There are valid reasons the Ruger costs more. It is better made and a long standing company. If you want a gun you can leave to your grandson and he can still get parts , buy the Ruger. If you want to save money , buy the Heritage. You can not have your cake and eat it too. I have a 22 revover here made in South America in the 1980's. The trigger wore out and no parts are available. I'd expect that is where that Heritage will be in 25 years. There is nothing wrong with the Heritage. However don't expect it to be a Ruger. It is not and never will be.
Single Action 22 Revolver
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highpower3006
New member
The best advice that I can give is to be patient. If you keep on looking, you will find what you want. I readily admit that I know nothing about the Heritage brand of revolvers. If that is all you can afford then by all means buy one and if for some reason it doesn't work out, you won't have a bunch invested in it.
However, if you look around long enough, sooner or later a good deal on a Single Six will probably show up.
Two years ago a fellow I know came to me wanting to sell a couple Ruger single action revolvers out of an estate where he was the executor of the will. I really didn't want them at the time, so I passed on the deal. Six months later he came to me again and offered me the same revolvers, only this time much cheaper as the widow was anxious to get all the firearms out of her house. The price was so good I just had to buy them.
One was a New Model Blackhawk in .357 and the other was a Single Six. The Blackhawk was in good condition but the .22 had been stored in a humid environment and had some rust. Picked them up for $225 + transfer fees for the pair.
I know, without pictures it didn't happen, so here they are:
The Blackhawk
The Single Six
However, if you look around long enough, sooner or later a good deal on a Single Six will probably show up.
Two years ago a fellow I know came to me wanting to sell a couple Ruger single action revolvers out of an estate where he was the executor of the will. I really didn't want them at the time, so I passed on the deal. Six months later he came to me again and offered me the same revolvers, only this time much cheaper as the widow was anxious to get all the firearms out of her house. The price was so good I just had to buy them.
One was a New Model Blackhawk in .357 and the other was a Single Six. The Blackhawk was in good condition but the .22 had been stored in a humid environment and had some rust. Picked them up for $225 + transfer fees for the pair.
I know, without pictures it didn't happen, so here they are:
The Blackhawk
The Single Six
I've owned a bunch of 22 Revolvers over the years. Rugers, Colts, Smith & Wesson, Dan Wesson, Harrington & Richardson, and probably a couple others I can't remember off the top of my head.
The Ruger Single-Six is an outstanding gun. IF you get one, you won't be disapointed.
BUT if you ain't got the money, you ain't got the money. Personally I'd rather have a Heritage that I can shoot NOW, and then work toward getting a Ruger or a Colt later, than to have nothing at all now, and just think, "Gee, I'd sure be having fun if I just had that Ruger I wish I had."
You're just buying a 22 pistol. It's not a life altering decision. Let's say you buy it and don't like it? What's the worst thing that could happen? You're out of a few bucks? And you can get most if not all of it back by selling/trading it.
The Ruger Single-Six is an outstanding gun. IF you get one, you won't be disapointed.
BUT if you ain't got the money, you ain't got the money. Personally I'd rather have a Heritage that I can shoot NOW, and then work toward getting a Ruger or a Colt later, than to have nothing at all now, and just think, "Gee, I'd sure be having fun if I just had that Ruger I wish I had."
You're just buying a 22 pistol. It's not a life altering decision. Let's say you buy it and don't like it? What's the worst thing that could happen? You're out of a few bucks? And you can get most if not all of it back by selling/trading it.
Zhillsauditor
New member
I've had a lot of 22lr revolvers, and there is a lot of value in some of the cheaper weapons. I recently purchased a Rossi 511 for $180 out the door. It has a little bit of pitting, but a polished it out. The trigger was pretty bad, so I replaced the springs and did some minor polishing. Now I have a gun that I have $190 in, that shoots as well as my $450 S&W 63 (and good luck finding one of those for under $500).
All that being said, deals are out there. I am not a ruger fan, but stumbled on a single ten at a shop for $299--and I talked them down so they ate the tax and the background check fee ($5). The gun was in great shape, but had the famous "I broke my finger" ruger heavy springs. A $10 spring pack fixed that issue and now I have a mighty fine looking shooter for about $180 less than they go for new.
EDIT: while I like colt scouts, and have one, they are really not a good bang for the buck IMO. When you could find them regularly for under $300, they might have been a good deal, but prices on them have risen in the past five years. I would not pay more than $300 for one unless it was a full steel peacemaker.
All that being said, deals are out there. I am not a ruger fan, but stumbled on a single ten at a shop for $299--and I talked them down so they ate the tax and the background check fee ($5). The gun was in great shape, but had the famous "I broke my finger" ruger heavy springs. A $10 spring pack fixed that issue and now I have a mighty fine looking shooter for about $180 less than they go for new.
EDIT: while I like colt scouts, and have one, they are really not a good bang for the buck IMO. When you could find them regularly for under $300, they might have been a good deal, but prices on them have risen in the past five years. I would not pay more than $300 for one unless it was a full steel peacemaker.
Rainbow Demon
New member
I like my Single Six, be hard to beat the Ruger .22 Revolvers.
I had one of the early production Bearcats and I'll pass along my experiance with it, in case anyone runs across one of these and finds it won't shoot a lick.
My Bearcat was so innaccurate you'd have a hard time hitting the ground with it if you dropped it.
Cylinder timing was perfect, yet it spit lead in my face at every shot even held at arms length.
I ended up taking it back to the gunshop where I'd bought it.
Then a few years back I found out why this revolver acted up the way it did. Ruger's spotty quality control had struck again.
Turns out many Bearcats left the factory without having a forcing cone cut in the barrel. The bullets were being shaved by the raw ends of the lands.
So if you find one of these early Bearcats going cheap because the owner can't hit with it, all you have to do is cut a forcing cone, then it should be just fine.
I had one of the early production Bearcats and I'll pass along my experiance with it, in case anyone runs across one of these and finds it won't shoot a lick.
My Bearcat was so innaccurate you'd have a hard time hitting the ground with it if you dropped it.
Cylinder timing was perfect, yet it spit lead in my face at every shot even held at arms length.
I ended up taking it back to the gunshop where I'd bought it.
Then a few years back I found out why this revolver acted up the way it did. Ruger's spotty quality control had struck again.
Turns out many Bearcats left the factory without having a forcing cone cut in the barrel. The bullets were being shaved by the raw ends of the lands.
So if you find one of these early Bearcats going cheap because the owner can't hit with it, all you have to do is cut a forcing cone, then it should be just fine.
johnwilliamson062
Moderator
mt single six is the best money I ever spent o a gun. Got it used off gunbroker.
The Ruger's are great guns. I have a Single Six that I loved to shoot until I bought a Single Ten. Everything about that gun is great.
I will say this though...My cousin has a Heritage and it's quality and overall look does not compare to the Ruger but it is a nail driver. I thought it was just that he had shot it a lot and was good with it until I shot. I've tried to buy it from him ever since. It is a great shooting gun and would be perfect for riding in the truck.
I will say this though...My cousin has a Heritage and it's quality and overall look does not compare to the Ruger but it is a nail driver. I thought it was just that he had shot it a lot and was good with it until I shot. I've tried to buy it from him ever since. It is a great shooting gun and would be perfect for riding in the truck.
Can't comment on the Heritage as I've never fired one. It's probably a fine gun for the money. All I can say is that I bought my Ruger SS 20+ years ago and it's one of those guns that I would never even think of selling off. The quality is there to last a lifetime and I hope my kids or grandkids (hopefully) will enjoy it as much as I have.
It's worth it to spend a little more, although admittedly, I got lucky and picked up mine LNIB from a pawn shop off base for $125. Even 20 years ago, this was a heck of a bargain.
It's worth it to spend a little more, although admittedly, I got lucky and picked up mine LNIB from a pawn shop off base for $125. Even 20 years ago, this was a heck of a bargain.
Obambulate
New member
I think if I was in the market, I'd look at the Single Ten.
22 single action
I think that you should save you money and get a ruger Single Six. I've fired the Heritage and for the money, they are ok but they absolutely do not compare to a Ruger. I bought my son one of the FIE Texas Ranger 3" curved butt revolvers back in 1988 because at the time, I couldn't afford to get him a Ruger Bearcat that he really wanted.
The FIE revolvers are the same as the Heritage and I have to say that his has been fired many thousands of times since I bought it and it is still hanging in there.
This is a pic that I found on the net of the Heritage, my son's 23 year old FIE looks EXACTLY like this one. I would take a picture of his but he lives in South Carolina and I live in KS so...
My Single SIx that I paid less than the sticker price on the Heritage three years ago.
Save up for a used Ruger, you won't regret it.
I think that you should save you money and get a ruger Single Six. I've fired the Heritage and for the money, they are ok but they absolutely do not compare to a Ruger. I bought my son one of the FIE Texas Ranger 3" curved butt revolvers back in 1988 because at the time, I couldn't afford to get him a Ruger Bearcat that he really wanted.
The FIE revolvers are the same as the Heritage and I have to say that his has been fired many thousands of times since I bought it and it is still hanging in there.
This is a pic that I found on the net of the Heritage, my son's 23 year old FIE looks EXACTLY like this one. I would take a picture of his but he lives in South Carolina and I live in KS so...
My Single SIx that I paid less than the sticker price on the Heritage three years ago.
Save up for a used Ruger, you won't regret it.