Ruger Security Six Action Tuning?

charcoalburner · July 17, 2005, 07:14 PM

Anyone know of a good site where I can find info on tuning or someone who can tune one? TIA!

DT Guy · July 17, 2005, 09:33 PM

Outside of Kuhnhausen's books, I can't recall seeing anything about the Rugers.

I know years (and years...gad, I'm old!) I did mine with a Trapper spring kit. Covered all the internal moving parts with magic marker and snapped it a hundred times or so, then polished anything that showed contact.

It wasn't a PPC gun, but it was much improved.

Larry

Harry Bonar · July 19, 2005, 09:55 AM

Dear Shooter:
I am very suspect of "action tuning" any revolver. I know it is done by some very, very specially trained pistol-smiths but I wouldn't touch one.
I have a number of revolvers, single and double action and have never messed with an action. I will say that the Ruger Redhawk is the best and smoothest D.A. I've ever used.
Too many "tuned" revolvers I've seen are accidents waiting to happen.
Harry B.

Dave Sample · July 19, 2005, 11:42 AM

I am a Single Action Tune Up Specialist. I am in two of John Taffins's books and have been written up in several magazines about the wonderful things I do to 1873 type six guns. Piece of cake for me, Harry.

I hate to tune Rugers. I only have two arms and ten fingers. I do agree that most people should leave revolvers alone. But you know how Cowboy Shooters are! Every other one is a gunsmith! Most Rugers do not need anyhelp from me and that is what I tell people who want them Tuned. If they insist, then I do it to it, but am never happy with the results. They are hard to improve on right out of the Box.

James K · July 19, 2005, 12:01 PM

I won't go as far as either Harry or Dave, and I have tuned Rugers. I admit I am more at home with S&W or even Colt, but the Rugers can be helped a bit. The main thing is to smooth things up, without any drastic changes. There are a few things I have done, like work on the mainspring, but I don't think I want to suggest them as a DIY project.

A good question for any revolver tuning is what the gun is to be used for. If only for range play, it is one thing, and you have a fair amount of leeway. If there are problems, the customer can come back and complain. Note that "CAN". If the gun is a police gun or for serious use, and it fails, the customer maybe CAN'T come back, a different situation.

All makers of serious guns (not toys like the superdooper 1911 type pistols) build in extra spring power and the like to handle adverse conditions like dirt and cold. Most "tuning" jobs reduce that extra margin. In the worst case, no margin is left and cold, dirt, or just a hard primer could mean the user pays for a tuneup the hard way.

Jim

Dave Sample · July 19, 2005, 12:20 PM

Any firearm can be helped by expert work. All factory gun springs are an over kill for liablity issues. I have done many many Cop S&W's and 1911's and have never had a single problem with any of that work.

But I paid my dues.

James K · July 19, 2005, 12:34 PM

Dave, I don't think that overkill is all for liability reasons. Mostly it is for REliability reasons.

You do, however, touch on another issue. If I do a "tuneup" which makes a gun operate easier, I could have a problem if it is fired by a child, or someone fires it in a panic and does unintended damage, or if the "tuneup" makes the gun unsafe in some other way. Or if I work on a gun and the owner has to use it in self defense and it fails to fire, he (or his family) can sue me even if my work had nothing to do with the failure.

I think I am glad to be retired and no longer active as a gunsmith; it is a mine field out there now. Not much problem when sticking to SAA's for CAS or "toy" 1911's for killing charging bowling pins, but working on serious defense guns - I don't know if I would want to.

Jim

Dave Sample · July 19, 2005, 08:25 PM

Jim. I couldn't agree more! This is a terrible world for us and a great one for any silly litigation that comes along. I think we are lucky to be where we are today. I am with you 100% on this one!

cntryboy1289 · July 20, 2005, 12:27 AM

On any defense weapon, I never change the springs or do a TJ. All I ever do to them is slick up the sides of the hammer, sear, and the rebound slide and maybe pin the trigger and hammer if there is a lot of slop. I never change any of the angles for the very reasons Mr. Keenan mentioned. I hate having to spend a$1000 a year just to cover my backside if someone lets something bad happen that I have no control of. I helped a guy on another forum take out the creep on his Ruger Super Red Hawk. He had a Power Custom honing jig and had no idea to remove some off the back of the sear to help with this. His is a hunting gun and wanted it to have a better TP, but if he had come into the shop, I would have never done it for him without knowing for sure it was a hunting gun only.

I agree that Ruger makes a good gun out of the box, but they have to worry about the other guy's lawyer just like we do. Yes, they do include a higher TP to make sure the gun doesn't get the trigger pulled by mistake. The other side of the coin is always there though.

charcoalburner · July 20, 2005, 11:45 AM

Thanks for all the info and food for thought guys. I'll give this one some serious thought before proceeding. I was thinking more along the lines of a good polish job to smooth things out, rather than any serious parts or filing changes.

Harry Bonar · July 20, 2005, 10:23 PM

Dear Shooter:
I suggest strongly you send it over to Dave Sample. He has exhibited some pretty savy concepts on the forum. I'm sure Jim could do it too but not me.
Don't Ruger revolvers have lousy triggers?
Harry B. :barf:

Dave Sample · July 21, 2005, 03:29 PM

Thanks Harry, but I don't have time for Rugers any more. Just shoot 'em and be happy. If you want a nicer action, "Get a Snake".

azrael · July 21, 2005, 03:39 PM

Best action job there is??? Shoot the thing ALOT...That will smooth it up right nice...

My carry revolver is a 4in Security Six...Trigger sucked when I first got it, (used 10 years ago) right nice to shoot now

Of course I did have the springs changed a couple of years ago, whether they needed it or not

Yo Dave...Does Teddy J at Action's by T do trigger jobs on Rugers?? Just a thought...

Don't it feel right like this?
All the pieces fall to his wish
“Suck up for that quick reward, boy
Suck up for that quick reward,” they say

Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel
Was just a freight train coming your way

No Leaf Clover (Metallica)

July 17, 2005, 07:14 PM	#1
charcoalburner Junior Member Join Date: July 17, 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 4	Ruger Security Six Action Tuning? Anyone know of a good site where I can find info on tuning or someone who can tune one? TIA!

July 17, 2005, 09:33 PM	#2
DT Guy Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2001 Posts: 958	Outside of Kuhnhausen's books, I can't recall seeing anything about the Rugers. I know years (and years...gad, I'm old!) I did mine with a Trapper spring kit. Covered all the internal moving parts with magic marker and snapped it a hundred times or so, then polished anything that showed contact. It wasn't a PPC gun, but it was much improved. Larry __________________ He who fights and runs away had better run pretty damn fast. Government, Anarchy and Chaos

July 19, 2005, 09:55 AM	#3
Harry Bonar Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: In the Vincent, Ohio general area. Posts: 1,804	action tuning Dear Shooter: I am very suspect of "action tuning" any revolver. I know it is done by some very, very specially trained pistol-smiths but I wouldn't touch one. I have a number of revolvers, single and double action and have never messed with an action. I will say that the Ruger Redhawk is the best and smoothest D.A. I've ever used. Too many "tuned" revolvers I've seen are accidents waiting to happen. Harry B.

July 20, 2005, 12:27 AM	#9
cntryboy1289 Senior Member Join Date: July 19, 2004 Location: Ms Posts: 1,160	My philosophy On any defense weapon, I never change the springs or do a TJ. All I ever do to them is slick up the sides of the hammer, sear, and the rebound slide and maybe pin the trigger and hammer if there is a lot of slop. I never change any of the angles for the very reasons Mr. Keenan mentioned. I hate having to spend a$1000 a year just to cover my backside if someone lets something bad happen that I have no control of. I helped a guy on another forum take out the creep on his Ruger Super Red Hawk. He had a Power Custom honing jig and had no idea to remove some off the back of the sear to help with this. His is a hunting gun and wanted it to have a better TP, but if he had come into the shop, I would have never done it for him without knowing for sure it was a hunting gun only. I agree that Ruger makes a good gun out of the box, but they have to worry about the other guy's lawyer just like we do. Yes, they do include a higher TP to make sure the gun doesn't get the trigger pulled by mistake. The other side of the coin is always there though.

July 20, 2005, 10:23 PM	#11
Harry Bonar Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: In the Vincent, Ohio general area. Posts: 1,804	tuning Dear Shooter: I suggest strongly you send it over to Dave Sample. He has exhibited some pretty savy concepts on the forum. I'm sure Jim could do it too but not me. Don't Ruger revolvers have lousy triggers? Harry B. :barf:

July 19, 2005, 11:42 AM	#4
Dave Sample Junior member Join Date: December 10, 2004 Location: Prescott, AZ Posts: 1,002	I am a Single Action Tune Up Specialist. I am in two of John Taffins's books and have been written up in several magazines about the wonderful things I do to 1873 type six guns. Piece of cake for me, Harry. I hate to tune Rugers. I only have two arms and ten fingers. I do agree that most people should leave revolvers alone. But you know how Cowboy Shooters are! Every other one is a gunsmith! Most Rugers do not need anyhelp from me and that is what I tell people who want them Tuned. If they insist, then I do it to it, but am never happy with the results. They are hard to improve on right out of the Box.

July 19, 2005, 12:01 PM	#5
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I won't go as far as either Harry or Dave, and I have tuned Rugers. I admit I am more at home with S&W or even Colt, but the Rugers can be helped a bit. The main thing is to smooth things up, without any drastic changes. There are a few things I have done, like work on the mainspring, but I don't think I want to suggest them as a DIY project. A good question for any revolver tuning is what the gun is to be used for. If only for range play, it is one thing, and you have a fair amount of leeway. If there are problems, the customer can come back and complain. Note that "CAN". If the gun is a police gun or for serious use, and it fails, the customer maybe CAN'T come back, a different situation. All makers of serious guns (not toys like the superdooper 1911 type pistols) build in extra spring power and the like to handle adverse conditions like dirt and cold. Most "tuning" jobs reduce that extra margin. In the worst case, no margin is left and cold, dirt, or just a hard primer could mean the user pays for a tuneup the hard way. Jim

July 19, 2005, 12:20 PM	#6
Dave Sample Junior member Join Date: December 10, 2004 Location: Prescott, AZ Posts: 1,002	Any firearm can be helped by expert work. All factory gun springs are an over kill for liablity issues. I have done many many Cop S&W's and 1911's and have never had a single problem with any of that work. But I paid my dues.

July 19, 2005, 12:34 PM	#7
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Dave, I don't think that overkill is all for liability reasons. Mostly it is for REliability reasons. You do, however, touch on another issue. If I do a "tuneup" which makes a gun operate easier, I could have a problem if it is fired by a child, or someone fires it in a panic and does unintended damage, or if the "tuneup" makes the gun unsafe in some other way. Or if I work on a gun and the owner has to use it in self defense and it fails to fire, he (or his family) can sue me even if my work had nothing to do with the failure. I think I am glad to be retired and no longer active as a gunsmith; it is a mine field out there now. Not much problem when sticking to SAA's for CAS or "toy" 1911's for killing charging bowling pins, but working on serious defense guns - I don't know if I would want to. Jim

July 19, 2005, 08:25 PM	#8
Dave Sample Junior member Join Date: December 10, 2004 Location: Prescott, AZ Posts: 1,002	Jim. I couldn't agree more! This is a terrible world for us and a great one for any silly litigation that comes along. I think we are lucky to be where we are today. I am with you 100% on this one!

July 20, 2005, 11:45 AM	#10
charcoalburner Junior Member Join Date: July 17, 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 4	Thanks for all the info and food for thought guys. I'll give this one some serious thought before proceeding. I was thinking more along the lines of a good polish job to smooth things out, rather than any serious parts or filing changes.

July 21, 2005, 03:29 PM	#12
Dave Sample Junior member Join Date: December 10, 2004 Location: Prescott, AZ Posts: 1,002	Thanks Harry, but I don't have time for Rugers any more. Just shoot 'em and be happy. If you want a nicer action, "Get a Snake".

July 21, 2005, 03:39 PM	#13
azrael Member Join Date: May 20, 2004 Location: Staley, NC Posts: 85	Best action job there is??? Shoot the thing ALOT...That will smooth it up right nice... My carry revolver is a 4in Security Six...Trigger sucked when I first got it, (used 10 years ago) right nice to shoot now Of course I did have the springs changed a couple of years ago, whether they needed it or not Yo Dave...Does Teddy J at Action's by T do trigger jobs on Rugers?? Just a thought... Don't it feel right like this? All the pieces fall to his wish “Suck up for that quick reward, boy Suck up for that quick reward,” they say Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the end of your tunnel Was just a freight train coming your way No Leaf Clover (Metallica) __________________ Dave Azrael's Custom Leather GOT GOBLIN? "There is no love in your violence" Kakihara (Ichi the Killer)

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