Heritage Rough Rider?

[CoyoteSix]

So I know it's no Ruger Single Six, but for $150, I'm wondering if its worth it?


I don't care if it's pretty. I want it to work, and I want it to be reliable/durable.

Does the thing hold up well? It's also made in America which appeals to me.

So? Opininons?


Note: I don't know if there are other caliber models, but I'm inquiring about the .22lr chambered one.

 

[TennJed]

It is a pretty popular topic. Use the search function and you will find all the info you need

 

[USAF_Vet]

My experience has been so-so. They are not made with the best materials in mind. They function, and function quite well. But I don't think they will last. I tend to think of them as the Hi Point of the revolver world. Cheap, functional, but not going to outlive my grandkids. For the occasional range plinker, can't beat the price.

 

[22-rimfire]

It depends on what you are looking for in a SA 22 revolver. If money is a big issue, they work. I read that the finish tends to degrade a lot faster than the Single Six. I personally would just buy the Single Six or better yet the Single Ten. I buy firearms that I believe will last generations.

 

[RaceM]

For the money it's an OK gun. The black finish does wear off, but they are easy to detail strip and repaint if you choose. Functionally they are pretty good. Lockup is tight and indexing of the chambers is acceptable. Because of the zamak frame I wouldn't feed it a steady diet of magnums but it'll hold up OK with LR ammo. Also because of the zamak frame I'd say use plenty of lube on the moving bits to keep wear to a minimum.

I carry one for pest control and like it.

 

[targetshooter22]

Good friend of mine has one. Not as pretty as a Ruger, but at 30% of the price, sacrifices need to be made. His shoots minute of bunny at 20 yards pretty well, and never had a failure. Of course, he is what I call an occasional shooter, not a weekly or probably even monthly user of that gun. For recreational use, not reason to not get it. I mean, how many 22 LR rounds are you going to put down range each year through it?

 

[Guvnor]

I've considered one myself at times. Did alot of research and the general consensus is they are decent, serviceable guns but not nearly as refined as the single six. But as stated above, they are way cheaper. They use a alloy frame and a cheaper finish to keep the price down.

For a inexpensive truck gun, plinker, camp pistol, etc. it would probably serve its purpose well. But if I wanted an heirloom piece I'd go with the single six.

 

[Hammerdown77]

For the price, they are worth it. Mine is very accurate with both .22 LR and Mag. I would get one with adjustable sights though, for a little more money. Mine is a 6.5" model with adjustable sights, fiber optic on the front. It is certainly not as refined as a Ruger, but for an in-expensive plinker they're certainly one of the best options out there.

 

[MedWheeler]

I like mine a lot, especially for the price. I paid a little more than that, for the 4.75-inch barrel with both the LR and WMR cylinders. The URL below is for my "first impression" report.
It won't be $150 wasted unless you try to make it something it's not, such as a competition gun or one to take on a lot of abuse.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=681889

 

[CoyoteSix]

@ Targetshooter22

Easy answer: Alot.

I tend to go out shooting once or twice a week and go through about 500-1000 rounds of .22lr per an outing.

It'll be seeing alot of use. May also be stowed in my jeep for impromptu plinking or varmint controll.

Its really between this or a Ruger 22/45 for me... the Heritage can run shotshells which is appealing.

 

[JEB]

i picked one up a few years ago and i can honestly say i do not think it was worth the money. they do work, for a while at least, but they just dont last.

I tend to go out shooting once or twice a week and go through about 500-1000 rounds of .22lr per an outing.

i didnt shoot half this much and my cylinder quit rotating within the first year. i would cock the hammer but nothing would happen. dont remember the problem exactly but i had it fixed. a couple years later it started happening again but only on occasion.

It'll be seeing alot of use. May also be stowed in my jeep for impromptu plinking or varmint controll.

if you are going to keep it in your jeep i would guess that the finish will last about 1-1 1/2 years before it really starts to look like crap. mine has been kept in the house all its life and it just looks aweful.

Its really between this or a Ruger 22/45 for me... the Heritage can run shotshells which is appealing.

i would go with the ruger and never even think twice about it. for just a little bit more money you can have a LOT more gun IMHO. if you really want to run shotshells, go for the single six.

 

[22-rimfire]

You seem to plan a lot of use on a regular basis. There is no question that I would choose the Ruger 22/45 or a Single Six/Ten over the Heritage.

The Ruger LCR-22 is also a fun little revolver as is the SR-22P. Have both and very pleased with them.

22LR shotshells are pretty benign. If you are seriously thinking about using shotshells to kill something, I'd go 38spl or larger.

 

[45_auto]

Our experiece has been 50-50 with them.

One of my son's bought one on sale for around $100. It seems to be working OK, probably had several thousand rounds through it by now.

He bought my other son one as a present. It's totally useless, shoots about 4 feet to the left at 10 yards. Need to send it back to the factory but it's not worth the shipping hassle.

I've got a couple of Single Sixes. They're a much higher quality firearm, and you can find them used for about $50 more than the Heritage. I would buy another Single Six before I would even think about a Heritage.

 

[USAF_Vet]

IMO, .22lr shot shells are a joke. I would not be confident that they would kill a snake or rat or any other small varmint or critter. They are fun to shoot at shoot-n-see targets, but beyond that, not for me.

If you plan on shooting it that much, 500-1000 rounds a month, I doubt it will last you the year without facing some issue or another. It might, though. Some Hi Points have run flawlessly for many years with a cheap polymer frame and a zamak slide. So, as with anything, YMMV. But to reduce the chances of dumping good money on a revolver that might not last, save up some more and get a pistol known for it's quality. If shot shells are important, a used Single Six/ Ten would be the way to go. If you can live without them and just want a decent .22 plinker, the 22/45 is a sweet gun, or a S&W 22A is in that price range, too (used). There are much better guns for not much more money, considering the amount of use you expect.

 

[Ledgehammer]

I've put about 10k rounds through mine and still as good as day one. Just keep it clean and you're fine. Very accurate and reliable. For the money you can't go wrong.

 

[CoyoteSix]

Thanks all the Heritage definitive seems to be out of the question!

I've got many rimfires already, ( Ruger 10/22, Marlin, Ruger SR22)

But I'm looking for something different to shoot, but also will last a good while.

Off to ask another question! This time in the Rifle section...

 

[TheReiver]

A friend of mine has one and loves it. I believe it has interchangeable .22lr and .22 magnum cylinders. I've shot it a few times and found it impressive, especially for the price.

 

[Hondo 60]

I have a Heritage with a Birds head grip.

with 22lr it shoots low & left.
I need to send it back to the factory where they can take care of the side to side thing.

They're not constructed out of the best of metals, but it's certainly strong enough for 22lr.

 

[capcyclone]

Like most have stated, it is serviceable, but the finish isn't Single Six quality. Nevertheless, I love mine. For the price, how can you go wrong? And, as you stated - it's American made still, which should count for something.

 

[CraigC]

It's more than just the finish, which is sprayed-on, nothing about it is Single Six quality. The receiver and grip frame are ZAMAK, a zinc-based alloy, aka pot metal. It is used because it is cheap to procure and cheap to manipulate. The cylinder and barrel are made from the lowest grade of steel alloy used in firearms' manufacture, 12L14. The barrels are "micro-threaded" and then pressed into the frame, held in place with adhesive. Which is why they don't want you turning the barrel to correct windage problems. The ejector is plastic and notorious for breaking. Not to even mention the heavy, gritty action and goofy safety.

A Single Six is built just like a Blackhawk and the quality is the same. Frames are cast from the same steels, cylinders are cut from the same steel barstock. Grip frames are cast in T6 aluminum. Barrels are threaded into the receiver.

If you want a cheap, disposable plinker, buy a Heritage. If you take your revolvers seriously and want a good quality sixgun that will last through hundreds of thousands of rounds and several generations, buy a Ruger.

 

[Blue .45]

A friend of mine has one of the steel frame models made for states like Illinois. His has close to fifteen hundred rounds through it without any issues. While it isn't the quality of a Ruger SS, I found it to be pretty accurate for an inexpensive pinker. For a $150, I think they're worth it.

 

[Hondo 60]

If you want a cheap, disposable plinker, buy a Heritage. If you take your revolvers seriously and want a good quality sixgun that will last through hundreds of thousands of rounds and several generations, buy a Ruger.

That's the long & short of it!
I have both & couldn't have explained it any better