Heritage Rough Rider

[Goony]

[FONT=&quot]I was in C-A-L Ranch this morning and the Firearms Dept. Manager happened to be working the counter. I asked him about the Heritage Rough Rider, and he said they sold quite a few and had a hard time keeping them in stock. I then posed the question of how often after a sale the buyer came back to express dissatisfaction. He replied that over his time there (a bit over a year) he'd never had a single complaint pertaining to the Rough Rider. That's zero. Zip. Nada.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I then went over to my favorite independent gun shop in the area to chat with the owner (with whom I'm reasonably well acquainted). This is a pretty good sized operation that does a respectable volume. Unlike C-A-L Ranch, besides new Rough Riders they also take in and resell used examples. These pre-owned ones are on occasion taken to the range to have as many as several dozen rounds run through them prior to being put out. None so tested have done anything but function precisely as they were designed to. He also said that he couldn't recall having anyone come back to gripe about one, with the exception of one buyer who'd decided he didn't like that safety (an opinion voiced earlier in this thread as well).[/FONT]
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[Mike SC Hunter]

Yeah, that is one of the great things about these inexpensive guns. Who wants to let their kids/grandkids knock around their $500-$1,000 Colt? Or who wants to put that Colt in a holster and go bumping around the woods with it? Not me...

Colts and Smiths are made to "go bumping around in the woods", hunting, on the tractor /ATV, walking/cutting wood, in the truck........They ain't glass........They won't break..........That's how I enjoy mine........They get used....Won't get sold........I don't give a !!! what the next owner after I'm gone says or pays for them.

 

[Goony]

You wouldn't expect it, but a couple months back, the Rock Island Auction Co. actually offered up a Rough Rider. While there were no takers, I do wonder about the significance of the "NRA" impressed on the grip.

See: Heritage Rough Rider Single Action Revolver with Box | Rock Island Auction

 

[GypsmJim]

I realize I am late in the game, and I have only read half the posts, but....

My first handgun was a Ruger Single Six, and over the years several more followed me home. ALL my singles are Rugers and ALL my doubles are Smith.

I ONLY bought a Wrangler because I was able to get a matched pair with consecutive serial numbers. Is the gun as nice as a SS?....NO. Does it shoot well?....YES. Sorry I bought them?....NO.

I have looked at Heritages at gun shows and thought they looked cheap. Cheaper than a Wrangler?....For sure.

So, when I saw the Heritage revolving fifle I thought it looked cool so I had to have one. Is it kinda cheap?....yes. Does it shoot OK?....yes. Does it have a stupid safety?....yes.

All in all (JMHO) if I wanted a single action revolver and was price constrained I would buy a Wrangler hands down. Is there anything fundamentally wrong with a Heritage?....no.

 

[alwslate]

Got the Birdshead Wrangler today that I recently ordered. Solid Ruger quality with the solid steel barrel and cylinder and stainless internal parts. It's inexpensive but no, not as cheap as the Heritage. My thoughts are that if you want to wear out a Wrangler you better have a BIG stash of ammo.

 

[BC38]

Colts and Smiths are made to "go bumping around in the woods", hunting, on the tractor /ATV, walking/cutting wood, in the truck........They ain't glass........They won't break..........That's how I enjoy mine........They get used....Won't get sold........I don't give a !!! what the next owner after I'm gone says or pays for them.

While I appreciate your philosophy, I am just really hesitant to let inexperienced shooters bang around a revolver that is worth $500 or $1,000.

I'd rather teach them the basics of shooting with a $100 revolver - and then let them graduate to the "finer things" - once they have developed the basic skills of gun handling and appreciation of the sport of target shooting.

At that point they can really begin to develop a true understanding of the difference between a Rough Rider and a Colt or S&W 22LR. Until they have that most basic level of understanding and skills, I would rather not let them handle my more valuable firearms.

JMO, and YMMV...

 

[Shrek Of The Arctic]

I've had a few Heritage revolvers pass through my hands. My daughter and my brother have a couple. 4" bbl. and 6" bbl. that are very good in the accuracy department. I used to have one with a 6" bbl. that was amazingly accurate.

I've only owned one Wrangler. It was a silver cerakote with the 4" bbl. It seemed well put together. Way better than the Heritages infact, but it was horribly inaccurate for myself and many others. Also shot it side by side with a $75 Heritage and it didn't even come close. I kinda thought that was just the nature of the beast, but after reading so many positive reports, I wish I'd kept it and sent it back. Instead I traded it off for some kinda camping/ hunting stuff with the forewarning that I was never able to hit a darn thing with it.

I like that the Heritages come in so many silly and fun variations. 1" bbl., 16" bbl, Rancher carbines, the "Tactical Cowboy", 9 shot versions, different grips, finishes, etc. It just adds an element of fun to what is to me...just a fun plinking gun.

I often find myself shopping for .22 revolvers, but then I remember that I have a 617, and a K-22, so I already have the most perfect plinking revolvers. Maybe I'll pick up a Heritage for a hard use and abuse/ semi expendable plinker some day? I mean...afterall, if I over turn my canoe, I'd much rather sacrifice a Heritage than my 617...

Finally, on Ebay you can buy a safety delete. It's just a well rounded piece of 3-D printed plastic, but it looks pretty nice and gets rid of the fiddly safety lever. I forget how it installed. it was pretty simple though. But...it does turn your gun into a five shooter in the name of safety. I might have pics around. I'll see if I can find them.

 

[Goony]

An Interesting Accessory

Link below is to an article regarding a laser that's now become available for attachment to the Rough Rider. Not exactly "cowboy" but eminently practical for varminting. It'd seem that it'll sell for about the price of the gun itself, though.

See: First Look: Viridian Laser for the Heritage Rough Rider Revolver | An Official Journal Of The NRA

 

[Echo40]

Personally, I've never understood the appeal of attaching modern peripherals to classic firearms designs.

To me, the appeal of classic firearms designs and replicas is their retro aesthetics, which are obviously spoiled by the presence of modern accessory rails, furniture, and peripherals.

 

[BKLooney]

I've been tempted to pick up one of the RR's in the past, just haven't done so yet. A buddy of mine has one and it's been a great little gun, never any issues to speak of and he's got many thousands of rounds through it. When we go plinking with the 22's he takes the RR and I bring along my Ruger. It's the only single action I have, bought it in 1982.

 

[BC38]

Link below is to an article regarding a laser that's now become available for attachment to the Rough Rider. Not exactly "cowboy" but eminently practical for varminting. It'd seem that it'll sell for about the price of the gun itself, though.

See: First Look: Viridian Laser for the Heritage Rough Rider Revolver | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Yeah, a modern $90 accessory for a $100 SA "Cowboy" revolver.
I guess there must be a market for it, but I guess I'm not the target demographic.
But thanks anyway...

 

[Goony]

Talo Special Editions

This distributor is hawking versions of the Rough Rider that seem to rely solely upon grips and packaging for their claim to "specialness" -

Heritage Collection - Talo Distributors

 

[Goony]

This guy seems to have treated his Rough Rider rather, well, roughly.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXlgdAE400I"]Heritage Rough Rider 22lr (3,000 Round Update) - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Goony]

The gun mentioned in post #83 finally was sold just about a week ago.

See: Heritage Rough Rider Single Action Revolver with Box | Rock Island Auction

 

[Goony]

Gold Horseshoe Limited Edition

I'd commented earlier on in this thread about the numerous "special" Rough Riders that have recently been marketed. This one (photo attached below) is rather on the garish side, but they seem to have sold out.

 

[erikpolcrack]

I have had a Birdshead similar to the one in Goony's OP for years now. Mine has both cylinders. I shoot it a lot and have no complaints. It has proven itself to be very reliable and a great value for the money.

 

[Goony]

Even aside from their "Special Editions", in recent years Heritage has been offering gussied up versions of the basic Rough Rider via combinations of new finishes and a multitude of grips. This one (Model RR22CH6-PVD1) I refer to as the USAOAT (Ugliest Single Action Of All Time).

 

[CajunBass]

Again, not meaning to stray too far off-topic....

I believe the version in question here was Ruger's model number GKNR5F, which were in fact Single-Six's, marked and sold as such, and were not full sized Vaqueros, although they were promoted as being "Vaquero style" and sometimes referred to as "Vaqueritos" or "Baby Vaqueros".

I hadn't looked at this thread lately, but got to scrolling through it this morning and noticed references to a 22 Vaqueros. I don't know if Ruger ever made a 22 Vaquero, but they did make a fixed sight Single-Six. They were sold as the 50th anniversary of the Single-Six, and later on as a regular catalog item. They might still make them for all I know.

When my wife came here from Chicago, she wanted to get a gun, and said she wanted a "cowboy gun" so she eneded up with one of those 50 Anniversary models. Nice looking gun and shoots pretty well.

She's had it at least 20 years, and she paid $329.00 for it (The store hang tag is still in the box) used, but in near NIB condition.

I suppose it could be called a "Baby Vaquero."

 

[Goony]

Besides nickel finished cylinders, Heritage is now also offering nickeled triggers and cylinder pins to dress up a Rough Rider.

 

[Goony]

Marketing matters, it seems. Take a completely ordinary, current production Rough Rider, make it a special edition by throwing some badass looking grips on it, and give it an equally badass name, and it'll fetch double the usual price: Heritage Rough Rider .22 LR Revolver - CT Firearms Auction