Single Six 22 short testing

348win · Post by **348win** » Tue Mar 25, 2025 4:57 pm

Just did the old sit on the ground w back against a rest w my 6 1/2" Single Six and some 22 shorts

Got 5/48 hits at 132yds resting off my knees
8" gong

the kid was loving it.

Thanks for the inspiration Jim Taylor

That's basically 10% or 1 out of 10 hits first time trying.

What a blast.

Use what ya got an have an adventure!!!

348win · Post by **348win** » Tue Mar 25, 2025 5:15 pm

Edit

Some hits are on smaller gong just next to 8"

So if I had a 16" down there I'd be set to go

Think I'm gonna order a 12" as an all arounder for the rifle and the pistol. That should be ideal to see around front sight post.

Either way I'm THRILLED the steel was ringing.

Got about 15/48 hits inside a 2' circle. Was using a cardboard surround prior to get my sights set for that range.

JimT · Post by **JimT** » Tue Mar 25, 2025 8:40 pm

When I was a kid my Dad shot Shorts all the time because he got more of them for the dollar. I bought a brick of shorts last year and they cost more than the Long Rifles! I have shot a few of them but I haven't shot too many. They are fun to shoot out of the Bearcat Shopkeeper.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Tue Mar 25, 2025 9:31 pm

.
Ballistically the shorts are like many of the 'quiet' rounds sold nowdays. But shorts are usually very expensive, if you can even find them...!

EIther way, practicing with ANY 22 LR is surely fun.

My son is home from Montana for a couple months, and both of us have everything from rifles in 17 Hornet to 338 Lapua, pistols from 380 ACP to 45 Colt, and in between to play with, yet most days we get a few minutes to 'head back to the gongs', we grab our 22 LR's. His Henry levergun and Ruger Mk2, my Ruger levergun and AMT Lightning (Ruger Mk2 clone), and my Ruger Charger. LOTS of fun can be had, and we found Federal 22 LR 1230 fps stuff at $29/325 rounds or so. So it is fun without too much pain in the pocketbook. We just shot 120 rounds or so total this evening and had fun - if we'd have shot that many rounds of 44 Mag or 30-30 or even 5.56, we'd be feeling pretty broke.

LeverGunner · Post by **LeverGunner** » Tue Mar 25, 2025 11:53 pm

I've done a bit of testing with my Single Six, and so far it prefers Aquila HV. I haven't tested a bunch, but it will hold 6" at 75 yards, and I've been able to hit my 6" plate 6x6 1 time with it, normally I can go 5x6 so I must have a chamber that's a bit different, though at that distance I can't really group on paper well enough to tell.

Mine at least is pretty ammo sensitive.

I've shot shorts some, but not a bunch. I guess I should, as I have a couple of bricks of them I think. They were my moms favorite to shoot because of the diminutive size and report.

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Wed Mar 26, 2025 12:53 am

Last summer I shot a bunch of squirrels and rats with some CCI shorts . They were standard velocity and hollow points.
https://youtu.be/aw6OZ1HdVSY?feature=shared

348win · Post by **348win** » Wed Mar 26, 2025 9:08 am

22 is funny

I always kid myself, that I would rather be shooting center fire and 22 isn't fun

WRONG

22 makes us all smile every time.

Scott Tschirhart · Post by **Scott Tschirhart** » Wed Mar 26, 2025 9:24 am

Agreed,

I shoot a great deal of .22 rimfire, but mostly .22 lr.

There’s no better training tool for a Pistolero.

LeverGunner · Post by **LeverGunner** » Wed Mar 26, 2025 10:59 am

I even got a second Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake holster for my Single Six, so that I can take it for small game.

Here's my Single Six, laying on a pistol rug my late mom made for it.

JimT · Post by **JimT** » Wed Mar 26, 2025 11:25 am

I shoot .22's much more than any centerfire these days. My Single Six is a personal favorite.

old_model_single_six.jpg

And it is fairly accurate if the old nut holding the grip can do his part.

target first.JPG

IMG_6877.JPG

I carry it in a Simply Rugged holster

IMG_5007.JPG

Scott Tschirhart · Post by **Scott Tschirhart** » Wed Mar 26, 2025 2:33 pm

I’m still working on this one as it doesn’t shoot as well as it should. But I really like having a little longer barrel than on my old model.

trapper45 · Post by **trapper45** » Mon Mar 31, 2025 12:24 am

My 6-1/2" Single-Six Convertible, bought new in 1968, is still my fave, and still shoots great. Definitely a keeper.

Pat C · Post by **Pat C** » Mon Mar 31, 2025 4:35 am

I've got two but mine are so so on accuracy . At 25 yards offhand you might keep them in a 4-5" group.

Very very ammo specific, best I ever got was with Fiochi performance shot 18 rounds at 15 yards offhand.

I've never shot either off rest though.

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Mon Mar 31, 2025 6:11 am

I've never been able to get the accuracy out of a Ruger rimfire SA that I have out of their autos. Dunno why, as I have had reasonably good luck with the centerfire Blackhawks/Super Blackhawks.
I know I have some shorts somewhere to try in the Super Wrangler ...

Pat C · Post by **Pat C** » Mon Mar 31, 2025 7:01 am

One of the reasons is the cylinders are bored straight through with a good .004-.005 over even the largest target ammo.

My Colt New Frontier is chambered with tight throat. It has .224 throats the Ruger SS has .228" throats all the way through.

This is typical 25 yards offhand with my 4 5/8" CCI SV

Scott Tschirhart · Post by **Scott Tschirhart** » Mon Mar 31, 2025 7:39 am

Not all of them.

Scott Tschirhart · Post by **Scott Tschirhart** » Mon Mar 31, 2025 7:41 am

But I will admit that Ruger single action .22s are harder to shoot than many .22 autos.

JimT · Post by **JimT** » Mon Mar 31, 2025 7:45 am

Correct Scott.

IMG_3637.JPG

IMG_2789.JPG

IMG_4803.JPG

best group 22.JPG

IMG_6877.JPG

Scott Tschirhart · Post by **Scott Tschirhart** » Mon Mar 31, 2025 8:30 am

That little Bearcat shopkeeper is among my favorites. Just the right size for a .22 sixgun for using around the ranch.

JimT · Post by **JimT** » Mon Mar 31, 2025 8:39 am

So far I have shot 8 raccoons with mine. I have never had a chance to do what Al Anderson did ...

bearcat coyote.jpg

Post by **AmBraCol** » Mon Mar 31, 2025 8:41 am

Now you've gone and done it. Got me to cogitating on why I've never tried shorts in my OMSS... Shucks, just haven´t had much time with it in way too long. Back in '06 I DID get to shoot it considerably, but never with shorts. That year I did better with the Ruger than I did with the rifle on squirrels. I was given permission to hunt an old abandoned farm in SW MO, the place was swarming with fox squirrels. It's hard to believe that's nearly 20 years ago.

Scott Tschirhart · Post by **Scott Tschirhart** » Mon Mar 31, 2025 8:59 am

A very useful tool.

JimT · Post by **JimT** » Mon Mar 31, 2025 9:14 am

I like that long-barreled Single Six, Paul! I don't believe I've ever handled one. My Dad's is 6 1/2" but that looks like a 7 1/2? Maybe I am just looking at it wrong ....

Pat C · Post by **Pat C** » Mon Mar 31, 2025 1:15 pm

They're accurate enough for small game and cans . You gotta step on back to 25 yards OFFHAND none of that rest shooting .And 10 shots per target.

JimT · Post by **JimT** » Mon Mar 31, 2025 4:01 pm

Pat C wrote: ↑Mon Mar 31, 2025 1:15 pm They're accurate enough for small game and cans . You gotta step on back to 25 yards OFFHAND none of that rest shooting .And 10 shots per target.

And hold it offhand - weak hand .. upside down ...

trick_shot.jpg

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Mon Mar 31, 2025 4:23 pm

thumb up.jpg

Pat C · Post by **Pat C** » Mon Mar 31, 2025 4:58 pm

Post by **AmBraCol** » Mon Mar 31, 2025 5:08 pm

JimT wrote: ↑Mon Mar 31, 2025 9:14 am I like that long-barreled Single Six, Paul! I don't believe I've ever handled one. My Dad's is 6 1/2" but that looks like a 7 1/2? Maybe I am just looking at it wrong ....

I think you've gotten too used to the short barrels...

It's a standard OM SS with (I'm pretty sure) the 6 1/2" barrel. This is the one I got from AK Church nearly two decades ago. I've carried it all over the place while up north. One time I was shooting ground squirrels on a friend's place, using the 10/22. He saw how much fun I was having so asked to give it a go himself. I handed him the rifle and pulled the Single Six. Then I tried to guess which one he was aiming at and do my best to whack it before he could. It was hilarious! He´d NO idea a handgun could reach out that far, much less out shoot a 10/22 with scope on it. I doubt I could do that any more, just can´t see the sights on a handgun that well.

JimT · Post by **JimT** » Mon Mar 31, 2025 5:11 pm

You are right Paul. I gonna dig out my 8" barreled single actions and play with them for awhile ....

Pat C · Post by **Pat C** » Mon Mar 31, 2025 5:46 pm

JimT wrote: ↑Mon Mar 31, 2025 4:01 pm
Pat C wrote: ↑Mon Mar 31, 2025 1:15 pm They're accurate enough for small game and cans . You gotta step on back to 25 yards OFFHAND none of that rest shooting .And 10 shots per target.
And hold it offhand - weak hand .. upside down ...
trick_shot.jpg

Is that preferred technique for shooting aspirins out of the air?

JimT · Post by **JimT** » Mon Mar 31, 2025 6:05 pm

Pat C wrote: ↑Mon Mar 31, 2025 5:46 pm
JimT wrote: ↑Mon Mar 31, 2025 4:01 pm
Pat C wrote: ↑Mon Mar 31, 2025 1:15 pm They're accurate enough for small game and cans . You gotta step on back to 25 yards OFFHAND none of that rest shooting .And 10 shots per target.
And hold it offhand - weak hand .. upside down ...
trick_shot.jpg
Is that preferred technique for shooting aspirins out of the air?

As long as they are baby aspirins.

ESisk · Post by **ESisk** » Tue Apr 01, 2025 12:32 am

Still carrying your old Bearcat while doing daily chores.

Pat C · Post by **Pat C** » Tue Apr 01, 2025 6:35 am

One of the things about single six if you have a convertible it has .22 WMR bore and rifling. .22 L.R. usually does not shoot that great in them. One thing I've wanted to try is using the WMR and .22 WRF which is larger bullet to see how that does.
Should do much better.

348win · Post by **348win** » Tue Apr 01, 2025 9:08 am

Mines a convertible.
Maybe an accuracy test is in order soon.

I was shooting shorts for noise purposes.

Blasting through standard ammo in rifle then hoping to stock up on something around 1000fps for both rifle and pistol. Subsonic.

Never mind a 22mag from the wheelgun, bout make your ears bleed like a 357 does.
One of my only complaints from 357mag in the woods; touch one off and ears ring 3 hours, can't hear the wilderness to hunt well after that!

Scott Tschirhart · Post by **Scott Tschirhart** » Tue Apr 01, 2025 6:51 pm

ESisk wrote: ↑Tue Apr 01, 2025 12:32 am Still carrying your old Bearcat while doing daily chores.

Very nice!

Scott Tschirhart · Post by **Scott Tschirhart** » Thu Apr 03, 2025 8:07 pm

Now that’s a fine holster.

Rockrat · Post by **Rockrat** » Fri Apr 04, 2025 9:05 am

Yep, people don't realize what you can do with a 22lr handgun. Not a Single Six, but a Buckmark is what I used going after prairie dogs, with my neighbor using a scoped 9422. Loser paid for dinner at our Golden Corral (long gone). I sure enjoyed that meal, neighbor grumbled all thru the meal.

Pat C · Post by **Pat C** » Fri Apr 04, 2025 10:12 am

Shot my new model this morning offhand at 10 yards two different ammo that are my favorites in rifles . Just can't make this one shoot . I'm guessing this one is due to sloppy cylinder chambers. I might try a magnum cylinder and use WRF ammo see if groups change.

Pat C · Post by **Pat C** » Fri Apr 04, 2025 10:16 am

Small dot was POA and large dot 6 o'clock hold.

JimT · Post by **JimT** » Fri Apr 04, 2025 4:27 pm

I know you are aware how ammo-sensitive some .22's are. Have you run a few groups with a lot of different ammo? My Old Model Single Six seems to prefer Aguila and Federal.

Pat C · Post by **Pat C** » Fri Apr 04, 2025 4:58 pm

Jim , The only ammo I haven't tried is Eley and Lapua.

Tried :
Federal Auto Match
Federal bulk
Remington Target
Remington bulk
Winchester super x
Norma Tac 22
Aguila SV
Agulia Super
CCI SV
CCI quite
Herters Target
Fiocchi Performance

All with same results

I'm going to investigate by shooting groups with each chamber . From rest and record.

Check each chamber with range rod for alignment
Measure each chamber and document.
This is a convertible but unfortunately I did not get the WMR cylinder.

JimT · Post by **JimT** » Fri Apr 04, 2025 5:31 pm

Borchardt Rifles makes Ruger Single Six cylinders in Long Rifle and in WMR .. about $100 .... http://rugercyl.com/

That was a couple years ago .... $135.00 now. I have gotten Ruger parts they make and they did a nice job on everything I oridered.

Pat C · Post by **Pat C** » Fri Apr 04, 2025 5:53 pm

Jim, Al Story's Mag cylinder and steel ejector housing is on my list . I would like to shoot .22 WRF out of it .
I've got some checking like forcing cone to do .

There is a guy on rimfire central said he measured and marked each chamber .Shot multiple ammo groups from each chamber. Finally determining not all chambers were in alignment. Ruger replaced the cylinder.

JimT · Post by **JimT** » Fri Apr 04, 2025 6:52 pm

My Dad did that on the Single Six he modified back in the 1960's. He put a centerpunch dot on #1 ... 2 dots on #2 etc. He rebarreld it with a barrel from a Model 52 WInchester ... rechambered one chamber for .22 Magnum. He knew how each chamber shot. That gun is one of the most accurate .22 sixguns I have. You probably have read the story of it ... it's here ...

https://leverguns.com/articles/taylor/family_gun.htm

Pat C · Post by **Pat C** » Fri Apr 04, 2025 7:17 pm

Jim, Great article and no I had not read it before. That heavy barrel wow!. This Single Six I bought cheap used I hate the warning label .So I had thought about a custom rebarrel .
Wheels are spinning now. Dream Single Six , Rebarrel with Colt style flat top target sights. Bone charcoal color case on frame hammer, loading gate.

This gun may end up that dream piece.

samsi · Post by **samsi** » Fri Apr 04, 2025 10:16 pm

Jim, is the rear sight on your dad's gun reworked into a U notch? Hard to tell from the pics.

Two weeks ago there was a 6 1/2" OM Single Six in a shop here and at the time I figured I didn't need it. After all the enabling going on in this thread I went back and picked it up earlier this week, hope to try it out this weekend. Enablers...

JimT · Post by **JimT** » Fri Apr 04, 2025 11:13 pm

samsi wrote: ↑Fri Apr 04, 2025 10:16 pm Jim, is the rear sight on your dad's gun reworked into a U notch? Hard to tell from the pics.

Two weeks ago there was a 6 1/2" OM Single Six in a shop here and at the time I figured I didn't need it. After all the enabling going on in this thread I went back and picked it up earlier this week, hope to try it out this weekend. Enablers...

Good for you.
It's a square notch.

Pat C · Post by **Pat C** » Sat Apr 05, 2025 7:32 am

The idea of a custom rebarrel I like. One it will get rid of ugly warning label , two I can choose bore and twist especially for .22 L.R. If I go that far I'll customize with color case frame.
Will do more testing first.

Pat C · Post by **Pat C** » Sat Apr 05, 2025 9:41 am

Some things I noticed today.The base pin to cylinder fit is very loose with considerable wobble. Definatly has the WMR barrel.
7/32 pin drops in with wiggle .lands are close to .219/.2195"
Grooves ate .224/.2245"

Cylinder chambers are .228"
End shake and barrel/cylinder gap normal

My guess if I had a magnum cylinder it would shoot better.

With gun fully cocked there is at least .010" of rotational play and wobble on base pin is also noted.

I took my old model out and checked it and it has just as much play and it's like new

So the sloppiness seems to be a characteristic of SS.

I see all kinds of room for improvement.

JimT · Post by **JimT** » Sat Apr 05, 2025 10:19 am

I am not sure why they make barrels for the .22's so large. Some of the most accurate .22 target pistols had barrels of .2175" ... I have always had excellent accuracy and performance from undersize bores. In my .44 Remington percussion pistol I reamed the chambers to take a .457" - .458" ball .. even used some .460" and fired them through a .445" bore. Had a long tapered throat. It gave more power and accuracy over the way it came from the factory. Made a great hunting gun. Pushed the ball over 1000 fps.

javelina 1988.JPG