If it were me and I wanted a 22 mag pistol, I'd buy one already set up for 22 mag. Sounds like you are going to have to remove some steel somewhere! Unless you know what your doing I would not do that.

 

I had a new model that only had the magnum cylinder. I bought a LR cylinder off ebay and it dropped in. Timing and lockup were right on. It even had the exact same cylinder gap.

 

The big thing to watch out for is how old is your 3 screw?
Can't remember the rough change date but Ruger changed bore or rifling dimensions and the earlier versions don't play well with .22 magnum bullets.
Otherwise the cylinders "usually" drop right in.

 

What John said. Early "bore" size was .217-.219, the "groove" size was .223. The Magnums have a .224 groove size, with a .220-221 bore. The change date was somewhere around serial number 150,000 if I remember right. I'm sure there are examples, but I have yet to see another cylinder that wasn't a drop in fit. Between the old model and new model, there will be a fit problem.

 

I think when I checked it was early 1970s. I’ll have to check again but I seem to remember 71 (or 73?)🤔 I seem to remember maybe they changed to the new model in 1973 (?)and mine was made in 71...

 

You should leave your old Single Six as is. As others have said "the bore is too small for .22 mag".

 

Got one from my Father years back. Must have been in the 80s so I'am guessing the pistol was in the 70s Model? It was a SS LR so I just shipped it off to Ruger, had them fit a Mag cylinder. Done deal and no worries if it was done right or not. Now it's a "convertible".

 

Hmmmm?? My Single Six was made in 1962 and has a 22WMR cylinder. The gent I bought it from said he had the 22LR cylinder in a bag somewhere and if he ever found it he’d ship it to me. Are you guys saying pre-early 70’s Single Sixes shouldn’t be shot with 22WMR?

 

Hmmmm?? My Single Six was made in 1962 and has a 22WMR cylinder. The gent I bought it from said he had the 22LR cylinder in a bag somewhere and if he ever found it he'd ship it to me. Are you guys saying pre-early 70's Single Sixes shouldn't be short with 22WMR?

According to a report I just chased down the first 22WMR Ruger Single Six came out in 1962

 

My problem with sending it back to Ruger is I was told they “have” to for liability reasons put the transfer bar conversion in at the same time no matter what. Now I’ve also heard they send all the original trigger parts back to you so you can “convert it back” if you desire, but like I said the SA trigger on this gun is so sweet I don’t want anybody messing with it! Maybe I just wait until someday the trigger is TOO light to be safe then I send it back to them...

I never had much use for a .22 mag anyway...😎

 

What’s funny is my favorite .22 before I picked up the Single Six was my bull barrel .22/45 Ruger...not only have I never shot it since I bought the old ‘Six, I had it for sale at the last show!😎

 

Funny, I really like 22WMR. From what I’ve seen it has more muzzle energy than a .380 and I think it just looks good. In any event, not sure why you’d ever want to send it to the factory to have a cylinder fitted. They absolutely will install a transfer bar and that click, click, click, click when cocking will go away and that’s one of the things that makes them so darn cool. Gotta be a good gunsmith in Indiana that is more than qualified to do the job.

 

Fitting a new cylinder in a revolver is a BIG PIA.
Get it wrong and there can be a expensive hospital bill and ALLOT of questions to answer.

 

Well the auction on the wmr cylinder is getting up there, I will probably pass. Yeah the factory route I never considered, because I don’t want the transfer bar installed, the trigger is just too good. I’m not sure I would ever need much less use the wmr, I guess I just want the possibility because it originally had both cylinders.

 

I can almost guarantee that .22 magnum and .22 LR Single Sixes ALL use the same bore diameter.