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I saw a used Ruger SAA in 22 with only a long rifle cylinder and was wondering if it was originally made with a magnum cylinder. The serial number is 263-11437 and was made about '92 or '93. Can you help?

Yes, it should have. Did you mean Ruger Single Six? Check with Ruger, they should be able to fit one for you.

I think all Single-Six's had dual cylinders. Mine is a 1977 model and I have both. You can find them in vendor's part's box's at gun show's. I use to see them all the time.

I would like one with only a long rifle cylinder as it shoots better because of the tighter bore. That's why I'm checking. They don't all have two cylinders.

According to R.L. Wilson's book, Ruger And His Guns, 1986 was the last year you could get a Single-Six with just a LR cylinder. It was published in '96, so maybe they were available again between '96 and now. You could call Ruger in Newport and see, at 1-603-865-2442.

My serial is 264-, on my 5.5 inch barrel stainless model, which was made in late 2008. It has both cylinders. Seems your serial 263- would have been made much more recent than '92-'93.

Ruger22: Thanks for the info. Called Ruger and they said the gun was made in '95 as a convertable.

John fox wrote:I would like one with only a long rifle cylinder as it shoots better because of the tighter bore. That's why I'm checking. They don't all have two cylinders.

Actually, the bore is 22WMR size, which is larger than 22LR. the base of the LR bullet "slugs up" to fit.

If I remember correctly, a .22 LR bore is .223, and WMR is .225. That's two thousandths of an inch, which I don't think matters a lot. My Single Six is about as accurate as my Mark III. Any difference is likely due to my 5.5 inch barrel Single Six having a shorter sight radius than my 5.5 inch barrel Mark III.

Just for my own curiosity, I checked SAAMI specs. What it says is--
.22 long rifle
Bullet dia. .2225 in.
Bore dia. .217
Grove dia. .222

.22 WMR
Bullet dia. .2245 in.
Bore dia. .219
Grove dia. .224

I really didn't know exactly, so I checked.

I've had a Ruger Single Six for many years, and I can't tell any accuracy difference between the long rifle, or magnum cylinders/cartidges.
I do know that when shooting at dusk, near dark, the amount of flame out of the barrel of the Mag is pretty impressive.

Mine is a bit more consistent with mags than lr, but at the price of mags for cutting paper, I very rarely shoot them. I don't recall much difference between mags and lr's up to 25 yards. Mine is a bit picky with lr ammo and seems to do better with 40gr lead SV's. Fun shooting revolver. When I do my part well, it does pretty well with lr's.

Medicine Hat wrote:Just for my own curiosity, I checked SAAMI specs. ...............I really didn't know exactly, so I checked.

Thanks, I was too lazy to look it up. At least I remembered the .002" difference correctly.