Faulkner
Member
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.
*******
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.
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.
*******
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.
Attachments
Last edited:
