Playing cowboy, watching western movies and TV shows, and collecting Old West guns has long been a joy in my life. Even though today’s television and movies don’t focus on Westerns as much as they did when I was growing up, there is still enough there for the fascination with the guns to continue. And there’s no shortage of current and past production guns to fill the need. I really enjoy sharing my cowboy guns with members of my own family and with friends who enjoy shooting. If you’re looking for something that’s a lot of fun and relatively inexpensive, you can find it in this category of handguns.
Ruger Single-Six
Ruger’s line of single-action revolvers is pretty extensive. It started with the Single-Six in 1953. That first model had an alloy frame with a steel barrel and cylinder. The New Model Single-Six came about in 1973. Prior to 1973, the Single-Six was produced without the transfer bar mechanism making it less safe to carry with all six chambers loaded and the hammer resting on a loaded chamber.
The transfer bar safety allows the revolver to fire only when the trigger has been pulled. If you have one of the older ones, Ruger will upgrade it to use the transfer bar safety — for free. The Single-Six is a delightful gun to fill the “I wish I was a cowboy” role, as are so many of the others to follow.
Ruger Single-Nine
While we’re on the subject of Rugers, let’s look at three more rimfires in Ruger’s catalog that are of the Single-Action Army type. The first one is the Single-Nine that is chambered for the .22 WMR cartridge. The Single-Nine, as the name implies, has a capacity of nine WMR cartridges. It is 12 inches long with a 6.5-inch barrel which has a 1:14 inch righthand twist. The finish is satin stainless, and the grips are Hardwood Gunfighter.
The rear sight is a Williams sight that is adjustable for windage and elevation. The front sight is an adjustable fiber-optic. The Single-Nine weighs 39 ounces. Ruger lists MSRP for the Single-Nine Model Number 8150 as $889. Although it is currently in the Ruger catalog, availability is listed as limited. I see them for sale in the high $700 to low $800 range with used ones listed in the $600–$700 range. I’ve had mine since late 2012 when this model was first released.
Ruger Single-Ten
Ruger’s Single-Ten Model 8100 is a 10-round .22 LR version of the same gun as the Single-Nine, with one exception. The barrel is 5.5 inches rather than the 6.5 inches for the .22 WMR model. Otherwise, it’s the same grips, same sights, same satin stainless finish.
There are lots of grip options available to dress up your Ruger revolvers. I have a set of fake staghorn grips on my Single-Ten. According to the Ruger catalog, these guns, the Nine and Ten, are members of the New Model Single-Six family. Ruger touts them as being strong, durable, dependable, and versatile. My experience with them supports that mantra. Plus, they are accurate.
With the adjustable sights and the well-made barrels, I’ve always found them to be spot on whether plinking, shooting paper targets, or hunting. For small game, such as squirrels or rabbits up close, I can do almost as well with these revolvers as I can with a rifle.
Ruger Wrangler
In 2019, Ruger returned to the ranks of affordable single-action revolvers with its new line of Wranglers. The original product was in three colors, and later models have offered different grip types, barrel lengths, and finishes. These guns are made of an aluminum alloy with a Cerakote finish, which allows Ruger to offer them with many different finishes.
I started out with the three initial finishes: black, bronze, and silver. These all had 4.62-inch barrels. Now the color schemes are the same, but the barrel lengths range from 3.75 to 7.5 inches. In addition to the standard grip, there’s a bird’s head grip. These delightful little guns sell for around $200, making them available to a much larger number of shooters than the Single-Nines and Single-Tens.
Hi Standard Double Nine
Unfortunately, the Hi Standard Double Nine is no longer available as a new gun, but the gun I’m bringing up next is a worthy replacement. I bought my Double Nine at a Western Auto store when I was 15 years old. It was my very first handgun. The tag on the box says it cost $54.95. In 1963, that worked out to about three weeks’ pay at my part time (afternoon and weekends) job, which just happened to be at that same Western Auto store.
The High Standard Manufacturing Company made these aluminum frame DA/SA revolvers from 1958 to 1970. Notice the difference in spelling. The company name was High Standard, but its products were branded Hi Standard. If you can get your hands on a Double Nine, it’s a fun shooter, but it has also become somewhat of a collector’s item.
Diamondback Sidekick
This is the .22/.22WMR revolver which I said would be a worthy replacement for the Hi Standard Double Nine. By Diamondback’s own admission the Double Nine was an influence on the design of this sporting revolver. Naturally, Diamondback made some improvements over the original Hi Standard design.
Adding the .22 WMR cylinder is one of those. Modern manufacturing techniques have brought us a fine revolver costing around $300. The frame is made of a zinc alloy and finished with Cerakote. Recent additions to the line include color schemes other than black and an optional bird’s head grip handle.
Heritage Rough Rider
Heritage makes both six- and nine-shot revolvers. You can get these as .22 LR or .22 LR/.22 Mag. with 4.75-, 6.5-, or 9-inch steel barrel, alloy frame, steel cylinder, fixed or adjustable sights, cocobolo grips, thumb safety, and blued finish. The Heritage revolvers are unique in that they have a safety on a single-action revolver. They are very economical to buy, with the average price running around $150. Yet, quality is there. Sometimes, Heritage offers a Rough Rider with custom grips, commemorating one thing or another.
Heritage Barkeep
The Heritage Barkeep is a testimony to the fact that concealed carry is not a modern day phenomenon. It shows that it existed in the Old West, in more ways than just derringers. Essentially, it is a cut-down version of the Rough Rider. The Barkeep is available with both .22 LR and .22 WMR cylinders.
The Barkeep was originally issued with a 2-inch barrel. Now there are versions available with a 1-inch barrel and 3-inch barrel. Multiple grip and finish options are also available. It makes a handy stuff-in-your-pocket, boot, or tackle box option to keep a firearm handy.
Chiappa SAA 1873 17 Revolver
I got this SAA-style revolver in .17 HMR to explore the caliber, and to have a handgun to go with my Savage .17 HMR rifle. This Chiappa is a 10-round, single-action handgun that is attractive, accurate, and dependable. Shooting a .17 HMR is loud and practically recoil-free.
Apart from the fact the ammunition is more expensive than .22 ammo, it has all the advantages of owning a rimfire plinker. The color scheme on it is black grips with a black finish. So, it matches my Double Nine and Sidekick quite well.
Are you a fan or ‘Cowboy’ rimfire revolvers? Which models are your favorite? Share your favorite rimfire revolver experiences in the Comment section.
The timelessness of owning and operating a rimfire cowboy revolver is indicated in this photo. Up top is the author’s Hi Standard Double Nine from 1963. Next, is Diamondback’s tribute to the Double Nine with their Sidekick introduced in 2022. The bottom revolver represents a new discovery for the author this year, a Chiappa 1873 revolver in .17 HMR caliber. The Chiappa 1873 revolver fits right in with the rimfire revolver crowd and offers a little something different with the .17 HMR caliber. This is one of the early Barkeep models with simulated color case hardening, custom scroll wood grips, and a 2-inch barrel. The Heritage Rough Rider is a very economical bit of fun! The Diamondback Sidekick is more than just a Hi Standard Double Nine remake. It is a fine SA/DA nine-shot revolver in its own right, with .22 LR and .22 WMR cylinders included in the standard package. The author’s Hi Standard Double Nine, bought more than 50 years ago and still one of his favorite firearms to shoot. The author has several .22 Revolvers that have black finishes and black grips. However, the black Wrangler looks good with some wood. Most of the revolvers I’ll be showing you have aftermarket grip options available such as these fake staghorn grips on the author’s Single-Ten. Ruger’s Single-Nine is a .22 WMR revolver available in satin stainless steel with Hardwood Gunfighter grips. Three of Ruger’s current rimfire revolver offerings. Top is the Ruger Single-Nine chambered in .22 WMR only. In the middle is the Ruger Single-Ten chambered in .22 and with aftermarket grips. On the bottom is the relatively new Ruger Wrangler, six-shot .22. 
This is an early model Ruger Single-Six, prior to the trigger bar safety. This model had an alloy frame.
I think you forgot the Colt Scout. Not produced anymore but truly a fine cowboy gun.
To explore the .22WMR for the first time, I picked up a burnt bronze Super Wrangler, added rosewood grips from Ruger ($38) after Thanksgiving (which I celebrate every day). This New Year’s Eve, I ordered a Power Custom SA Spring kit ($20) since the accuracy of my 10/22 improved with Rimfire Central’s help 14 years ago. That’s what we were looking for in 1980, to use with #12 .22 shot shells in rattlesnake country, but the RST-6 is what I’ve had and it froze the bolt as a fragment of crimped brass from the first and last LR shot shell jammed between the bolt and receiver side wall. Fortunately it’s cold down in the canyons at the time of year we were surveying streams…
I would like to get one of the Heritage models, and I inherited a Ruger Single Six that I like. Great guns that are fun to shoot and won’t break the bank taking them to the range.
I would like to purchase a new or used cowboy revolver but why are most of them 22 caliber that I see in the gun shops, I would like to purchase a 38 caliber , I have a GP100 Ruger that I love to shoot but it’s not the same. Thanks
I like the Heritage Rough Rider more than the Ruger Wrangler or Chiappa 1873 because the Heritage has cylinder detents which helps with loading & also a half-cock & a safety. The others don’t have all 3 features.
I love my H&R 9 shot, double action. IT was the first assault weapon. Large capacity (9) and nothing was left at the crime scene. Also love the Ruger Mark II. low recoil, deadly accurate, has a pin on the mag, for fast loading. SWEET ! never jams
I can’t believe that these would be some of the top rimfire revolvers? How about the Colt cowboy 22 rimfire guns? The Heritage has been known to fall apart after shooting it?? RUGER makes a fine quality revolver but the others no thanks! I will stick to a Colt!!
I have 3 Ruger Single Six’s…. I have given a couple away to friends and family. I love all of the Ruger Single Action Pistols…. I have at least one of Every Caliber they make. My Son gave his Wife a Ruger Wrangler. He said it was a nice gun as well, but I prefer the weight and quality of the Blackhawk’s and Single Six models…. I strongly suggest getting one or all for yourself.
Ruger Bearcat.
I replaced the mainspring with a Wilson lower powered one to eliminate vertical stringing and tweaked the front sight. Since then it’s been a great little snake, grouse and rabbit gun.
I have the newer Super Wrangler where you now have the option to swap out 22LR to 22 Mag. cylinders. The gun weighs a bit more than you think it would when in hand. It has adjustable
sights ( to which not all others do in this class ) which is a big plus. I have the longer barreled version. I am looking into buying some nice aftermarket grips , maybe wood w/ pearl. to match
nicely with the silver cerakote. For around $300 bucks you get a solid plinker from Ruger.
Cowboy style 22 revolvers are the type of handgun used to train new shooters, use as a “KIT gun”, and mostly used for just everyday plinking. Being able to swap out cylinders between 22LR and 22 WMR is a plus as well. How many rabbits, and other miscellaneous small game creatures, have been taken with a 22LR/22 WMR “cowboy” style revolver? One may never know. As to using a 22LR/22 WMR for self-defense, the 25 ACP was created because even Mr. Browning felt that a 22 caliber rimfire round was not reliable enough to use for self-defense. Even now, misfires/hang fires still happen with rimfire ammo.
I have a Heritage Rough Rider with a 6.5″ barrel. Its a good gun for the price but I never know how to align it’s sights to aim it. It has a notch rear sight and a blade front sight. I never know how to align the notch rear with the blade front. I don’t shoot it that often to really figure out how to align the front & rear sight. Other cowboy style guns that I have owned, but were not .22 caliber, were a Ruger Vaqureo in .357 magnum and a Virginian Dragoon in .44 magnum. I sold both of them because I determined that I don’t like cowboy style revolvers because it takes too long to extract the empty shell cases, then load them and then even longer to reload them. Now I know what caused the death of so many cowboys in the old west. It took too much time to extract the empty brass and reload the gun before the gun was ready to fire again.
If I wanted a reliable and durable 22 SA revolver that can be passed down through the generations then I would stick with the Ruger Single 6/9/10, but they are expensive. The Wrangler appears to made from the same materials used in the Heritage 22s, so I doubt they will survive the sort of use and abuse that the steel guns can. If you simply want a fun plinking and trail gun, any of them will do, provided you don’t need to replace a worn or broken part. My personal favorite in this sense is the long barreled Heritage with adjustable hi-viz sights. I love these sights.
I would like to own most of them; however, I have a space problem and already own two Mark IIIs and a Mark IV Ruger’s. I especially like the models that appear to resemble the wheel guns of the 1800s.
No better way to introduce a new young shooter to the sport than starting out on a .22 Single Action Revolver. I think I was like 8, when a young man let me try his (I think it was a Ruger Bearcat), and I was hooked, especially being a cowboy movie fan as a kid. Another one that is no longer made, and hard to find, but on par with the Ruger’s in Quality is the Colt New Frontier .22LR/.22WM. A scaled down version of the Colt SAA, Case harden receiver, deep blue barrel, and adjustable sights. One big negative, is just like the Colt SAA, it should be carried with an empty chamber under the hammer. The single actions can stretch out the enjoyment time at the range, and make a box of 50 last a lot longer, all while getting more handling time.
I have several cowboy .22s including a Ruger single six convertible that I bought in 1968, an original Great Western SAA, a Heritage 6” and a barkeep. My favorite is a Hy-Hunter full size Colt replica made by Sauer in Germany that I ordered through the mail in 1961. I carried it and shot gophers running down the furrow while on the move from the tractor while plowing on my Dad’s farm back then.
David
What a fun story!!!!
From the least expensive up to the most expensive all are fun, fun, fun guns!!!
Best
Bob Campbell
I have a Ruger Single-Six (post 1973) which I just love, it also has a magnum cylinder. It is a snake killer for sure. I keep it in the silverware drawer in the kitchen, lol.