The single action revolver has been obsolete for most practical purposes for well over a century, yet you still find them on display in gun shops today. It ain’t just about “retro” or cosplaying at a cowboy action shooting match. Ruger’s inexpensive but very functional little .22 caliber Wrangler single action has been a regular seller since its introduction a few years ago. The low-priced Heritage single action .22 is always high on the sales list. There are reasons, discussed some years ago at length in the pages of Backwoods Home magazine, and reprinted here.
You packed a lot of outstanding information in that article. IIRC, my first new gun was a single action produced by JP Sauer & Sohns for Herter’s, back in the evil days of mail order guns. Still have it, it still works-with a few minor parts replacements over 55+ years. Digested uncounted rounds.
It let me explore the wonders of the mighty .44 Magnum at reasonable cost. Also got me started on reloading given the price of factory ammo.
It’s wonderful to have so many choices. And, I guess old guns are more practical than old computers.
Good article Mas. I love single action revolvers, but all mine have the plow handle grip. I learned from another shooter about 35 years ago the pinky under the grip end trick. My shooting days are just about over, but if I bought another single action today it would have the Bisley grip with the .44 mag.
The old saying in the old days was the cowboy would carry a ten dollar bill in one cylinder for burial. That insured that only five rounds were loaded. On the other hand I have read where the old gun fighters would load up all six cylinders if they were expecting imminent trouble. Makes sense.
FWIW, I think more and more rural folks are discovering the Glock in 10MM auto. It’s not as powerful as a .44 magnum but it’s no slouch either. It’s lighter to carry and gives you 15 fast rounds and less recoil (somewhat). Just keep it loaded with heavy loads from manufacturers like Buffalo Bore Ammo. In case of charging bear, just aim for the nose and keep pulling the trigger. YMMV. The bear moves incredibly fast and you probably won’t be able to empty the mag before the bear is on you if you can’t make hits. If you survive the encounter then you will probably need a change of magazine, as well as britches. I would. 🙂
That still leaves you exposed to rodeo fireworks if you need to discharge your Glock on horseback. Better to stick with the single action on horseback.
Merry Christmas, Mas!!
Just picked up a Ruger Wrangler. It’s the birdshead grip with short barrel configuration. Haven’t shot it yet but I think it’ll be a dandy shooter indeed.
Stainless steel Ruger single actions are probably the most “bomb-proof” handguns in existence. The ones coming out of the factory of late have been a little rough and the prices have definitely gone up a lot, but they are tough and having one in .22, .357, & .44 is a good idea.
One additional advantage of the single-action revolver design, not mentioned in the linked article, is the ability to easily swap cylinders and, thus, change calibers. For example:
A) I own a Heritage revolver in .22 rimfire that came with a second cylinder to shoot .22 Magnum ammo. I own rifles in both .22 LR and .22 Magnum so the revolver can be set up to match them at will.
B) I own a couple of Pietta 1858 Army cap-and-ball revolvers. The revolvers vary in barrel length but are, otherwise, similar. I also have a conversion cylinder, that will work with either revolver, that allows .45 Long Colt cartridge ammo to be fired. So, with these revolvers, I can go with old-time black-powder cap-and-ball loads or smokeless modern cartridge loads at will.
C) I recently purchased an Uberti Model P clone revolver chambered in .45 long colt. It came with a second cylinder that allows the revolver to shoot .45 ACP ammo. Since I have a couple of .45 ACP semi-auto’s (and can reload .45 ACP), this is a bonus that increases the flexibility of this revolver.
There are also .357Mag/38 Special/9mm cylinder combinations available. I don’t have one of those (yet!) but such a single-action would allow for great ammo flexibility.
It is not so easy to do this kind of thing with a semi-auto or double-action revolver although, I will admit, there are a few such conversions on the market. None, however, are as easy as swapping out the cylinder on a single-action hogleg!
I feel pretty confident in saying that truth be known, 99% of the average person’s need for a firearm would be satisfied with “obsolete” weapons such as the single action revolver, or even single shot shotguns and rifles for that matter. Especially if you live back in the boonies like me. I dress for the occasion. When I make the 26-mile trip to the nearest town I can spend a dollar, I dress appropriately…not the same as when I drop down in the hollers surrounding our home.
Great write-up on single-action.
My first recreational handgun was a stainless Single-Six Ruger that I used for hunting squirrels ~~ gee I wish I still had that eyesight! Fun gun to shoot and plenty good on squirrels.
I chose the blue-steel version of the Single Six. I still have it, and still love to plink with it.
I have never owned an SAA, but in the early 60’s I definitely owned several “Fanner 50’s” from Mattel. They had a spring loaded gray plastic bullet in brass colored cartridges, and with a “Greenie Stick’Em Cap” on the rear launched pretty well. I did, however, get in trouble one Christmas morning for shooting my younger brother in the face. After a stern lecture from my Dad about gun safety, even with toys, I returned to ride the ranges of New York City later that afternoon.
I like single-actions for plinking, and for my black powder shooting (and hunting, where applicable). Wouldn’t try using them for any other purpose like self-defense, except as a last resort.
Apologies to George Lucas, but they do hold their own as elegant weapons from an uncivilized age.
In about our third Texas CHL class back in 1995 we had a cowboy. (The real deal.) He asked if he could shoot the practical with his single action revolver. There wasn’t a rule against it, so we said yes.
Out of 24 in the class he shot faster than the semiauto shooters and reloaded faster than the double-action revolver folks. His group was the size of my palm. Turns out he’d been carrying that gun 40-some-odd years.
After class he said some people had been suggesting he “modernize.” My response was, “Ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
As much as I love my Ruger bolt action rifles, I’ve not been impressed with Ruger quality, fit or finish as of late. The brand new, Lipsey’s Special Sporter 10/22 refused to load a round out of the magazine. Upon return to the factory by FedEx, they replace the barrel and action. Problem fixed, but I am shocked they shipped it out of the factory like that.
Ever since, I’ve avoided considering any new, Ruger product.
Unfortunately, every manufacturer of any mass-produced product will make some lemons. Even manufacturers who take quality-control seriously will still produce a small fraction of substandard products.
I own a Smith & Wesson Model 629, in .44 magnum, that I purchased brand-new. On my very first trip to the range, the cylinder stopped indexing with the trigger. I fired a total of 12 shots before the revolver became non-functional.
Naturally, I contacted S&W and arranged to return it for repair. I will say that S&W jumped right on it. They paid for shipping (both ways) and had the repaired revolver back to me in a couple of weeks.
The problem was related to the hand (part that turns the cylinder). Apparently, the hand had not been installed correctly (at the factory) and malfunctioned within the first two cylinders of ammo.
The repaired revolver works just fine, of course, and is completely reliable. Therefore, I am inclined to overlook this fault since I know that such mistakes are not typical for S&W and the company was prompt with repairs.
Quote of the Day:
“To err is human; to forgive, divine. – Alexander Pope from his ‘An Essay on Criticism’
I have Old Model Ruger single actions on both ends of the range. A single six one year away from my birth year and a 45 Colt with 4 3/4 inch barrel. They’re for fun and to hunt.
Thanks for explaining what really happens physiologically, not what we wish we’d do.
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