After the recent purchase of my new Ruger Single Six I took an assortment of my .22LR single action revolvers to the range for some recreational target practice and to do some general performance comparisons between them. Here's a list of the participants starting at the 12 o'clock position going clockwise;

Colt Frontier Scout - manufactured in 1967
Ruger Single Six
Uberti Six shot Stallion
Ruger Wrangler
Ruger Bearcat
H.S. model 21S

First off, I did a side by side comparison between the Single Six and the Wrangler. I didn't weight them or look at the specs, but the Single Six feels a bit heavier in the hand. Not much, just a tad. The actions both have the typical Ruger feel to them, a little different that the four click C-O-L-T sound, more of a two click. Both are new guns, but the Single Six's action was a little lighter.

When loading these revolvers you don't half cock, you just open the loading gate and spin the cylinder with your fingers. The Wrangler is free spinning and will spin both directions which takes a little getting used to, while the Single Six is free spinning it does index on the cylinder stops and only turns clockwise.

The Single Six's wooden grips have a thicker feel than the Wrangler's plastic grips. I bet I went back and forth 20 or more times to see which one felt better in the hand and the result was inconclusive and I liked them both. As for shooting, I gatta say I really couldn't tell any significant difference. At 15 yards both were on target for elevation. The Wrangler seemed to to pattern a little to the right for me, the Single Six a hair to the left. Both were minute-of-rabbit accurate at 15 yards, though.

In my opinion, the main difference between the Single Six and the Wrangler is cosmetic. Both handled well, both shot well, both functioned flawlessly. If you need a magnum cylinder, the Single Six wins, but that's not a differentiator for me. No doubt the blued steel and wood grips are nice on the Single Six, it's a nice looking piece. The Wrangler's Cerekote finish is certainly not ugly, though, and it seems to have a utilitarian look and feel to it and I find the Silver version uniquely attractive. I've desired a Single Six for a long time, but purchased a Wrangler first only because I got a good deal on it when they first came on the market. If purchase price is not an issue, I kind of lean towards the Single Six on cosmetics alone. But, based on the current list price on the Ruger web page, I'm not seeing a $400.00 price advantage for the Single Six over the Wrangler for a .22 LR Single Action shooter and I would have no problem with a Wrangler being my only .22 LR six shooter.

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As for an over all comparison among the group, let's just say they're all a lot of fun to shoot. The HS model 21S I've had the longest. My high school sweetheart bought it for me as a high school graduation present (her father straw purchased it for me because we were both too young. I knew I had a good thing then which is why we've been married for over 35 years). I've fired a zillion rounds through that revolver, killed untold numbers of squirrels, rabbits, a couple of coyotes, and an untold number of varmints through the years. Both my sons learned to shoot a handgun with this one, and although it's not been abused, it's seen seen some good honest use. My fingers have worn off the bluing on the grip where they touch but it's like having comfortable friend along with me when it's in the holster.

I've not shot the Colt Frontier Scout a whole lot but it has the absolute slickest action of the lot. You can hear it speak C-O-L-T when you slow cock it. It's plenty accurate and handles well, but it's a little light for my liking, probably due to the aluminum frame.

The Uberti Stallion is the prettiest of the .22 Single Actions in my collection. I really like the color case hardened frame. It mirrors the Colt with a smooth action in the Colt style. It has a longer barrel and is very accurate, maybe the most accurate from a bench rest of the bunch. It is a very well made .22 single action, better than even the Single Six, and interestingly, they're generally a little less pricewise than a Single Six.

May surprise some, but my favorite .22 Single Action in my collection is the Ruger Bearcat. It is a little small in my hands, but it's the absolute most accurate snap shooter I have. It is dead on target at 15 yards with most .22 LR ammo, and it carries very well in the custom cross draw holster I had made for it. I've only had it a couple of years but I find these days I mostly carry it with me when I'm out carrying a .22 LR. Although I bought the Wrangler to be my around-the-farm carry gun, it's usually the Bearcat that get strapped on.

Attached Images

22LR SAA (58).jpg (121.4 KB, 241 views)

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Hey, I like the looks of that model 62 rifle. Looks like a pre-bolt safety Rossi I used to have.

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Live long and prosper

Thanks for the review. I have had a hankering for a Wrangler to go along with my Single Ten.

Thank you for a great review. Always been a .22 revolver fan more so now with the price of center fire ammo. Can shoot several hundred rounds in an afternoon and not feel guilty of waisting money.

I want adjustable sights on a 22LR plinking or hunting gun. That leaves the Wrangler out for me. I also wonder about the long term durability of the Wrangler compared to the Single Six.

Great review...and since you still have that High Standard and the wife that speaks volumes for you!!

My only question with the Wrangler will be longevity... I believe the frame is made of Zamak the same as the Heritage Rough Rider guns...which is not steel at all but a zinc/aluminum alloy...

Only time will tell...

Bob

Yep, bought this pre-safety Rossi model 62 carbine in 1996-ish for my oldest son. At 8 years old he could bounce a soda can around with it and he took a few squirrels and rabbits with it too. It is a very fun gun to shoot.

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I have a stainless single six with both cylinders that I got in 1994.
It will shoot dime size groups at 15 yards with the better HP ammo.
I've long thought that a stainless SS Convertible is near perfect for a trail or survival handgun.

I do have a beautiful Colt New Frontier that is very smooth and accurate, and I'll say again it is beautiful. I would be hesitant to take it in a SHTF situation when I could take the Ruger instead, the Ruger could take some knocks and abuse and not look worse for wear.

My brother had the Colt Scout and after a few short years the Zamak frame started looking like ****. He has said many times he wished he had got the case hardened steel frame like mine.
And the adjustable sights on the New Frontier are a plus.

I've only handled a Wrangler and while I'm sure the Ruger ruggedness is there, it just felt and looked a bit cheap to me.
I'm sure they will be well liked by someone who needs an affordable sixgun.

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I passed on buying a Wrangler, they just look and feel cheap to me, but they are very popular it seems. I bought a new blued single six convertible with 6.5" barrel and fixed sights. They were being discontinued in that barrel length so I picked one up before they were all gone. It shoots well but fit and finish is not too great. I have a 1972 year single six that still shoots and looks great. I bought one of the SS bearcat shopkeepers when they first came out. It looks great, fit and finish are great, but it shoots almost a foot high at ten feet. I bought a Cimarron Lightning in .38 It is a very nice revolver, but looking back I wish I would have bought the .22 version like yours. A single ten is on my list and I'm kicking myself for not buying a .17hmr SS hunter when they were being manufactured.

Thanks for the great report!

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

"HS model 21S"

This is the Hawes single action .22 LR with the buffalo grips, correct? I haven't seen one in years.

I've owned several single action .22s. I've had an Old Model Ruger Bearcat, a 6" Colt New Frontier in .22 LR/.22 Magnum, several Ruger Single Sixes, both with and without adjustable rear sights, and a blue and a stainless New Model Ruger Bearcat.

The only one I've kept is the stainless Bearcat. Last year, I bought a second .22 LR cylinder. It was a drop-in fit and I re-chambered it to .22 Magnum. With the LR cylinder, all of my ammo, cheap and moderately priced alike, hits POA at 15 yards.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

It is the one in the top left corner of the picture. It is a Herbert Schmidt Model 21S .22 LR/MAG Revolver made in West Germany and imported by Sport Arms of - FLORIDA MIAMI.

I think the Hawes HS Model 21S was made by Herbert Schmidt.

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I pretty much agree with you. Cant say “except” because you are talking new model Single-6. The old 3screw S-6 was every bit as slick as Colt Scout or New Frontier. The Ruger is a little heavier that is a plus for accuracy. When I was selling guns I would by a couple of import 22 SAs as they came out. Some of them were real junk. The HS-21 was not junk and I sold a bunch of them and never got a complaint. Distributor price was 3/$99 at the time. There may be SAs under other German names as good but they were more expensive.

There is a great difference between my Single Six and my Wrangler. The Single six has had a little action work done on it so it's not really apples to apples. First the SS is quite a bit heavier than the Wrangler. The SS is so much smoother it isn't funny, major difference. The SS has a lighter hammer spring so it's easier to cock as well as being smooth. The SS seems like a Python after handling the Wrangler.
There is a reason why the SS costs more. The SS was never as rough as the Wrangler.

I've never really understood the point in comparing the two, the Single Six is obviously a high quality scaled-down Single Action Army rimfire replica, whereas the Wrangler is an inexpensive SAA rimfire replica for plinking, clearly designed to compete with the Heritage Arms Rough Rider, ergo that's what the Wrangler ought to be compared with.

It's like comparing an authentic Colt 1911 Government Model to a Colt (Made by Walther under license) 1911-22 Government Model. One is a classic, high quality blued steel pistol, the other is an inexpensive rimfire replica made of aluminum alloy.

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