The Ruger DA Six Series

[Petrol & Powder]

Beware of the man with one gun, he probably knows how to use it.

 

[JustJim]

Much of it is training to your horse.

...and this is why I run thousands of rounds through the guns I carry. I once needed to quickly load a Colt DA, and my S&W/DW training almost left me standing there with a speeder and an unloaded revolver.

 

[CZ93X62]

We had Colt, S&W, and Ruger 38 Special/357 Magnum revolvers approved for carry at my old shop when I started in 1977. Rugers were not frequently seen, the balance of the brands used were about 50/50 Colt vs. S&W.

Anyone familiar with these three makers' D/A trigger strokes knows that all of these systems "feel" differently when operated. ACCEPT THAT. Learn what you like and dislike, and choose accordingly.

 

[JustJim]

Anyone familiar with these three makers' D/A trigger strokes knows that all of these systems "feel" differently when operated. ACCEPT THAT. Learn what you like and dislike, and choose accordingly.

Definitely agree. In my case, that backwards cylinder release on the Colt messed me up. It seems you can't load a revolver if you can't open it!

 

[Winelover]

Definitely agree. In my case, that backwards cylinder release on the Colt messed me up. It seems you can't load a revolver if you can't open it!

Never had that problem. My very first revolver was a Colt Python. All the rest of the DA's have been backwards. Some brands even revolve backwards.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Never had that problem. My very first revolver was a Colt Python. All the rest of the DA's have been backwards. Some brands even revolve backwards.

The Colt cylinder release pulls to the rear, the S&W pushes forward and the Ruger pushes in. I think I've been lucky to play with all three enough that no single method got burned into my brain more than the others.
Can't say the same thing about driving a manual transmission. Sometimes when driving an automatic my left foot instinctively jabs at the floor looking for the clutch that isn't there.

 

[Winelover]

I fixed that by using my left foot for the brake.

 

[Thumbcocker]

I read somewhere that Ruger lost money or broke even on the six series guns but figured it was worth it to break into the law enforcement market.

 

[CZ93X62]

Only after those "Six-series" D/A revolvers were gone did we realize that we lost the "K-frame size & weight/L-frame strength" combination that the series offered. Ruger was a little late to the party when it came to police armament contracts, both for revolvers and for autopistols, but they still put forth some decent examples that did well (and still do well) in the citizen market--which is far larger.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I read somewhere that Ruger lost money or broke even on the six series guns but figured it was worth it to break into the law enforcement market.

I've heard that too and I seriously doubt it is true.
William Ruger was a sharp businessman. With well over 1.4 million units sold over a 16-year production run, I doubt he was losing money.
The profit margin may have been thinner than he wanted but I don't believe for a second that operation was run at a loss.

 

[CZ93X62]

I can't speak from first-hand experience from the military, but I am familiar with LE thought processes--and MANY agencies are resistant as &^*% to change or innovation. Ruger has met with considerable resistance to adoption of their arms systems by police administrations who have long favored Colt or S&W for sidearm choices.

My old shop is typical in that regard. In 1987 when autopistols were added to the mix, Ruger revolvers were disqualified entirely. That was suet-headed, and it took a long time to return Ruger revolvers to the authorization list--I guess someone finally recognized that Colt had largely disappeared from the market, and that Ruger still made lots of D/A revolvers. I spent a lot of time scratching my head while I worked there, be assured of that--but I muddled through until retirement in spite of the administrative environment that prevailed within my agency. I'm sure that most guys and gals who worked in that career field did similar dances. That citizen choices in self-defense and sporting arms seem to follow the lead of LE and armed forces choices has always intrigued me--those two sources are not always infallible. Caveat emptor, SEMPER!

 

[Jeff H]

I've heard that too and I seriously doubt it is true.
William Ruger was a sharp businessman. With well over 1.4 million units sold over a 16-year production run, I doubt he was losing money.
The profit margin may have been thinner than he wanted but I don't believe for a second that operation was run at a loss.

I dunno....

Bill, Senior was pretty headstrong. I have always thought his accountants must have died of hypertension before they could retire. He seemed to do his own thing. I could almost believe he'd keep the line alive just to antagonize the other two revolver companies.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I dunno....

Bill, Senior was pretty headstrong. I have always thought his accountants must have died of hypertension before they could retire. He seemed to do his own thing. I could almost believe he'd keep the line alive just to antagonize the other two revolver companies.

Not for 16 years.....