Opinions on Heritage Big Bore 357mag?

KMAX · July 2, 2016, 06:10 PM

I have been thinking about getting a single action 357mag. I considered Ruger New Vaquero, Cimarron Model P or Frontier, and various models of Uberti. Today I looked at a Heritage Big Bore 357 and it was substantially less expensive. I noticed that the finish was not as good as the guns previously mentioned, but I was wondering about the function of the Heritage. Anyone have experience with one of these?

briandg · July 3, 2016, 06:48 AM

you will not get the sort of accuracy that you would like to have. When you look at one, wiggle the cylinder around, check fit and tolerance, and you will find that the cheaper ones are looser, and this looseness is what keeps you from achieving top accuracy. If you could dry fire it, you would probably find that the trigger is less than perfect. It may drag and may be scratchy.

There is a reason that the vaquero or uberti cost more. That reason is because they use better tools and materials and better workers, and make a better gun. It's that simple. So why do you want the thing, to shoot at paper plates from thirty feet, or to shoot at 3 inch bullseyes at fifty? Just choose the level of quality that you need, and don't think that saving a couple hundred dollars will be a good idea if you want a top quality gun/

deerslayer303 · July 3, 2016, 11:51 AM

Last I heard Pietta Makes the big bore single actions for Heritage. I own a Single action built by Pietta of Italy and I absolutely love the thing. It has the transfer bar system so you can load amd carry it with all 6 rounds. It is a well built and finished gun. Traditions / Pietta make some cheaper versions than mine with just a matte black finish.

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pappa · July 10, 2016, 01:03 PM

Really pretty gun. Almost like seeing a SAA , only fancier finish of course than many survived with.
Yeh, you hear some strange stuff said about Heritage. One responder said a major disadvantage of the .22s is an unsafe firing pin on the hammer ???
I've had my birdshead grip, silver finish, wood grips, all steel (don't think they make this "deluxe" version still) .22 Heritage over 15 years. No problems ever, much more accurate than Ruger I got rid of. In .22LR I have shot squirrel; .22 WMR less accurate, but still functions perfect.
I am beginning to suspect that Heritage naysayers may never have owned or even ever fired a Heritage.
Wish Heritage made a .44 Spl. ; always wanted one since seeing the Charter Arms .44 about 1965-70 era. Always let ammo cost stop me, so just stayed with my S&W J Frame. Getting to age now I think it's time to enjoy more, save less.
May go with EAA Bounty Hunter.
I bet you really protect the finish on your Pietta. It's beautiful. I have an 1851 Colt Navy BP made by Pietta that I like a lot. Pat

deerslayer303 · July 10, 2016, 01:08 PM

I do my best to keep her looking good. I do shoot it though, after all its more fun to do that with a pretty gun.

When I first got it I was in awe of how good it actually looks. The Pietta built Single actions don't get much attention, but they should.

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KMAX · July 10, 2016, 05:10 PM

Deerslayer: Good looking gun. Much like I really want except 357mag and 4 3/4 in. barrel. I think I will hold out for something with the case hardened color finish. The Heritage revolvers I looked at were blue.

Hawg · July 10, 2016, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Traditions / Pietta make some cheaper versions than mine with just a matte black finish.

Traditions imports, Pietta makes. Uberti makes a matte black finish too.

deerslayer303 · July 10, 2016, 05:54 PM

^^^true story. And Thanks KMAX. I think the next one I get will be a Uberti in 357/ 38. The one above was my first SAA style, so I HAD to get the HAWG LEG!!

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g.willikers · July 11, 2016, 08:56 AM

Yep, made by Pietta:
http://www.heritagemfg.com/product_d...cfm?prod_id=36
Nothing wrong there.
I've had a few of their cap and ball versions.
All were just fine and dandy.

Soclosenotnear · July 11, 2016, 07:03 PM

For the dollars, I am sure you'd be happy. My only experience is with the little rough rider 22 single actions, but I imagine they are similar. As you stated, the finish is as bad as they come and scratches away very easily.

July 2, 2016, 06:10 PM	#1
KMAX Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 1,185	Opinions on Heritage Big Bore 357mag? I have been thinking about getting a single action 357mag. I considered Ruger New Vaquero, Cimarron Model P or Frontier, and various models of Uberti. Today I looked at a Heritage Big Bore 357 and it was substantially less expensive. I noticed that the finish was not as good as the guns previously mentioned, but I was wondering about the function of the Heritage. Anyone have experience with one of these? __________________ This is my gun. There are many like her, but this one is mine. I'm not old. I'm CLASSIC! Last edited by KMAX; July 2, 2016 at 09:18 PM.

July 3, 2016, 06:48 AM	#2
briandg Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2010 Posts: 5,468	you will not get the sort of accuracy that you would like to have. When you look at one, wiggle the cylinder around, check fit and tolerance, and you will find that the cheaper ones are looser, and this looseness is what keeps you from achieving top accuracy. If you could dry fire it, you would probably find that the trigger is less than perfect. It may drag and may be scratchy. There is a reason that the vaquero or uberti cost more. That reason is because they use better tools and materials and better workers, and make a better gun. It's that simple. So why do you want the thing, to shoot at paper plates from thirty feet, or to shoot at 3 inch bullseyes at fifty? Just choose the level of quality that you need, and don't think that saving a couple hundred dollars will be a good idea if you want a top quality gun/ __________________ None.

July 10, 2016, 01:08 PM	#5
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,652	I do my best to keep her looking good. I do shoot it though, after all its more fun to do that with a pretty gun. When I first got it I was in awe of how good it actually looks. The Pietta built Single actions don't get much attention, but they should. Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk Last edited by deerslayer303; July 10, 2016 at 01:15 PM.

July 10, 2016, 05:10 PM	#6
KMAX Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 1,185	Deerslayer: Good looking gun. Much like I really want except 357mag and 4 3/4 in. barrel. I think I will hold out for something with the case hardened color finish. The Heritage revolvers I looked at were blue. __________________ This is my gun. There are many like her, but this one is mine. I'm not old. I'm CLASSIC!

July 11, 2016, 08:56 AM	#9
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Yep, made by Pietta: http://www.heritagemfg.com/product_d...cfm?prod_id=36 Nothing wrong there. I've had a few of their cap and ball versions. All were just fine and dandy. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

July 3, 2016, 11:51 AM	#3
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,652	Last I heard Pietta Makes the big bore single actions for Heritage. I own a Single action built by Pietta of Italy and I absolutely love the thing. It has the transfer bar system so you can load amd carry it with all 6 rounds. It is a well built and finished gun. Traditions / Pietta make some cheaper versions than mine with just a matte black finish. Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

July 10, 2016, 01:03 PM	#4
pappa Member Join Date: April 6, 2002 Location: Dade City, Florida Posts: 51	Really pretty gun. Almost like seeing a SAA , only fancier finish of course than many survived with. Yeh, you hear some strange stuff said about Heritage. One responder said a major disadvantage of the .22s is an unsafe firing pin on the hammer ??? I've had my birdshead grip, silver finish, wood grips, all steel (don't think they make this "deluxe" version still) .22 Heritage over 15 years. No problems ever, much more accurate than Ruger I got rid of. In .22LR I have shot squirrel; .22 WMR less accurate, but still functions perfect. I am beginning to suspect that Heritage naysayers may never have owned or even ever fired a Heritage. Wish Heritage made a .44 Spl. ; always wanted one since seeing the Charter Arms .44 about 1965-70 era. Always let ammo cost stop me, so just stayed with my S&W J Frame. Getting to age now I think it's time to enjoy more, save less. May go with EAA Bounty Hunter. I bet you really protect the finish on your Pietta. It's beautiful. I have an 1851 Colt Navy BP made by Pietta that I like a lot. Pat

July 10, 2016, 05:54 PM	#8
deerslayer303 Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Leesville SC Posts: 2,652	^^^true story. And Thanks KMAX. I think the next one I get will be a Uberti in 357/ 38. The one above was my first SAA style, so I HAD to get the HAWG LEG!! Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

July 11, 2016, 07:03 PM	#10
Soclosenotnear Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2016 Location: Summerville, sc Posts: 163	For the dollars, I am sure you'd be happy. My only experience is with the little rough rider 22 single actions, but I imagine they are similar. As you stated, the finish is as bad as they come and scratches away very easily.