[offshorebear]

I've never had a pistol and I'm looking to buy one soon. I also don't have a .22 and its getting expensive to shoot a lot of high power rifle rounds. I've convinced myself that I want a .22 wheel gun. I'd also like it to shoot .22mag for a little more punch.

I've been looking on the internet and a few guns always come up. Heritage Manufacturing Rough Rider and the Ruger Single Six. I don't mind the single action and I love the western look of these guns. Are there any others I should be looking at? I don't want to spend a lot of money on what will just be a plinker.

[Quigley]

Not a big Ruger fan but the Single 6 or a convertible would be an affordable and reliable option for you!

[Mr White]

I've had both. I got rid of the Rough Rider and bought a Single Six. I doubt I'll ever get rid of the Single Six.

There really is no comparison between the two guns other than the fact that they are both .22 single action revolvers. You'll pay over double the cost of a RR for a SS but its money well spent. The SS is made with the same qualiy standards as the Ruger Blackhawk, and that says a LOT! The RR is a $150 gun and you get what you pay for.

If you want a gun right now and don't want to wait til you save for a SS, buy a RR and start saving for the SS that you'll want to buy when the RR breaks or wears out.

Just my $.02

[dubious]

I'm in LOVE with my Heritage Rough Rider... its way more accurate then I ever expected and has been 100% reliable. I thought all rimfires were supposed to misfire occassionally, but not misfires with this one yet after 1500 rounds.

[Mr White]

duplicate post

[oklahoma caveman]

i would say single six. hands down they are accurate reliable aesthetically appealing. they are the perfect 22 revolver

[ImARugerFan]

Single six is what you want if you're after a single action.

[kentucky_smith]

Or you can find an older steel-framed Colt New Frontier .22. Bunch of them still out there in the $400 range. Mines a better shooter than my Browning target.


http://www.gunsamerica.com/UserImages/85605/969182430/pop_wm_716208.jpg



http://www.gunsamerica.com/969182430/Guns/Pistols/Colt-Single-Action-Revolvers-Modern/COLT_SAA_NEW_FRONTIER_22_CONVERTIBLE_22LR_22MAG.htm

[offshorebear]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm not all that crazy about spending over 300 bucks for a .22. If I'm going to spend that much I think I'd rather spend a bit more and buy a "real" pistol.

Hopfully I'll be able to get to the Pittsburgh gun show this weekend and look around. Which brings up another question, what do I look for when shopping for used revolvers? I don't think I've even held one since I was a kid. Besides the normal things for all guns, what special things should I take note if in a revolver?

[Steve F]

Check out the 'sticky" at the top of the revolver section. Full of great info:D

[22-rimfire]

I'm not all that crazy about spending over 300 bucks for a .22. If I'm going to spend that much I think I'd rather spend a bit more and buy a "real" pistol.

Sounds like a you are the perfect candidate for a Heritage Rough Rider or Ruger Single Six. The Ruger may even be a little pricey for you. What makes you think a 22 is not a "real" pistol?

[Shel]

Taurus 94?

[wuchak]

If you get a good .22 it is likely to the gun you have for the rest of your life and the one you fire the most rounds through. Once you have one you'll find it hard to go to the range without putting at least a few rounds through it.

If you're also open to DA check the auctions for the old High Standard revolvers. They were 9 shot DA some had 22 mag cylinders. A decent one can be had for under $150 +shipping and FFL. Depending on where you are located there might be one sitting in a local gun or pawn shop.

[Just Jim]

Remember though 22 mag ammo is $10 for fifty rounds. I can still buy 9mm for less and have cases to reload.

jj

[Gaucho Gringo]

I have had a Ruger Single Six and I sold it for as much as paid for it. I now have a Heritage Rough Rider and although I know I will not get as much as paid for it if I sell it, I have no intentions of selling it. I like the gun too much to sell it. It does what I want it to do and it cost me less than half of what I sold the Ruger for. The Heritage does every thing I want it to do and that is all I ask. If you look at my signature I also own a .357 Ruger BH and a .357 Taurus Gaucho. I buy the guns I like & enjoy, not the ones everyone else say I should own. I guess I am getting a little crusty in my late 50's.

[22-rimfire]

Custy is good sometimes. You challenge the going wisdom and present alternatives based on your experience.

[PennsyPlinker]

I've got a Ruger Single Six right now, as well as a Walther P22. In the past I have owned a Taurus 94 and a Baretta Bobcat. When I was looking the Single Six at the gun shop, there was a Taurus 94 sitting next to it for almost the same price. I tried it out as well, wondering if maybe I should not have traded mine last year. But the Ruger was a whole lot more gun in my estimation. If felt nicer, the action was smoother, and overall it was much more substantial.

It is mainly a plinker, but it is great for practicing those skills which help me hold my .45s better. It is also useful for dispatching varmints, pigeons in the barn, cats that get hit by cars (the neighbors on either side have an inexhaustible supply it seems), etc. I like it better than the Walther, which I keep mainly for the kids and grandkids.

[offshorebear]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I'm still leaning to the Rough Rider but I'm going to look into all the other guns mentioned in this thread. I'll have my first wheel gun soon enough :)

[woad_yurt]

How about an H&R 676? Comes with a .22LR and a .22 magnum cylinder. That's in under your $300 cap.

[foghornl]

I have a Single-Six right now (.22LR & .22Mag cylinders), and it is WAAAAYY UP on the 'fun gun' list.

Plus, it is a heck of a lot cheaper to shoot than my .357 Blackhawk/Vaquero.

I did own a Bearcat a while back, but it was just a fraction too small for my ham-fists, complete with sausage-fingers...AKA 'Fat Hands Syndrome'

[hawkeye1]

I have a couple Single Sixes. They are great guns, no regrets. I also just came across High Standard Longhorn. 22lr/22mag single action western style revolver. Great gun. Good shooter. You might be able to find one on Gunbroker.

good shooting

[KI.W.]

How aboat those cheep things, is the timing ok. I think spitting trash betwiin barrel and cynlinder. :rolleyes:

[betes]

I have always been with the "buy quality and only cry once" crowd. Since I knew it was a gun I was likely to keep all my life, I had no problem spending a little more on a revolver I thought would last that long.

[MatthewVanitas]

Definitely keep a sharp eye out for a used Single Six at the gunshow.

I've run across Ruger Single Sixes for as low as $175-195 at pawnshops.

Further, if you watch the gun auction boards for a few weeks, they occasionally sell (not just list, not counting "Reserve not Met") the Single Six for as low as $180. Of course, that would include $20 in shipping and $15 in transfer, minimum, but wouldn't have sales tax.


I've owned H&R .22 revos, some off-brand .22 revos similar to the Rough Rider (FIE, Buffalo Scout, etc), and Ruger Single Sixes and Ruger Bearcat. The Ruger models were well worth the money if there's any chance you'll be holding on to this purchase for more than a year or so. A new $150 Rough Rider probably won't sell for more than $100 used, but a used Single Six can most likely be sold for what you paid for it.

The Ruger is a solid chunk of steel, the H&R are slightly less solid chunks of steel, and the other brands are a mix of steel and aluminum/alloy.

[Shawnee]

+1 for the Ruger Single-Six convertible 22lr/22 Mag.

Have had and loved mine since 1969.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y159/FiveO/22SS62.jpg

:cool:

[22-rimfire]

You may check around and you might find a used H&R 22 revolver that is pretty good for well under your price range. The H&R 999 Sportsman comes to mind. The H&R's aren't Colts or Smiths, but they aren't bad overall. That was my first revolver that I owned years ago.

In case I didn't say it, the Ruger Single Six is an excellent revolver and is a very good value in a 22 revolver. I don't own one. Just don't need one with the other choices I have. The best choice is probably a Smith Model 17 (or current model 617) double action for an all around 22 revolver. It just doesn't fit within your budget constraints unless you are lucky and find a good one used.

[Doug S]

I like the Ruger Bearcat. Fixed sights though, not adjustable like on the SS. Also a little smaller. Well worth the money.

[spiroxlii]

Ok... I don't recommend junk, especially where firearms are concerned, since I never want anybody to get hurt on my account. If I ever recommend an inexpensive gun to somebody, it's because I either own one or know somebody who owns one and hasn't regretted it.

If you look in my sig, you'll see that I own both a Heritage Mfg. Rough Rider and an H&R Model 649 .22 revolver. I got the Heritage new for about $150. I got the H&R used for $70. Both of them have swap-out cylinders so you can use them for .22short/long/lr with one cylinder and .22mag with the other cylinder. That gives you flexibility with ammo choices. Which one do I like better? That's hard to say. I like both just fine.

The H&R is heavier and gives me the option of firing double action, but the DA trigger pull isn't the best in the world (though it's adequate), so I usually fire it single action. It's pretty accurate, and it feels like it's built more sturdily than the Heritage. H&R isn't really H&R anymore (another company bought the name), so you won't find one of these revolvers new. If you can get a used one, go for it.

The Heritage Mfg. Rough Rider is lighter (but that doesn't affect recoil much since .22 recoil is mild anyway), and even though I said the H&R felt like it was heavier and sturdier, I think the Rough Rider feels more than sturdy enough to handle .22 and .22mag. It's single-action only, but then again, I usually operate the H&R as a single action revolver too, so that's not really a strike against the Rough Rider. The Rough Rider is still in production, so you can find one easily.

Timing on both guns is good. I've never had one "spit" lead at me. Accuracy is pretty good out of both. Your desire for a low-cost and cheap-to-operate .22 revolver would be satisfied by either weapon.

[MassMan]

Years ago my brother had a Ruger Single Six in stainless he wanted to sell. I had shot the gun quite a bit with him and really enjoyed it. However, I had just picked up a K-22 and didn't want to drop more money in another 22. Boy AM I SORRY I didn't. A great little plinker in mint condition and he only wanted $100.