Rough Riders?

[Panzerschwein]

How are the Heritage Rough Riders? Almost bought one today at academy. Glad I didn't because I googled the price and it was high for them.

Are they as good as a Ruger bearcat?

 

[TEAM101]

Nope, but for the price they are fine guns.

 

[Blkhrt13]

My dads was accurate enough for most knock around work. Shooting snakes and coke cans. Nowhere near Ruger quality. But they are also nowhere near Ruger price.

 

[C.R.]

I have a couple they are alright. Not a Ruger , but not $500.00 either I got one at Dunam's for $129 on sale my buddie liked it and he and his son both got them no complaints

 

[gotboostvr]

I had a 5" model a few years ago.
If they had better sights than the old school channel sights, I'd have another.

I was able to keep 4/6 rounds on a 8" plate standing at 50 yards the one time I tried. The Kentucky windage hold was probably cost me those 2 misses.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Say if one wanted a knockabout plinking and camping .22, would the Rough Rider be good for that? How many rounds are they good for until they break. Would a Ruger bearcat be more durable?

 

[gotboostvr]

Say if one wanted a knockabout plinking and camping .22, would the Rough Rider be good for that? How many rounds are they good for until they break. Would a Ruger bearcat be more durable?

I'd be just about perfect for that.
I put well north of 5k rounds through mine and there wasn't any appreciable wear on it.

It just shot a little high and right for me. I also struggled with the small grips, but I have big-ol meat hooks.

If it had adjustable sights, I probably would have made some grips for it myself.

 

[Blkhrt13]

Say if one wanted a knockabout plinking and camping .22, would the Rough Rider be good for that? How many rounds are they good for until they break. Would a Ruger bearcat be more durable?

how much will you really shoot it? I doubt you could give it more hell than my son and nephew did at our hunting camp.

 

[Panzerschwein]

how much will you really shoot it? I doubt you could give it more hell than my son and nephew did at our hunting camp.

Sounds good. At the low price point, I just didn't know if they were built with subpar metals that would wear out quickly.

 

[Blkhrt13]

I never worried too much about it. Just shot at stuff with it. It wasn't as good a shooter as my single six. But it was fun.

 

[PapaG]

Two models, one alloy we can't sell in illinois, and a better one of steel. As said, not a Ruger, but would make a good tackle box or trapper gun.

 

[SteadyD]

I had one with fiber optic sights for a few years. Pretty darn accurate. The manual advises carrying with the hammer down on an empty chamber as they aren't drop safe. Certainly wasn't as nice as my Ruger but much cheaper as has been noted.

 

[Tallball]

The plastic handle on the ejection rod is a weak point.

 

[MedWheeler]

I have two of them. The 4.75-inch one I've shot quite a bit, and I really like it. It's a hard gun to put down once in hand, and I like the four-click hammer.

The 3.5-inch "birdshead" one I recently got hasn't been shot that much and, when it was, it was with the first-ever (in tens of thousands of rounds) ammo I had misfires in. Because the gun was new and I had neither any other ammo or .22LR guns with me, I could not say if the issue was with the gun or the ammo (which was Remington GBs, the first rounds of that stuff I've ever fired.) Otherwise, it shot well, but was a little stiffer and "grittier" than the older one.

The HRR revolver has a manual safety that, when on, blocks the hammer from reaching the pin. This would make the gun safe to carry with six in it. It also makes the gun safe to dry-fire.

I do also own a Ruger NM-SS that I bought used maybe a year or so ago, but I've never shot it (mostly because I keep forgetting I own it!)

 

[CajunBass]

I had a couple of them and they're good for a knock-around gun. Like everybody else said, not a Ruger, but "good enough" considering what they cost.

I didn't keep them long, but only because I saw some other bright shiny thing I had to have.

 

[gotboostvr]

I keep going back and forth on wether or not to buy another.

It'll definitely scratch my itch for a 22 handgun, but I'm thinking I'd prefer something with better sights and a larger grip.

I could always fab some grips up myself, and they do have an inexpensive red dot mount...

If I find a good deal on one, I may have to snap it up. My first one was $120 for a NIB 4.75" LR/Mag convertible. I'm not sure if I'd pick out a different model.

 

[John_R]

Oh just get one. I have the birdshead, and it's a lot of fun. Cheap thrills. If you want it for shooting cheap ammo, you save nothing by spending $700 and up on the gun. How much .22 ammo can you buy for the $550 price difference? Now, if precision is what you want, you'l have to spend money. But for fun shooting, the Heritage is fine.

The only thing I don't like is, being single action, it takes a long time to load and unload.

 

[bannockburn]

CajunBass

I didn't keep them long, but only because I saw some other bright shiny thing I had to have.

That would explain what happened to so many of the revolvers I use to have, including a fair number of single actions like the Colt New Frontier .22 and several Ruger Single Sixes. In my case the "other bright shiny thing" I just had to have was usually some new fangled semi-auto pistol.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

I have a half dozen of them that I use to teach new shooters for their first shots.. Academy had them for $99 on a Black Friday sale a couple of years ago and I stocked up. One of them busted a spring that let the cylinder free spin, but the others have held up well over a couple of years of classes. Fun little guns, the students seem to really like them.

 

[CraigC]

They're cheap guns, made with the materials one might expect from a "cheap" gun. Zinc-based alloys (aka pot metal), plastic and very low grades of steel. The ejector is plastic. The barrel is pressed into the frame and held with adhesive. The finish is sprayed on. The springs are heavy and the actions are rough. They serve a purpose at their price point but don't expect to be disappointed if you try to wear one out. Folks say theirs hold up fine but I've never heard of anyone who put more than a few thousand rounds through one.

On the other hand, here's a 54yr old Single Six (dirty after a range session) that I've put over 20,000rds through in 17yrs. Most in the last 7-8yrs. The bolt notches are a little peened from running it fast but it is otherwise no worse for wear. It cost me all of $200. I have two others in the $225-$250 price range and today, there is no shortage of $300 used Single Sixes. IMHO, they are a far better investment.

I don't know where this business of $700 comes from. Even a new Single Six would be well under $500.

The only thing I don't like is, being single action, it takes a long time to load and unload.

Maybe they're slow for you to reload because you haven't spent any time with one. Those of us who use them often can run them pretty quickly and burn through a 500rd bulk pack in a couple hours. Unless you're using speedloaders, the only advantage a double action has is in dumping empties.

 

[bannockburn]

Craig C

Nicely preserved Single Six you've got there. Mine came to me as a gift from a friend of mine. Have no idea how many rounds have been through the gun as he bought it used many years ago and carried it with him when he use to run trap lines. Needed a good cleaning and some new grips when I finally got it and turned out to be in pretty decent shape.. Even after all these years and countless .22s it still works perfectly every time I take it out.

 

[fireman 9731]

I have one and like it. I have probably put 1,500+ rounds through it. No signs of wear yet. I have used it on the trapline, for plinking fun, and pests around the house. Its a real hoot with shot shells and carpenter bees. A good lube on the internals slicked mine up, and the trigger is excellent. The only downside is that dry firing it with the safety off will peen the chambers. Other than that, I would buy one again if anything ever happened to this one. Its no Ruger or Smith, but its fun and functional.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Thanks so much, gang.

Looking at Bud's Gun Shop prices the Ruger Bearcat is selling for $485. The Rough Rider is selling for $122.

So, the Bearcat is almost exactly four times more expensive. I think I am hearing a little too much good about the Rough Rider to turn it down, especially at that price tag. I plan to use the gun as a little plinkster, popping cans and things. So some are saying the accuracy isn't the best, I am wondering what I should expect one to group with ammo that it likes? Could it hit a soda can at 25 yards reliably? If so, that would be accurate enough for me.

 

[WhiteFoot]

I planned on buying one, because I couldn't ever find a single six that for a good price that wasn't junk. When I went to pick it up, the shop had a sale on Chiappa 22's for just under $100, so I bought one of those instead. Very similar gun. I've had no problems with it, and I've been impressed with the accuracy. To be honest, I've never shot paper with it, but I can hit a pop can at 20 yards or so, but I feel like if I miss, it's probably my fault and not the guns. I'm not great at pistols.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I see.

I wonder if I should spring for the extra $30 for the .22 magnum/.22LR combo?