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An answer to Colt's Detective Special and Smith & Wesson's Chiefs Special, the Ruger Speed-Six revolver was intended for use by plainclothes detectives and others desiring a more concealable handgun. The revolver, a variant of the Ruger Security-Six and Service-Six, incorporates fixed sights and a round-butt frame, and was available in .357 Mag., .38 Spl., .38 S&W (.380-200), and 9 mm Luger. The standard barrel lengths available were the same as those for the Service-Six, but also included a 3" length in certain law-enforcement contract orders, until the agencies using the revolver ultimately adopted .40 cal. semi-automatic pistols. For more on the the Ruger Speed-Six revolver, watch this "I Have This Old Gun" segment from a recent episode of American Rifleman TV.
Despite the incredible array of polymer-frame, striker-fired, semi-automatic handguns on the market, the classic revolver not only refuses to die, it has seen something of a resurgence in recent years.
For 2026, the semi-automatic shotgun market has seen even more growth, with some manufacturers expanding their current offerings and other makers entering the marketplace with novel designs.
For the past 100 years, the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI) has established the standards that ensure our safety when using modern shotshells, cartridges, firearms and more.