Heritage Manufacturing's Rough Rider

This revolver has been in the review queue for some time. Just wasn’t sure what I wanted to say. On one hand is my assessment of the product from the perspective of a person who has examined many firearms over a period of many years… enough of both to know what constitutes a quality firearm. On the other hand, the world of firearms doesn’t run on fine firearms alone and, sometimes, a gun buying budget, or intended use of a firearm, dictates a different standard.

The model pictured above in an RR22 MB6. If an “S” appears in a model designation just before the barrel length designation the revolver has a steel frame. If no “S” is present the frame is made of aluminum. If “999” appears in the model designation, the revolver is a 9 shot. If the “999” is not present, the revolver is a 6 shot. Some examples…

The caution when buying a Rough Rider rimfire revolver is the myriad of models, each differing substantially from another, while retaining nearly the same general appearance. Consumers sometimes think they are seeing $300 revolvers on sale for $99 where some Rough Rider revolvers are supplied with both 22 LR and 22 Mag cylinders, others are supplied with a 22 LR cylinder only, but with a discount coupon for the magnum cylinder and some models are fixed as 22 LR only. I am not sure why steel and aluminum frame guns, both 6 and 9 shot, are listed by the manufacturer at the same weight as the subject gun weighed 32.0 oz. I am also not sure why an aluminum frame revolver is priced higher as the weight loss is insignificant and steel is more durable.

Old school… Sometimes progress is good

Heritage Manufacturing refers to the Rough Rider as a classic “4 click” Single Action Revolver, it is not a transfer bar firearm. 1) Safe – Of the firing pin 2) Loading – Cylinder freewheels to facilitate loading 3) Not an operating position 4) Hammer full back and cocked. With the hammer block safety in the off position, anytime to hammer is lowered the firing pin protrudes through the frame. Consequently, the chamber under the hammer should never be loaded, the pistol should never be dry fired as the firing pin will strike the cylinder and damage both and, if dropped with enough force, the firing pin could drive forward and cause a discharge even without depressing the gun’s trigger.

The Rough Rider aluminum castings are not going to win any awards. The bluing on barrel and cylinder is blotchy, the lettering on the cast aluminum frame is barely legible and the black finish looks as though it was applied with a paint roller.  If you look into the base pin hole in the gun’s breech face you’ll see bare aluminum.

The Heritage Rough Rider has something not typically found on single action revolvers, a manual safety, or hammer block. I don’t have a problem with a safety finding its way onto a single action revolver, however, this one doesn’t seem to accomplish much. The gun still cannot be dry fired or carried with a loaded chamber under the hammer. It also does not prevent a dropped handgun from preventing accident discharge.