnut or some other hardwood. Did Ruger ever make an OS stock for RED-grip single actions? Anybody have suggestions? Texas Grips O/S stocks? Did Herrett's ever make any? I understand that they are sort of out of business but starting to come back--anyone have any info?

(BTW not interested in rubber, plastic, or laminates).

Any info, opinions gratefully accepted.

Mike Armstrong

 

[woodperson]

I know Herret's made grips for the RED frame and that they come up on eBay every once in a while. I bought a set of Texas oversize grips for my Blackhawk last summer and they make them to most Ruger frames. And will custom fit for a extra fit. Look at the Texas grip website and figure it out. I have not heard of Herretts coming back. I have several sets of their grips for XR3 RED frame. I am 80. I too am lacking cocking strength. I pretty much cock with the off hand now. I liked doing business with Texas grips and liked the grips I got. I will do business with them again in the near future. Texas grips lists XR3, XR3 RED, and XR3 Short in their sizes so they should have something to fit yours.

 

[woodsy]

My hands are larger than most, so when I first shot my Single-Ten (almost identical to yours, size-wise) I concluded that I needed larger grips. I also looked around and found nothing. So, I made my own walnut grips. They extend 1/2" lower than the grip frame. Did not attempt to do any checkering so they are fairly plain-looking. I would post a pic, but this forum requires the use of a third-party online pic server, which I refuse to use.

 

[Hondo44]

I have 3 .32 Single Six Magnums like yours and several .22 Single Sixes. I have the same issue with cocking on all of them. I discovered those small frames use the same size hammer spring as the larger Blackhawks! But with the small frame shorter hammer, there's much less leverage to cock them. So on all of them I've clipped 4 coils off of the hammer spring. It made a heck of an improvement.

Ruger will send you parts that cost under $20 for free. So you can call them for an extra spring and keep your original. Call Ruger - (336) 949-5200 if you think that will help you.

 

[contender]

Here's another suggestion.
Most folks use (2) hands to shoot with.
SASS shooters, & many others use their "off" hand (left hand) thumb to cock the hammer on a SA. It keeps you from shifting your grip, AND is easier to do.

And if you need a set of oversized grips,, I have a set. I'd have to check to see which frame they fit.

 

[JStacy]

If you could find a Bisely hammer for you SSM it would be less of a reach and i know they made them because I had a Bisely SSM 32

 

[Mike Armstrong]

Thanks, guys! Good info. I bought a set of new mainsprings (some call them hammer springs, I know) and will install the lightest one to see if it makes cocking any easier and will still ignite 100% of my .32 Longs and H&R Magnums.

I also shoot two-handed and will try the left-hand cocking. But my left hand has always been a lot dumber than my right and it may not be smart enough to adapt.... It'll be fun tryin'!

I may try to find a Bisley hammer if none of this works, but they are scarce and pricey right now. (There may be a BUNCH of old goats with the same problem!).

 

[contender]

You may be surprised at how easy it is to adapt to left thumb cocking the hammer. I was long ago.

 

[Rocdoc]

Ruger will sell you a SS6 Bisley hammer, but you will have to adapt it to fit the XR3-Red grip frame. Not hard, seen it done many times.

 

[Mike Armstrong]

Contender found me a set of Herretts walnut oversized grips and they fit my SS like a glove! The slightly higher grip they allow my right hand helps me to cock one-handed much easier and the lighter mainspring helps too.

For really steady hold, I'm gonna learn off-hand cocking with my left thumb. So far I can certainly do it, but it's a little slow. On the other hand, steady and slow go together, don't they?

Thanks to Contender for the great grips at an "old school" price and to the rest of you for your ideas and info!

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Here's another suggestion.
Most folks use (2) hands to shoot with.
SASS shooters, & many others use their "off" hand (left hand) thumb to cock the hammer on a SA. It keeps you from shifting your grip, AND is easier to do.

And if you need a set of oversized grips,, I have a set. I'd have to check to see which frame they fit.

Bingo we have a winner.
All of the SASS Guys that I know cock with off hand thumb. That way it allows you to maintain your grip with both hands in place, is much easier, and is a lot faster. Before I started SASS I also cocked with strong hand. Was doing it wrong for 40 years.
Cutting coils off the main spring is really not the why a spring is made to work. That is why they make different weight springs.
I also shoot one handed with short framed 32 Single-Six Vaqueros and the worst balanced revolver Ruger ever made the Old Army. I know what you mean about arthritis in your thumb.

The Old Armys now have shorter barrels, loading levers, gunfighter grips, and Super Blackhawk hammers which helps.

 

[nfisdlkr]

I purchased a set of Texas Grips oversize for my new single six convertible but the screw to connect the grip panels in not long enough. Anyone know the (dimensions)specs on these screws so I can find a longer one? Screw is 1 inch, need 1.125 or 1.25

 

[RoninPA]

Take the screw to your local hardware shop and they can tell you the thread diameter and pitch.

 

[nfisdlkr]

Ace Hardware could not match screw to any of there sizes. Tombstone Grips has 2-56 3-48 and 4-40 in the length needed but I cannot measure the supplied screw.

 

[nfisdlkr]

Screw diameter is 1/8 inch

 

[hittman]

Here I go to Lowe's or Fastenal.
Fastenal won't sell you only 1 but they're very generous with their time in telling you the size.

 

[nfisdlkr]

thanks

 

[contender]

An older thread,, but to answer the grip screw question. I highly recommend you find a "country" hardware store. Big franchise businesses often do not stock the odd stuff. Or, you can go to a specialty "Nut & Bolt" store.

You already know the diameter,, and you can find the thread pitch by matching it to other screws in a parts drawer by laying it in the threads of an existing screw. If the threads align all the way down, you will get the pitch.

 

[arfmel]

Have you tried to contact Texas Grips and ask them what diameter and thread pitch screws they use? Maybe they'd also be able to provide a screw sufficiently long to work with the grips they sold you.

 

[nfisdlkr]

Got them installed. Had to really squeeze the panels together and then the threads connected. thanks!