Wheelgun Wednesday: Single-Action Revolvers For Any Budget Range

Heritage also has a 9-shot revolver built on the same basic design for $228.99, which is a very low price for a high-capacity revolver (can we say that, without sounding ridiculous?). If you’re just looking to try out a single-action revolver without spending a lot of cash, the Heritage Rough Rider has you covered. See TFB’s previous review of the Rough Rider here.

Traditions 1873 Frontier Single Action

Coming in around a $654.95 MSRP, just slightly more than the Bounty Hunter, these made-by-Pietta revolvers offer the chance to pick from a wider range of barrel lengths, grips and finishes.

These are well-regarded for quality internals, good accuracy and a finish that holds up over use. TFB reviewed these early on, when they first started importing them to the US.

And if you want some plain old-fashioned magnum hitting power, the ability to convert to .357 makes it all the more interesting. This revolver is made in Italy by Uberti, who’s been making repros forever.

Uberti El Patron Competition

Uberti also sells their single-action clones under their own name in the U.S.; this particular model is factory-tuned for competitive shooting.

With a trimmed-down hammer, 1860-pattern grips for larger hands and classic case coloring on the frame, this is a vintage-looking revolver that’s built to perform in cowboy action competition. The sights are fixed, but in CAS, you’re not generally allowed adjustable target-style sights on revolvers anyway. MSRP for these hand-tuned revolvers starts at $809.

Ruger New Model Single Six Convertible

Maybe you want a rimfire single-action, but you want a higher-quality product. Ruger’s got you covered with the Single Six Convertible, which ships with six-round cylinders for either .22 LR or .22 Magnum. MSRP is $829, but you’re getting a lot of revolver for your money.

With a steel frame, this gun is made to last a lifetime. There’s even a .17 HMR variant, along with versions shipped with 7, 9 or 10-round cylinders. Adjustable sights improve accuracy for target shooting or range time. This has been a cornerstone of Ruger’s revolver lineup for a very long time, and it is still the standard by which all rimfire revolvers are judged, even Ruger’s own models.

Cimarron Bad Boy Dual Cylinder 10mm/.38-40

Want a revolver chambered in a classic cowboy cartridge, but you also want enough hitting power to take down a grizzly if needed? Cimarron’s Bad Boy comes with two cylinders, chambered in either the modern 10mm Auto or the classic .38-40. MSRP is $985.99.

Like the rest of their revolvers, this wheelgun is made out-of-house, actually manufactured by Uberti. An octagon barrel and classic army-style grip give it an old-school look, but the adjustable sights will make sure you’re shooting straight. It might look like an old cavalry pistol, but it’s built for the modern shooter.

Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter

If you want a powerful hand cannon for hunting or self-protection from the largest bears, not the fun-and-games of cowboy action shooting, then Ruger is where most people’s search begins and ends, especially with the Super Blackhawk line.

Magnum Research BFR

If you want to step up from the most powerful pistol cartridges, the Magnum Research BFR allows you to chamber heavy-hitting rifle cartridges in a handgun, including 350 Legend, .45-70 and .30-30. Obviously, it looks a lot different from your classic 1873-pattern revolver, with a stretched-out cylinder to handle these rifle rounds, but the idea is basically the same, just scaled up.

A handgun with this level of construction is not going to be cheap—MSRP for the rifle-caliber options starts at $1,574. But this revolver offers hitting power that used to be restricted to single-shot pistols.

Colt Single Action Army

The classic. The original. The Peacemaker. Still in production, and while it is updated from the original model made more than 150 years ago, it is still basically the same revolver, available in 4.75-, 5.5- and 7-inch barrels.

Colt doesn’t make a lot of these, but there’s still demand, and at an MSRP starting at $2,299, they can certainly afford to keep producing them. No, it doesn’t have the trick sites or fancy-pants stainless finish or nice wood grips that competitors offer for less money, but this is the original. If you want the accept-no-substitutes real-deal Peacemaker, this is it; better start saving!