Shocked! Bought myself a Heritage .22LR/.22WMR

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Eb1

Eb1

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Pics Added::Shocked! Bought myself a Heritage .22LR/.22WMR

I have read over and over how bad these guns are. I have also read some good about them as well.

I have been looking at them every time I go to the local bar (read as "local gun store"). :)
Today my daughter and I went window shopping. I was looking for a Rem 700 XCR or a Savage 10FP in .308. Well they did not have those, but there lay that Heritage single action .22LR/.22WMR. Now for a long time I have been wanting a single action revolver. I really wanted a .45 Colt, but the price is high, and to feed it is a little more expensive. I would have loaded for the .45 Colt of course, but....
And out of no where I just told the gentleman behind the counter to "Wrap it up. I'll take it." It was like I was singing a song from the Fabulous Thunderbird's.

It is a really nice looking gun. When I got home I immediately changed the cylinder to the .22WMR. I took a brass brush to the cylinder chambers before I installed them, and they were dirty. I am glad I did that because there were some shavings in the cylinder chambers.
I used a bore snake to clean the bore pretty good. Did some function testing, and waited for the wife to get home so that I could run off the the indoor range.

When I got to the range I went into my lane, and I started with Winchester Supreme 30 grain .22WMR. Starting at 15 feet the gun shot right as in correct elevation and windage. Moved back to 25 feet. It did just as well. I moved back as far as the target would go, 15 yards. I shot a 2" group with the gun and those bullets. Over and over the gun shot that good. Windage was on, and so was the elevation.
I then did the same test with .22LR CCI Mini-Mag HP 32 grain I think. Those shot just as well. So did the Winchester .22LR X-Pert .32 grain HP.

I read these guns were horrible. I read that you could not hit the side of a barn with them. Maybe some were bad. I have to say though, I haven't had this much fun with a pistol since I was a child. It made me think of shooting my dad's single action .22LR. I hope the feeling continues.

This .22LR/.22WMR is a dream to shoot, and I could not be more satisfied. I know that the finish is not good, and it will fade. I know that it isn't a $500 blued gun, but it has filled a niche. I could not be more pleased.
 
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Congrats on your new bullet launcher. May it give you reliable service for years and years.:)
 
Congrats on the new family member.

People seem to love to poo-poo cheap guns. I guess in some cases it's deserved but for the most part I think they are fine. I've got two cheapies myself that shoot just fine. An Iver Johnson .22 semi and a High Standard Double Nine. Both shoot as well as I'm able to aim and so far have had no issues. Can anyone ask for more?
 
The rough riders are good guns. I got one for 70 bucks from a guy who needed the cash. Sold it to my sister for 80.

I liked shooting it, just didn't need a .22 at that time.
 
Both me and my father in law have Heritage Rough Riders with the interchangable 22lr/22mag cylinders. They have been good pistols for the money and we enjoy shooting them regularly. No problems yet, accurate and they still look good as new.
 
Can you shoot shorts from this pistol as well? I understand that if you can you will crud the cylinders, but if you can, I am going to order another .22 LR cylinder for just shorts.
 
Good purchase! My best friend and me were killing time at the pawn shop and he bought a new one. We went to the deer lease and had no problem with minute of pop can accuracy, the pop can had to be 15 yards away. We did not buy any 22 WMR ammo. We had a hoot of a good time. I think the safety on it works OK. We tried it as well and no bang. Oh, I read that you should only carry 5 with the empty cylinder under the hammer, just like the colt. I can not remember where I read it at.
 
I can not remember where I read it at.
Click to expand...

On the barrel. :)

Thanks, everyone. I am happy as a lark with this gun. I can't wait to go shoot some reactive targets with it.

I think it will compliment my Model 60 quite well on squirrel hunts. It will be a good gun to walk the fields looking for cotton tails as well.
I also think that a good leather holster is coming my way. I have some good leather for my 30-30 from levergunleather.com. Might have him make me a nice holster and belt to match the leather on my Marlin 336.
 
The reason I was asking about .22 shorts was because my daughter (4 YEARS OLD) wants to shoot it. With my help of course.
I was 3 or 4 when I would shoot the LR Single Action of my dads at soup cans. I wore the holster across my chest.
 
See that is what happens when you get old timers disease!! I think 22 cb or shorts will fire thru it, I do not think they will be cheap.
 
heritage

i bought one about 5 years ago, and have never thought about getting rid of it.it shoots great and the thumb safety is well worth it ,although i have cicked instead o banged on more than one occasion due to me not disingaging the safety.better safe than sorry i quess. the mag cylinder with cci maxi mags also will turn a rabbit inside out so be caerful.the only thing i ever did to mine was tweak the front sight just a little to the right and its been perfect since.heritage also makes an outstanding 45 colt if too are so inclined.i dont load it to hot but it will handle a 255 gn. bullet at 950 fps all day long.thats plenty for east texas woodsbumming all day long.
 
I saw one of these at the gun show last week -- specifically the one with the shorter barrel and the birds head grip. If I'd had the $200 on hand at the moment I would've plunked it down just like that. They look like they'd be fun little guns and with the current price of ammunition I've been looking pretty seriously at getting a .22.
 
Anyone that has dogged heritage 1.) has never owned one OR 2.) bought one used and it was worn out / not maintained and they didn't see and have a false impression of the gun...

Sometimes you get a LEMON, doesn't matter how good the gun maker is.

Heritage are fine guns. They are not going to last forever, but with the proper car, they will last your lifetime easily.
 
I bought one 2 weeks ago with the bird head grips and i love it mine shoots well also i use it for practice before shooting my ruger vaquero in 45 colt.
 
Heritage revolvers

I've been thinking about getting into Cowboy Shooting and got a Rough Rider several months ago. Have shot hundreds of .22 long through it w/no problems. Can't shoot the mags at my indoor range but will change the cylinder and try some of them this spring outside.

I can shoot .22 for .04 cents a round compared to the almost 50 cents for my .38. And from what I hear the 50 cents is going UP.

I don't know why a lot of people don't like Heritage, I've got no complaints, for less than $200 new its been a lot of fun.
 
More than anything, negative comments about the Heritage Rough Rider are the result of durability issues.

Glad you are happy with you new gun. It would be sad if you were unhappy already.
 
I had one, and kinda wish I had kept it. It was fairly accurate, and fun. Kinda cheaply made, of course, at that price, but it worked. Gotta love having a revolver with a safety on it.
 
I am sure in time the wear will show, but for the first time out I was shocked that it would even shoot straight. If you read most comments about this gun around the internet, you would think that it could shoot around corners.

I am thinking of shooting some colibris for the first time ever. My .22 cal Pellet gun just went out, and we have some pests around that might get a taste of the old west. :)
 
Oh, I read that you should only carry 5 with the empty cylinder under the hammer, just like the colt.
Click to expand...

Yep, load one, skip one, then keep loading until you turn the cylinder to a charge hole with a round in it. This will leave the chamber under the hammer empty. Yes, it does have a manual safety, but I wouldn't rely on it soley.

I read these guns were horrible. I read that you could not hit the side of a barn with them. Maybe some were bad.
Click to expand...

Both of mine (one stupidly sold a few years ago) have proven to be extremely accurate, possibly better than your average Single Six. Actually, a Single Six afficionado tried my first Rough Rider and was stunned to find that it was a smidge more accurate than any of his Rugers! I just acquired a 5.5" Rough Rider for $150, and it will shoot spent cartridges at 7-10' without much trouble, one handed. Rolling around a small tin can, firing one handed rapid fire (one shot a second), makes even me look like a good shot! Gotta love that.

And though it doesn't have a hammer block, I love the fact that it is a "4 clicker", and that you must cock the hammer to the 2nd click to load and unload, just like the original 1873 SAAs.

One thing: be sure to tighten the screw holding the ejector rod housing every few hundred rounds, as it tends to come loose. Either that or put some blue locktite on it. It should be removed every once in a while for cleaning, maybe every 1,000 rounds. You wouldn't believe the crud buildup that gets in there.

I know that the finish is not good, and it will fade.
Click to expand...

My first RR had the flat black finish, and cleaning it with Hoppes #9 did wear the finish a bit over many cleanings, though it wasn't a problem really. One way to avoid this is not to clean as often. 22 is usually not a dirty cartridge, and the gun is so cheap I figure, why bother? I just wipe it with a silicone rag and put it back in the safe. My new one has the glossy blue finish, and actually looks quite attractive IMO. I am pretty certain it will hold up better than the matte "blue" finish of my previous RR, it just seems more durable.

Here are some pictures of mine, where are the pics of your's? :neener:


094.jpg


145.jpg


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One thing: be sure to tighten the screw holding the ejector rod housing every few hundred rounds, as it tends to come loose.
Click to expand...
That is my only complaint with my RR. My screw fell out and I have been too lazy to contact heritage about a replacement.
 
jad0110,

That is the handles I have. I think it is the same gun although I thought it was a 6.5". I love the way this gun looks. I almost had a moment where I felt my Springfield XD9 get jealous when I put this gun in the safe. Yep!

I was thinking to myself. If I had thought about it a little more, or anyone for that matter. You could set yourself up with some good firearms for pretty cheap.

Heritage Rough Rider .22LR/.22WMR - $160.00
Maverick 88 12 gauge field 28" 3" Chamber - $150.00
Marlin XL7 30-06 w/Bushnell Banner 3-9x40 - $400.00 or
Marlin 336W $300.00 Used? $225.00
Marlin model 60 - $140.00

For less than $700 a person could have some serious firepower with pretty good/proven reliability.
 
Heritage Rough Rider

I have one and I am really enjoying it so far. I've had it for a few months and have put about 100 rounds thru it, no problems. I also like how easily the cylinder is removed for a good cleaning. Will use it a lot more when the weather improves.
 

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