GunTalk-Online.com

Will the new black plastic or hard rubber grips work on a mid seventies single six? Thanks Shelby Chastain

I believe the answer is a guarded yes. This link may help

http://www.gunblast.com/Hamm_Ruger-SA-GripFrames.htm

The new Single Six grip frame is an XR3-RED grip frame and is the same as all New Model Single Six grip frames......with the exception of the Bisley of course. The black plastic grips will fit on all XR3-RED grip frames. The older flat back wooden grips likewise should fit the new XR3-RED grip frame with the lock. I have installed a couple of these with no alterations needed......I hate the black plastic ones.

I don't particularly care for the new black rubber/plastic grips. They are all right on a single six, but I didn't like them at all on my BH .45. Even though Ruger seems to differentiate grips on pre and post-lock revolvers, I think they are interchangeable. I swapped the black plastic grips from my post-lock .45 and the pre-lock single six with no problems. See http://www.guntalk-online.com/forum/vie ... c&start=15

I've had folks who sell grips at gun shows absolutely swear they are not interchangeable. I believe Pachmeyer grips for the BH have a cutout for the lock in a different place than the lock on my BlackHawk.

The grip frames on all Blackhawks/SS measure about .500" thick. This is wider than the internal lock, so all XR3-RED grips will fit whether recessed or not. If you go to the Ruger website, you will find they sell separate grips for lock and non-lock grip frames. Sometimes Ruger does things that really make you wonder.

However, when they made the modern copy of the XR3 grip frame for the 50th Ann/New Vaquero/Montado/Lipsey's 44 Spl., they made the frame .437 thick, which is thinner than the lock. So when you buy a set of grips for one of these models, they need to have a cutout for the lock........go figure!

If you scroll down the page in this link, you will see a diagram showing the difference in shape of Ruger Grip Frames complements of Cary Chapman. He makes some beautiful grips.......

http://rugerforum.net/ruger-single-acti ... -swap.html

I've seen Gary Chapman's grips. They are quite nice.

I have a 2009 production stainless Single-Six. Ruger has not yet put the internal lock on the stainless single actions, for whatever reason.

I ordered grip panels from the Ruger online store. They were too small. Over a 16th of frame showing all around. They were returned, and in the process the Ruger rep told me the new black grips would be too small, as well.

I have two sets of Hogue cocobolo for it now. They fit well, but not perfect. There is a hair's width of frame showing past the wood all the way around, with a bit more showing at the bottom corners. Hogue sells lock and nonlock grips. There must be some difference someway.

One of the things I have noticed over the years is the lack of fit with Ruger Grips. I don't know if the variance is in the frames or the grips , but it seems not two fit exactly the same. I have 4 Blackhawk/Single Sixes with XR3-RED grip frames and even thought the grip panels will interchange, they do not necessarily have an exact fit to the frame. So I guess there is some variance in the grip frame..........but that being said, the XR3-RED grip frames grips will interchange.

Sort of OT, but I have wondered why Ruger didn't make the Single 6 a Single 8. It seems like there is enough space to make it an 8 shot cylinder? I have seen other .22 revolvers that held more than 6 shots....?

Good question! It seems that they are in the mood to make changes to interest their customers into staying with their products. This might be a question you could ask them directly via their contact info on their website. Who knows, you may influence the next generation of Ruger Rimfire revolvers.

R,
Bullseye

shelby1941 wrote:Will the new black plastic or hard rubber grips work on a mid seventies single six? Thanks Shelby Chastain

I recently purchased a new single-six. I also have a Black Hawk from the late 60's. I still have the walnut grips from that revolver because I replaced them with Herrett Shooting Star grips.

Before the gun arrived, I called Ruger customer support to ask about grip compatibility. The lady told be that the old X3-RED grips would not fit the new single-six with the frame lock. She used the fact that there is a new grip part number for guns with the frame lock to prove her point.

Turns out, she was wrong. When the gun came, my 60's grips fit just fine. Then I was lucky enough to find some old Shooting Stars in real nice condition on e-Bay and they fit fine also.

I believe the only difference with the new part number grips is that they have a scribe mark if you want to drill a hole to use the frame lock key without removing the grip panel. The owners manual says to drill a small hole from the inside out on the scribed mark. Then drill a larger hole from the outside in. I would never drill a hole in the walnut grips, but that is just me.

So the only reason for the new grips is to make it easy to drill a hole at the right location. That is all.

Actually, you have to give Ruger credit. The cheapest solution for them would have been to just start putting the scribe mark in all their grips, and keep the same part number. But that might have caused some confusion, so they went to the expense of a new part number. There is this old engineering rule about changing part numbers if you change form, fit, or function. Ruger must believe it.

wlambert

Yep the grips will fit. I've seen Ruger grips for lock models with a rhombus the size of a lock about 1/8" deep on the center of the inside of the grip. It looks like a lock, except they weren't where the locks are. Not sure which revolver they are for.