Speed Six dilemma

Gather App
Guns.com Vault
mill428

mill428

Bearcat
Joined
Jan 25, 2013
Messages
50
City & State/Province
Moundridge, Kansas
I'll start by saying I've been a member here for 15+ years and rarely post. I just glean wisdom and research guns I am interested in. Lots of knowledge in these posts. That's why I am finally posting after a 10 year hiatus. I'd like some wisdom on what to do with a gun I bought some time ago.

About a year before COVID I met a guy in my LGS and we started talking about Rugers. I find out he has collected Rugers for years and was getting ready to retire and wanted to liquidate most of his collection. I make arrangements to go see what he has. My son and I made the trip to his house and are amazed at what he's amassed over the years. Super nice guy and super reasonable on his prices. My son made an excellent deal on a beautiful and rare Ruger No. 1 in .357 Magnum. Something I was going to buy if he didn't. I ended up buying several revolvers I had wanted over the years. And I was on a revolver kick at that time. (Still am) I bought two liberty sixes, a pristine 4 inch .38 Spec Service Six, and a 6" 357 Security Six. Both blued. And two Speed Sixes. A '77 2.75 Stainless 357 and finally something I had heard a lot about but never seen - a LNIB blued 2.75in Speed Six in 9mm.

My dilemma has to do with this last revolver. I don't really know what to do with it. I generally consider myself a shooter 1st and a collector 2nd. The gun is beautiful and it appears to have been fired very little. I'll admit, it came with a half dozen half moon clips and I wanted to see how they worked in this Ruger. They work well. I bought a few full clips too from TK's just to have around. But I hesitate to use it or carry it because somewhat rare and the prices have gotten kind of silly. If it was all beat up, I wouldn't think twice about it. Maybe I'm over thinking this.

If it was yours what would you do? Put it back in the safe? (Where it's been most its life) Sell it and invest in something else? Or shoot it a bunch and not look back? I am genuinely curious to hear your thoughts on it.

Oh, and a picture to prove it exists...

IMG_2571.jpeg


Thanks,
Craig.
 
I have one like it, only in 357mag and it sits in the safe , I don't think it's ever been shot nothing wrong with keeping it a safe Queen and or shooting it but IF you sell it, then all you have is the money , do you need the money ? or do you enjoy knowing you have it and can use it any time you decide thats what you want to do
 
You won't hurt it by shooting it, so have at it. It's already got a little turn line so with shooting it might get a little worse, but so what? If you don't shoot it you're just saving it for the next guy.

If it were truly NIB I might think differently. Um, no I wouldn't LOL

Shoot it!
 
I FEEL YOUR PAIN
I have a few older but in great shape revolvers that I keep in my safe, for the very reason you mentioned.
The value of them is high.
I have quite a few that I do shoot that are very nice.
ITS NICE TO HAVE A FIRST WORLD PROBLEM

What would I do🤔
 
My stainless 9mm had been shot a little so, I shot it too.
Bought it from the man who got it ( NEW ) at the PASA Park in Barry IL on a $5 raffle!
I think they’re an oddity not easy to find so plan on keeping it.
None of anybody’s business if I shoot it ever again LOL

There’s a market for it right here on this forum should you decide to turn it loose!
 
Well, you will get good thoughts from both sides of the fence here.

In general,, the DA Rugers are not collected by as many people as the SA handguns are. BUT,, finding pristine condition guns,, with the box & papers is also not as common.
Then there is the specific model. Was it produced in large quantities,, vs a limited number of them. (I'm not an expert on the DA collect-ability as a few others here are.)

PERSONALLY,, if it were mine,, I'd not shoot it. I have other guns I can shoot and/or carry if need be. But if you needed a good carry or shooter like that,, then by all means use it.

And as noted,, selling it,, you will have money. And the question becomes; "Which one would you rather have?" If money is needed,, then sell it.OR,, if you sell it,, use the money to buy something you desire MORE than keeping that one.

But beware,, a little mental disease called; "Seller Remorse" can nag at you if you enjoy having it,, then letting it go. I found a cure for that disease. I don't sell anything I like!
 
Okay, I am pleasantly surprised at the responses so far! I guess I asked the question because I was feeling a little guilty for just wanting to use it for what it is. I really don't know how many 9mm SS's were actually made by Ruger. But I know it was less than other calibers. This one dates to a 1983 manufacture. There are a number of other brand forums I frequent that get a little incensed when you mention wanting to use and shoot a "semi-rare" firearm so I was prepared for the majority of those kind of opinions. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

I bought it originally because I'm a sucker for Six series revolvers. And I didn't have enough of them... :) To that point I had never seen a 9mm Speed Six. I knew they existed and that it was something special. So I didn't want to miss the chance at least owning one of them. I'm glad I bought it. It's funny because I am not a big 9mm fan. I have a Glock 19 and a 26 and an HK P30. I also have a Ruger PCC that's my go to for armadillos and other critters on my property. But my primary carry guns out where I live are 357's and 38's. I carry 45's too when the mood strikes. My snub 357 Speed Six is a regular companion. It went with me on a recent trip to the Tetons and I didn't feel under-gunned with 180gn LFN ammo.

All that being said, as questions were raised by a few above, I thankfully don't need the money at this point if I were to sell it. At the same time, I don't "need" it as a regular CCW. I have more than enough to get me by in that regard. The fact that it does have a turn line on it, along with the input has me thinking I need to move it from a safe queen to periodic use status. It's not like I will ever shoot it enough to wear it out. And as @contender said "sellers remorse" can nag at you if you enjoy having it."

Based on what I am hearing I swapped grips and filled some moon clips in case I find something to shoot. That will definitely add to the enjoyment of having it.

IMG_2572.jpeg
 
Those stag grips and gold adapter look great with that blue finish. Beautiful Speed Six! I've got a pristine blued Model 19 2.5" 357 I won't carry but take to the indoor range occasionally. I've got stainless snubs to carry.
 
Nice gun and yours to do with as YOU want, yes had one in the early days, also stainless, BUT Never got in to 9mm caliber, carried it when we had the shop,,,sold it never have looked back, then went to the Detonics small carry 45 acp, then Colt came out with the Officer Model 45 acp, again just plain prefer a smaller "carry" gun, hell I had my 4 inch 357 mag duty gun , a model 19 S&W and I actually wore it out after almost 10,000 rounds and yes Smith rebuilt it for me, gratis.......retired that one and bought the Dan Wesson 357 6in 15-2VH6 and it outshoots me and any others that have shot it, and today 50 years later we carry a 2 in LCRx, and it does what WE want it to do and quite easily too....as I said we do not "look back" or feel any sellers "remorse" as we are only the temporary caretakers of any of this equipment, besides the boys don't care, one carries a Glock and the other had an aircraft carrier when he was in the Navy, but played softball on the Marine Corps softball team in Dubai Back in 91-92......so Happy Birthday to all you Marines today!!! Nov 10th ,250 years!!:cool::rolleyes:;)
 
mill428 said:
I'll start by saying I've been a member here for 15+ years and rarely post. I just glean wisdom and research guns I am interested in. Lots of knowledge in these posts. That's why I am finally posting after a 10 year hiatus. I'd like some wisdom on what to do with a gun I bought some time ago.

About a year before COVID I met a guy in my LGS and we started talking about Rugers. I find out he has collected Rugers for years and was getting ready to retire and wanted to liquidate most of his collection. I make arrangements to go see what he has.
Click to expand...
Personally, I would shoot it. I have never owned a gun, no matter how valuable it is that I have never shot. Why leave it for someone else to shoot. I am just not a collector. I am careful with my guns and do not abuse them. Would you want a gun George Washington owned but never shot, or one he handled personally and shot?
 
mill428 said:
Agreed! I ordered that brass one along with a silver and black about six years ago. Took 6 months to get them but I’ve always regretted not getting another brass one when I had the chance.
Click to expand...
As far as I know you can still order Tyler T-Grips. He is slow as a snail and doesn't communicate well but he has always sent what is ordered. You will say bad words and forget that you sent for it and someday it will show up in your mailbox.
 
I collect Six-series revolvers. I have many in many flavors.
That said, most of mine I will never shoot. Not because I'm absolutely against it, but because I don't need to. I've got plenty of other shooter-grade revolvers that do get shot. The nice ones are kept for the museum.

Further, your revolver, although very nice, is still a shooter. If you want to shoot it, you can do so and still keep it nice.
 
It's been shot so I don't see it getting ruined shooting it more. However it would not carry it and if it were mine, I'd either collect it by not shooting it or sell it.
 
Watertender said:
As far as I know you can still order Tyler T-Grips. He is slow as a snail and doesn't communicate well but he has always sent what is ordered. You will say bad words and forget that you sent for it and someday it will show up in your mailbox.
Click to expand...
I have ordered from them a couple times over the years and patiently waited a long time to get them delivered. One order was six months and the other was closer to nine. Last I heard though, deliveries have slowed and by some reports stopped. I'm not sure how valid that is, but I probably won't be placing another order unless something changes dramatically. I'm thankful though to have gotten the ones I have. I prefer them over target grips.
 
WAYNO said:
I collect Six-series revolvers. I have many in many flavors.
That said, most of mine I will never shoot. Not because I'm absolutely against it, but because I don't need to. I've got plenty of other shooter-grade revolvers that do get shot. The nice ones are kept for the museum.

Further, your revolver, although very nice, is still a shooter. If you want to shoot it, you can do so and still keep it nice.
Click to expand...
There is just something about the Six-series revolvers... I have far more S&W revolvers than I do Rugers. Although I started with Rugers. I love both. BUT, if I am going somewhere I absolutely need a dependable firearm, I pack one of my Security, Service or Speed Sixes. I have a GP100 MC, which is a great gun, I still tend to go with a Six series. In fact, I gave my daughter a stainless Security Six a few years ago for a HD gun. She shoots it very well. They have always been (at least for me) as dependable as a sledge hammer.

And you are absolutely right my 9mm has definitely been shot. It was before I got it, but very little. While I have a few "hard use" sidearms I consider working guns, most in my collection are very well cared for and kept nice. This one will always be in that later category as long as I have it.
 
neilin said:
Personally, I would shoot it. I have never owned a gun, no matter how valuable it is that I have never shot. Why leave it for someone else to shoot. I am just not a collector. I am careful with my guns and do not abuse them. Would you want a gun George Washington owned but never shot, or one he handled personally and shot?
Click to expand...
It's funny you say that. My most prized firearms are those that were used my Dad, my Grandpa and Great-Grandpa. They were tools for survival back then and they look like it! I also have a few service revolvers in very well used condition. I'd love to know the stories they could tell.
 
One thing I failed to mention,, is that yes,, the 9mm guns are harder to find & considered more desirable to many.
I recall many years ago winning a bet with a guy who claimed that there were no 9mm revolvers. He paid up when I showed him one.
 
contender said:
One thing I failed to mention,, is that yes,, the 9mm guns are harder to find & considered more desirable to many.
I recall many years ago winning a bet with a guy who claimed that there were no 9mm revolvers. He paid up when I showed him one.
Click to expand...
This is the first 9mm revolver I have had. Moon clips make it a little unhandy to shoot a lot. It takes a little work to get them loaded. But I guess it wasn’t made for a day at the range. You can load and shoot without the clips but it’s more of a challenge to eject the empty cartridge.
 
I used to ignore or basically dislike any revolvers that used or needed moon clips to shoot.

Until I really got into competition. Now,, that's the preferred way for serious speed reloading.
As for putting ammo onto the clips,, they make a few different tools to make it a lot easier than you'd think.
And de-mooning them is also easy with the tools.
 
I have a 640 pro too so I suppose I should get an install device. I made a “de-mooner” out of a copper pipe that works well. So far haven’t needed it that often. Maybe I should change that.
 
I have a S&W 646 in .40 S&W that uses moons that I used to use in competition. I now use a Ruger Super GP-100 in 9mm and it uses moons. I have mooning tools & steel de-mooning tools. They work great, and I don't have to chase individual brass all over.
Pick up a few moons full of empty brass & move along!
I have enough moon clips to shoot an entire match w/o having to de-moon & re-moon any ammo while there. I do it all prior to a match.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

stonebuster
DAO Speed Six
Replies
9
Views
369
sceva
sceva
LDB
My new to me Speed-Six
Replies
22
Views
698
stonebuster
stonebuster
stonebuster
Speed Six 2 3/4" vs 3" 357
Replies
12
Views
485
Mobuck
M
J
Security six help
Replies
15
Views
478
Nordicmac
N
dobegrant.45
1973 Speed Six .38 special
Replies
4
Views
347
hittman
hittman

Latest posts

Back
Top