Yes, velocity and a better site radius. In my opinion the longer barrel is better for hunting, mine was a 6 1/2 inch I believe and I always wished for the longer one but that's just me.

 

The shorty is a very nice piece, I carry mine often. I have the fire sights installed on the piece and they are very helpful for hunting and quick sight and target location.

 

I love my shorty, too. Also with fire-sights.

Superb plinker that will digest any ammo.

 

I have a 4 5/8" "Star" Single Six Stainless from 1975, and I value that rare revolver more than any other of the 50 handguns I own. Even with the short bbl. it is very accurate. It is my favorite carry gun when riding my 4 wheelers. Big Larry

 

I've had two 5 1/2 inchers. I liked the looks and the balance. You can find more holsters made for the 6 1/2 inch, though.

 

I have an uberti 1858 8" barrel so thats why i'm looking this to be little shorter. Mainly my hunting with this would be dispatching varmints on very close distances like one foot. Would one inch from 4.5 to 5.5 make a big difference in the balance?


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... Would one inch from 4.5 to 5.5 make a big difference in the balance?

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Yes, at least for me there is. Might be worth your time to see if you can find samples of each to see what you like. My favorite has always been the 5 1/2, but others like the 4.5.

 

My Single Six is the "Hunter" model with a 7.5" barrel and fine gold bead front sight and v-notch rear. I can shoot it a lot more accurately than the shorter Single Six/Rough Riders I have fired before, but it is going to be a heavy gun. In fact, it's heavier than my 5.5" .45 convertible Blackhawk.

That doesn't mean a shorter barrel won't work, it's just easier to aim with a longer sight radius and that wouldn't even matter if you were to mount a scope or red dot.

Oh, and, though they'll probably be fine out of the 4.62" barrel, .22 magnums really start to distance themselves from LR out of longer barrels. Some people have chrono'ed magnums at 1500+ fps out of the Hunter's 7.5" barrel while 4" is still down around 1200 fps.

 

I have a 6 1/2" and friend of mine came to the range with a 4 1/2" and let me test it for a while; both have adjustable sights and with the same ammo (Federal A.E. 40gr. LRN) I was able to consistently hit the same 8x8" steel plate @ 30 yards or so.

 

Well thats a quite a difference in velocity! Allthough I think I dont need the last drop of velocity from the revolver. I have my 19 ¼ " barrel lever friend that can give me that extra speed if I need some.

 

IMHO, the longer sight radius of longer barrels is a bit overrated. Now I have a bunch of single actions of all lengths, from the 4" Bearcat to the 9" Walker, with about an even split.

14 - 4" to 4¾"
5 - 5½"
4 - 6½"
13 - 7½" to 9"

I've always preferred the short barrels and even shoot them better but honestly, don't think there's enough difference to matter. Pic the one you like best.

 

5.5 inch is the sweet spot

i thought that the 4.75" for handiness is the way to go until i found a gently used two screw single six in 5.5". it was priced low because it was missing its 22mag cylinder. i took a chance and got a replacement 8 shot 22mag cylinder from midway. after $25 worth of sanding by my gunsmith to fit it well i took it outdoors. what an awesome piece. i grouped much better with the 5.5" and the new 22mag cylinder is a true gem. 1" groups in the bullseye at 50' is the best that i have ever done with any handgun. the extra inch makes little difference in carrying (tho not concealed in summer of course). i handled the 6.5" and found it too long however.

 

Actually I've been thinking about it and if I go with single six, I think I'll go with stainless steel. So that would but my barrel lenght to 5 1/2"

 

I've got the Lipsey's 45/8" stainless and I love the way it handles. I saw one on Gunbrokers, new for $550. That being said I also have a 51/2" that I really enjoy. If you want the shorter barrel, they are out there . The grips are the laminated gun fighters that I really enjoy. Have fun on your hunt for your new gun and fun when you hunt with that new Ruger !!

Thom

 

In these parts of woods ( North Europe ) those dealer special models 4,5 " are no where to be found. Second thing is that is there any point paying $170 extra for 5,5" than i would pay for 6,5" barreled model?

I've also considered S&W 617 and Ruger SP101 in .22LR. Has anyone had the chance to compare all three of aboVe guns?

 

Friend of mine has a 4" barrel stainless steel S&W 617 and an '80s manufacture 5.5 stainless steel Single Six; also at the indoor range we shoot handguns every once in a while there's a new SP 101 for rent.

His S.S. is in "factory" condition, while the 617 was bought used from a private security firm that used it to train its guards. Needless to say, it was in pretty battered condition, with timing completely off, damaged firing pin (Lots of dry-firing drills) and a dented muzzle crown; he replaced the springs to fix the cylinder timing issues, replaced the firing pin and re-made the muzzle crown to make the gun serviceable again.

Using "bulk" ammo (Winchester Wildcat, Federal American Eagle LRN and Blazer LRN) of his 2 revolvers the S&W is a tad more accurate, with a lighter single action trigger; when testing the rental SP-101 he got pretty much the same results as with the Single Six.

 

Well it seems im limited to blued ruger ss with a 4.6" barrel, stainless ruger ss with 6.5" barrel, ruger sp 101 or a used smith and wesson. Sp 101 goes about $300 more than that blued ruger. Though choices I'd bet that main reason i would go for the ruger ss is the WMR cylinder.


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9 1/2"

I vote for the longer sight radius. I've taken many squirrel & rabbit with mine, it even got me started in IHMSA Silhouette. Back when I got it Ruger offered a well built flap holster for them. Been traipsing around with it for 30 years or more.

 

I have a 9 1/2" bought in the early 90s. and a 6 1/2" bought in the late 90s. Back in the early 80s. I had one, I think was 4 1/2". As someone mentioned the velocity of the mags. can be noticed, with the longer barrel. For years that's all I shot out of the 9 1/2" . They were very accurate, out of that gun, and it was my squirrel hunter. Now I don't hunt no more, and its L R.
If you can try the one's your thinking of, The different lengths will roll back, and come back to target, a bit different.
Either one, will make you smile!
And when you get some ammo, one of your other guns don't like, it won't be a waste. Mine will shoot anything.

 

All of that ^^

But especially the last paragraph.

 

i really like my 5 1/2" barrel single six, It seems to find it's way into the bag whenever I go to the range.

 

I have never seen a SP 101 much less shot one. I have an older S&W K 22, and a 50th anniversary model single six, with fixed sights S&W has 5" barrel and Patridge target sights, wide trigger, hammer and large Magma grips. The trigger pull on the S&W is much better , about 2 1/4 lbs vs 3 1/2 on the Ruger. Shooting is no comparison, the S&W wins hands down,but I did grow up shooting a K 22 and it just handles better to me. The other thing I like is that it loads and unloads much quicker and easier.

 

The other thing I like is that it loads and unloads much quicker and easier.

Not really. Once you build some skill in manipulating the single action, the only advantage the double action has is with speedloaders.

 

I just picked up a new Super Single Six Conv 6 1/2" in stainless....I would have bought a 9 1/2" if they made one. Unless you're a quick draw arteest, longer is better IMHO.

 

my super single six has a 9 and 1/4 inch barrel. I used it for IHMSA sihlouettes for a few years, you dont see many short barreled revolvers in the IHMSA matches, the ram target is 100 yards awsy and you have to knock it over to count. the only change I have made to it are pachmyer grips and a trigger job of my own. still shoot it, but the IHMSA matches have gone away. a few rabits and squirrels now.

 

I have had a 4 5/8" , 5 1/2", and 9 1/2" Single Six over the years . The 45/8" is very handy but I have settled on the 5 1/2" as the best combination of accuracy and handyness for my use.

I carry mine for hunting as a back up . Mostly for small game , yotes, and feral pigs. My new Williams fire sights have greatly improved the utility of my gun. I think the usefulness of a single action gun is underestimated these days.

 

When I bought my Single Six (At a gun show) There were three of them laying there on the table.

A 4 1/2", a 5 1/2", and a 6 1/2".

I handled all three quite a bit trying to decide what I liked and didn't like about each one.

Obviously, the short one was lighter and would have made a good "Trail Pistol".

The longer barrel seemed to offer a steadier sight picture, and I liked the way the weight was balanced more to the front. It just seemed to "Hang" better when pointed.

Because I do almost all my shooting at a pistol range, it seemed like the longer pistol was the one for me.

After closely inspecting the three pistols, I saw that the long barreled one was also the better looking of the three and that was it- I bought the 6 1/2" one.

 

both of mine have been the longer , without checking with the measuring tape ill say 7 1/2"

i shoot SASS - im using both 4 3/4" and 5 1/2" revolvers , i started out prefering the 4 3/4 as the handle well , i have far more of them consequentially , but ive grown far fonder of the 5 1/2 - just shoots better , but these are all 45 colt , i do have one 7 1/2" cavalry model but it seems a bit long for the purpose ,

 

Over the years I have had several firearms, at the same time, that are of the same caliber but different bbl lengths. They ranged from 4.6" to 7.5", 22s and 44s. I will say that the 5.5" handguns always seem to be best for me. I guess it must be the balance.