Heritage Rough Rider

[SwampWolf]

I don't think anybody buys the Rough Rider over a Wrangler is expecting the finish to be better or to even care a scintilla as to how the barrel is affixed to the frame so long as the gun shoots fine and lasts.

He does:

There's very little difference in how the two guns are made; not in finish quality, frame material, internals, etc. The only reason for the price difference is that one gun says "Ruger" on it.

 

[ontarget]

Guys, hold on a minute.
I happen to own 4 HRRs and a Wrangler.
One of my HRRs I bought in 1992-93.
I have to say as a lover of all of them that there IS a difference between the two.
The finish on the Wrangler is more durable SO FAR. The Wranglers action is more crisp.
The RRs action is smoother.
The grips on the RR fill my large hands better.
I do see some paint issues on one of my new HRRs but not peeling. More like thinning.
All of my RRs have a lighter trigger than the Ruger.
The accuracy between the Wrangler and the 4.5 inch HRR I'm currently comparing is about equal. My 1993 model HRR with a 6.5 inch barrel puts them both to shame.
Is there a difference? Hell yes.
Does that mean the HRR is not a good value? Of course not.
The average gun owner won't come close to wearing out any gun ever. We all know that.
If you shoot 2500 rounds a month skip straight to a Single Six.
If you just want a plinker...its hard to beat a HRR for the price.
My idea of a good value is how much enjoyment I get from a gun and I get just as much enjoyment from a Heritage as a Ruger.

Another thing to keep in mind is that there is a huge difference between a lower end single action and a lower end semi auto.
A jamomatic cheap 22 auto is no fun and therefore not a good value.
A single action doesn't have that problem so that means there is less difference between the cheaper and more expensive SAs than the autos.
If you want the HRR, buy it. You will probably like it.
If you need a Ruger cause it makes you feel better buy it. I'm sure you will like that one too.

 

[CraigC]

We're not defending the Rough Rider, we're just calling out people who have never owned one and talk up the Ruger for being biased. I don't think anybody buys the Rough Rider over a Wrangler is expecting the finish to be better or to even care a scintilla as to how the barrel is affixed to the frame so long as the gun shoots fine and lasts.

Idk what the service life of the RR is compared to the Wrangler, time will be the determining factor of that, but as always it comes down to did you get your money's worth? On average, the Ruger is twice the price, so it's only fair to demand that it be twice as good in longevity, accuracy, and fit/finish. The fit/finish it seems to be, but I just don't like cerakoting on a revolver, at least not the Wrangler. It literally looks like the plastic cartridge Pokemon games I had for Game Boy 20 years ago.

You presume to speak for all Heritage buyers? And I'm the one who's being arrogant? I'd prefer to provide the information, facts about how the guns are really built and let the individual decide for themselves. If someone posts misinformation about how the guns are made, that should be overlooked? I didn't even mention the two very low grades of steel they use in their construction.

No more than Heritage owners downplay their shortcomings and exaggerate the price difference. Which happens every single time this subject comes up. I've never had this discussion where the Heritage apologists don't quote sale prices on the Rough Rider and full MSRP on a new Ruger. I stopped bothering to find used Single Sixes on Gunbroker for under $300. Now I don't have to because Ruger has the Wrangler, a brand new, direct competitor.

As a rule, I don't like coatings on revolvers either but it's to be expected on a sub-$200 gun. The Cerakote on the Wrangler is a much better and higher quality solution than that crap they spray on a Rough Rider. Based on the FACTS concerning their construction, fit & finish, my OPINION is that the Wrangler is a much better value. The term "bargain" indicates that you're getting more than what you pay for. My response is that you are getting exactly what you paid for and it is no bargain at all. It's just cheap and people like cheap.

 

[ontarget]

@CraigC. I think where all the disagreement comes in is with how people define the words bargain and value.
Here's my take on it.
In 1992-93 I paid $119.00 for an HRR combo. I got what I expected for what I paid.
A good value in my book.
In 2019 I bought a HRR 3.5 inch birds head combo. $190.00. I got what I expected for what I paid. Again a good value.
In 2019 I also bought 2 4.5 inch plow handle LR only HRRs for my grand kids. $118.00 each OTD. Again I got what I expected for what I paid. Another good value.

Now in 2019 I bought a Wrangler.
I see these on the shelves around here going from $199.00 all the way to $250.00 and everywhere in between.
I got mine for $189.00 OTD.
The Wrangler was better than I expected and at a below average price for my area. That makes it a BARGAIN.
True that we get what we pay for but if we ALSO are getting what we expect at that price I don't see the problem.

 

[WVGunman]

They are not a "steal" at any price. You're getting exactly what you pay for.

This is just false. There is a lot of difference in how they are made, materials used and finish work.

Receiver: Heritage is ZAMAK ....

Nope. The Rough Rider's frame is aluminum too. If you've handled a revolver made of ZAMAK and a RR, the difference is quite apparent. The metal in the RR is just too thin to be ZAMAK. The latter is too brittle to make a frame with these dimensions, The old Rohm and RG revolvers from the 1970s DO have ZAMAK frames, and those things are big, thick, heavy beasts.

Grip frame: Both are zinc-based alloys. Although you have the option of upgrading the Wrangler to aluminum, brass or steel.

How thoughtful of Ruger to charge you extra for what you actually want as an after-market part, instead of selling it ready-made already. But on that score, Heritage will sell and ship a different cylinder with 6 or 9 chambers, or in either .22 Mag or .22 LR, directly to you. Ruger won't, unless you send them your gun first.

Barrel: The Heritage is ribbed and pressed into the frame, held in place with adhesive. The Ruger is threaded into the receiver. We don't know for sure but Ruger is probably using the same blanks they use for the Single Six.

It's a .22. Who cares? The Rough Rider nor the Wrangler nor even the Single Six are target guns. They're just casual plinkers,

Finish: The Heritage has what looks like spray paint, even on the "blued" steel guns. The Cerakote finish on the Wrangler is considerably better and more durable.

The Heritage looks and feels cheap. The Wrangler does not.

Cerakote is itself a cheap finish that is merely sprayed on like paint. I mean, if it's such a winner, why doesn't Ruger put it on the SIngle Six? Not that there's anything wrong with Cerakote, but there's a reason it doesn't go on other Ruger guns, just their rock-bottom-priced one. It's a cheap finish also.

 

[CraigC]

Nope. The Rough Rider's frame is aluminum too. If you've handled a revolver made of ZAMAK and a RR, the difference is quite apparent. The metal in the RR is just too thin to be ZAMAK. The latter is too brittle to make a frame with these dimensions, The old Rohm and RG revolvers from the 1970s DO have ZAMAK frames, and those things are big, thick, heavy beasts.

BS. The frame is ZAMAK and it used to say so right on their website. At some point it was changed to "aluminum". Of course, the "A" in ZAMAK is aluminum so I'm sure that's how they justify it.

How thoughtful of Ruger to charge you extra for what you actually want as an after-market part, instead of selling it ready-made already. But on that score, Heritage will sell and ship a different cylinder with 6 or 9 chambers, or in either .22 Mag or .22 LR, directly to you. Ruger won't, unless you send them your gun first.

Good job trying to twist the facts to fit your narrative. The point here is that the grip frame is compatible with every other Ruger Single Six and Blackhawk and therefore, any grip frame made for them, factory or aftermarket, will fit the Wrangler. On cylinders, Ruger actually ensures they fit. As it should be.

It's a .22. Who cares? The Rough Rider nor the Wrangler nor even the Single Six are target guns. They're just casual plinkers,

I care and I'm sure others do as well. All I do is provide that fact and anyone reading is free to do as they wish with it. For me, it is one more factor that puts the Heritage in the realm of "disposable". Whereas a Single Six can be rebuilt or customized to any extent possible. We don't yet know where the Wrangler is going to fall in.

Further, they may just be "casual plinkers" to you. They may not be target guns but there is a whole spectrum of uses in between. I use mine for all purposes to which a .22 revolver is appropriate. As a sidearm. As a hunting weapon for small game and varmints. As a training tool. As an understudy to my centerfires.

Cerakote is itself a cheap finish that is merely sprayed on like paint. I mean, if it's such a winner, why doesn't Ruger put it on the SIngle Six? Not that there's anything wrong with Cerakote, but there's a reason it doesn't go on other Ruger guns, just their rock-bottom-priced one. It's a cheap finish also.

Cerakote is not a cheap finish and it's not just sprayed on like paint. It is described as "a two-part heat cured ceramic based epoxy". That ain't spray paint. The Heritage is spray painted. I mean seriously, the gun costs as much as cerakoting a pistol slide. It is certainly not exclusive to cheap guns. I hate to break it to you but there's a whole bunch of Rugers with a cerakote finish.

 

[bikerdoc]

Enough we are done here.