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Service Six questions- grips, sight(s) help requested

5K views 18 replies 11 participants last post by  bwinters 
#1 ·
I picked up a 1982 Security Six Stainless 357 in very good to excellent condition. The only issues I have are the insane double action trigger and the front sight (looks like a piece of the front ramp is chipped off and the bluing is gone, so I painted it white then added Testor's Orange paint and blackened the rear notch). I consider the front sight a temporary fix.

Short version- I want to replace the front site, possibly add a rear ala the Security Six and I would like to install new grips.

I've replaced the springs with Wolff 14lb hammer and trigger return kit, which did improve the trigger. This was done after at least 1000 rounds of dry fire and 500 odd rounds of 38 and 100 357 (yes, I keep a gun book).

First questions: The serial number starts with 158 and it has the square butt- i hate the factory grips, would like to install a Hogue Rubber monogrips or a Pachmyer model 3175 but those parts supposedly fit the Security Six with no mention of a Service Six. Will grips for Security Six models 151 & higher fit a Service Six 151 or higher s/n?

Second questions are sight(s). I'd like to replace the front, and if possible install a rear site like the one on a Security six. Is either possible? I've hear of Williams Fire sights but cannot seem to find them for the Service Six and the XS Dot ftont/rears but not sure they fit the Service six. Numrich no longer carries the stock front. Anywhere I can find a front sight (tritium or fiber preferably but a ramped sight that is unmanaged would help greatly).

I'm in the process of repolishing the parts using the SP101 guide currently. I lightly polished a couple of parts when installing the new springs AFTER firing 600 rounds through it and the guts are pretty rough. No rust, just a lot of tool marks.

Am I wasting time here and should just try to sell/trade for a 3 or 4" SP101? I like the 4" barrel, I do NOT like the GP100 3" I had previously as it was too heavy/bulky. This would be a carry gun on occasion and a home defense gun for my wife as well as a steel plinking gun. TBH if it were in the same condition but a Security Six I don't think I'd be whining about the sights or trigger (the SA is great- DA is heavy and long- I've been told the Six series guns are basically SA guns with a DA option and I find myself shooting in single action most of the time live firing and DA when dry firing).

Sorry for the long post. I included a couple photos.

Thank you.
 

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#2 · (Edited)
OK, Square butt Service-Six frames and square butt Security-Six frames made after the early versions (150 prefix) are interchangeable. The grips are the same.

Rear Sight - the Service-Six has a notch milled into the frame that serves as the rear sight. There is no adjustable rear sight for that gun and frankly, there shouldn't be one. It is a fixed sighted revolver for a reason. Please don't go machining top straps to add something the gun doesn't need. If you really want adjustable sights, find a Security-Six.

There is a possibility that a small dove tail could be milled into the top strap and some type of Novak sight could be installed but that would weaken the top strap and require a taller front sight - again why cut up a good Service-Six?

As for the front sight, it is replaceable but it's not designed to be replaced often. It is pinned to the rib on the barrel and if it's damaged, it can be replaced.

As for the DA action of a Six series Ruger, there's nothing wrong with it and I strongly disagree that the Six's are SA guns with a DA function. In fact, I have several that are DA only and they are wonderful DA revolvers.
 
#4 · (Edited by Moderator)
Thank you for the help and advice.

I spent a good 90 minutes polishing up the trigger parts and hammer strut, hammer dog and sear, etc. using the sp101 guide and the DA is NOTICABLY improved. Until I can find a new front site I'm happy with it. The SA is exceptional and perhaps that is why I've heard the "SA gun that can be fired in DA" quote but obviously there's some mistruth to that.

I'll buy the pachmyer or hogue grips, look for a front site and have a gunsmith install it. I love that it's lightweight, can be concealed easier than other 4" revolvers and handles 357 loads. Also it is very accurate, especially in single action. If I'm not satisfied with it after those two mods I'll find a Security Six or something similar.

The feedback is very appreciated.
 
#5 ·
Frankly, a standard 4" GP100 sounds like it would suit your needs better. Adjustable rear sight and easily replaceable front sight. The grips are easier to come by and they often already have the Hogue grip. Also, easier to find replacement parts for. That Service Six is nice, but doesn't sound like a perfect fit. Just my 2 cents.

Good luck whichever way you go.
 
#8 ·
I have a GP 4 inch fixed site with the half shroud. It is a lot better than the full shroud, but not a CC gun IMO. When I was younger I CC a K Frame model 64 easily, it was the department issue sidearm at the time. The GP is more like trying to CC a Colt Python. I wish I could get my hands on a good service six for a fair price, but I had to settle on the GP. It is a shame Ruger no longer has a frame size of the security six series, but then Smith still does, but they are not cheap. At some point I will add a model 64 to the collection, and it will probably replace the GP for carry.

Smiths also have better grip options than the security sixes. I like the service grips the early sixes came with, and the K frame service revolvers came with, but they are not available for the GP.
 
#6 ·
It is hard to see in the pictures but if those are Ruger grips they are the Presentation grips. The Pachmyers are similar depending on which version you can find. I don't know but I have 2 Security-Sixes and a Speed Six and the DA on all of them is smooth as butter with no mods or polishing needed.
 
#7 ·
The grips in the photos appear to be the Presentation grips (Pachmayr Presentation) with the Ruger emblem. There are other Pachmayr grips available for the Service-Six.

Personally, I find the Pachmayr Gripper model to be an excellent all-around grip for the Service-Six but grips are a very personal thing. What works for one person may not work for another. If you need a slightly smaller grip, the Pachmayr Gripper Professional grip has an open back but that grip for the Service-Six is no longer in production. You can however occasionally find old ones that are still NIB.

Of course, Pachmayr isn't the only choice; there are dozens of options for the Service-Six, including the factory wooden grips and a Tyler "T" Grip adaptor.

If you don't want those Ruger Presentation grips, someone else will. I would suggest selling them if you don't want them.

The front sight blade may not be available from Gun Parts Inc but you could probably find one on ebay. If not, it's a simple part that any competent gunsmith could fabricate.


The Six series Ruger DA revolvers are great guns. They have been out of production since the late 1980's but they were some of the best DA 38/357 revolvers ever made, IMHO.
Enjoy that fine gun!
 
#10 · (Edited)
If you search the forum you should come across a string that user Maverick has on adapting an XS tritium sight to a Speed Six which has the same barrel configuration. He used, if I recall, a sight for a SP101 that he filed the tenon width down from 0.125" to 0.012" width to fit in the slot. It still left an open portion at the front of the barrel under the sight due to tenon configuration. I have a Speed Six that when I had some work done on it by Ten Ring Precision in Texas a new sight was fashioned from scratch in a McGivern Gold Bead configuration. I assume he could make other configurations. Another approach is that in years past Millett used to make sights for handguns and they made one for the Speed Six in blaze orange or white which would fit. They have been out of production for a while and are hard to find but may turn up if persistent on Gun Broker, Ebay or elsewhere.

I tried the Wolff spring kit in my Speed Six and did not notice much difference. Someone on the board once said the way to reduce the pull significantly was to use a 11 lb Wolff mainspring for a GP100. I have such in the Speed Six and it works. I think the trigger return spring could be reduced some in tension yet. I once had a Security Six with a double action pull in the 7.5 lb range so they definitely can be reduced down to what a good S&W can in pull weight.

If you want adjustable sights this will be costly. When Alpha Precision was in business I recall he wanted about $225 to put a S&W rear adjustable sight on the gun. One would need a custom front sight made due to fact the rear sight sits higher than the stock fixed rear. The Williams and XS sights will work only on the adjustable sighted Six Series (Security Six). I would guess you are looking at $300 to add adjustable sights to the gun and it would not be Williams or XS. Sounds like you would be better off selling the gun and acquiring a Security Six to replace it.
 
#11 ·
Thank you all for the helpful info and advice.

I like the gun and want to keep it. I had a GP100 before and it was too bulky and heavy for a 3" barrel gun and I couldn't hit with it as good as a 2.25" SP101 or j frame. The Service Six is k-frame size, light and very accurate.

I'll try to find a replacement sight and experiment with grips. I definitely prefer the Hogue as my GP100 had that, I like the idea of checkered wooden grips or the pachmyer as well.

I'm also going to try a GP100 mainspring. The DA is smooth and fast but heavy. SA is unreal and extremely accurate when I shoot it -it's like cheating.

And, as always, keep dry firing and shooting it.

Thank you again.
 
#12 ·
I have a 155 s/n Service Six that is identical to Petrol and Powder's. Mine originally came with the small wood grips which I first replaced with the Pachmayr Presentation grips and later with the Pachmayr Gripper (because it was on sale). Both Pachmayr grips were a huge improvement but between the Presentation and the Grippers, for me, not so much of a difference. Many years ago I installed a Trapper spring kit in (mine needed it badly as the double action pull was very heavy) which gives me a 3 lb SA and 8 lb DA pull that is very smooth. I had a blue Liberty Security Six that just rode the gun safe. When I wanted to carry or shoot a .357, I always chose the stainless Service Six. I eventually sold the Security-Six. If the fixed sights are properly aligned with the POI, adjustable sights are pretty worthless for a carry pistol.
 
#13 ·
Bill B has a good point about the Trapper Spring Kits. Unfortunately, the company has been out of the business for some time. I found them to have lighter springs than Wolff's for many guns. Also, the trigger return spring wasn't as heavy as Wolff. It may be possible if one is persistent to find a Trapper kit on Gun Broker, Ebay or somewhere else if one is patient.
 
#16 ·
Changing to a Wolff 12# mainspring for the GP100 made a very notable improvement in DA mode. It made for a much lighter pull than the 14# Wolff Series Six reduced power mainspring did over the stock one. No difference in smoothness but DA accuracy is better.
 
#18 · (Edited)
Mine is in the shop right now getting a Wolff 17 pound mainspring due to light strikes (second visit). It was quite smooth before, very likely not original when I bought it. It seems you just can't bubba these guns into the trigger pull of ones dreams. I shoot mostly single action, so no big loss.

Messing with springs in these guns just makes them high maintenance and often unreliable. I also had to put the original spring back in my second hand Redhawk...light strikes again.
 
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