Heritage recently come out with a 22lr pistol called the Barkeep.
https://heritagemfg.com/small-bore/heritage-barkeep

6-shot, single action, 2" barrel with a simple (trigger bar?) safety.
Easily converted to .22 WMR with a cylinder swap (purchased seperately) and birds head grips are also available.
Simple, cheap, but is it worth ownership?

Thinking inexpensive snakeshot propeller.

I see they are owned by Taurus.

It looks a lot like a small version of their rough-rider, which is a cheap pot-metal pistol with an annoying and unnecessary plastic manual safety that they put right where I like to rest my thumb when shooting a single-action. What you really want is a Ruger Single-Six or a Ruger Bearcat, which is the smaller model that appears to be what this thing is trying to emulate.

The Rugers are excellent guns that are made of quality steel and have good heft to them. They feel almost like a full-size single action, just scaled down a bit...but the quality is definitely there. They are a little spendy, but can be found used for pretty cheap if you shop around.

If you want something cheaper, and are ok with lower quality materials, the Ruger Wrangler is basically a cut-rate Single-Six. It's still a better option than the Heritage offerings, if only because it doesn't have that abominable manual safety.

ETA: This is the heritage safety. The ugly plastic flippy thing just to the left of the hammer.

I know my dad has a Heritage Firearms pistol that came with two cylinders and he really likes it.

Me and the other half have shot the crap out of it using the .22 cylinder.

When did they start placing safeties near the hammer? Have they always been there and I never noticed them?

(Edit)
When I am back in Florida I will take it out of the toy box and check it. I know it is one of the older production ones but I do not remember a safety on it.

If it has always had one I am surprised my father would have bought it.

That is horrible..

What the fuck is that abomination? Why would you need or want that? 92fstech gave you good advice.

I had a Heritage years ago and could not hit the broad side of a barn with it. Timing would be an issue as well as light primer/rim strikes. I would opt for a Ruger. Like others have said, they are better quality and work right out of the box. In my opinion, when it comes with a SA .22, for a few dollars more, you should not take the cheaper route. Wranglers are good but if you can get a Single-Six or a Bearcat, you would be better off.

Main reason for thinking about this over a Ruger was for the short 2" barrel.
2-3" S&W have some crazy prices.

But, I don't want to purchase a firearm which has the Mosquito's reputation.

quote:

Originally posted by Excam_Man:
I don't want to purchase a firearm which has the Mosquito's reputation.

Then there's your answer; avoid Heritage

The Ruger would be my pick.

Yes, I'd put out a little more cash and get a Ruger Bearcat or Single Six. Something that will last several lifetimes.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: jaybirdaccountant,

quote:

Originally posted by Excam_Man:
Main reason for thinking about this over a Ruger was for the short 2" barrel.
2-3" S&W have some crazy prices.

But, I don't want to purchase a firearm which has the Mosquito's reputation.

I will admit that my FIL's Rough Rider has been decently reliable for a .22 (although the fixed sights are way off). Other than that, though, the Mosquito comparison is pretty apt.

If I was in the market for a short-barreled single-action .22, I'd hunt down one of these (I think Lipsey's has a blued version, if you prefer):

https://ruger.com/products/new...specSheets/0915.html

Probably the only redeeming quality of the Heritage is it does have the 4 clicks. It is a cheap single action. And if the safety could be deleted I would. I have a couple but that was way before the Wrangler. Yeah, sight picture is a gamble but so way every fixed sight smoke wagon back I the day. The Barkeep seems pointless though.

quote:

Originally posted by jaybirdaccountant:
Yes, I put out a little more cash and get a Ruger Bearcat or Single Six. Something will last several lifetimes.

even the wrangler

How does one eject spent casings? (From the barkeep)

quote:

Originally posted by bionic218:
How does one eject spent casings? (From the barkeep)

Comes with a metal rod with wooden handle for ejection.
https://palmettostatearmory.co...rips-bk22b2gprl.html

Here's some nice photos of everything.
https://shoot-on.com/heritage-mfg-serves-em-up-short/

Decent guns for the price.

Nobody will confuse it with a Python, not even your CPA.

The Ruger is far better, no doubt about that.

But I bought a Heritage for a hundred bucks. And it’s been a great little plinker that I throughly enjoy. If the Wrangler had been available I probably would have bought that instead but it went out yet and I don’t regret my purchase at all.

While I understand the snobbery regarding such gun done on the cheap, for a revolver that's normally a few ticks over a C note, they're not that bad. Sure they have that stupid safety and are rather rough in build and finish, but they're STILL cheap-in-the-good-way shoots that's especially kind on the wallet. Every Heritage I've ever tried has worked like it should, though a couple of instances the sights should've been aligned better. But it's one of those "once you figure it out" kind of circumstances; it ain't no big thang once I figured out how those two guns pointed. Actually made it kind of fun to figure it out, considering how inexpensive the caliber is to shoot. After all it's not like one is sighting in a 338 Lapua at $8 a trigger pull; it's popping soup cans with .22 and a $120 revolver.

I've been selling Heritage guns to women and people who want to teach their kids to shoot. It is reliable (unlike the Mosquito), cheap, and, as a single-action, you won't eat up a lot of expensive ammo. Additionally, the safety, while ugly, is a good tool when teaching safe gun handling. Most "learners" want to upgrade after learning to shoot. Well, at 150 bucks or so, you won't lose much on a Heritage.

For us experienced gun folks, a Ruger Bearcat or Single-Six type gun makes more sense.

I have a 3.5" barrel birds head grip model that I like real well. I bought it used for $130, about a third of what a Bearcat or Single Six would sell for used.

I have a Heritage .22 Rough Rider. It's a nice little plinker. I got it mostly for a fun gun that would be easy for my wife to shoot. But of course, you probably wouldn't want to buy it for anything serious. The manual safety doesn't really bother me much since I usually just fire it at the range.