Hi... Ruger, Heritage, Cimarron, EAA, Taylor, Colt all make 22lr Single Action. I currently have a Cimarron Pistolero 10rnd. EAA Bounty Hunter 22lr/22magnum, and a Ruger Wrangler. All fun to shoot. Fixed siting tend to make them less accurate (for me anyway) but not too bad. The Cimarron and the EAA are really close replicas to the Colt SAA, size and weight wise. Im always on the lookout for a Ruger Single Six for a good price and Im currently waiting to check out the new Super Wrangler from Ruger.

 

If you want pure accuracy that will surpass nearly any other 22 pistol the Freedom Arms model 83 252 SA revolver is as good as it gets.

I built a special 40moa scope mount that also incorporates a shelf for a bipod. It limits its use but I got it solely to see how far/accurately I could get a revolver to shoot.

There is a shorter lighter version available better suited to carrying, hunting and plinking. It's the model 97 with a 7 1/2" barrel in a smaller frame.

5 shots 50 yards

Topstrap

 

Ruger Single-Six will be the highest quality that's reasonably easy to find.
A Colt New Frontier is also an excellent SA 22 with adjustable sights

 

Been tempted to pick up a ruger single six

 

welcome

when you use vague words like "best"" you really want to state what your endgame is. everyone will be a fanboy of something and you will get varied answers.

good luck

 

I agree. You need to refine your request by what you intend to do with it and what is your budget.

 

Get an older Ruger Super Single Six that comes with an additional cylinder for 22 magnum. It has adjustable sights.

 

Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind!

 

I've got a wrangler and it's fun for plinking. I've never done an accuracy test, but it feels and looks like a well built revolver. I was choosing between the heritage rough rider and the wrangler. Really wanted the RR due to the 22mag cylinder that came with it, but ended up going with the wrangler because of build quality.

 

The Freedom Arms is not the "best"....

It is SUPERLATIVE as compared to the other contenders. I own two of their revolvers a .22 LR and a .44 Special, they are fitted like a Swiss watch and will last several lifetimes of hard use.

 

Best accuracy: Freedom Arms
Best lockup: Freedom Arms
Best durability: Freedom Arms
Best fit and finish: Freedom Arms
Best options (finish, extra cylinders, etc.): Freedom Arms
Heaviest (83 and probably the 97) : Freedom Arms
Highest price: Freedom Arms

 

TBR nailed it. That being said, my model 97 goes everywhere I go. It's just that much fun to shoot!

 

 

I would get the Ruger single six hunter with the scope rings and extra 22 mag cylinder.
But, the Freedom Arms is without peer if you can afford the 3 thousand plus bucks.

 

For me at least and for the money I paid for it this one checks my boxes, don't do any shooting that would require the precision of a Freedom Arms or I'd have one.

Now if someone wants to gift me a Freedom Arms rimfire revolver I'll certainly happily accept it as I'm well aware it is superior to my Ruger.

 

I agree with some others, the Freedom Arms is the best money no object answer. That includes every caliber they offer. They're just that close to perfect. After that I'd say the Ruger single six. Still a very nice gun.

 

I would have thought some Colt groupie would have chimed in with this......

COLT King Cobra Target 22LR 4.25ʺ 10rd - Stainless | KYGUNCO

www.kygunco.com

 

The OP was inquiring about SA revolvers. The Colt fanboys would have suggested the Colt Frontier Scout as the best.

 

Back pre Freedom Arms days there were a lot of good scores shot with a Ruger Single Six. Good gun.

I got very lucky and was able to get my Freedom 252 at a very reasonable price from a buddy that bought it from the estate of one our local IHMSA Match Directors. Always wanted one but was out of my price range for new.

Topstrap

 

Freedom Arms is too rich for my blood and the Ruger Single Sixes usually exceed my talents anyway. Aside from accuracy, the test of a quality revolver is if you can run 20 bricks through it and it's still tight and as accurate as it was new. Single Six passes that test and they're a lot of gun for the money.
I like Colt New Frontiers too, the fit, finish, balance and handling seems to be a slight upgrade from the Single Six for a little more money. I have 6 Single Sixes and 2 Colts I bought used and every one of them has 0.004" cylinder gap, plus or minus one thousandth of an inch. Most of them are around 50 years old.
For a compact SA revolver the Ruger Old Model Super Bearcat can't be beat. They were made in the early 70's.
If you just want something to shoot a big fish in the head before you haul it aboard, the aluminum $200 revolvers would probably do.

 

Check out the new super wrangler...I'm not really sure how it differs from the single six, other than manufacturing process, and finish maybe?

Steel frame, aluminum grip frame, adjustable sights, interchangeable cylinders, ceracoated for around $300...if I didn't have a stainless single six, I'd be tempted to get the super wrangler.

The best out there, definitely not, but based on the Wrangler and single six, it's a good bang for the buck.

DW

 

I bought a Bicentennial 51/2" stainless Ruger Super Single six BNIB a few years ago for less than the Wranglers so I am set up for good. Freedom arms would be awesome but hard to find in my price range.

 

I have 3 Single Sixes and 3 Colt Frontiers. Comparing just these two alone the Single Six is a larger frame gun while the Colts are scaled down. I believe 7/8 size of the Single action army. I prefer the Colts. They seem more in scale with the ammo and easier to aim and handle in general. Not that the Single Six is bad, it's not, just seems overbuilt compared to the Colts. But then the Rugers may outlast the Colts. Plus if you have large hands maybe the Single Six would be preferred.

 

Again best has different meanings to different people.
I would say from a gun that is common to locate and something that is pass down quality to multiple generations then you will be hard pressed to find something better than the Ruger single six.
I do think Ruger has gotten a little excessive on the pricing on these guns and honestly I think even the stainless model would be more appropriately priced in the $500-$550 range.

I am old enough I remember when the MSRP on the original single sixes was like $87.50! Like a dummy I sold one of those years ago and would love to buy a new one, but I am having a hard time justifying paying todays cost for one.

I have been looking pretty hard at the new convertible 22lr/22wmr Super Wrangler but really am not sold on the cerakote over a traditional blued finish.
Not saying the bluing is better in any way other than appearance to as I see it.

But then again as being older I still prefer my firearms to be steel over polymer which is so popular today.

I would though probably still go Ruger for something I was going to make a shooter and would consider a Colt if it were to be a long term collector and not a shooter.

 

I own several Single Six convertibles because I plan to give one to each grandchild, and I own a Colt New Frontier with the case-colored steel frame and interchangeable cylinders. The Rugers and the Colt all shoot well and can do anything I need, but I rarely shoot the Colt. The trigger pull is about the same on both the Ruger and the Colt and I prefer the transfer bar mechanism in the Ruger that enables me to load the full 6 rounds in the cylinder.

 

The single six does it for me. I am convinced they ae more accurate than I am.

 

I had seen this advertised many years ago.
"USFA President and CEO, Douglas Donnelly, Introduced the worlds first 12 Shot .22 L.R. Revolver.

“We are very proud to introduce the New Model 12/22TM a new and innovative design for a full size 12 shot .22 cal. Revolver. We have shot many thousands of rounds through the new 12/22 and it performs….an accurate, durable, robust new design that has never been done before. We even beat all .22 Auto-loading pistols in magazine capacity – a meaningfull increase of 20%.”

This gun has a new lockwork to accommodate the 12 shot cylinder. This innovative design is accomplished by unique changes to the internals and a new ratchet design. It works very fast actually going through all proper benchmark stages in half the normal timimg yet continues the full hammer travel and look we have grown accustom to.

Model 12/22TM Features

Advertisement
* All Steel construction

• Traditional Full size
• Traditional Full Cocking Action
• 12 Shot .22 Will Accept all .22’s
• Loads 2 rounds at a time"

I really wanted one and when they went belly up I despaired. Then I found this one.

I love it. Uberti .22LR Single Action revolver with the 12 shot cylinder. It has performed flawlessly. Perfect for plinking. It has the fixed sights as a Colt SAA does, so if you want more precision find a different model that has adjustable sights. For my purposes it is perfect.

 

The USFA 12/22 is probably the pinnacle of “original” style SAA type revolvers in 22 lr. I had the chance to get one when they first came out for around $650 and like an idiot, I didn’t.
No, they aren’t a Freedom Arms quality, but the Freedom Arms are prohibitively expensive for most folks. The USFA are rare enough now that they are also prohibitively expensive for most folks.

The “best” in quality is clearly the Freedom Arms.
The “best” in original SAA style in 22 lr is the USFA, but they are a different animal.

The “best” affordable SA 22 revolver, imho, is the Ruger Single Six in stainless. I have Colts, which I like better, but for durability, price, and current production it is hard to beat a Ruger Single Six.

 

I concur, Ruger Single SIX or 6 (meaning the proper 6 holes in the cylinder) in ALL stainless, so no alloy grip frames and ejector housings like the blued versions. Personally, I also like the convertible versions. If you can find one of the limited stainless Bisley grip frame versions even better, but they are not common.

On single actions, I am a traditional format person. If you need more than 6 shots, get an automatic.

 

I own an orig three screw SIngle Six, Super Single Six, both with extra magnum cylinder that I have never used, both over 50 yrs old. I own the Wrangler, A Heritage Rough Rider, and a Charter Arms DA/SA revolver. They are work fine and shoot fine. None of them are target pistols but it is easier to shoot those with adjustable sights for accuracy, then those that have fixed sights especially the SA's! I do believe the Ruger Single Six's are better built etc, but to what point? I will never wear out any of the other ones regardless of how many rounds I put through them. I would never spend the money for a Freedom Arms because the build quality etc is not worth the $$ to me and it won't do anything my Ruger Super Single Six won't do. Just one man's opinion. YMMV