First revolver - Rough Rider or Plinkerton

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bonefamily

New member
Hello everyone! I am currently in the market for my first revolver and I am on a tight budget. I am looking to get a .22lr and am curious to hear the comparisons or recommendations between the Heritage Rough Rider and Cimarron Plinkerton. This wheel gun would be for range use. Which do you feel is a better made and more reliable firearm? Thanks.
 
I'd rate them about the same. I've never shot a Plinkerton, but have looked at them. I had a Rough Rider for a while that I thought was pretty good for the money. You'll hear horror stories about both.

Someone will come along and tell you to buy a used Ruger. They're right. A Ruger is a better gun, but I'm sure you already know that.
 
You are far better off to look for a used Ruger Single Six. It will still be shooting well long after the other two are dead and buried.
 
I've handled and shot both guns,,,

It seemed to me that the Plinkerton was nicer in fit and finish,,,
I have a friend who bought two of the Plinkertons for his young son.

The young man is shooting them in SASS competitions,,,
That first summer he probably ran a brick of ammo a week through the pistols.

At the end of the first summer of competition shooting they were still tight,,,
And holding groups comparable to my venerable Colt Frontier Scout.

The finish wore off of the high spots rather quickly,,,
It's some kind of baked on paint rather than nice blue steel.

Overall I think the Plinkerton is just a nicer gun for about the same price.

That's just my humble opinion,,,
Take it for what it's worth. ;)

Aarond

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P.S.
Someone will come along and tell you to buy a used Ruger.
Click to expand...

That only took one hour and seven minutes.

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Buy a used Ruger. The Plinkerton is almost all pot metal with steel inserts for the bore and chambers. Do a search and find the pics of the one that beat itself to death in short order. The Rough Rider is a cheap gun but not quite as bad. At least it has a low grade of steel cylinder and barrel. I wouldn't cross the street for a free sample of either one but if pressed, I'd choose the Rough Rider over the Plinkerton.
 
The Roughrider got my vote. I bought it, figuring to upgrade eventually.
I never did upgrade, because the Roughrider actually shoots fairly well, and another three hundred bucks was better applied to a centerfire gun.
 
A used, well built gun in good condition will be a better gun than a new cheaply built gun. And if you look carefully, you can find one that is cheaper than a new poor quality gun. If a well built gun is taken care of properly, it will last many years.
 
Have you tried to buy any .22 ammo lately?

Might be worth it to keep saving your gun money and get something better once ammo is more available.

I have several Single Sixes, they show up for about $199 every so often in the local pawn shops. I also have 2 Roughriders in the safe that my son bought on sale for himself and his brother when he graduated from college.

One Roughrider shoots okay, but it is no where near the gun that the Rugers are. The other Roughrider shoots about 4 feet to the left at 10 yards. It's not worth the hassle to send it back. The Roughriders never get fired, the Rugers get used about every other weekend.
 
Rough Rider it was

Thanks for the replies, everyone! I made it out to one of our few LGS' and he had a couple Rough Riders in stock (no Plinkertons) - one of which I put in layaway. It comes with both the .22lr and .22mag cylinders. He actually had a good supply of .22lr in stock and let me buy 400 rounds of it (he said his normal limit was two boxes per customer in these times, but seeing how I also bought the RR he let me buy 4 boxes), which I know is not alot but it is something to add to my existing stock. I just wanted to get my feet wet with revolvers and wanted a .22lr for this purpose. I am thinking that I will take a good liking to revolvers and will get a centerfire in the near future. I agree that a used Ruger will be a finer gun and may opt that way when I'm ready for the centerfire, but for now I hope to have safe fun with the Heritage. Thanks to all for the help and advice!
 
I think you made a good choice for a budget .22 single action.

I don't have nor have I shot a Plinkerton, but I have three Rough Riders and they are all good shooters.

I also have a Single Six and a Virginia Dragoon.

All five are convertibles and all five are fun to shoot.

My wife and kids are always wanting to shoot the "little cowboy guns." :)

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Every once in a while you can happen upon a deal on a used Single Six, but lately, around here, about $425 is the usually seen asking price.
 
The funny thing is I have a older RR (about 12-15yrs) and wouldn't trade it. Its been reliable for me for tens of thousands rnds of "cheap" bricks. Is a Ruger nicer gun? Yes. But its also a much more expensive gun. Granted the paint or bluing, whatever coating it is, has turned a slight purple shade and that is my only gripe about the gun. Many people want to knock these guns but have never fired them. I consider these the Hi-Points of the revolver world.
 
The funny thing is I have a older RR (about 12-15yrs) and wouldn't trade it. Its been reliable for me for tens of thousands rnds of "cheap" bricks. Is a Ruger nicer gun? Yes. But its also a much more expensive gun. Granted the paint or bluing, whatever coating it is, has turned a slight purple shade and that is my only gripe about the gun. Many people want to knock these guns but have never fired them. I consider these the Hi-Points of the revolver world
Click to expand...
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I agree that it is the Hi-Point of revolvers. My first handgun was a Hi-Point C9. I followed it with a Phoenix HP-22A and then my Rough Rider. They are all accurate and dependable. My favorite shooter is the Rough Rider. I got the one with the case hardened finish and it (to me) is the best looking revolver that RR makes. I feel sure it will last longer than I will.
 
bonefamily - I think you'll like your RR. I've been shooting for 50 yrs - and mainly SA revolvers when using a handgun. I have Colts, Remingtons, Rugers, S & W, Sigs etc. I wanted a knock around .22 SA and ended up buying a RR with a 4 3/4" barrel. I love it. No, it's not a Python or a Single Six but it functions well, is accurate and dependable. For the money, I think they are a great value and for someone who wants to get in to shooting SA, a great place to start. Congrats on your new "baby" and be safe and enjoy! :)
 
I opted for the Ruger Single Six, got one with a 9.5" bbl and I love it. My brother bought a Heritage Arms Rough rider and it almost as accurate as my Ruger. He's very happy with it and it is a decent gun for the money, for him the extra cash just wasn't worth it to get the Single Six.
I've heard good things from other folks that actually own the Rough rider, I just can't get past that stupid safety Heritage Arms has built into them. Even so, there is something to be said for a decent affordable (less than $200 on sale) single action revolver that goes bang every time, safety or no safety.
 
I had a Rough Rider for a while that I bought in the 08 ammo, and primer drought. It shot just fine, and was more accurate than I am with the style of shooting I did with it. I gifted it to my nephew. He still shoots the snot out of it. It still works just fine, and shoots minute of pop can at 50 yards for my nephew.
 
I couldn't find one of those fabled $200 Single Sixes, so I went ahead and bought a Rough Rider. Decently made little gun that shot where I pointed it and didn't give me any trouble. Expect to take some pliers and a file to the front sight, if you insist on using it. I put a couple of bricks through mine, and a friend has it now. I recommend it.
 
I was a gun room manager for Sportsman's Warehouse/Wholesale Sports for several years and my vote between these two would be for the Rough Rider.

The Plinkerton is a piece of crap.
 
I own a Rough Rider(alloy frame) and I like it. The thing a lot of people don't realize is the RR is available both on an alloy or a steel frame. The steel frame is also chambered in 32 H&R mag just like Single Six used to be. A lot of people don't know the difference so I would suspect the steel framed RR's are the ones that people are the most happy with although IMO there is nothing wrong with the alloys. The MSRP of the steel framed one's is about $60.00 more than the alloy framed guns. I am currently looking for a used one of the 32 H&R mag RR's having passed up one almost 10 years ago at a gun show new for $179.00. They are over $120.00 more now.
 
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