Already a fan of Ruger’s long-discontinued double-action Security-Six, Police Service-Six and Speed-Six revolvers, I simply couldn’t pass up the opportunity to acquire one of the latter in 9 mm Luger when an unfired, 42-year-old example turned up at a gun show.
Having recently updated the magazine’s Exploded View coverage of the classic Six series (January 2025, p. 58), I knew that a 9 mm Luger Speed-Six was considered a collectible. Still, after studying up on the cartridge’s ballistics from short-barreled revolvers, and becoming convinced that loading rimless rounds via moon clips was likely to outpace loading a rimmed-cartridge revolver with speedloaders, I decided that the Speed-Six deserved to become a user.
I upgraded the Speed-Six’s reloading capabilities by ordering full-moon clips from T/K Custom (tkcustom.com), which offers its stainless-steel Ruger Security Six & Speed 9mm Moon Clips Slits in various quantities including a four pack ($40). They can be loaded without using a tool, and the company offers a clever unloading tool (above).
The first order of business was making the Speed-Six more shootable by way of aftermarket stocks, which came in the form of NOS vintage Pachmayr Compacs from an online auction ($20). They’re even slimmer than the originals, yet their rubber material is profiled to fill the hand and better attenuates recoil from 9 mm Luger +P loads. In addition, I hoped to upgrade the stock serrated-ramp front sight, though virtually no cataloged solutions exist. Taking a chance, I looked at one from XS Sights (xssights.com) designed for S&W J-frames and some Ruger SP-101 revolvers. The Standard Dot Revolver Front Sight ($65) features a photoluminescent green dot with tritium center and a pre-drilled stem. And while the company advises that it was not designed for the Speed-Six, I found that it tapped right into place and that the holes aligned. It glows brightly in low-light conditions, which makes for quick aiming, and it enhances the revolver’s low profile by tapering downward toward the front.
Specific-fit holsters for the Six series are not common, but there are several IWB options, including: (below, l. to r.): the Don Hume (donhume.com) H715-M WCS ($46); the Wright Leatherworks Banshee ($145) (wrightleatherworks.com); and the Kramer Leather #4 in horse hide ($170) (kramerleather.com). All exhibit excellent craftsmanship and fit and provide varying degrees of comfort and concealment depending on the belt/pants combination.
Finding an efficient way to carry the full-moon clips of 9 mm Luger cartridges proved more difficult. Options are limited, particularly those for discreet carry. After some experimentation, I found that a reload fits inside a 1¼” copper plumbing cap (l.). When used with Specter Gear’s (spectergear.com) nylon Belt Mounted Speedloader Holder ($16), worn upside down, the cap is retained by the holder’s elastic band, and the reload simple falls into my hand when I open it. I also decided to place an order with Ruger (shopruger.com) for its .45 Caliber Moon Clip Case 2-Pack ($15), hoping that the polymer carriers, designed to “split” a full moon clip of six .45 ACP cartridges on either side of a belt, might provide adequate retention for the 9 mm Luger reload—and I was pleased to find that they do (far l.).
With all those upgrades, the Speed-Six in 9 mm Luger is now a go-to gun for everyday carry that melds the best of old-school durability with up-to-date features—making it a true carry-ready classic.
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