Cowboy/western style 22lr revolver - Need help

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CZ-Guy

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I've been looking for a cowboy/western style revolver in 22lr. It appears that Ruger pretty much dominates this area with the single-six/ten. However, I wanted to get some input on other options, such as Uberti, Heritage, etc... My budget will allow up to around $700.

My 7-year old is helping make the pick based solely on how much it looks like a real cowboy gun. For him, this means as long as it has wood grips. :)

I'm more of a semi-auto guy, so I must confess I don't know a lot about wheel guns, especially authentic (or nearly so) western-style. Any advise towards (or away from) a particular piece would help.

Thanks.
 
I think the single six or single ten is heads and tails above the others.
 
Cowboy 22lr

CZ GUY: I have been shooting RUGERS for 40 years now and never had a problem with any of them. My SON and I are real RUGER fans and have several both in RF & CF. You can`t beat a Ruger they always work and you wpuld have to work at it to break one. The other guns you mentioned do not compare to a Ruger in my opion and when you get thru with it you can just give it to your SON. I live in CARTHAGE MO from 1959 thru 1965 till I went in to the ARMY. A Ruger is a great gun to plink with or hunt with. Good Luck To You: ken
 
While I've handled a Heritage and thought it was OK for the price for my money I'd rather pay more and get the Ruger. Then you KNOW you've got a gun which you and your son can use together for many years, nay, decades to come without wearing much of anything out. When your own 7 year old grows up and has his own son all three of you will be able to go out and shoot that same Ruger Single Six or Ten. And someday your son and grandson will be still shooting it and commenting on how it reminds them of the good times when you were around.

And all that time the Ruger will continue to operate outside of maybe some minor internal part replacements.

I'm not sure that we're going to see the same longevity from a Heritage based on the choice of materials used.
 
single six rugers are great guns, same quality in the ten but not me. I do have a heritage as well could have done a lot worse for 100$.
 
I just put 150rds through a brand new Single Six yesterday and could not have been more impressed. Go with the Ruger, you wont be disappointed.
 
adaf4ab1-46ca-7d10.jpg Don't deal in those lesser brands.... Get a Ruger or if you can find one, even slightly used, Colt's Frontier Scout 22WSM.

I mean look at that baby......
 
With that much to spend you might want to see if you can find a nice used Colt Peacemaker Scout. This particular model was made during the '70s and featured a color case hardened steel frame, black composition stocks, and had an extra .22Mag cylinder. Looked everything like a slightly downsized Colt SAA. I don't think you can get any more of authentic looking cowboy/western style .22LR revolver than a Peacemaker Scout. If you prefer to have adjustable sights Colt made the New Frontier Scout during the same time period.
 
Ruger Bearcat. Quality revolver, looks the part, not too expensive, can be had blued or stainless, and it's the right size for 7-year-old hands.
 
Thanks for the recommendations on the Colt models. I may see what I can find. I'll handle a couple of the other Rugers as well, like the Bearcat. Thanks everyone.
 
I picked up a used Colt with adjustable sights in very nice condition for under $400.00 came with .22lr cylinder and I found a .22wmr cylinder later. I think it is called a new frontier. I have only used it with the .22lr cylinder so far. Used it last fall for small game hunting. My daughter likes the small frame and small grips.

David
 
I'll second the Bearcat. If this is for a 7 year old, that's a gun he can grow into. He'll enjoy it now, and I have to say, I still think they're fun.
 
These. The Single Six was new in 1961 and has seen a few miles since then. The Bearcat is newer, to me. I gave around $400 for it ANIB. The Single Six was $63.50. I think they cost more now, but still a good deal. Either one, he'll pass on to his kids.

005-5.jpg
 
Single Six, Bearcat, or Colt.
I have an H&R that is close, but not quite "authentic cowboy" looking.
 
I have a colt new frontier that is crazy fun. and it is about as cowboy looking as they come :)
 
I gave $200. for a Frontier Scout if I could have found a deal on a used Ruger I would have bought it but for me the only choice was between Colt or Ruger.
 
Colts later SA 22's with the case color steel frames were a significant step above the alloy framed scout revolvers. Find a used Peacemaker or used New Frontier version with the adjustable sights - you won't regret it.

Plan on spending the $700
 
I've had my own Single Six out to a few of my club's Jr .22 evenings. Some pretty small kids have held and shot the gun.

So while I agree that the Bearcat would fit small hands better it would not be many years at all before they are just as able with the full size Single "Something". And in the meantime they are quite able to manage with the bigger Single "Something" just fine.
 
I have a Uberti in 45 Colt, and I love it! It's much more accurate than I am.
It has a VERY thin blade for the front sight, which helps with accuracy.

It also is an exact replica of the early Peacemakers, in that the firing pin is mounted on the hammer.
So there's no safety block.
It would behoove the owner to carry it with only 5 rounds chambered, load one, skip one, load four.
A sixth round would be right under the firing pin, so if it were dropped, or handled roughly, it could very easily discharge.
The Ruger models have a hammer safety block to prevent this, but that makes them different from the original Old West type models.

Another very inexpensive gun would be the Heritage Rough Rider.
These usually come with 2 cylinders, one for 22lr & one for 22wrm (Winchester Rimfire Magnum)
They usually run about $150 - $200 or so.
I've had one & can say, they're OK, nothing exciting about 'em.
(sold mine to finance a Beretta Bobcat)
 
I don't have any experience with any 22 revolvers other than the Ruger New Model Single Six.

I have a 22 LR/mag convertible with a 5 1/2 inch barrel, rosewood grips, stainless. I like it. Massive quality, massive utility. I can't communicate how much I like it.

That said, #1 son loves the thing. Low recoil. Shiny. Pretty wood grips. We shoot all sorts of stuff through it. The 22 LR Aquila Supercolibri makes it sound like a cap gun and the 22 mag shoots flame and thunder.

A home run as far as the son (and I) is concerned.
 
I don't have any experience with any 22 revolvers other than the New Model Single Six.

I have a 22 LR/mag convertible with a 5 1/2 inch barrel, adjustable sights, rosewood grips, stainless. I like it. Massive quality, massive utility. I can't communicate how much I like it.

That said, #1 son loves the thing. Low recoil. Shiny. Pretty wood grips. We shoot all sorts of stuff through it. The 22 LR Aquila Supercolibri makes it sound like a cap gun and the 22 mag shoots flame and thunder.

A home run as far as the son (and father) is concerned.
 
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