Security six snub value question

[debgram]

I have a stainless security six snub nose .357 mag, that I was looking to see but my hubby doesn't want me to be without any protection, so I guess what I can do is find out what the value is and trade it for something lighter in weight.

This gun is too much for me now, it was hardly used and hasn't been used in at least 15 years. It's for protection and haven't had any need to use it. Even when I bought it used you could tell that it wasn't shot that much then cause the barrel was nice and smooth.

I'm from Lima, OH.

 

[hittman]

Hello Debbie and welcome to the Forum.

Values vary a good deal depending on location (geographic area), condition and if other goodies are involved like the box, owners manual, etc. You've provided an excellent picture so that much is out of the way.

A good reference would be to search "completed auctions" on a site like GunBroker.com. I say "completed auctions" 'cause there are always those on auction sites who price their good far, far over a common going rate.

 

[debgram]

I'm finding that out about values according to regions. I had a guy in Texas say my gun goes for $450 there. I didn't buy it new so there was no box or manual.

I was looking on that site and will look further, right now I'm watching my Pittsburgh Steelers, lol, and I didn't see my gun yet.

 

[rugerjunkie]

I see them going for at least $400 on a regular basis and upwards of $450 with no box etc. With the concealed carry being more popular they are a little more desirable now. So anywhere from $400 on the lower end and $450 at the upper end in my opinion.

 

[anachronism]

The last one I saw in our area sold for $350.00. It was very clean, but had no box or papers.

 

[rugerjunkie]

The last one I saw in our area sold for $350.00. It was very clean, but had no box or papers.

It doesnt do much good to post that when you dont say what area you are talking about or list your state by your forum name.

Just sayin....

I'll add this for debgram...if I could find these for sale at $350 regularly I'd buy every one I came across for that kind of money.

 

[debgram]

I see them going for at least $400 on a regular basis and upwards of $450 with no box etc. With the concealed carry being more popular they are a little more desirable now. So anywhere from $400 on the lower end and $450 at the upper end in my opinion.

Wow that's cool, I guess guns don't really lose their value if their in good shape? I could see it go for $400-450 in the west-midwest areas, especially those Texans who love their guns....lol.

I have been told not to sell it just practice with it more but that's where Ii run into a snag. Since I moved to OH, I don't know where to go. There is a shop down the street ran by cops, I guess on their days off cause it's not open all the time, I will go there and ask them where I can go.

 

[jeffnles1]

Debbie,
I'm not an "appraiser" by any stretch. I'd say the going price if you were to sell it to another individual would be in the $400 range, maybe as high as $450 depending on how badly the person wanted it.

If you were to offer it as a trade in at a gun shop, you're probably looking at about half that value. The shop has to re-sell it for a profit so somewhere in the $250 range more or less.

It's a very good gun. I had the "speed six" variation of the same revolver and wish I had never sold it. It was one of the best revolvers I've ever owned. It shot 38spl as well as it shot 357 mag. It was 100% reliable, accurate, durable, and comfortable to carry.

Best wishes with what ever you decide to do with it.

Jeff

 

[hittman]

People do regret selling these. The collectors haven't started driving up their price .... yet ..... but I suspect they will soon. These have been out of production now for ..... what? .... 30 years? 25?

 

[debgram]

well I bought mine in 1982-83 and it was barely used.

 

[Ruger Nut]

They sell for about $50.00. I'll take it and even pay shipping! :lol:

Seriously,i've seen them anywhere from $400 and up here in my area. (Tampa,FL)

 

[debgram]

I'm really surprised at the value they are running at. I guess guns don't lose their value too much if it's in good shape.

 

[Ruger Nut]

I'm really surprised at the value they are running at. I guess guns don't lose their value too much if it's in good shape.

It all depends on how much someone wants it bad enough too.

 

[tookalisten]

I paid $350 for a 4" version a few months ago and I was thrilled! I would think you could easily get $400 for it.

 

[debgram]

That's what I'm mostly hearing for the price. I know it's a great gun and it was for me in my younger days when I hunted, even though I never used it for hunting but that's when I would practice with it a few times.

I'm looking into a Ruger LCP and was wondering if that would better fit me. I'm looking for something to stop an intruder not kill them.

Now it's been a long time since I even talked guns but what I'm assuming fixed sights is like point and shoot? Mine you have to set the sights.

 

[Hugh]

That's what I'm mostly hearing for the price. I know it's a great gun and it was for me in my younger days when I hunted, even though I never used it for hunting but that's when I would practice with it a few times.

I'm looking into a Ruger LCP and was wondering if that would better fit me. I'm looking for something to stop an intruder not kill them.

Now it's been a long time since I even talked guns but what I'm assuming fixed sights is like point and shoot? Mine you have to set the sights.

Welcome to the Ruger Forum.

A hand gun is made for one purpose only.

 

[Cordite]

Even the smallest caliber firearm can kill if the bullet hits a critical body area. If you decide to use a firearm to defend yourself you need to be prepared to shoot to kill. If that is something that you cannot do then I would suggest that you check out some less than lethal options like pepper spray, taser, stun gun, etc. These options, when used by police, are always backed up with a firearm so I would say to keep your revolver until you determine what you are comfortable with in the self defense area.

 

[debgram]

Oh if it came down to my life or the bad guy I would shoot to kill. I used to hunt so killing isn't a problem, but if it can be avoided that's good too.

 

[blume357]

You've gotten advice on the price of the gun, now I'm going to step over the line and give you some advice on guns and the potential for using them.

If you are afraid of killing an intruder then you really don't need a gun for defense and don't understand the term 'deadly force'.

Never ever should you even consider wounding a person... the only reason to ever even point a gun at another human being to out right kill them... if they survive you shooting them, that is their good luck.

I'm sorry if I'm coming off too hard, but this is something you need to understand fully. Go and take a handgun 'safety' course and a concealed carry course if possible.

 

[Hawk-in-Wi]

You've gotten advice on the price of the gun, now I'm going to step over the line and give you some advice on guns and the potential for using them.

If you are afraid of killing an intruder then you really don't need a gun for defense and don't understand the term 'deadly force'.

Never ever should you even consider wounding a person... the only reason to ever even point a gun at another human being to out right kill them... if they survive you shooting them, that is their good luck.

I'm sorry if I'm coming off too hard, but this is something you need to understand fully. Go and take a handgun 'safety' course and a concealed carry course if possible.

this is getting a little off topic but i have to disagree with blume37 wording , you are NOT shooting to kill , you are shooting to STOP THE THREAT TO YOURSELF OR OTHERS , if the bad guy dies to darn bad but

i 've always been taught that you never say you where shooting to kill , your only goal is to stop the bad guy from harming you , thats one reason why you stop shooting them when they go down or run away and you don't shoot at fleeing bad guys

i know its not a big difference but in a court of law it could become a huge diffenence

going back to the subject at hand i would say a nice S&W J frame might just be what you are looking for

 

[debgram]

Isn't the laws different in different states? I know here, once the intruder is off your property you are not allowed to take action upon them. As long as their on your property you have the right to defend youself and your home.

 

[NewportNewsMike]

debgram - In most states (not sure about all of them), it has nothing to do with being on or off of your property. It has to do with the THREAT ITSELF.

Once the THREAT is over (for example, the "bad guy" turns and starts to run away from you, the THREAT is past. You cannot chase after him, firing as you go. If you do this, at the point he turned and ran, YOU became the aggressor, and him the victim.

If you have not done so recently, I would recommend that you take some courses on the moral and legal aspect of carrying a firearm or having one in your home for self-protection.

Take care.

 

[blume357]

You are right debgram, laws and how they are interpreted are different in different states... especially property rights and the right to defend oneself. the extreme example is California, as I understand it, where if you are in fear of your life inside your home your first responsibility is to try and run away... escape.

we don't need to go into how stupid this is or how it goes against hundreds of years of 'castle law'....

I think you should keep the revolver.... try it with 158 grain 38 specials or even standard 38 wad cutters.... they are much easier to shoot in a handgun like yours than magnum loads.

 

[mohavesam]

If the gun sold today for $389 or less, it would have sold for effectively NO VALUE GAIN. In other words, the actual cash value would no have changed since it's original retail (@ 185 in 1986).

If it were mine, I'd not take less than $450 for it if in true 95%+ condition. If the box and papers accompany t, I'd not be ashamed to require $500.

Agree with previous posts that weight is a bonus if it's not carried everyday. If the OP is looking for a daily carry gun there are myriad choices.

Unfortunately I get impression that weekly/monthly practice is not happening ; so I'd say keep it for home defense, buy a 20 gauge pump, and practice with both. Get some class time, and an attorney versed in firearms defense laws.

 

[debgram]

You know guys, I did find out some info. I went to the shop around the corner it's ran by some cops, well I took my gun there and told them I had a guy who would pay around $400-450 for it. I asked them what gun would be a better match for my hand size and we looked at a ruger lcp 9mm, it fits nice, the grip is narrow enough for my hand. They told me to go to this firing range, they have the gun there, and see how I like it. If it works well for me they will trade that gun for my gun plus knock off $25 more to have the crimson sight put on it. I'll wind up paying about $175.00 for the crimson, which would have been $200.

I think they made a fair deal. I'm sure that 9mm is close to $445 at least.

I also asked the guy (the cop) about intruders in the home, and he said he's not supposed to say anything because there's kind of a grey line on what's right and wrong. He said if someone breaks in my house and looks like he's going to harm me, even if he's using a pen to stab me, I'm to shoot to kill, not to wound, because they can come back and sue you in some strange way. Like he told me if a guy breaks your window and as he's climbing in he cuts himself, he then decides not to rob you but to sue you for him getting hurt on your property, isn't that a crock?

And for those of you who think I shouldn't have a gun, I will be taking concealed classes so I will know better what to do. Also he mentioned having an lawyer on retainer in case I shot and killed someone, so that when I call him he has to drop what he's doing and take care of me first.

 

[blume357]

personally I think needing a lawyer on retainer is a bunch of B.S... those cops need one a whole lot more than you... so, go ask them who their lawyer is... oh, they have one paid by the state or their union.

I think you are on the right track and actually their deal is not that bad for a gun shop.... they probably want your security six for personal use... but that is cool.

You can hear a lot of things about using force on someone in your home.... I personally think most of it is B.S.

If you find a stranger in your home, I'm pretty sure most states will allow you to use deadly force... they are trespassing and you don't know them... you have every expectation to fear them. Your CC class should cover the basics of when deadly force can be used in Ohio... believe it or not most of these classes are better than any advise from a cop, lawyer or judge.

to step a little further up on the mall ninja stump... you know cops have a saying amongst themselves....

Dead men make terrible witnesses in court.

 

[jeffnles1]

Debbie,
Check out the Castle Doctrine law for Ohio:
http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/5753

In states which have adopted this type of law, the line is a bit more clear.

I agree with others, you're not necessarily trying to shoot to kill, you are shooting to stop. Most of us, even though we would like to think otherwise, are not good enough shots or skilled enough in high stress situations to try and shoot someone in the leg or arm.

Your best bet is to aim center mass of the torso. It is your biggest target area. A well placed shot from most self defence rounds (9MM HP, 38+p, 357, 45, etc.) is going to stop or severely slow down an attacker. Everything I have learned in various training classes is if you have to shoot, shoot until the thread is stopped. It's not so much about trying to kill the intruder or trying not to kill the intruder. It is about stopping the threat to you or your family. If the intruder happens to expire before help arrives, it was not his lucky day.

On a practical basis, I would have difficulty shooting someone over "stuff". There is no stuff in my house worth killing someone over. On the other hand, I could use deadly force to stop a threat to myself or my family.

I pray I will never be faced with that situation. I've never shot anyone and pray that I live the rest of the days God has allotted for me in this life being able to say the same thing. Even though I own firearms (several Rugers by the way), I have no desire in this life or any other to use one against another human being.

Sounds like you didn't get hurt on the trade. The guy at the shop got something he wanted, you got something you wanted. You are both happy with the deal, that is the markings of a fair trade.

If you haven't shot a lot, remember, practice, practice, practice. Get to know your firearm like an old friend. Learn how it functions, how to clear the weapon if it malfunctions, how to field strip it, clean it and put it back together.

ALWAYS AND I MEAN ALWAYS check the magazine and clear the chamber before you decide to dry fire or field strip the firearm. Make absolutely sure (double check if necessary) it is unloaded before any operations with the gun.

This may be old news, but I do not know how much experience around firearms you may have. If you have a lot of experience, then this was not meant for you but someone else who may read the thread.

Jeff

 

[debgram]

That's what the concealed classes with teach, about what to do if your gun jams, learn to shoot at moving targets and as your moving, etc.

Oh the cop also said that if you shoot someone and they died just keep shooting at the walls or something, just to unload the gun and it makes it look like you were in a panic and was trully scared, makes a better case for you.

I thought wounding someone would be okay but he said a suvivor can sue you and make himself look like the victim, then your screwed.

 

[Kanook]

Cops are the reason we need lawyers.

The last person I will take or ask legal advice from is a cop.

Next time you are driving past a doughnut shop, go in ask a different cop the same question about lethal force and you will get a different answer.

If a cop gives out bad legal advice to some stranger, so what. They are not the one standing infront of judge and jury trying to explain "I swear the police said it was legal".

Please don't get me wrong, We need cops, just not as lawyers.

And to keep with the question, I.ve been carrying the same model security six for 21 years. The biggest advantage of a revolver is, usually less to go wrong when you need it the most.

 

[mohavesam]

I predict debgram becoming very proficient with her handguns from this point fwd. I see lots of rangetime and shooting pals in her future.

And better sleep, with confidence in he ability to react and protect with deadly force.

I reserve advice on the laser however, especially anywhere near retail cost! I have been in a courtroom and just wouldn't want to explain a laser sight defense to a jury - even in Ohio. Put the laser money into dog food and ammo.