Ruger Wrangler versus Heritage Rough Rider

[silicosys4]

The problem with the Wrangler isn't the Wrangler. The design is fine, the price point is fine, the quality of construction is fine, the materials are fine, etc.

The problem with the Wrangler is Rugers inability to provide a consistent product. For whatever reason.

This leads to people with bad experiences having to convince those with good experiences. Always an uphill battle because the people who are satisfied with the product want to think "I'm happy because I made the smart buy because I'm smart"
Rather than "I got lucky and I very well could have been one of the unhappy people with a bad gun".
You see the same situation with Kahrs polymer pistols. The people with good ones just can't seem to grasp that Kahr puts out a frightful amount of bad ones and just don't understand the disappointment others have in the brand.

The bottom line is simple. Ruger quality control sucks, the Wrangler is inconsistent, and they can't keep it consistent enough for it to be honestly said to be a better gun than it's competitors.
That is going by results, not by specs. On paper it's the superior gun. But not by
Rugers execution

 

[ontarget]

The problem with the Wrangler isn't the Wrangler. The design is fine, the price point is fine, the quality of construction is fine, the materials are fine, etc.

The problem with the Wrangler is Rugers inability to provide a consistent product. For whatever reason.

This leads to people with bad experiences having to convince those with good experiences. Always an uphill battle because the people who are satisfied with the product want to think "I'm happy because I made the smart buy because I'm smart"
Rather than "I got lucky and I very well could have been one of the unhappy people with a bad gun".
You see the same situation with Kahrs polymer pistols. The people with good ones just can't seem to grasp that Kahr puts out a frightful amount of bad ones and just don't understand the disappointment others have in the brand.

The bottom line is simple. Ruger quality control sucks, the Wrangler is inconsistent, and they can't keep it consistent enough for it to be honestly said to be a better gun than it's competitors.
That is going by results, not by specs. On paper it's the superior gun. But not by
Rugers execution

That is a post that makes sense. Especially the part about convincing those with differing experiences. And that goes both ways too, and I feel like that's exactly what has led to a 100+ post thread. We are all going to judge a product based on our own experiences not on someone else's. None of us really know the qualifications and skill level of anyone else on an internet board, so I tend to take it all with a grain of salt. Anyone can claim its the gun when in reality its the shooter. (I'm not questioning or insinuating anything about anyone here.)
All you need as proof of that statement is for a non-airgun shooter to pick up a springer and try to shoot a group. That can be a very humbling experience even to an accomplished powder burner.

 

[chicharrones]

View attachment 1131776 My new Ruger Wrangler Birdshead with DeSantis holster.

Looks great. I hope it treats you well.

 

[doubleh]

All I can add is that when I can pick up another 22 revolver and immediately shoot groups under the exact same conditions half or one third the size that I just did with the gun in question I tend to believe it's the gun's fault and not mine.

 

[American_Fusilier]

I have a heritage rough rider. But I got it before the wrangler was released, and I got mine for under $100. I enjoy shooting it and will keep it. I'm sure the wranglers are better, but my RR works for me.

 

[TTv2]

The problem with the Wrangler isn't the Wrangler. The design is fine, the price point is fine, the quality of construction is fine, the materials are fine, etc.

The problem with the Wrangler is Rugers inability to provide a consistent product. For whatever reason.

This leads to people with bad experiences having to convince those with good experiences. Always an uphill battle because the people who are satisfied with the product want to think "I'm happy because I made the smart buy because I'm smart"
Rather than "I got lucky and I very well could have been one of the unhappy people with a bad gun".
You see the same situation with Kahrs polymer pistols. The people with good ones just can't seem to grasp that Kahr puts out a frightful amount of bad ones and just don't understand the disappointment others have in the brand.

The bottom line is simple. Ruger quality control sucks, the Wrangler is inconsistent, and they can't keep it consistent enough for it to be honestly said to be a better gun than it's competitors.
That is going by results, not by specs. On paper it's the superior gun. But not by
Rugers execution

I would go further and say everyone's quality control sucks now, the difference is do you feel like dealing with customer service and warranty work for a $200 gun or a $900 gun?

I would be very upset if I had to send a $900 gun back, I expect to with a $200 one, so when it doesn't happen, I'm pleased.

But really, should I be happier about having to NOT send something I bought in to be serviced than having the actual product? NO!

I disagree with you that the design is superior, it hasn't had the same amount of time to determine that like Heritage has. Just because it feels better doesn't mean it's going to shoot better or last longer.

I mean, these turbocharged V6 pickups feel really nice with the boost and the 10 speed transmissions shifting like butter, but give it 80k miles and compare that to a late 80s Ford 300 straight 6 at 200k miles that rattles and shifts like a plane during turbulence and see if the new truck feels as good and is even still drivable.

 

[hawg]

Wranglers remind me too much of the piece's of junk German Rohm .22 revolvers I bought for my Brother and myself. Actually fairly accurate, and more than fairly the worst guns I ever bought. They didn't last 300 rounds, either of them. Lesson learned. There are inexpensive guns and there are cheap guns. Know the difference!.

I like an RG 66. I've had three of them and never wore one out. I bought the first one new in 1976. My first wife still has it and still uses it. I gave one away and my last one got stolen. Yeah RG put out some junk but the 66 was anything but junk.

 

[Terry G]

I like an RG 66. I've had three of them and never wore one out. I bought the first one new in 1976. My first wife still has it and still uses it. I gave one away and my last one got stolen. Yeah RG put out some junk but the 66 was anything but junk.

Maybe my two were made on a Monday.

 

[hawg]

Maybe my two were made on a Monday.

Maybe I dunno but I really liked mine. I like them better than my Single Six. This wasn't mine but the first two looked just like it. The third one was blued. I bought the first one in 76 and my first wife got it when we split in 99. I've tried to get it from her several times but she wont let it go.

 

[Terry G]

Maybe I dunno but I really liked mine. I like them better than my Single Six. This wasn't mine but the first two looked just like it. The third one was blued. I bought the first one in 76 and my first wife got it when we split in 99. I've tried to get it from her several times but she wont let it go.

View attachment 1132923

I was bringing mine back from a local gunsmith who replaced the hammer spring I think. It was NOT a good idea to carry it in a WW I gas mask carrier. I was on a motorcycle and the strap caught in the chain and ripped the bag off. The Rohm 66 followed me down the highway at 60 MPH. This is what's left. I bought a Ruger single Six

 

[Switup]

It's been about 35 years since I bought a 22 revolver. Ruger hadn't started making the Wrangler yet, but the Single Six was a budget buster. I compared the Rough Rider with the H&R model 649 and went with the H&R because it came with the extra Mag cylinder. It's never had a problem, and I used it for years with shorts while running a trap line. I still plink with LR once in a while, but mainly carry it with Mags while hiking to pick off coyotes or prairie dogs whenever the opportunity arises. No regrets with the purchase.

 

[hawg]

I've had two single sixes and they're good guns, I just don't like the way the cylinder turns by opening the loading gate. I sold the first one after my bypass because I needed the money.



The only .22 pistol I had after that was an old H&R Sportsman and I'm not a fan of double actions. I've always shot it SA but the grip shape isn't the best for that. I went to my LGS specifically to look at a Wrangler but I couldn't stand the cerakote. The safety on the Heritage was a no go. They brought this used single six out of the back for 75.00 more than the wrangler. It's kind of scruffy but it locks up tight and it's a good shooter.

 

[CraigC]

I just don't like the way the cylinder turns by opening the loading gate.

There's an easy solution for that.

 

[hawg]

There's an easy solution for that.

View attachment 1133096

Yeah, I can't afford those. Those are nice, especially the top one.

 

[Brubz]

Yeah, I can't afford those. Those are nice, especially the top one.

One of the things I've noticed about this forum is it seems to be made up of two groups of people one for whom money is No Object and the other for people like us who have a gun buying
budget.these two groups will never be on the same page.

 

[CraigC]

One of the things I've noticed about this forum is it seems to be made up of two groups of people one for whom money is No Object and the other for people like us who have a gun buying
budget.these two groups will never be on the same page.

Uh, what??? We're not talking about Korths here. A decent Old Model should be quite a bit less than a new New Model.

Careful with the generalizations you throw around.

 

[hawg]

Uh, what??? We're not talking about Korths here. A decent Old Model should be quite a bit less than a new New Model.

Careful with the generalizations you throw around.

I've only seen one old model for sale around here and it was 500.00.

 

[ontarget]

One of the things I've noticed about this forum is it seems to be made up of two groups of people one for whom money is No Object and the other for people like us who have a gun buying
budget.these two groups will never be on the same page.

I can see why you may come to that conclusion, but....
I can only speak for myself here so that's what I'll do.
When I was younger and had a house full of kids, yes, the gun budget was tight, and I was impatient. So I bought a bunch of lower budget guns. No problem there, I enjoy all of them still to this day.
Fast forward to today, and I have shifted my gun buying to better quality, more expensive guns. I still don't come anywhere near the "money is no object" class, but I have accumulated enough guns and have the patience now to search out the good prices on better guns.
Just 1 example is the 1956 Flat Gate Single Six I picked up at CABELA’S for $269.00.
That's barely more than a Wrangler for a far better gun.
Another 1977 NM SS I got for $269.00 at a LGS. It came with both cylinders. They are out there, and the amount in your gun budget can go a very long way if you have the patience.

 

[Brubz]

I can see why you may come to that conclusion, but....
I can only speak for myself here so that's what I'll do.
When I was younger and had a house full of kids, yes, the gun budget was tight, and I was impatient. So I bought a bunch of lower budget guns. No problem there, I enjoy all of them still to this day.
Fast forward to today, and I have shifted my gun buying to better quality, more expensive guns. I still don't come anywhere near the "money is no object" class, but I have accumulated enough guns and have the patience now to search out the good prices on better guns.
Just 1 example is the 1956 Flat Gate Single Six I picked up at CABELA’S for $269.00.
That's barely more than a Wrangler for a far better gun.
Another 1977 NM SS I got for $269.00 at a LGS. It came with both cylinders. They are out there, and the amount in your gun budget can go a very long way if you have the patience.

I'm not a socialist I wasn't knocking anybody for having the money to buy quality guns just like I drive a Ford and there are some people who drive BMWs there's nothing wrong with that.
What I was saying was meant as an observation not a criticism. based on some of the photographs I've seen here there are people that have 60, 70 maybe $80,000 invested in handguns more power to them

 

[CraigC]

I'm not a socialist I wasn't knocking anybody for having the money to buy quality guns just like I drive a Ford and there are some people who drive BMWs there's nothing wrong with that.
What I was saying was meant as an observation not a criticism. based on some of the photographs I've seen here there are people that have 60, 70 maybe $80,000 invested in handguns more power to them

Firstly, this is a gun forum, posting photos of guns is what we do. Secondly, everyone's financial situation is their own business. Yours is yours and mine is mine. Best not to comment on a person's finances with such a trivial amount of information. Most importantly, those are friggin' Rugers. Ruger has always been the working man's firearm, from the very beginning. They intentionally cut back on fit & finish to save people money over Colt's and S&W's. I got the Single Six below 23yrs ago for the princely sum of $200. At the time, I was making about $10/hr and working 60hrs a week. In 2004, I added two more New Models for $225 and $260. By then, I was really raking it in at $13.65/hr. Then in early 2005, I lost that crappy job and right after my insurance ran out, had to pony up $10,000 for medical bills, which also kept me from finding another job. Up until the skyrocketing prices of the last few years, I always suggested folks buy a used Ruger over a Heritage and every time I had that argument, I found them on Gunbroker for under $300. Budget you say???




Yeah, in 2019 when I got the two I first posted, things were a lot better. They were both $500 or better but the 5.5" was nearly new in the original box and the 9.5" has always been scarce. The premium is due to both guns belonging to the late Terry Murbach, prolific writer from my childhood, member of this forum and one I considered a friend until his sudden and untimely death in 2018. So I had another friend, Zane Thompson, made a set of walnut grips for them. Because you see, starting in mid-2005, I worked 365 days a year for 12yrs and in doing so, put myself in the position that I can buy pretty much whatever I want, within reason. What I have is my business but is a result of hard work and it's been going on since I was a child. I also have no ex-wives, married in my late 30's and have no children. So there are probably things you have in your life that other people can only wish they had in theirs but I don't go around bellyaching about it. With all that said, you might surmise why someone would take exception to the "silver spoon" inference.

 

[hawg]

Between around 1990-1999 me and my first wife together had a 6 figure income, most of it hers. I had other interests then. Harley's, hot rods and horses. I did buy a few expensive rifles and scopes and I had a few military rifles customized by a professional rifle builder. Now my only income is a disability check. I was forced into medical retirement in my 50's. I sold most of those expensive guns and some cheaper ones while waiting to get my disability started so basically I have no gun budget unless I sell or trade for one and I've pretty much traded or sold all I'm going to.

 

[CraigC]

Between around 1990-1999 me and my first wife together had a 6 figure income, most of it hers. I had other interests then. Harley's, hot rods and horses. I did buy a few expensive rifles and scopes and I had a few military rifles customized by a professional rifle builder. Now my only income is a disability check. I was forced into medical retirement in my 50's. I sold most of those expensive guns and some cheaper ones while waiting to get my disability started so basically I have no gun budget unless I sell or trade for one and I've pretty much traded or sold all I'm going to.

I understand that and my frustration was not pointed at you. I apologize to the forum for getting triggered but I just really didn't like the inference in the other post, "One of the things I've noticed about this forum is it seems to be made up of two groups of people one for whom money is No Object and the other for people like us who have a gun buying budget. these two groups will never be on the same page." I took offense because I know exactly what the hell it's like to have "no gun budget" and I hope I never forget it. I'm blessed to not be in that predicament now but I also know your situation can change in a heartbeat.

 

[TTv2]

Uh, what??? We're not talking about Korths here. A decent Old Model should be quite a bit less than a new New Model.

Careful with the generalizations you throw around.

Craig, have you not seen the premiums Ruger's have been going for since Covid? Gunbroker is a wash full of bidding wars and for me locally if I see a Ruger revolver it's never under $500 used.

 

[Speedo66]

I don’t see in the post about income where any one person was called out, it seemed to be more of a general statement.

I can’t see why anyone would get riled up about it, regardless of the reason, there are income disparities.

Wether it was earned through hard work, inherited, etc. makes no difference, it’s just a fact of life that there are scales in the amount of disposable income that can be used for non essential purchases like guns, fancy grips, engraving, etc.

While there are sometimes firearms posted on this site that exceed what I’d be willing to pay for them, I’m always glad to see what’s out there and what people have configured together.

 

[doubleh]

Getting back to the original point of this thread yesterday was a beautiful day with only a light breeze so I went to the range and did some simple research. I took my wrangler, RR, single six, plus a S&S 22a and my very modified GSG 1911 just to compare with the six guns. I took some CCI-quiets that have never shot worth a hoot in any gun I shot them in, intended to try some shorts but didn't manage to find them and instead dug out 3 boxes of very old cheap Federal to try in the wrangler as nothing else has worked at all with it. A 100 count box of CCI-SV was included. I sat up my target stand at 10 yards and proceeded to use all brands off a very sturdy bench with a rest. Same ol' story with everything until I got to the old Federal and the groups shrunk by over half. Um, that is good except for the fact that I only have three 50 boxes of it, well, 2 1/2 now, and no way to replace it.

I moved on to the RR and of course it didn't give me exactly spectacular groups but less than half the size of what the wrangler delivers except for the Federal ammo which matched what the RR did with everything. On to the single six and it did what I expected. I was using a one inch bullseye and it kept SV well inside the bullseye just as I expected.

Then I switched to the 22a which sports a Bushnell TRS-26 red dot, loaded it with SV and proceeded to make 15 shots chew out a little circle in the bullseye. I knew it shot this good, just had to give it a little exercise and then onto the GSG. It wears a Burris FF 3 sight and does not equal the 22a in accuracy but It is till good enough to shoot steel with while standing. It just reinforced what a dog the wrangler is.

I wonder if I could get my grandson to swap wranglers with me? No, I wouldn't pull as dirty a trick as that would be on him.