How people justify paying too much (Heritage Rough Rider versus Ruger Single Six)

[Charliefrank]

A single six in good condition for less than $400 is an excellent value. Imho, having owned one myself.

 

[bangbang01]

I've owned both, and the Ruger is probably three times the gun lol


Boo this man!

 

[tubeshooter]

Buy what you want, but frankly I am surprised this thread has remained open and allowed to thrive this long.


The very title is inflammatory and seems intended to incite and push buttons.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

The Rough Rider has a glued in barrel , and a really crappy safety. And major parts made of ZAMAK. Your conclusion that the RR is 85% as good as the Single Six is absurd.
And - comparing the quality of the ZAMK RR to the Ruger LCR is absurd.

I am a fool for owning and revering my stainless Single Six. There , I admitted it , and I feel much better.

(WVGunman - no one would be beating up on the Rough Rider had you not come on so biased and strong.)

Conclusion : Those who choose to buy , shoot and enjoy the Rough Rider should just do so , without looking for validation. And , if the barrel falls off , try to discreetly pick it up and slip it into your range bag before anyone notices.

I have the Rough Rider and it sure is a lot of fun. I have no problems with the safety, lol, it is not a carry gun. People make too much of the safety. Certainly not worried about the barrel falling off. I also have two Phoenix 22.cal that are more reliable than some of my expensive 22.cals. And I have a Ruger BlackHawk 357. And Yes, that gun needs to be STEEL. The Rough Rider is a nice gun period regardless of what the internet professionals say. Mine has been very reliable in both 22.cal and 22 Mag.
That said, amazing how some put down aluminum in the 22.cal rough rider, but have no problem with other guns made with aluminum. I experienced some cheap 380's with aluminum chassis in the past 10 years, and they do not hold up well. Actually they were crap. Too much caliber for the gun. 22.cal yes, other guns, I am looking for stainless steel.
I paid about $175 or so for my Heritage Convertible and she is running strong. In fact, I might just get one in a big bore caliber and save some money along the way.
Would paying two or three times that amount made me more happy when shooting it? Hell no.

 

[BigBore44]

In fact, I might just get one in a big bore caliber and save some money along the way.
Would paying two or three times that amount made me more happy when shooting it? Hell no.

Wanting to skimp a little on price/quality for a 22 is one thing. Wanting to do it on a big bore revolver is.....an unwise decision. It might not make you happier. But it might save you a reconstructive surgery bill for your hand. So which is worth more to you?

 

[CraigC]

It's not aluminum I have a problem with, it's zinc.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

The catalog says the standard Heritage Rough Rider has an aluminum frame and a steel frame version is available for jurisdictons requiring ferrous frames.

 

[CraigC]

It's ZAMAK, not aluminum.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

Wanting to skimp a little on price/quality for a 22 is one thing. Wanting to do it on a big bore revolver is.....an unwise decision. It might not make you happier. But it might save you a reconstructive surgery bill for your hand. So which is worth more to you?

There big bore firearms are not made of aluminum. Go to their forum and ask how man have had reconstructive surgery from one one the guns. I have never heard this. The gun parts are made from a Pieretta which is a well known manufacturer and only assembled in there facility. I believe Taurus has bought out the company.

The Heritage Big Bore Rough Rider is an all-steel handgun with no alloy parts and is available with several finish options. The folks at Heritage tell me that their new handguns can be had all blue, blue with a color-case frame, full nickel plate, and stainless steel may be in the offing. Grip materials at this time are a solid chunk of beautifully finished cocobolo. The grips that adorn the test guns I was sent have a reddish hue with a black grain and the looks of hand oil finishing. My Rough Rider samples are in all-blue and this finish really sets off these grips. My pair of test revolvers have really outstanding fit and finish, the wood and metal mate well and the polish of the metal is better than I have seen on more expensive handguns.
Source: Jeff Quinn from Gunblast http://www.gunblast.com/WBell_HeritageBigBore.htm

 

[Jeb Stuart]

As far as the 22.cal Heritage vs Ruger, it appears that folks are not considering what the gun will be used for and budget concerns. Many like myself purchased it knowing it was NOT the Quality of Ruger. I knew this before I even thought about the Heritage. I did not want to spend a fortune on a 22,cal plinker to just have some fun. Even if the gun failed, I have not lost much and just did not want a $500 cowboy plinker in 22.cal. .I get the feeling some people are almost jealous that the Heritage does so well. It Performs nice, and for me exceeded all expectations for what I wanted. Why does that bother so many? Some poster say;s it does not like Zinc. Really, I could not tell if it was aluminum, zinc or some alloy when I was shooting the heck out of it. I was just having fun. Would I have more fun knowing that I spent $500 more? Sorry, I could take that saving and use that money toward another quality Carry Gun.
Again, I will not buy another cheap Aluminum 380 for instance for a carry . I will buy stainless steel. But, it is not a plinker, It is because I want quality in something that might save my life and I want to train often with it. And 380 or 9mm has one heck of a lot more explosion going on than a little 22.cal.So if we are going to talk aluminum guns how about we talk about some CCW guns that cost a whole lot more than a Heritage Rough Rider.

 

[CraigC]

Forged or investment cast aluminum is a long way from diecast zinc.

Their centerfire guns are actually pretty decent but that's a completely different subject.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

Yes a different subject. And Probably not worth the discussion only to say I will not buy one in most cases and will go with Stainless Steel at every opportunity. There is a difference and I believe it to be significant. Again, back to how much you shoot, how long you want to keep the gun etc.

 

[Dave T]

Any chance a moderator could put this bloody thread to bed? Good grief!

Dave

 

[Jeb Stuart]

Lol, don't like the thread, but you keep reading it? You must hate it when Love Boat reruns comes on TV. Especially since you can't turn the channel. Broken remote?

By the way, I own both. The Heritage 22/cal/22 mag. and the Ruger 9mm/357 convertible. Love shooting both. Both are GREAT DEALS in their Perspective categories.



Still trying to figure out which grip I like the best for my Ruger. Here is one with my BearPaw.