I am pondering a Ruger Single Six purchase. Have access to a .22rf/.22Mag version with 8" barrel , and a .22Rf only with 5 1/2" barrel.

How much effect does that extra couple of inches have on the balance of the gun when comparing barrel length? The interchangeable cylinder is a bonus but is the longer barrel too unwieldy in a real-world usage sense?

Thanks in advance.

I find the longer barrels to be very unwieldy, especially when lugging the thing around! The longer barrel might help with the velocity of the 22 mag round which does lose a lot when shot from a shorter barrel. I have the same gun with a 5 1/2 inch barrel. From a rest, the longer barrel should give better accuracy using open sights, but you could achieve the same result with a red dot or scope for hunting or plinking.
Peter.

I am not a fan of convertibles or of long barrels for a .22. I would stay with 5.5 in .22 LR. If you are going to buy a new one, look at the new single ten....a great little revolver and the ten shot cylinder is a real plus.

the 22 mag is a bit larger diameter than 22 lr, so you seldom get good accuracy firing a lr in a mag gun. However in your case it might be wise to get the longer barrel. it'll get the aussie fans a bit further away while you beat them over the head with it

My Single Six has a 6.5" barrel on a Stainless set up and I've found great accuracy with it in the .22lr mode and when hunting find the 6.5" barrel to be a plus.

It's not a Colt but it's close.

Thanks Gents , appreciate the input. Pretty much confirmed my original thoughts on barrel length , although I confess Butch did approach it from an angle I had given much thought to..

I've had my Single Six for over 20 yrs. It is in the 5 1/2" and is very accurate in both. I really love it. Point and shoot. Bang, flop.

Crap butch I didn't read the last of your post. LOL!

Went for the 8 1/2 barrel version with 2 cylinders. Also scored a holster off a nice guy on GB , and am just waiting for a fine weekend to go try it out .

May yet need it for defence purposes the way I seem to attract unfriendly Aussies over in the NZ/Aussie forum ..haha

I haven't examined the new Ruger Single Six Convertibles, but I had a very old mode Super Single Six. The the 22 magnum was setup on the old ones was that the cylinder had a choke in it to size the larger diameter 22 magnum bullet before entering the barrel. So the barrel dimensions were purely 22 rimfire. With that said the revolver was very accurate with 22 rimfire and the magnums weren't too shabby for accuracy out of it. It's easy to look at the magnum cylinder and see if they still use the choke or if they have continued making them the old way.

If I had a choice between the two barrel lengths you mentioned I'm opt for the 5 1/2 because it would pack around better.

In a perfeck world I would have gone for the 5 1/2 or 6 inch barrel too , but down here these things arent exactly dime a dozen so its more a case of whats on offer .

I have yet to fire the wee beasty , although I have discovered it was made in 1976