I think these are terribly underrated. Shooting tests consistently show them to be as accurate as many other .22 single actions costing far more. And yet, I've seen the Heritage Rough Rider on sale at that magical $99 price point. The video I'm including here shows the manufacturing process for these, and I was surprised how much old fashioned worker input goes into making them, which makes their low price all the more remarkable.


I'm also attaching a photo of one of mine that I bought about 15 years ago (the holster that came with it might sell for as much as the gun). However, I just recently put the grips pictured on it. The Rough Rider can be modified to suit individual tastes via an enormous variety of grips and engraved cylinders that are available. It's also a fact that any Rough Rider is .22 WMR capable, all that's needed is to add the magnum cylinder. Feel free to share your experiences with the Heritage product, or show any you've spiffed up.

Attached Images

Heritageandholster.jpg (108.8 KB, 242 views)

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Heritage Arms Rough Rider .22s are excellent little plinkers offered at a bottom dollar price, so what's not to like?

My Dad got one as a birthday gift back in 2017 and the quality honestly surprised me considering that it only cost him $130.



The bluing on the frame turned plum over the years, but for me that's actually a plus.

Attached Images

Heritage_Arms_Rough_Rider_Revolver-22.jpg (52.3 KB, 1977 views)

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

I don't know much about them. they are often on sale at Rural King at very low prices. A RK employe told me they outsold the Ruger Wrangler because many folks buy on price vs perceived quality. I lost interest when I read somewhere that the barrels were simply glued into the frame rather than being threaded like the Wranglers.

At the 6:15 mark of the above video, you can see the frame being screwed onto the barrel.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Heritages are probably worth the price, but my sincere question is why you would buy a Heritage when you have a Ruger Single Six or other quality single action revolver? Not to be a gun snob, but is there that much difference in 22lr single action revolvers? This from someone who has a bunch of 9mm pistols, but a Beretta 92, is in my thinking different from a 3913, Walther P1, or a Browning Hi_Power or a Star, S&W Model 915, 5906, etc. Are their collectors of 22 lr single action pistols who feel about them the way that I feel about my 9mm collection? Thank you for your thoughts and pictures.

I treasure my Rugers, Colts, and other "better" .22 SA's, but in truth for the occasional purposes such a revolver is employed (generally plinking and pest control), how much should you have to spend? From what I can see, a Rough Rider convertible nowadays retails for $180 while the equivalent fixed sight Single-Six convertible is in the $600 range. That's not an inconsequential price difference, and for many people, their budget matters.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

$320.00 is a whole lot of .22 ammunition. For someone wanting a occasional plinker $320.00 buys a lifetime of ammunition. I have been tempted to buy one more than once.

Ruger has just announced the Super Wrangler. With a msrp of $329.00 it is intended for a different market than the Rough Rider.

Actually a $420 difference. Coincidentally, I was looking at an article on the Super Wrangler this morning and posted it in the recent Ruger Wranger thread of this subforum. At the moment only a small fraction of Heritage revolvers have adjustable sights, something for which the emphasis may have to change in order for their product line to stay competitive.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Here's a good article on customizing your Rough Rider.

DIY Custom Heritage Mfg. Rough Rider Revolvers | An Official Journal Of The NRA

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

To me the Wrangler is cheap enough, at $189 on sale sometimes at RK, that I think the quality of Ruger is worth spending a little more for it over the Heritage. Your money-your choice.

I think the Rough Rider versus Wrangler debate is an interesting one (it's often conjectured that the impetus for Ruger to introduce the Wrangler was to have something with which to compete for Heritage's overwhelming share at the low end of the market). The choice might come down to a preference for Heritage's traditional action and blued finish against Ruger's advanced loading system and cerakote exterior. But I absolutely agree that the Ruger product reeks of quality that you've really no right to expect at its price point, and have nothing bad to say about it other than it may prove to be the death of the Single-Six.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

The funky and unnecessary thumb safety on the Heritage is a no-go for me.

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Live long and prosper

I bought one just before the end of the year when they were offering the $30 rebate on them.
I wasn't able to find one locally for less than $130, but the $30 rebate knocked it down to $100 and I used the rebate to buy the 22WMR cylinder for it.
Unfortunately, the barrel on mine was clocked a few degreee counter-clockwise (viewed from the muzzle) so it hit about 6" left at 25'.
I sent it to the mothership and they returned it in about a month.
I believe they replaced the barrel, because when I took it to the outdoor range I was hitting pop cans and clay targets at 25'-30' offhand with it.
So I'm a happy with my purchase, and their customer service.

I didn't like it at first either, but it does make it easy to carry safely in a holster with one under the hammer, without the need to set the hammer in a notch between cylinders (like my HS Double Nine). I've been thinking of re-contouring the safety lever to blend better with the shape of the recoil shield.

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

Hate to say this but if the Wrangler proves to be the death of the Single Six it will not be the low price of the Wrangler but the ridiculous high price of the Single Six that is the cause.

I like the configuration of my RR well enough and for under $150 after FFL fee and taxes I can’t scream about being badly victimized, but… not at all happy with performance or service. Using the 22Mag, I get 1 to at best 4 rounds out of 5-6 to go bang. With the LR usually it’s 1 or 2 that don’t go bang. Customer Service said send it back on my dime and include a check for $50 upfront so they would look at it. Add in the FFL fee penalties for living in Illinois and I’m about to double the cost of the gun. It’s not worth it just to have a knock around mowing and chore gun in 22 Mag. I’m not going to dump it on someone else so they can suffer the same frustrations.

Weird. How long have you owned it? Was it already past the warranty period when you contacted them? I believe the warranty is for one year?

I took mine out and shot it within a week or two of buying it, reported the problem within another week or so, and it was fully covered under warranty.

They sent me a prepaid label in just a couple of days, and I shipped it off within a week or so. Basically it was on its way back to the factory within a month of purchasing it and the Customer Service was better than I expected, especially for such an inexpensive gun.

Maybe it would be worth giving them another call? A different CS Rep might give you a different (better) answer?

I didn't have any 22WMR to test, so I shot 6 rounds of regular 22LR in the 22WMR cylinder (i know, I know) just to test it out. Worked just fine - except for swelling the cases a little. Now I'm thinking maybe I better pick up a box of 22WMR to test it too.

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

I've owned several over the years. I can't say I've fired any of them a lot, but none of them has ever malfunctioned, and they seem to hit about where I'm aiming with them. They seem to be worth the money spent, and I never had any trouble selling them when I decided I wanted to.

I've looked at the Wrangler, but the fact that it's got an unfluted cylinder does it in for me. As a general rule, I don't like that...a revolver cylinder is supposed to be fluted, even the little ones on a Rough Rider are better than nothing. The safety doesn't bother me at all...like the keyhole on a Smith and Wesson revolver, it's just there. I don't use it but then I don't carry a S/A with six loaded anyway. A habit from long ago I suppose.

I've got a Single-Six, and have owned several others over the years. Most were the old three screw models that I acquired back when I fancied myself as a gun collector. Nice guns, but even back then I remember paying between 300 and 400 dollars for them.

The Rough Rider type have been around for years. Various similar revolvers have been made in Germany and other places in Europe. Even Colt made a Scout that was basically the same thing. Maybe a little more refined, but from the first time I picked up a Rough Rider, I thought of the Scout.

I've got one now. Actually it's my wifes. She saw it one day at the LGS and thought it was "cute" so I got it for her. I think it's a sherriff's or storekeeper model or something like that. Three inch barrel, plastic "pearl" grips. I doubt it's been fired a dozen times, but she's right, it is sorta cute.

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John 3:16 .

Dad had a Scout. The fact that the Rough Rider with the black grips reminded me so much of that old Scout is one of the main reasons I bought mine!

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

For you Heritage fans Rural King has a sale on right now on the 6 1/2" barrel model for only $114.99. I think that might be because of a rebate on that model. They will probably sell a ton of them for that price so better hurry before they run out

Well, make it cuter yet. Go to Heritage Cylinder (shopheritagemfg.com) and scroll down. There's a .22LR cylinder engraved with roses, normally $34.99 but now 20% off if you use the code "SHOW20".

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Wouldn't it be great if Ruger would offer the same sort of things...a Songle six with adjustable sights, magnum cylinder, and a Bisley handle...all DIY! The options make the Rough Rider much more interesting to me!

That would be sad in the extreme, imnho.

I've had a $99 Rough Rider for several years now. I call it my guilty pleasure, cuz it's just fun to plink with. The only issue I've ever had with many rounds sent is the ejector rod housing screw came loose. A little blue Loctite fixed it right up. And... yes... it (at least mine) is remarkably accurate. That's a lot of fun for little cost and besides, it makes a great training tool for the grandkids.

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M&PC FS BG Shield+ 642 686+

I've had a RR for several years. Mine broke its hand spring just out of warranty. I ordered a new one and replaced it myself. If I remember correctly it cost me $6 plus shipping. It's worked perfectly since. Mine is exceedingly accurate with the 22LR cylinder. Slightly less so with the mag cylinder, but it works reliably every time.

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Or something like that . . .

You're right! That would be cuteerrer.

And I don't care what Patton said. I got small weak spot for "pearl" grips.

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John 3:16 .

...and the ladies that carry them.....

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Forum consigliere

Heritage is extremely reasonable on parts. Below is my other Rough Rider. When I got it, the ejector rod housing was worn and the remaining finish had turned a rather unpleasant shade of green. An entire replacement ejector rod assembly set me back a mere $10 + shipping.

Attached Images

Heritage.jpg (72.9 KB, 63 views)

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Almost 20 years ago I bought one for my son who had just turned 21. I got the gun with both cylinders for $129 at the time. Well worth the price for a plinking revolver.

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

This seems to me to be a generally unbiased and insightful comparison -

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Puller hit the nail on the head. The minute I saw the stupid safety on the left side I said forget it. Funny how very few people mention it or show it in photos.

On the other hand I'm allways surprised how many people seem to think the safety is awful. To me, it's just there, and I never think about it. I did mention that the last time, but since I didn't show a picture, here's one showing the safety. I've always got a picture from both sides, I just normally will post the one showing the right side of most any gun. It's not avoiding showing the safety, or the key lock hole. Just a quirk I have.



Even in the picture, to me, it's just not that noticable. Now, if it was on a Ruger, or a Colt Peacemaker, I'd probably agree with you, but it belongs on a Rough Rider. It's always been there, and is part of package.

Now, I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm the same way about the Wranglers unfluted cylinder. I have never even asked to handle one in a gun store. It might be the best 22 revolver ever made, but it's got an unfluted cylinder and it just doesn't look right. My single-six has an unfluted 22 mag cylinder. I have never even put that cylinder into the gun. It's been in the plastic case since day one. I check it once in a while watching for rust. Ren Wax does a good job.

Yet oddly enough the unfluted cylinder on the Ruger Bearcat, and for that matter, the Super Blackhawk don't bother me at all. Go figure.

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John 3:16 .

Only if I knew a friend/neighbor with a mill who could cut a dovetail up front so I could install a driftable front sight. I can't stand a fixed sight 22 that shoots off center. A 22 has to be functionally accurate or all you got is a noisemaker.

I wouldn't want to send it off and dump money for something like this.

My attitude as regards the safety is that it at least allows you have a traditional single action that you can more readily carry fully loaded, unlike a Colt Scout or unconverted Ruger Single-Six. That said, some Rough Riders still bear an admonition to keep an empty chamber under the hammer! I don't find the safety particularly onerous from an aesthetic viewpoint, but that's just me, I wouldn't fault anybody else who sees it as an annoying appendage.

One thing that the various reviews of the Rough Rider don't ever seem to mention is the chintzy c-shaped plastic ejector rod knob. It's too fragile, and certainly the one thing on the gun that I'd urge Heritage to redesign or barring that, at least upgrade with respect to the material from which it's made.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Watched the video, maybe typical stuff from self styled experts. Focused on superficial issues like trigger pull, smoothness of hammer cocking and cylinder rotation, and a mag cylinder which will probably never be used due to ammo cost, little gain in performance and point of impact change. Nothing about design integrity, durability, quality of materials and future value. The Heritage is cheap, the Wrangler is a bargain.

Yep. These self style internet commando's. They think they are X-purts......They ain't.........I don't waste my time on their mostly illiterate drivel.

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S&W Accumulator

Heritage's just added a nickeled cylinder to their parts catalog. Build your own pinto.

Attached Images

cyl.jpg (30.1 KB, 38 views)

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

I bought one on a lark during the rebate fest last year; wrote about it here, I think. I'm into mine (a birdshead convertible) for about $100. And it is almost as accurate as my Wrangler birdshead.


But it developed reliability issues quickly. Taking it apart showed no fitting issues. After a big hassle, I got Heritage to send me a replacement hammer spring: no joy; still malfs. I've spent enough time on this frolic.

The local do-gooder commies are having a "gun buyback" this weekend - guess what's going to be turned into a gift card to buy ammo at Walmart? I'll get my money out of it at least. Maybe I'll hold back the magnum cylinder and get it to someone whose Heritage works okay.

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How God has blessed us!

I enjoy my $125 Heritage Rough Rider .22LR/.22WM as much as I enjoy my $800 S&W 317-3. Fun is fun...

I know they’re just 22s, but they feel cheap. Perhaps Iam just a gun snob, but once you handle, shoot a Smith or Colt 22, it’s hard to settle for anything less.

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213th FBINA

I have 2 RR, 8 grandkids have learned to shoot with them and like to when they come over

True. The Heritage revolvers aren't in the same class as the Smith or Colt offerings in the same caliber.
BUT for a sub-$150 price tag, the Heritage revolvers are still a great value. At least as long as you are looking at them from a "what you pay for what you get" kind of value proposition.
In that context, they really SHINE.
But any other comparison of Heritage pistols to Colt or S&W revolvers is apples to oranges.

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Send lawyers, guns & money...

I have the RR 6.5" with adjustable sights, extremely accurate and reliable.

I have one with the .22LR and .22 Mag cylinder. Paid next to nothing for it. Is it as good as my Ruger Single Six convertible? No, it is not, but for the under $200 price tag it is a good little gun, a decent shooter and well worth the price.

Pictured with my 1987 FIE Lil Ranger at top

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5B95B6B6-709E-4F92-BEC2-C480A271D0AA.jpg (126.4 KB, 37 views)

Wife asked me to stop by the local RK to pick up some ground fabric for the garden. Looking at the Gun Barn I saw they had the 6 1/2" Heritage RR for $99. My son and I got to the range today and I fired 100 rds of Federal 36gn ammo through it . Towards the end I had three failure to fire, which all fired on the second try. Might be the ammo, might be the chamber was getting dirty, might be a weak mainspring.

It shoots slightly to the left and I think either the front sight is slightly bent or the barrel slightly canted. Either way I suspect a lead babbitt will fix point of impact. We only shot at 25' and I could keep all the shots easily within a 6" paper plate. That's all I expect for the first time out with a cheap 22 plinker.

I did go to the Heritage web site and ordered a 22 Mag cylinder simply because I have a bunch of 22 mag ammo. It was $29 shipped and delivered in a week. We'll see how it holds up but as an inexpensive camping/plinking gun it has potential.

These haven't been mentioned here yet, but have become popular and are now offered in 1 and 2 inch barreled "boot" versions as well -

See: https://heritagemfg.com/revolvers/heritage-barkeep

Also, here's a video on a QED DIY project for converting the standard square butt Barkeep to the birdshead grip configuration -

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

Friend has a old one, it jammed so I took it apart, holy cow what a mess. Had to file clearance for the trigger and took over a hour just to “ clean it up” from all the burrs. Put it back together and it shot fine. Told him to save up and buy a Ruger single six…..

I saw the 16" barrel convertible at my lgs and laughed, but then told the guy at the counter that I had to buy it. I couldn't resist. I've put probably 750ish rounds or so through it. The ejector rod assembly fell off the gun at one point because the screw backed out and destroyed itself and it's missing another screw in the frame. After replacing and putting locktite on the screws I've had no issues. And this thing provides what we in the car community call "smiles per gallon". Hands down the most fun you can have for the money. I bought a box of .22lr bird shot for it and me and my buddy made little tunnels in the snow with it last winter. The spread was comical. And it is way more accurate than it has any right to be. Way more accurate than any of my semi auto .22s that I've had. Even at full price($189.99 at the time), it's a fantastic value.

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Please no more EZs...

For about $100 you could by the parts from Heritage to turn your 16" revolver into a revolving carbine.

I recently noticed an online article detailing this conversion step by step (although I'd caution that this should be done only with the 16" version so as to avoid making an illegal short barreled rifle). See: Make Your Own Carbine Revolver | Shoot On


I believe earlier in this thread somebody else mentioned encountering the same problem. It might not be a bad idea for anyone buying one of these to preempt the issue by removing that ejector rod housing screw and reinstalling it with Loctite®.

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SWCA #590
"Colligo ergo sum"

That's 3,200 rounds at 10 cents a piece. O.K. you could do better. Let's say you get 7 cents a round. That's 4,500 rounds. That's maybe two-three years for me.

I have not bought one of these low priced single actions. I do not doubt their accuracy. I doubt their durability. I have a feeling I'll end up buying enough of them to equal a better gun. I've talked to a lot of people that own them, and ranges that rent them, and the durability is just not there. Some repairs you can do yourself I'm sure but I'm just not really feeling it. They may be inexpensive but at the moment I don't think they are a good value.

They are what they are, an inexpensive entry level revolver for casual shooters. I'd like to see a 20,000 round test.