Ruger security six has issues with cylinder rotation

pharmvet · September 18, 2019, 10:45 AM

I recently came into possession of a stainless 1976 Ruger Security Six. In shooting and cycling it, I have detected that there are 2 chambers that aren’t smooth when they rotate. I wanted to send the revolver to Ruger but when I called I was told that they no longer offer parts for that model and no longer work on that model. Where would you recommend sending this revolver to have the issue addressed / corrected?

NoSecondBest · September 18, 2019, 10:55 AM

Can you elaborate? The chambers don't rotate, the cylinder does. Exactly how do you determine what's not smooth and when it happens? Does the cylinder drag at a certain point when it's being rotated?

pharmvet · September 18, 2019, 11:01 AM

Yes, I believe the cylinder is dragging on 2 chambers. I put a small sharpie dot on the cylinder where its rough and it is the same places each time.

Wyosmith · September 18, 2019, 11:28 AM

You probably have a burr on 2 of the ratchet teeth in your "star" which also acts an the ejector.
It's very detailed and delicate work, but when you have drag only on some chambers and not others it's always an issue with the ratchet. Remember the teeth are on the SIDE of the gun that rotate the chamber to the top, so make sure you work on the correct ones.

T. O'Heir · September 18, 2019, 01:12 PM

Gunparts is showing used, stripped, .38 Special(no .357 SS cylinders), SS, cylinders at $130.00. Same thing in .357 but blued is $46.75. Assumes you have a .357 Security Six. Another cylinder will require fitting by a smithy. That'd just be an worst case option.
Like Wyosmith says, look for burrs first.
Plan 'B' would be to give Clarke a call and ask them about it.
https://clarkcustomguns.com/

reddog81 · September 18, 2019, 03:46 PM

Shouldn't be too hard for any decent gun smith to fix. Where are you located? Maybe someone can recommend a good gunsmith nearby.

Pahoo · September 18, 2019, 04:11 PM

pharmvet
Sorry to hear that Ruger won't or can't give you, some kind of support. I'm especially disappointed as I have a buddy, that wants to sell me one and my homework says that these are pretty neat revolvers. I know there is a fix and fixer that one has to look for. ……

Good Luck and;
Be Safe !!!

J.G. Terry · September 18, 2019, 09:31 PM

Ruger has stopped servicing many models. There's a list on their website. I was surprised at some models liked like the tang safety Model 77's. Time flies.

silvermane_1 · September 20, 2019, 03:24 AM

Ruger Security Six line is one of the best revolvers ever made, it's probably a sand/file out some burr in the cylinder.

**4V50 Gary** · September 20, 2019, 10:27 AM

Concur. Check the star extractor.

Scorch · September 21, 2019, 06:15 PM

I don't think it's unreasonable for the factory to stop servicing a revolver that has been out of production for 30 years. Really, I don't. Just like you can't take your 40 year old car to the dealer and expect them to have parts on hand, it is unreasonable to expect a firearms manufacturer to provide parts for as long as you live. There are other folks who make obsolete parts, if that is what you need. And a good gunsmith should be on your list of acquaintances anyway.

mulespurs · September 22, 2019, 12:29 PM

If i was you I would be sure that the cylinder was clean under the star extracter.

I would also also use a black magic marker to color on the star and on the front and back of the of the cylinder to see what is dragging. Clean under the star extracter before you get out your file.

Let us know what you find out.
Good luck

**4V50 Gary** · September 22, 2019, 05:12 PM

I don't recommend taking a file to anything.

Show us the extractor and point out the two chambers in question.

September 18, 2019, 10:45 AM	#1
pharmvet Junior Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Posts: 4	Ruger security six has issues with cylinder rotation I recently came into possession of a stainless 1976 Ruger Security Six. In shooting and cycling it, I have detected that there are 2 chambers that aren’t smooth when they rotate. I wanted to send the revolver to Ruger but when I called I was told that they no longer offer parts for that model and no longer work on that model. Where would you recommend sending this revolver to have the issue addressed / corrected?

September 18, 2019, 11:01 AM	#3
pharmvet Junior Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Posts: 4	Yes, I believe the cylinder is dragging on 2 chambers. I put a small sharpie dot on the cylinder where its rough and it is the same places each time. Last edited by pharmvet; September 18, 2019 at 11:12 AM.

September 18, 2019, 01:12 PM	#5
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Gunparts is showing used, stripped, .38 Special(no .357 SS cylinders), SS, cylinders at $130.00. Same thing in .357 but blued is $46.75. Assumes you have a .357 Security Six. Another cylinder will require fitting by a smithy. That'd just be an worst case option. Like Wyosmith says, look for burrs first. Plan 'B' would be to give Clarke a call and ask them about it. https://clarkcustomguns.com/ __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

September 18, 2019, 04:11 PM	#7
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 8,783	Ruger security six support pharmvet Sorry to hear that Ruger won't or can't give you, some kind of support. I'm especially disappointed as I have a buddy, that wants to sell me one and my homework says that these are pretty neat revolvers. I know there is a fix and fixer that one has to look for. …… Good Luck and; Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.

September 18, 2019, 09:31 PM	#8
J.G. Terry Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2014 Posts: 577	Ruger Service Ruger has stopped servicing many models. There's a list on their website. I was surprised at some models liked like the tang safety Model 77's. Time flies. __________________ Intentionally Antagonizing Another MemberInsults and Ad Hominems

September 18, 2019, 10:55 AM	#2
NoSecondBest Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2009 Location: Western New York Posts: 2,736	Can you elaborate? The chambers don't rotate, the cylinder does. Exactly how do you determine what's not smooth and when it happens? Does the cylinder drag at a certain point when it's being rotated?

September 18, 2019, 11:28 AM	#4
Wyosmith Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2010 Location: Shoshoni Wyoming Posts: 2,713	You probably have a burr on 2 of the ratchet teeth in your "star" which also acts an the ejector. It's very detailed and delicate work, but when you have drag only on some chambers and not others it's always an issue with the ratchet. Remember the teeth are on the SIDE of the gun that rotate the chamber to the top, so make sure you work on the correct ones.

September 18, 2019, 03:46 PM	#6
reddog81 Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2014 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,634	Shouldn't be too hard for any decent gun smith to fix. Where are you located? Maybe someone can recommend a good gunsmith nearby.

September 20, 2019, 03:24 AM	#9
silvermane_1 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2011 Location: Burien,WA Posts: 897	Ruger Security Six line is one of the best revolvers ever made, it's probably a sand/file out some burr in the cylinder. __________________ Rugers:SR1911 CMD,MK 3 .22lr 6",Sec. Six '76 liberty .357 4",SRH .480 Ruger 7.5",Mini-14 188 5.56/.233 18.5", Marlins: 795 .22lr 16.5",30aw 30-30 20",Mossberg:Mav. 88 Tact. 12 ga, 18.5",ATR 100 .270 Win. 22",S&W:SW9VE 9mm 4",Springfield:XD .357sig 4", AKs:CAI PSL-54C, WASR 10/63, WW74,SLR-106c

September 20, 2019, 10:27 AM	#10
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,841	Concur. Check the star extractor. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

September 21, 2019, 06:15 PM	#11
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	I don't think it's unreasonable for the factory to stop servicing a revolver that has been out of production for 30 years. Really, I don't. Just like you can't take your 40 year old car to the dealer and expect them to have parts on hand, it is unreasonable to expect a firearms manufacturer to provide parts for as long as you live. There are other folks who make obsolete parts, if that is what you need. And a good gunsmith should be on your list of acquaintances anyway. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

September 22, 2019, 12:29 PM	#12
mulespurs Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2012 Posts: 115	Just me If i was you I would be sure that the cylinder was clean under the star extracter. I would also also use a black magic marker to color on the star and on the front and back of the of the cylinder to see what is dragging. Clean under the star extracter before you get out your file. Let us know what you find out. Good luck

September 22, 2019, 05:12 PM	#13
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,841	I don't recommend taking a file to anything. Show us the extractor and point out the two chambers in question. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*