[north country gal]

Here's an Old Model Single Six I rescued from a pawn shop. It was in pretty rough condition as some of you may recall. A former owner had left blood on the gun and it ate the blue off areas on the gun. Still, I could tell it was in otherwise great shape, so decided to take it home and clean it up. Turned out pretty nice.

Fixed sight, great trigger and maybe shipped with a 22 mag cylinder since this was the time frame when Ruger had just started to do that. If so, the mag cylinder disappeared at some point. Made in 1960. (My very first handgun was also an OM SS, fixed sight version, made in 1968.)

Haven't had a chance to shoot the gun much, so threw it in the range bag with a few other guns on our range trip, today. No matter what guns we will be shooting when we make a range trip, I like to bring along at least one single action revolver.

I do love the feel and sound of the old model actions with their half cock loading position, and no transfer bar on this one, thank you very much.

How did the old trooper shoot? Very well, of course. Bottom target was with a dead on hold at 20 yards from a standing position. Shot a touch high on these 3" bulls, so held a bit lower on the upper target. Both groups well under 2". In fact, top target is under an inch and a half.

Now some of you may be surprised at this kind of accuracy from a Single Six. One of my pet peeves is that the Single Six has never gotten much respect as an accurate shooter and I've heard all sorts of reasons why. Just ain't so. This is one of a half dozen Single Sixes we own and I've owned a twice as many in the past. Every one was a good shooter.

I attribute some this so so rep for accuracy is a matter of folks trying to shoot these smallish single actions from the bench. To me, shooting single action revolvers from the bench makes about as much sense as trying to shoot a bolt action varmint rifle from a standing position with one hand. Wrong tool for the job. When it comes to offhand work with a revolver, though, make mine a single action. That's the way they were meant to be shot and that's what they do so very well.

I've had a long history with the Ruger Single Six and it's one gun that has never let me down. This one is no exception. As for looks, what could be more graceful in that department than a classic single action revolver like an Old Model Single Six?

 

[Dennis H]

It's amazing how corrosive blood is to many finishes. She's lookin purty now though! Nice shootin ncg!

 

[RetiredSeabee]

Thank you for sharing another beauty with us. Your shooting is as always amazing. Your reviews always give me one more gun to search for in the used and neglected racks. I hope to stumble across one of these jewels.

 

[north country gal]

Thanks. As I mentioned, one of the OMs was my very first handgun, so having one, again, is really very special, all the more so when it shoots like this.

The OM Ruger SAs are still around, but getting to be less and less common. Not seeing them at gun shows the way I used to and very few find their way to the used gun rack at gun stores, anymore.

Single action revolvers would probably be well on the way to a slow death if not for the cowboy action crowd. The SA used to be a mainstay for the handgun hunting crowd, and a bit later, in silhouette, but both of those markets have dwindled down to almost nothing. Even my local shop has trouble moving single action revolvers, now. Really a shame, but times do change.

 

[RidgeRunner]

Do you have a western holster? How about quick draw? Any Annie Oakley trick shots?
I feel you are holding out on us NCG.:-D

I sold my Blackhawk 44Mag with western holster. I miss it.

 

[north country gal]

Some basic carry holsters for when I carry one of these SAs in the woods, yes, but no classic western holsters. Out in the woods, I usually carry bandlero style or if the gun is small enough, IWB. I never carry out in the woods with a gun on my hip.

Most of my single action revolver experience has been with using these guns for hunting in the past (and, now, strictly for target shooting). Back in the day, hunting and stalking though thick cover, I used shoulder rigs for the sake of protecting the gun from thorns and such, for protecting the gun from cold, rain and snow and to keep the gun and holster from snagging in the brush. Classic western style holsters are cool and all that stuff, but not too practical out in the woods.

As for the fast draw and trick shooting, same thing. Not very useful skills when hunting with a handgun and even though I no longer hunt, that experience still very much drives my style of shooting and even my tastes in guns. No escaping all those years of hunting. Probably a dying breed, though, with all the current emphasis on self-defense and action shooting.

 

[bearcatter]

Single action revolvers would probably be well on the way to a slow death if not for the cowboy action crowd.

No Bearcats? ..

How about quick draw? Any Annie Oakley trick shots?

I'd bet NCG could show Annie a thing or two, but IIRC Annie did mostly rifles. Her favorite for exhibitions was supposedly the Marlin 1891.

 

[north country gal]

Bearcat? Thank heaven's Ruger still makes them, though they are getting pricey. Will never be without one, again. Made that mistake and won't repeat it. My current Bearcat is one of my favorite SAs and sees more duty as a woods carry gun than any other SA we own. In fact, I really don't think one Bearcat is enough.

You're right about AO. She actually started her shooting career with a shotgun as a market hunter for ducks and geese to support the family. She was truly gifted with eye/hand coordination. Picking up a rifle and shooting it old west style - throw it to your shoulder and shoot, quick - was a natural for her. She never messed with a revolver much.

 

[bearcatter]

She never messed with a revolver much.

You never know. She could have been like Matthew Quigley:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IfWXjRLCDc

 

[RidgeRunner]

I never hunted with my Super Black Hawk, but it was fun wearing it in the western holster around the farm. It was godawful loud and I had some hot loads for it. I reckon I owned it for maybe 20 years? and sold it as I decided to sell off several guns.

 

[north country gal]

My first deer "rifle" was a Super Blackhawk. Took my first deer with it.

 

[Terry_P]

I have taken deer with rifle, muzzleloader, bow and crossbow but never a handgun. Got to get a load worked up for my SBH and then some practice in before the fall season.

 

[Dennis H]

I've had the itch to harvest a big game animal with a pistol as well. TC encore 7mm-08, or ruger bisley 45lc. Maybe someday.

 

[north country gal]

Always enjoyed the classic handgun hunting with the revolver. Required the same hunting techniques as with a bow, but the kill was quicker and with a good shot, no tracking needed. Took several deer with the 44 mag and all were under 40 yards - still hunting though the brush, not in a tree stand. The big SBH was much easier to use for that kind of hunting than any carbine. Really as basic as it gets for deer hunting. In those days, just used standard 240 grain JSPs factory ammo and never an issue.

Even though we no longer hunt, I do miss the venison.

 

[north country gal]

Now, if anyone is thinking we are straying off the topic, I should point out that I started handgun hunting with the Single Six, using it mostly for squirrels and rabbits (lots of squirrels and rabbits), but I was also appointed the designated shooter when I went along with my brother on his trapline or my neighbors on their **** hunting (had a nice rep as a pistol shooter). Yup, got along real well with the Single Six and it never let me, down. Later did some hunting with a Ruger Standard semi auto and in later years, a Contender, but my fav was always the Single Six. Very special gun for me to this very day.