Heritage Arms Rough Riders... Any good?

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So admittidly, this is a pure and simple impulse buy. But I'm probably going to go pick up a .22 LR/.22 Mag Rough Rider later today. The one they have is the satin 6.5" barrel model.

So what do you guys think? Decent enough gun for the money? Do they hold up after a lot of use? I was planning on a Ruger Single Ten, but I've been wanting something in .22 Mag, and this covers both both at a lower price. Since I'm thinking .22LR/Mag guns, do you think the Ruger Single Six Convertible would be a better way to go?

Opinions and insight are welcome.
 
My borther inlaw has a RR in 10" with adjustable sites which he had to order it, my slainless steel Ruger Six Single with 6.5" barrel will shoot tighter groups as we have compared them.

If you go Ruger then buy a used one at your LGS as i would think they stand behind there guns even used, a slainless steel model like mine should run around $400 used.
 
WCraven, yeah, I would likely go used on the Ruger. In the few minutes since I've posted this thread, I've sort of sold myself on a stainless single-six lol.

But I was wondering about accuracy. I don't expect much out of a $200 gun, but how were the group sizes, and what distance?
 
Of the very few bench testing reports I've seen on Heritage, accuracy has not been very impressive. As I recall, three to four inches at 25yds was the best I've seen. A good Single Six should easily halve that and many will do an inch with preferred loads.
 
Good to know. Also somewhat expected.

And maybe I'm putting too much thought in it, but would the extra .002" diameter in the barrel to accommodate the WMR affect the LR? As in, would the convertible S6 with LR shoot as well as a dedicated S6 with LR? More of an academic question, than anything. Also, I'm just assuming that the barrel has a larger diameter. I don't know.
 
IMHO, way too much has been made about the compromise bore of a .22 Single Six convertible. Personally and this is just theory, I think that the way Ruger cuts their chambers has way more to do with the Single Six's accuracy than the bore diameter. We must also remember that these were never meant to be target pistols like the Colt Officer's and K-22's of old.

There hasn't been a dedicated .22LR Single Six since ~1968. All since that time have had the same barrels, convertible or not.
 
I shot his RR better then he did and maybe 15 yards but this was a 10" barrel , i would take my Ruger anyday over it, i took my CCW class with it (my Ruger) useing the 22WMR and the teacher said he would have to fail me (joking)because he couldn't count 21 shots out of 30 as most was in the same bullet hole which was 21' foot

When you look for a Single Six go by the serial number as there date coded by the first 3 number which Ruger has it on the site, i lucked up and got a 1986 model 261-XXXXX 261 mean 1986 and it's like new..


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target pistols like the Colt Officer's and K-22's of old

When i think of target pistols it's more like T/C Contender with a 10" superbull barrel which i have owned before in 22lr if you want a real target pistol.
 
S&W's and Colt's were the gold standard when revolvers were used for bullseye shooting.

The point being that Rugers are built to different standards and should not be expected to shoot as well as a S&W or Colt. Not what constitutes a "target pistol".
 
I had to poke at you some..lol but i know what your saying..

I had a 1993 model T/C with a scope and the trigger is adjustable, that thing would shoot half inch groups @ 50 yards with the 22lr and my 14" 35 Remington barrel was just as good.
 
Here is my new RIA 1911 in 45acp with fixed G.I. sights as i needed some range time with it and i'm getting older (46) it needs a trigger job (IMHO and that recoil) this was cheap 230 FMJ ball ammo @ 10 yards (8 shots) just to gave you idea of how i shoot, the Ruger would out shoot this gun all day.
014_zps5a2578fb.jpg

016-2_zpsf260adfd.jpg
 
I would take the Ruger any day over the RR. But, that being said, I have a RR and for the money its just fine. My kids and grandkids shoot it all the time and I dont have to worry about it getting banged up or scrached. The Ruger on the other hand only fits in my hand. The RR is a good little shooter for the money.
 
My kids and grandkids shoot it all the time and I dont have to worry about it getting banged up or scratched. The Ruger on the other hand only fits in my hand. The RR is a good little shooter for the money.
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I think that's a good purpose for them and can understand having one for that.
 
IMHO, way too much has been made about the compromise bore of a .22 Single Six convertible. Personally and this is just theory, I think that the way Ruger cuts their chambers has way more to do with the Single Six's accuracy than the bore diameter. We must also remember that these were never meant to be target pistols like the Colt Officer's and K-22's of old.

There hasn't been a dedicated .22LR Single Six since ~1968. All since that time have had the same barrels, convertible or not.
Click to expand...
Well I didn't know that they didn't have dedicated S6's. But yeah, like I said, just curious. I looked up some groups that people get with them, and can't complain. Long as it'll hit a golf ball at 25 yards, it's good enough for my purposes!

Nice shooting, WCRaven.
 
I'm with Bucktails on the general purpose of the RR. I have one I bought in November, and I really enjoy it. I haven't shot it beyond about fifteen yards, though, and I have not shot it outdoors. It's crisp, feels nice in the hand, and reliable.

But, I have not shot a Ruger. If I had one, the two guns would likely fill the roles Bucktails has his in: one as a "knock-around" gun, and the other as a "feel-good" one.
 
Nothing wrong with a Rough Rider. Decent gun for the money, but not as good quality as a Ruger. Lockup is tight, but the finish wears quickly.

The accuracy issue with a Rough Rider is the front sight. It is way too thin, making it difficult to pick up against some backgrounds. From what I've read here and elsewhere it is not uncommon for the front sight to be off center yielding poor accuracy. Mine shot low and left until I pulled the front sight off and replaced it with a 3/32" thick one of my own making. Dead nuts on now out to 25'.
 
For regular use, frequent plinking go Ruger for sure. I picked up a Rough Rider for my boys on Black Friday from academy for 99 bucks. They love it, and I couldn't pass on the price.
 
Same here, my LGS has the RR's on sale last week, so I picked up a 6.5" version. I already have a Ruger SS, but thought what the heck, I'll try one. Hopefully get to the range next week to test it out.

RoughRider-1R_zps063c5a90.jpg
 
The rough rider is like 175 at academy right now. Its not a tack driver, but its a .22... SO.. what is it for other then cheap plinking anyway? The ruger is a fine pistol, but... well, I just cant see myself dumping more money on a .22 then I have to :) The rough riders hold up as well, they're not prone to breaking or anything. Id go with the RR
 
Got 2 at Christmas, one for me and one for my son, consecutive serial numbers, birds head grips and less than $300 for both...We shot them last weekend, well worth the $$!
 
It seems everytime someone asks about a Rough Rider, people jump in and say something like "Get a Ruger...it's a better gun."

Really? No kidding? The Ruger costs about twice what a Rough Rider does, maybe a little more than twice. Even used they're a lot more than a Rough Rider is new. It had better be a "better" gun.

For what they cost the Rough Rider apparently does a good job. I've never shot one, but I've looked at them a couple of times. My wife has expressed some interest in one with IIRC, about a 3" barrel and fake pearl birdshead grips. I might have to get her one just to see what they're like. The only reason i haven't already is we've got a half dozen 22 handguns around here now.
 
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