Wrangler Vers. Heritage

Jeb Stuart said:

Nope, did not take it serious, just had a good time responding to you . And I still think you should stick with a cap gun, at least until you are out of middle school.

My cheap gun is better than your cheap gun.

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HaHa! I wish we were closer. I would invite you to a shoot off. The loser buys the beer.

And I did at one time I did consider the RR. I started my handgun shooting with an RG 22 single action. What a POS that was but it did work. And once I figured out how to use the sights the stupid thing was fairly accurate. At least to the best of my memory.

And I would love to be in middle school again. Just think of all the do overs you would get. But I haven't seen middle school since 1970. Long, long ago.

Speedo66 said:

Jeb Stuart said
"Just for the sake of Marketing, it will be interesting to watch how things go. I wonder how much money Ruger will sink into advertising?"

The way all types of boards have been on fire about these guns, probably none is necessary.

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Yep. We need to be on Rugers payroll the way we are keeping the interest up on ths gun and I bet even Heritage is getting another look too from people looking for a 22 caliber field gun.

Ratshooter said:

We need to be on Rugers payroll the way we are keeping the interest up on ths gun and I bet even Heritage is getting another look too from people looking for a 22 caliber field gun.

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Maybe so.

P.T. Barnum said: "I don't care what newspapers say about me as long as they spell my name right."

So, Heritage will probably benefit rather than lose, since more low-priced western .22 revolvers overall will sell now compared to what would have sold before. At least in the short term.

Jeb Stuart said:

Heritage has been around a long time selling the "Budget Cowboy" gun. Ruger now wants to sell a Budget Cowboy gun. Go figure.

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I'm not sure what you mean by "go figure". Figure what? That Ruger means to make inroads into a market niche currently occupied by Heritage? Nothing to compute about that. Why wouldn't they?

SwampWolf said:

I'm not sure what you mean by "go figure". Figure what? That Ruger means to make inroads into a market niche currently occupied by Heritage? Nothing to compute about that. Why wouldn't they?

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It's a no-brainer. Ruger was already making cheap and cheerful pocket pistols and that made money.
And a lot of buyers could not afford a Single Six, or would not pay the price for one, and so they were customers lost to Heritage.
So why not build a better mousetrap and capture a big chunk of the Rough Rider market?
The brilliance of the Wrangler is that it is so well thought out and built and economical that it appeals to everyone.
And so, even those who bought Single Six revolvers are buying them, even though they would not have bought a Rough Rider no matter how cheap one was.

Old Stumpy writes:

The brilliance of the Wrangler is that it is so well thought out and built and economical that it appeals to everyone.

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I agree with this, almost. Nothing "appeals to everyone."

At any rate, I may end up buying one if I see it in a LGS, in silver, for what they're supposed to go for. I need another .22 SA like I need to shoot myself with it, but it will probably happen. Still, I'll end up paying $50-65 more than I did for either of my HRR guns, and then a bit additional for some wood stocks for it, but I bet it will be a solid-feeling gun once in hand.

Come to think of it, maybe I'll just trade my Single-Six for it, after swapping out the stocks first..

Naah..

(Now, I'd like to see Ruger "cheapen" the SP101-22 some, like maybe into the $300-350 range. With the Taurus 94 out of the running, a more budget-friendly, metal-framed, DA/SA from a reputable maker could go up against the Charter Arms Pathfinder series.)

Dang fellows, I’m gonna have to buy both and compare them myself!

And the best thing about them both is that I can afford to. I just ordered a RR birdshead, “blued”, 3.75” barrel from my LGS. I might wait a bit on the Ruger in hopes that they’ll make a similar model. Ain’t ‘Merica great!

Old Stumpy said:

The brilliance of the Wrangler is that it is so well thought out and built and economical that it appeals to everyone.
And so, even those who bought Single Six revolvers are buying them, even though they would not have bought a Rough Rider no matter how cheap one was.

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Probably the best response so far. I did hold one of the new Wranglers and to me it felt just a little smaller and lighter than the two single sixes I own. i weighed both of my SS guns and they both were just under 32oz. One report on the new Wrangler stated that it actually weighs 28oz not 30. I think they are correct. And without the lump on the frame for the rear sight the gun just felt smaller when you wrapped your hand around it.

Before Ruger came out with the Wrangler I had been looking at the fixed sight version of the single six. The new gun will scratch that itch.

I'd like to see a Wrangler in person but since it's not a steel gun I'm wondering if anyone will have one in stock in IL?

MedWheeler said:

I agree with this, almost. Nothing "appeals to everyone."

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It's subjective, I suppose, but this is certainly a fair comment.
However, I believe that almost everyone who is open to well-made guns using lower cost manufacturing processes and materials would find it appealing to some degree, even if single actions are not their thing.

cc-hangfire said:

Dang fellows, I’m gonna have to buy both and compare them myself!

And the best thing about them both is that I can afford to. I just ordered a RR birdshead, “blued”, 3.75” barrel from my LGS. I might wait a bit on the Ruger in hopes that they’ll make a similar model. Ain’t ‘Merica great!

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Funny how the birdshead Rough Rider is being mentioned so much now, just after the Wrangler started manufacture.
Perhaps this is how Heritage will salvage their share of the market.
They may just focus mainly on the variant models that Ruger Wranglers don't yet offer.
That would be the wise thing in order to compete.
The thing is that Ruger has offered shorter birds head Single Sixes in the past, so it would seem inexpensive to make birds head Wranglers as well, since the grip frame for the Wrangler has identical dimensions to the Single Six.
A shorter barrel, ejector rod and ejector rod housing seems equally easy.
And if Heritage creates a stronger market for the birds head, then a birds head Wrangler won't be far behind.
So, because Wranglers are so affordable, I will buy the current model now and wait to buy the birds head model later.
I could just buy a Heritage birds head, I suppose, but regardless of the birds head grip frame and shorter barrel, the more primitive Rough Rider design and appearance, flat leaf springs, and plastic manual safety just leave me cold.

I've owned a Heritage RR and I thought it was OK. Nothing to brag about, but nothing to hang your head in shame over if someone saw you with one.

This morning, I looked at a Ruger Wrangler. I thought it was a nicer, more substantial revolver that the Heritage. I'm not in the market for a 22 of any brand, but if I was looking for something like that, I'm reasonably sure I'd pick the Wrangler.

While I'm not getting rid of my Rough Rider anytime soon, I'll be looking for one of the Wranglers in black. tom.

Mn Fats said:

He's impressed with every gun.

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Yeah, I've watched a few of Hitchcock45's videos and I've never witnessed him not like a gun. Of course, the same could be said about me...

SwampWolf said:

Yeah, I've watched a few of Hitchcock45's videos and I've never witnessed him not like a gun. Of course, the same could be said about me...

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I mean if I could reliably hit that stupid gong with whatever I had to hand I would probably be hard pressed to complain about anything.

I picked up a Heritage because of the safety. I shoot wood bees using shot shells and some times I am ready to fire and the little sucker goes out of range and I end up with a cocked gun but no targets. By putting on the safety I can put the gun down until one of the little guys comes back in a minute or the next day.

It could be wishful thinking to think that Ruger will be coming out with very many more Wrangler models unless they are planning to eventually end production of the Single-Six.
Has Ruger given any indication that they would offer more options or is it only speculation that they probably will if this initial offering sells well?
Ending the Single-Six may already be on Ruger's agenda.

arcticap said:

Ending the Single-Six may already be on Ruger's agenda.

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I doubt very much if Ruger has any plans for dumping the Single-Six; the Wrangler offering just gives the customer more options.

I doubt most folks that line up to buy either the Heritage or Wrangler will actually care about the detail of a screw or glue or other details. I was surprised after talking to my LGS that they actually sell more Taurus products than any other. For some reason I thought Glocks would be the number one product, but they were actually very low on the list. The mass amount of Newbie shooters have really hit the market. Look at how many Ruger LCP's were sold, and many people could not even shoot them or found them just to difficult etc. But they were small and cute and the customers bought them.
A newbie, looking at both guns IMO is not going to go into great detail on quality components. I think the bottom line is going to be who has the cheapest cost. And which one looks more appealing to the eye. Ruger has a good name, Heritage has a good name. Both well known. Ruger is now about $60.00 higher in most cases for one without the magnum cylinder. And a Heritage owner can just get the cylinder later if he chooses. Since Ruger just released these guns, I am guessing they will have a big price drop soon. Will they be the same price as the Heritage? Maybe Less? It will be interesting to wait and watch.

Will the discerning buyer of this kind of gun, just go ahead and buy a Single Six and get the real thing? I would say most likely. Otherwise just flip a coin or look for the best price between the Heritage and the Ruger. (Just a thought)

Jeb Stuart said:

Look at how many Ruger LCP's were sold, and many people could not even shoot them or found them just to difficult etc. But they were small and cute and the customers bought them.

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It wasn't just "newbies" who bought them. The Ruger LCP and its ilk fit perfectly in a narrow niche that other handguns intended for self-defense just don't "measure up (or down) to". I carry concealed everything from a SIG Model 227 auto, chambered in .45 ACP, to a vintage Colt Cobra and a Smith & Wesson Model 12 revolver, chambered in .38 Special, depending on different circumstances but there are times and places when the littlest and lightest reliable .380 auto fits the bill perfectly.

SwampWolf said:

It wasn't just "newbies" who bought them. The Ruger LCP and its ilk fit perfectly in a narrow niche that other handguns intended for self-defense just don't "measure up (or down) to". I carry concealed everything from a SIG Model 227 auto, chambered in .45 ACP, to a vintage Colt Cobra and a Smith & Wesson Model 12 revolver, chambered in .38 Special, depending on different circumstances but there are times and places when the littlest and lightest reliable .380 auto fits the bill perfectly.

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I am a big pocket gun fan. But I think you missed my point. Sorry.

The short range accuracy of a 1950's Ruger Single-Six fired at 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 feet is about the same as a brand new Heritage Rough Rider fired at 20, 30 and 40 feet.
The Ruger has a rear leaf sight and a longer barrel, while the Heritage has a rear groove sight and the short Wrangler length barrel and was fired new out of the box.

The Ruger Single-Six test firing begins at the 3:15 mark of this video with 3 shots at each target distance with 2 brands of ammo.



The Heritage Rough Rider test firing begins at about the 1:35 mark with 6 shots at each distance with one brand of ammo.

arcticap said:

The short range accuracy of a 1950's Ruger Single-Six fired at 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 feet is about the same as a brand new Heritage Rough Rider shot at 20, 30 and 40 feet.
The Ruger has adjustable sights and a longer barrel, while the Heritage has fixed sights and the short Wrangler length barrel, was fired new out of the box without even cleaning the barrel of oil being shown on camera after unboxing it.

The Ruger Single-Six test firing begins at the 3:15 mark of this video with 3 shots at each target distance with 2 brands of ammo.



The Heritage Rough Rider test firing begins at about the 1:35 mark with 6 shots at each distance with one brand of ammo.

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Man those Heritages are some great guns for the price and so much fun. You just got me hyped to take mine out this weekend. Thanks for posting.

Someone on another site said a Ruger Single Six magnum cylinder fit the Wrangler. Has anybody here tried it and can confirm that?

I was under the impression, from what I've read, that the Wrangler cylinder was slightly smaller.

Shooting off his hind legs, doesn't really mean much. I have seen very few bench tests of a Heritage but those I have seen, were abysmal. Three to four inches at 25yds being the norm. A good Single Six should halve that.