I am pretty sure they are made of zamak that has been long proven to hold up well with 22 rimfire guns. They are inexpensive because of the material used and the use of stamped sheet metal instead of solid metal parts. Of course they are no where the equal of a Ruger single six and shouldn't be considering the cost of each. They are a good choice for a seldom shooter that just wants to shoot a little with a single action 22 and they are excellent for teaching kids to shoot. No tears shed when one drops a Heritage and bungs it up like there would be over a single six. Don't forget that there are people out there that like to shoot and simply can't afford the cost of single six or S&W if one can even be found. Another thing is repair parts are easily had and cheap if needed. You can buy a Heritage for $149 not on sale. What does a single six or Smith go for now?

The fact that these revolvers have been around for many, many years under one name or another is testimony that many people like them. I have single sixes and S&Ws but I also have 3 Heritages that have given no problem. The grandkids enjoy shooting them and grandpa does too.

 

Don't forget that there are people out there that like to shoot and simply can't afford the cost of single six or S&W if one can even be found.

Yep. I was looking for a .22 revolver for trapline duty around 40 years ago. Used Single Sixes were running around $300 IIRC, and they weren't even the convertible ones. Then I found a new H&R convertible for around $200. Nowhere near the quality of a Ruger or Smith, but in my price range and the WMR capability was a total bonus!

I still have it and it's never had problems. The only reason it doesn't get shot more is the very slow loading/reloading time. But that makes it the PERFECT gun to shoot during ammo shortages!

 

Yep. I was looking for a .22 revolver for trapline duty around 40 years ago. Used Single Sixes were running around $300 IIRC, and they weren't even the convertible ones. Then I found a new H&R convertible for around $200. Nowhere near the quality of a Ruger or Smith, but in my price range and the WMR capability was a total bonus!

I still have it and it's never had problems. The only reason it doesn't get shot more is the very slow loading/reloading time. But that makes it the PERFECT gun to shoot during ammo shortages!

That H&R is still light years a better made pistol than a Haritage Roughrider.

 

this past weekend i witnessed a new heritage 22cal SAA shoot extremely accurately , i confess i do not have one of these , it surprised me a lot based on what i have read - was told he paid $160 at the recent local gun show ,

dont know how well it will stand up over time ,

but i do have H&Rs , they have stood up excellently - two of mine date to 1934

 

Upon further inspection these cheap revolvers are nothing more than pot metal, very low quality. I would never own one of these worthless revolvers. There is a reason they cost under $150

Wow....thinks for that info, I mean....I'd have NEVER guessed!!!!

Worthless?

That's one opinion.

In MY opinion, my Heritage was worth the $129 I paid. LOTS of guys seem to have been good with letting $100 go when they hit the sales last fall.

Meanwhile, I have MANY .22 rifles that cost less than $150. Some of them seem to be pretty decent.

My advice is save some money and buy a Ruger

You mean like the Wrangler? Or even the Henry?

Both made with "pot metal"... 😅

 

Wow....thinks for that info, I mean....I'd have NEVER guessed!!!!

Worthless?

That's one opinion.

You mean like the Wrangler? Or even the Henry?

Both made with "pot metal"... 😅

I believe the Wrangler is made with gen-u-wine aluminum. Oh, pots and pans are made from aluminum so I guess it could be classified as "pot" metal. I have a wrangler along with the Heritages. I may be in a class of one but I prefer the Heritage over the wrangler. By the way, the Heritage with the adjustable sight is pretty darn accurate. A gun is only as good as its sights and the groove in the top strap is about as bad as you can get on any revolver whatever the brand is.

 

I’ve never shot or owned a heritage. I’m just not interested. If a person wanted a affordable 22 for dispatching critters around their house I reckon it would fit the bill.

 

i do have one heritage - not the revolver tho , its the rancher rifle/revolver , ive not shot it yet - will when its warmer tho , they are not all that durable looking but i have no issues with its fit and finish out of the box , all of my colts / rrugers / histandards etc are better made , but i kinda like it ,

 

I like my Rough Rider. With either cylinder it has more than sufficiently accurate. I've had it for more than 10 years. No issues.

 

I have three Rough riders and have had no issues so far. One of them is a little rougher around the edges than the others but for the price ($89. 00 new at BASS Pro) I'm ok with it. I do have a Colt Frontier with the interchangeable cylinders that I inherited from my dad but I actually enjoy the Rough Riders more.

 

Latest $99 special

Rough Rider I modified to install a laser on it for small critter control.

 

Good Morning guys!

I have played around with a Heritage Rough Rider that a buddy of a buddy had. I was interested in a "toolbox" gun to have handy but I could not hit a 6 inch plate at 25 yards with it. Bullets were straddling the plate.

If I could get some accuracy out of it I would have bought one but I do not have any interest.

As for my ability with a handgun, I am a master level bullseye competition shooter.

Regards,
Crankster

 

In my opinion not everything needs to be heirloom worthy. A sub $150.00 gun is a tool that for the most part is designed to be affordable and disposable. It’s a good gun to get a first time user into the sport or a rancher or farmer to use as a truck gun, etc. There isn’t much of anything being made today that one would consider to be heirloom quality unless you want to pay up for it.

 

Inexpensive/Quality usually does not equate very well.. The only times I have really had those two things happen at once..Is finding a good deal on a older Quality Firearm in the used state....

 

As far as I know, the Rough Rider is the only revolver that is available with fiber optic sights. In my scenario, it doesn't matter how much the gun cost, what material it's made of, what name is on it, etc. if I can't see the sights. I can see the fiber optic sights on the RR really well.

I just ordered my second fiber-optic-sighted Rough Rider. One will be sighted in for .22 LR and the other will be sighted in for .22 WMR. That will give me a total of two RR's w/ FO sights, one with standard sights, and a Ruger Super Wrangler, which I also like (doesn't have FO sights but does have nice adjustable Patridge sights). Accuracy of my FO Rough Rider has been very good.

I enjoy sitting on the deck and shooting my revolvers. What I have works great for me.

The only RR I didn't care for was the 9-shot version. It was hard to load and unload because of chambers not wanting to line up.

If anyone questions the popularity of the Heritage revolvers, they should browse through their catalog and look at their extensive offerings.

 

Toomany:
I just picked up a RR 6. I had looked at the nine but didn’t get it for the same reason as you stated. The chambers kept wandering around making loading and unloading a chore.

 

I don't blame anyone for wanting better quality. I myself am usually very picky with buying used anything because I want it to look and perform like new. I let the Rough riders slide in the visual quality department because the ones I have perform well enough and as good as any other .22 revolver I've shot. I also like the weight of the RR's versus the Colt and Rugers. That and of course the inexpensive price tag.

 

I believe the Wrangler is made with gen-u-wine aluminum. Oh, pots and pans are made from aluminum so I guess it could be classified as "pot" metal. I have a wrangler along with the Heritages. I may be in a class of one but I prefer the Heritage over the wrangler. By the way, the Heritage with the adjustable sight is pretty darn accurate. A gun is only as good as its sights and the groove in the top strap is about as bad as you can get on any revolver whatever the brand is.

One thing I discovered with my Wrangler, is that young users have a hard time thumbing the hammer back. Like, they would end up with the gun almost pointed back at their heads. Which was never a problem for the Heritage.

The hammer spring feels much heavier than on the Heritage.

The Rugers are probably "better" guns, but for the typical $100 price difference, I'm not sure that they are better enough to warrant the extra cost.

No, a Single Six

Of course.

Makes total sense to say something like that in a thread titled,
"Inexpensive .22 revolver quality"

 

I bought my wife a wrangler as her first pistol. Told her to pick what she wanted and thats what she chose. Dropped one leg of the trigger spring to lighten the trigger pull. She loves it and it shoots great. Plus she looks like a total badass when shooting it lol. Plenty good for what she will use it for. Is it a "heirloom" gun? No, but for an occasional shooter to have some fun, its perfect.

 

I opted for the Ruger Wrangler because I need a handy revolver as I work around the home place and pasture. I don't bash cheaper firearms because there was a time while raising kids and trying to make ends meet that I couldn't afford much. I now, thankfully, have several Rugers, S&W 18 and 41s and semiautos. If I bang up the Wrangler no tears will fall and it shoots darn straight. Life is short, each to their own, hope for better days.

 

Very true. I have both the Wrangler and Super Wrangler too. Both good guns and serve the intended purpose. My RR shots as good as any Ruger or Colt .22 revolver I have. Not the prettiest but at $98.00 before fees I can live with it.

 

I always chuckle a bit when I read threads about this topic,,,
It's not that the topic itself is not a valid one,,,
It's the vehemence of the haters.

The truth of the matter is,,,
In the hands of 90% of the shooters,,,
The Heritage Rough Riders will be as accurate,,,
As any Ruger Single Six, Colt Frontier Scout, or any other high end gun.

And assuming you're not abusing the revolver,,,
It will outlast most of their owners.

When I worked at OK State University,,,
I gifted several (6 or more) Heritage revolvers to graduates,,,
I would then take them shooting a few times to get them introduced to the gun.

Each and every one of those El-Cheapo revolvers,,,"
Performed perfectly out of the box.

Were they machined as nicely as a Ruger?,,,
No.

Were they as well finished as a Colt?,,,
No.

Were they as accurate at plinking distances?,,,
Yes.

Were they affordable as gifts?
Heck yes!

If someone doesn't want to own a Heritage,,,
Buy something else instead.

But don't trash a decent intro cowboy shooter,,,
Just to make your Ruger, Colt, or whatever seem "better".

JMHO,,,

Aarond

.

 

I have had some of the cheaper guns.
Had a Single Six long time ago that was nothing but trouble.
Couple of Charter Arms that were trouble free and actually shot pretty good.
Tried the Heritage and it was trouble some.
Many mis fires and extraction issues.
Grandson liked it so now its his.
Seems many inexpensive guns are hit and miss nowadays.
Kinda like the 10/22's.

 

There's at least one guy here taking himself way too seriously...

 

Taurus and Charter Arms make decent revolvers for about half the price of S&W. I have an old 9 shot Taurus that works well.

 

Seems like RIA also makes one? I don't know I've seen one in the wild though. Haven't seen a Taurus .22 in a looooong time either.

 

The "FACTS" are a lot of people are perfectly happy with most guns they buy. They make their choices for a variety of reasons.
Are some guns made better than others? I would think everyone here would agree that's true. I have a variety of different quality firearms.
I love each and everyone of them.
The last thing I would do is bash someone else's choice .......just like I wouldn't appreciate them bashing mine.
Opinions can very....so can bashing.

 

I'll repeat my earlier statement....

 

This is not a plug for Heritage. I am 5 months into shooting this one almost every week and having a great time, without one misfire or problem. This is my first target at 25yds. There is no way that I would have drilled holes in a super 6 and wouldn't make me a better shot. I was was glad for how easy it was to drill and tap. I have 2 heritages with red dots now. I can no longer see open sights to my satisfaction. The five heritages that I have all work smoothly...at the rate that they want to be opperated. People expecting to practice their Roy Roger's skills, or to get cheap trigger time in for their cowboy speed shooting will be disappointed. Gunsmiths ain't gonna care for guns that cost what 1 1/2 hrs of their labor. Neither are small local shop owners who have to keep more paperwork that the profit made. Fact is, as for myself if not for Academy selling guns that I can afford, I would not be shooting pistols at all. Have a safe weekend.

 

We have a farm in a rural area. Carrying a gun, of some type, is essential when outside of the house.
I prefer 22 handguns or .410 shotguns myself.
Not wanting to get my Single Sixes or Ruger MkIII beat up, i bought my first Heritage around 2006.
I liked it so well that I bought another, then another. I don't have to worry about them getting soaked in a rainstorm, or dropped.
Both of my Single Sixes and all three of my Heritage's wear magnum cylinders.