Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

I traded a guy on the board and i got a heritage arms rough rider 22LR/22MAG 6 shot revolver with laminated grips. Oh man is this thing sweet! Balance is perfect, grip is sturdy and fills my hand well, great trigger, quality overall is great! Ive shot around 25 shots of Winchester Super X Full metal jacket 22 Magnums and this thing will print /4" groups @ 20 yards. Im just really impressed with this little pistol.

Gotta remember to keep ear plugs handy. 3 hours later my ears are still numb and ringing lol.

Hate to say it, but i had a ruger vaquero .44mag and it doesnt even come close to this quality/ accuracy of this low $$$ pistol.
I'll get some pictures of it tomorrow.

Anyone shoot one of these?

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

Pardon me sir but the heritage rough rider series of handguns ain't ANYWHERE NEAR the quality of design,materials,and worksmanship. Your revolver is made from cast aluminum and cheaply made parts. While I'm glad for you that you just happened to obtain a good one,it's hit or miss wether you get a good one orlousy one.
The ruger super single six convertible is a MUCH better made revolver. Anyway,congtats on your good shootin gun.

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

All im saying is the ruger vaquero i had wasnt worth a bucket of piss:D This one puts it to shame.

Ive read a lot of reviews and have come across the same thing. Better than any ruger people have owned.

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

Took a quick look at some of these handguns at the feedstore recently when the mate spotted the pearl handle 22mag(nonpink) birds head model there.

Odd safetys...but they where on sale & fairly cheap to begin with- still may get one -sometime.

I dont think they will be replacing any of our Ruger revolvertho( redhawk,blackhawks,sp101,gp100 or single 6 in 32 mag etc )as they all work fine )

.................................................. .............................

Specifications - 22 caliber
Caliber 22 Long Rifle, 22 Short, 22 Long, 22 Magnum
Cylinder Capacity 6 rounds
Weight Unloaded 33.4 ounces (6.5" model)
Barrel Lengths 3.5", 4.75" ,6.5" & 9"
Trigger Pull Approximately 6 Pounds
Barrel 1215 Steel
Cylinders 12L14 Steel
Frame Aluminum Alloy
Sights Open fixed type; Notch at Rear
Land Width .076 inch
Length of Rifling Twist 1 Turn in 14 inches RH
Land and Grooves 6
Over all Length 11.785 inches

LEGAL FOR SALE IN Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota & South Carolina


Specifications - 22 & 32 caliber Steel Frame Models
Caliber 22 long rifle, 22 short, 22 long and also 22 magnum
32 H&R Mag, 32 S&W Long, 32 S&W Long Colt
Cylinder Capacity 6 rounds
Barrel Lengths 3.5", 4.75" ,6.5" & 9" (22 cal)
3.5", 4.75",6.5" (32 cal)
Weight Unloaded 35 ounces (6.5" model)
Cylinders 12L14 Steel
Over all Length 11.785 inches ( 6.5" model )
Rifling Characteristics 22 Cal
Land Width .076 inch
Length of Rifling Twist 1 Turn in 14 inches RH
Land and Grooves 6
Rifling Characteristics 32 Cal
Land Width .108 inch
Length of Rifling Twist 1 Turn in 16 inches RH
Land and Grooves 6
Trigger Pull Approximately 6 Pounds
Barrel 1215 Steel
Frame 4140 Steel
.................................................. ............

Tho not listed there the alloy frame is also not legal in California either from what iread anyways.

Dos anyone know why only steel frame models are legal in the states mentioned- just curious why that is the case.

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

I've had a 6.5 inch barrel alloy frame Rough Rider for years and it shoots prettygood out to 50 yards with .22lrwhere I cansometimes hitclay pigeons or come close trying.
I like the sights and the hammer block safety switch a lot (it's kid friendly),which was the reason that I bought itbeside the low price.
Some of the issues are:
1. The cylinder locks up after loadingwhen I advance from half-cock.Ineed to slightly advance the cylinder by hand before fully cocking to prevent it from locking up...or else I have to remove the cylinder pin and cylinder to free it up. But usually only after loading.
2. The paint on the ejectorrod housing andthe frame is susceptible tosoftening if it comes into contact with cleaning solvent or oil. These canhurtthe finish.
3.The brasshammerscrewkept comingloose andI had to Lock Tite it. Another screw that secures thehandle frame to the main frame fell out and got lost somewhere.

Beside these issues, the gun shoots more accurately than many revolvers even though it has an alloy frame, and it should last for many moreyears. I haven't shot any .22 Mag out of it at allthough. If I did, I would probably shoot Winchester .22 Mag. Dynapointsout of it because they are less powerful.

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

Lol, I'm glad you got a good one. My rough rider stinks. The 22LR is ok with remington ammo, not something I'd take small game hunting though (like you said about 4" groups) and the 22mag shoots like crap. I can't get any ammo to print all six shots on paper with that cylinder.

But my Ruger Vaquero is the most accurate handgun I've ever shot. Win some you loose some I guess... I'm taking the vaquero deer hunting with me once gun season opens up here in TN.

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

What a joke.
My boys each have one of the little 22s. They are not bad little guns for what you pay. But, shoot them a couple hundred times, you start getting endshake and other wear problems.
I also have three stainless 357 vaqueros. Each has probably been shot an excess of 30,000 rounds. I shoot cowboy action and I shoot allot. These have been my match guns for seven years and I shoot between 1500 and 3000 rounds a month between practice and matches, this does not include dry fire practice. The only malfunctions, including endshake, I have ever had include one broken firing pin and one broken transfer bar.
Comparing an alloy framed, cheaply put together 22 to an investment cast, high quality steel Ruger is about like comparing a CVA to an Thompson Center Encore!!! Oh, we've been there before too haven't we.

Anyway. For a little plinking gun to play around with, they are fine. When new, they'll shoot accurately and be tight. But, if you want a revolver that will last your your life and the life of you kids, get a Ruger, S&W, or other high quality handgun.

Hank

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

Well if u want to compair an encore, u'd have to address all the encore problems. CVA optima elite is where its at.

Im happy with this little rough rider. I have 100 rounds of winchester .22 mags through it and maybe 30 rounds of remington .22 LR.

1/4" groups @ 20 yards is pretty darn good.

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

Like I said, a good $150 gun. Keep shooting those magnum rounds out of it and it'll shake rattle and roll before long. Just can't compare a cheap gun to a well made one. It may be ok at first, but years down the road the quality will come through. Just like that CVA.
Hank

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

I have to wonder why the vaquero was a "bucket of piss"? I have never seen a totally bad ruger yet and even if there is a bad 1,they have EXCELLENT warranty. Why didn't you send it back? There's NO comparsion between heritage and rugers.

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

With reload or even factory ammo, it wouldnt do better than 9" 3 shot group @ 15 yards.
Also have a ruger redhawk i think its called, 9 3/4" barrel ,44mag with a cheapy scope. That one is accurate. The vaquero wasnt worth a chit so i sold it. Wont go down that path again.

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

Yeah it's kind of apples and oranges, I took my rough rider out the other day with some differant ammo, and it did amazingly well. Five shots under the size of a quarter at 25 yards and one flyer that was my fault. Not bad for what it costs.

I guess it just goes to show that you can't give up on a gun just because it doesn't shoot well with the first stuff you feed it.

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

I would like to hear the reasons why he thought that the rough rider is better than the "junk" ruger? Do yourself a favor and REALLY look at the quality of each,side by side. I've seen rugers numbering in hundreds if not thousands and have NEVER run accross a ruger as you described. Even so,if it was that bad(which I doubt) it's your fault for not taking advantage of ruger's excellent,usually uneeded,warranty.

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

The ruger was a nice pistol until you shot it and it wouldnt group worth a chit. The rough rider is only my second cartridge pistol " I do blackpowder mostly" And the pistol was accurate right out of the box. Very nicely made, The laminated grip was a very nice pleasing touch. I think these only run around $150 some odd dollars. After shipping off the rifle i traded and then paying the FFL holder his fee, I only have $50 invested into this pistol.

I paid $175 for the ruger and ended up selling it for $325 on an auction after i found out how it shot. Hows that quote go again?? Theres a sucker born everyday :D

Love how the rough rider comes with either a 22mag cylinder or a .22LR. Very cheap to shoot, very accurate and durable.

As for it being my fault with not taking the ruger warranty, i didnt know they had one. I bought it used with no manual or anything. Its no big deal, Its been a couple years since i sold it so, I dont miss it one bit.

I also shoot those made in spain muzzleloaders. Shot my last inline for 4 years without any warranty repair. Try that with american made muzzleloaders;)

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

You have experience with ONE handgun of each brand-I have PROFESSIONAL experience with these brands of (along with just about ALL others) handguns numbering in hundreds,who knows more about them? Also,I have both knight and tc muzzleloaders and ruger old army and none have ever caused the first problem over the years along with all the other muzzleloaders of same brand! The spanish and italian muzzleloaders are also good but where did this come in? You can't judge based on limited exposure.

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

I never labeled the entire brand of ruger as chit. Just this one. As i said before, I still have a ruger .44 mag, but a good one this time. That other one was pure crap and wouldnt shoot. Ive shot a lot more revolvers, i just prefer not to buy them as i dont get much entertainment from them. They eat up ammo to fast.

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

i bought a rough rider for my dad for his birthday. Its no fancy gun but its a good inexpensive .22. He loves it it shoots well and has accounted for numerous armadillos and cats in the months since he got it. Overall a good plinker but different strokes for different folks.

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

I can say one thing. They are pretty good for the money but my single six will be there long after. Now if that is all a body can afford great but I stand behind my Rugers.

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

A ruger vaquero is a piece of crap????? Sorry but I've had my pair of ruger vaqueros for 3 months now and have shot just over 1000 rounds of 38 special and 357 mag through mine. Mine seem to like the 38 ammo more. Been bustin coke cans with them at 25 yards. I looked at the heritage and I agree that in comparison witht he ruger single sixes that come with the 22lr and 22 mag cylinder for $400 they are a really good deal. I've heard great things about the smaller caliber heritage. How ever, i haven't heard the same for the heritage. Then again, I use my vaqueros for a sport that requires them to shoot many rounds per day at fast rates and your talking about a target gun or hunting gun that is suited for the occasional shoot. All and all I'd still take the ruger and the CVA optima for that matter

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

the ruger i had wasnt any good. Thats long gone so now i have only the heritage .22lr/.22mag which im very happy with. Cant complain about it one bit.

Does $8.99 sound right for a box of 50 winchester super x 22 magnums? It seems high to me but i never bought 22 mags until now.

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

Havent bought any of that brand- but most 22.mags seem to be around that price range where&when i was looking at them.
( from what i can tell all ammo pricesseem tobe up could
be im just living in the past tho mentaly;))
You may have to update the ppls reviews?;)

We did have some minor problems with that sp101 357 - but wesent it back & they(Ruger) took care of it free of charge. All the rest we have -revolver & semi autos etc -over the yrs have worked real well.

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

I just wish I could get a box for $8.99. They are about 11 bucks here.

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

I have a Heritage single-action 22lr/22mag also. Decent little gun -for the money. Mine's been accurate, at least so far. Fun to shoot. However, I wouldn't call it a high-quality firearm. Locks up ALL the time. To the point where you have to manually pop out the cylinder and start all over from scratch.

44 mag seems to be a lot of cartridge for a Vaquero - or is that just me? Could that maybe be partially responsible for the less-than-spectacular groups?

I have a Ruger 44magSuper Black Hawk and the difference in quality between the Ruger single-actions and the Heritage is not even close. I don't currently own a Single-Six, but I've seen enough of them to know that their quality is a level or two above the Heritage also.

Again, I like my little Heritage, despite the lock up issues. When it works, it'sa fun little gun and shoots well. But it's no Ruger. I'd probably trade it sight-unseen for pretty much any single-six/Vaquero/whatever.

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

I've had a few Rugers with quality control issues, but the Rugers are worlds ahead of the Heritage guns I've examined. They'e an o.k. gun for the money, but not a high quality firearm by any means.

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

Anyone in here ever do CAS besides me? That would be how to really compare the two manufacturers. From what I've seen in a year of CAS there are alot of rugers and not alot of heritage.

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

In all fairness to the poster there is a Heritage model that is solid steel. My home state(SC) does not allow the sale of many alloy type pistols. This solid steel Heritage is a little more expensive,but designed for sale in states with these type restrictions. Some of the ACADAMY Sports stores ads will say solid steel okay for sale in SC on their ads in the newspapers here.

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

Oh boy...now I am a fawn. My daughter will like that...Forgive the double post please. I am checking to see if the spelling is corrected in my sig and I uploaded an avatar. Just checkin ...Thank you for your patience....I'm just a lil fawn ya know.

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

I bought a Rough Rider with the 2 cylinders many years ago when they first came out. It was total junk. Granted, I know they have improved some, and they have several models of varying quality, but to put them in the same category as a Ruger, ANY Ruger, is outside my reasoning.

The barrel on my Rough Rider became loose after less than 150 rounds. The Mag cylinder would not reliably discharge, and the timing was screwed up. I paid $72.99 and DID NOT get my money out of it. I sent it back to Rough Rider after the warranty had expired (my bad) and they told me for $125.00 they could make it as good as new. I told them to send it back to me and no thanks. I already had it when it was as good as new and it was junk then, so thanks but no thanks ... I'll save the $125.00.

I received it back and I Loctited the barrel in, use only 22 shorts in it now, have converted the Mag cylinder to a paperweight,and it is actually a much better hammer than it is a pistol. It works fine for chipmunk executions, and for driving nails.

I bought a real 22 pistol in 2003 purchasing a Ruger Super Single Six in stainless with adjustable sights.

I wouldn't buy a Rough Rider in any configuration after my experience, but I have heard they got better. Just not better enough to ever get one and put it in the same gun cabinet with the Ruger.

I gotta go outside and fix the fence ... loose nails ... where's my pistol?? :D

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

i have a .357 mag. in Heritage rough rider. I quick draw the gun from my custom rig and shoot it normal with 2 hands on heavy hunting rounds. I would not hesitate to hunt deer with this gun, feel comfortable that I could drop a deer inside 50 yards. I shoot a big rock at 100 yards for fun at the gun range.
chris

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

I don't get it. If the original poster likes his Heritage why tinkle in his corn flakes? If you don't like them, don't buy one. SIMPLE.

RE: Heritage Arms Rough rider is awesome!
 

bugsNbows, You're right .... My experience or anyone else's shouldn't be the benchmark for someone else's enjoyment. My bad experience was years ago before Heritage cleaned up their act and offered so many other variants. So I really know nothing about the new guns.

I apologize.

A sucker born every minute
 

Hey I'll be happy to trade you another for your extermely high quality Ruger. If all I wanted to do is put it in a box and look at it it might be ok or if all I had time to do is shoot 5o rds through it then gun safe it ok but I got one from Gander Moutain (huge mistake) I put 1000 rds through it and it fell apart in my hands. The transfer bar snapped the cylinder locked up and if I could get the hammer back it would not ****. Never the less Gander Moutain said it would fix it free, then said they would have to send it back to the mfg. By the way no refund possible. Caution about Gander Moutain and Heritage.

I recently bought a RR 4.75 barrel blued with fixed sights and once I figured out where it was shooting I can do pretty good with it.
Sure it's not a Ruger but for the money it's a darn nice gun.
Enjoy it, I know I will.

One of the most accurate handguns I ever owned was a Llama Martial in 38 spl.. It had the best blue job I have ever seen on any handgun. One of the barrels of the cylinder was tight and empty brass would hang in it some times.I took a dowel rod and some wetndry sand paper and spun it around in it a few times, then put a lil cold blue over that with a qtip and it seemed to fix it. I would still get a hung empty every now and then. I figured it was just part of the personality some guns seem to have. Many folks thought Llamas were cheap handguns.
I kept it for a long time until I hit up on hard times. I was mining coal underground in W.Va. and got laid off. I went down to the oil patch in Houston,Tx. for a while. The bottom eventually fell out there (82) and I sold it at a pawn shop to get money to buy gas to get me back to W.Va.. I paid $90 for it used and got $125 for it when times got rough.
The reason I wrote this here today is I bought a Heritage .22 mag/lr combo today.

I thought about getting one for a plinker a couple of years ago. A good friend of mine bought one and it literally fell apart within a couple of months of light shooting!
I am not one to think more $$$ equals better! But there just is no comparison with the Ruger! I have a .44 Super Redhawk and while I can't "drive tacks" with it, it is one hell of a well built gun!
Perhaps the difference in accuracy could be the difference in shooting a .22 and shooting a .44 mag.! The .44 is much more than just a .22 X 2. Not all people can handle a .44 and larger like they can a rimfire.
But, to each their own! If the OP likes the Rough Rider and got a good one, thats great!