.22 Rough Rider

I am looking for some fun and good shooting, but won't be purchasing something more expensive

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In that case you can stop looking.

Enjoy the gun and disregard the bad press, it is from people that have much more expensive firearms which they are comparing it against.

I trust the folks on this site.

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In aggregate, I agree.

I won a Heritage Arms at a hunting banquet, and it's an okay plinker. But mine shoots a little left and the sights are pretty crude fixed sights. I have not tried to tap the front blade over (bend) as I'm afraid it may just fall out. I don't want to widen the rear gap either. I hate adjusting my poa to hit my target. They are worth the money. But they are a far cry from a Ruger.

I have one and like it. Had 5 or 6 years now.
Cant say a bad thing about it.
I am a gun snob but this inexpensive 22 fits the bill for budget fun, especially for the grand kids.

I do not hesitate to recommend to anyone.

I looked up the google maps street view of the Rough Rider factory. Looked like a dumpy little warehouse in the bad part of town, these are probably made with slave labor and tears.

That being said, I still want one!! They are so inexpensive and I've got plenty of .22, with no gun at all to fire it in (that's right, I don't own a .22 gun!). I might have to pick one up soon. I'll see if I can find one at a gun show, because the shipping and FFL fees from an online purchase would add like 50% to the price LOL!

Why not a .22 pistol?

I have one, and have a hard time putting it down once I pick it up. Mine has the 4.75 incher, and both cylinders. It's a remarkably slick little gun for its price point. I guess I got one of the better ones. I've never really tried to see precisely how accurate it is, but it puts rounds pretty much where I've expected them to go.

I enjoy shooting it as much as any auto, even my Mk-II Ruger (that one is just "too easy".) I also enjoy the feel of loading it and clearing the spent shells. For me, shooting isn't just about seeing how much money I can quickly send downrange.

That being said, I did see a Single-Six in the LGS a couple of weeks ago, and kind of regret not picking it up. I paid about $200 for the HRR. The Ruger was listed at nearly double that (it wasn't a "three-screw" model.)

I believe it only includes the extra cylinder and no frame mods. I have a Herbert Schmidt buffalo .22 revolver from the 60's and it is almost an exact copy of the Rough Rider. The mainspring has worn past its usable life and parts are now hard to find. If you pick up a Rough Rider I would suggest stocking up on a mainspring or two.

No horror story here. I've had one and it was OK. The front sight was way off, so I removed it and soldered on my own. The other modification I did was to add a bushing in the ejector rod tunnel to keep the rod centered, and replaced the plastic ejector rod end with brass. For the money it was an acceptable plinker/varmint blaster.

I really like the Heritage Rough Rider for the price. I have buddies who run trap lines and absolutely love theirs.

The 'Bang for the Buck' quotient is quite high. If you buy one planning to pass it on to your grandchildren you will likely be disappointed. If you are looking for an inexpensive .22 caliber (and/or .22WMR) revolver, it may be just what you want.

I have one and enjoy it. Not a single problem yet. Mine was the combo with the magnum cylinder, I never use it though.

I love to fill mine full of shot shells and shoot the carpenter bees that eat my front porch.

I also use mine on the trap line, no worries about damage or loss as it is easily replaceable.

Are Rough Riders painted black plastic (or so they seem) vs. blued like Rugers?

Mine is blued on the barrel and cylinder. The zamak frame is black, but I don't think you can blue zamak but it matches fairly close.

I have one, the combo. It came with the holster, mag cylinder and box.

Its the 6"

I have put a thousand or so trouble free and very accurate rounds through it. It will shoot anything good, shorts, longs, LR and WMR.

I use it as a side arm while hiking, fishing or beating around the property.

The extra cylinder fits in a speed-loader pouch nicely.

That seems like fun!!

And no, before anyone gets upset, wood bees do not have feelings and they can't feel pain or even think at all. They are basically robots, programmed by base instinct.

They do however, scare the crap out of you if you get to close and screw up decks/fences/etc.

I bought one on sale just before Christmas. Couldn't pass on the price. It is the 6 shot 6" barrel aluminum frame model (the cheapest one). I have only fired 6 shots through it. I got it with blemishes on the paint of the aluminum frame. Then more finish came off around the forcing cone. (Still not a big deal and doesn't affect its function) But then I noticed the the firing pin was making dents in the cylinder just next to the head of the bullet. So I went on their online chat. They first tried to talk me into thinking it was my fault (she actually said the because I used 36 grain bullets instead of 40 grain it voided the warranty. But she gave up on that when I asked her if she actually knew anything about guns. And I said "so you are not going to honor your warranty because i used Remington Golden bullets, one of the most common rounds made." So she let me send it back. They refinished it and gave me a new cylinder. (the firing pin still nicks the cylinder next to the bullet though) I don't know if I should send it back again or not. I actually like the gun. It has good weight and it is easy to see that it will be a hoot to plink with. I got it for $129 + $38 more for the magnum cylinder. Plus tax and background check. Really what kind of a revolver can you get for that kind of money? I dare say you couldn't even get a functioning used one. I am happy with it and intend to keep it.

i had one for a short time. I liked it. No it wasn't a Ruger, but then it didn't come close to costing what even a beat up used Ruger costs. They're just a low cost plinker.

I sold mine because it turned out I didn't have a holster that fit it, and I was too cheap to just buy another holster. But the gun was accurate enough for plinking at cans and pine cones out back of the hog pen.

Final question: white or wood grips?

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Oh...Wood grips all the way. The white plastic ones just make an inexpensive gun look cheep IMHO.

But then I noticed the the firing pin was making dents in the cylinder just next to the head of the bullet

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That can be due to dry firing. If there isn't a shell there to cushion the blow, the firing pin will peen the cylinder. Thats common on all rim-fires, unless they have hardened steel parts.

My goal is not to pick on owners or their guns as I have barely had one Rough Rider in my hands once. But, ask yourself this....would you buy a Yugo just because you liked the price? (Just for thoughts)

Another thing about the Single Six vs Rough Rider.....If both are used moderately for 30+ years I suspect the Ruger will be worth maybe $1000 in future $'s and the Rough Rider will be much closer to $100....maybe.

fireman 9731 said:

That can be due to dry firing. If there isn't a shell there to cushion the blow, the firing pin will peen the cylinder. Thats common on all rim-fires, unless they have hardened steel parts.

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Thanks for that answer. I was going to ask about that. The fact is though neither cylinder (the original or the new one they sent) has ever been dry fired. The one that came with it was not. I know that because I was the only one to have shot it. The new one from the factory came with a letter saying that they tested it with 6 shots of Winchester ammo. It also has the dents in the cylinder. And I have never fired it. (Never pulled the trigger on it) So my assessment is that the alignment is a little off. Do you think that I should send it back again?