QFI Western Ranger Vs Heritage RR?

[WestKentucky]

I have in my safe a revolver that was a coworkers late fathers. It is a QFI western Ranger. It has a zinc alloy frame and seems to be either a gun made by Heritage MFG, or perhaps a fore-runner to the heritage as google searches have indicated. It is clearly a value based product as some parts are of cheap materials and questionable fit/finish, but the important parts work like they should with the exception of the ejector rod which typical of the plastic head on the rod, it has broken.

So my question... I had intended to purchase a HRR birdshead for myself this December as my annual birthmas present. Is the quality of the QFI on par with what the heritage is now? If so I may be less interested. I have had HRR guns in the past and was impressed for the price, however I have had a few single sixes now and don’t want to be disappointed. If I don’t get the HRR I may save a few hundred more and buy a bearcat.

 

[farm23]

Buy the Bearcat. I have never been disappointed when I waited for something better.

 

[MedWheeler]

I have two of the HRR revolvers, one of which is indeed the birdshead model. I like them a lot; the 4.75-inch is pretty slick. The BH isn't really broken in, as I really haven't gotten to shoot it much. It's a neat little gun in hand, though, and did just fine when I did shoot it.

I also have a Ruger NM-SS but, admittedly, I haven't shot that one at all. It was bought used maybe three years ago. I just tend to acquire more often than I get to shoot.

I've handled the Bearcats, and would like to have one if I really thought I'd ever get to shoot it the way I want. Trail plinking opportunities around here are no longer an option, and paper-punching with a trail-plinker gets old real fast. I found the Bearcat maybe a tick smaller the HRR-BH, but I really didn't have them side by side.

You'll like either but, if you bought them both, you'd wonder why you got the HRR after taking the Bearcat out to shoot. Where I am, the price difference (when I've even seen a Bearcat) is around $300.

 

[Speedo66]

If you can find one, the newer Ruger Wranglers aren't far in price from the HRR. Not a bird's head, of course, if that's what you're set on.

 

[single-sixshooter]

I have in my safe a revolver that was a coworkers late fathers. It is a QFI western Ranger. It has a zinc alloy frame and seems to be either a gun made by Heritage MFG, or perhaps a fore-runner to the heritage as google searches have indicated. It is clearly a value based product as some parts are of cheap materials and questionable fit/finish, but the important parts work like they should with the exception of the ejector rod which typical of the plastic head on the rod, it has broken.

So my question... I had intended to purchase a HRR birdshead for myself this December as my annual birthmas present. Is the quality of the QFI on par with what the heritage is now? If so I may be less interested. I have had HRR guns in the past and was impressed for the price, however I have had a few single sixes now and don’t want to be disappointed. If I don’t get the HRR I may save a few hundred more and buy a bearcat.

Can’t say for sure on Heritage now , but QFI was probably the bottom point in the evolution. I have an Excam TA76 (Tanfoglio built imported by FIE) which is the same as the Western Ranger/Rough Rider except for the safety design. My Tanfoglio appears to be of higher build quality than the Rough Riders I’ve seen and handled. Fit and finish, even on a forty year old gun are better. From the pictures I’ve seen of the Western Ranger the quality has improved dramatically. Have you looked at Ruger’s new Wrangler? Build quality and fit and finish of components are what you expect from Ruger. The Cerakote finish is well done. It’s just like shooting a Single-Six (I own both).

 

[single-sixshooter]

Buy the Bearcat. I have never been disappointed when I waited for something better.

Agreed. The Bearcat will not disappoint.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

If I wanted a Birdshead, I would get a Birds Head and would have no problem at all with a Heritage. The Heritage I have is still going strong after 10 years of shooting.And I might just get a nice Heritage Birdshead with a short 3" barrel. And for a very small amount of money usually under $10.00 you can get a true lifetime warranty if bought from Buds. Not bad for a very low cost gun.

 

[MedWheeler]

^^ Yep. That's the one I have. Got it from Bud's on a Taurus "blem sale" for $150 a few years back, with both cylinders. I'm not sure what the "blem" was, but I did find a nick in the frame near the front of the trigger guard on one side, though I had to look pretty hard and closely for it.

 

[ontarget]

I love my 3 inch birds head HRR. I went with the fake pearl grips. Fun gun to shoot.
It suffers from one problem though. Because it has a short bbl, the ejector rod is too short to push the empties all the way out. A flick with the finger nail clears them so it's not a huge deal for me.