Those of you who know me, are aware that I tend to be er um, frugal.  I don't mind spending money, but I want a good value for that money.  About 6 months ago, I saw an ad from a regional chain offering a sale on the RR 6.5" model for $99 then a $30 factory rebate.  I was going there anyway so I stopped in and bought one.  I really thought I had no real need, but couldn't pass up a $70 cowboy gun.  I didn't expect much.  I was however pleasantly surprised.

I've had a Ruger Single Six combo before and I've seen the Wrangler.  Both are nicer pistols than the RR, however, I'm here to say that the RR is no slouch for an inexpensive revolver, it's pretty good.  The frame is coated alloy, the Barrel and cylinder are an OK blue.  They are not the equal of a high quality polished blue job but are adequate.  The cylinder indexed properly and function has been flawless.  Accuracy is been quite good with most ammo I've tried in it.  Certainly the equal of my other plinker .22s even though the sights are 19th century style crude by modern standards.  A bonus was that they sell a .22mag cylinder for $30 shipped.  I ordered one because why not.

I spent some time plinking with the gun and it's been quite fun.  It hits where I'm aiming and I can't really complain about it.  Then an idea struck, What about shot shells?  I live in the country and my house is plagued with chipmunks.  I need to shoot them without damaging stuff behind them, like my house or equipment.  I bought some CCI and of course youtubed it.  Youtube has determined that with this gun and ammo, about 5 yards is optimum.  I did a test pattern and found good pattern density at 5 yards, but at 6 it opened up. I set up and waited for the varmint.

Success!



So in summary, this is a decent revolver that works well for it's intended purpose.  Would I pay full retail of about $140ish for one, Yes.  It is a great buy even at that price.  In my case, for $106 including sales tax, I own a .22 revolver that will reliably and accurately shoot any .22 ammunition. Short, LR, CB caps, .22mag.  Is the Ruger nicer?  Yes, but not twice the price nicer for a plinker.

BTW, this revolver has a solid steel barrel.  Not a pot metal barrel with steel liner like some other inexpensive pistols.  I really can't fathom how they can sell at these prices given the amount of hand work that goes into making them.

A brief update. I have now taken 5 chipmunks around my house with this revolver and cci shotshells. At 50cents a shot, they are expensive, but this combination has proven deadly on them with DRT results, and I didn't have to spend $400 on a single purpose Henry. Also no collateral damage to property. 5yds seems to be the magic distance.

Thus my use of shotshells around the house.

Again DRT. Distance measured with laser range finder 4.9yds. These cci shotshells that everyone calls useless are quite lethal within their effective range.

Btw, got a dunhams e coupon for the revolver today they are $109 with coupon.

See, that doesn't matter to me at all. This is not a fighting pistol, and I'm not using it for anything more serious than killing chipmunks or maybe in the rare instance I need to dispatch a downed woodchuck.  If it lasts a year or three or ten and something fails, I'll either send it in for repair, or hang it on the wall and get a new one.   From the youtubes though, it seems like these have pretty good longevity with the only complaint being some periodic need to check the frame screws or loctite them.  The parts that effect timing all seem to be cnc machined steel.

Well, I'm now minus 12 chipmunks around the house with cci shot shells. Inside 8yds or so they have been devastating on the destructive vermin.  If I find them in .22mag, I'll give those a go to see if I can squeeze out a little more range.

I did. 10yds the pattern really opens up. Up to 8yds it's pretty decent. I think the 6.5" barrel helps. Long enough to get decent velocity. Not long enough to impart too much spin.

No, but there is clearly reduced pellet density.

Yes, it appears things have changed a great deal since whenever that was. This is certainly better than the one I had 15 years ago.

Keep it 8yds and in and it's fine. 5yds would be better. I generally pick an area they frequent, sit and wait.

Brief update. Just killed my 26th chipmunk with this revolver and cci shot shells. Shoots exactly to point of aim with these and blazer.

I have not seen any locally,  but will get some when I do. Might be a good excuse to get a .22 bolt action again.

Have dogs but chipmunks are very fast. You have to be very still to get them to move into range. Hammer cocked, ready to fire minimal movement. Someone might leave sunflower seeds about 5ish yds from where I like to have my morning coffee.

Meh, Dunhams is what it is. I don't really blame the employees because some corporate attorneys drummed into them that they are going to prison if even one mistake slips through.

The only question is whether or not their price on the item is worth the extra effort to buy from them?