Range Review: Heritage Rough Rider Rancher Revolving Carbine

by
posted on January 17, 2020
heritage-rough-rider-rancher-revolving-carbine-f.jpg
I don’t know why I need it, but I do. That thought certainly applies to the new Heritage Manufacturing Rough Rough Rider Rancher carbine in .22 Long Rifle.

Heritage, which was acquired by Taurus some years ago, was one of the first operations to move from Miami to Georgia, foreshadowing Taurus’ big move. The very affordable Heritage revolvers, which we have covered extensively, snuck up on the entire firearms industry. They went from those inexpensive single-action .22s no one paid much attention to the No. 2 maker of revolvers in the United States. Ruger didn’t take kindly to that, thus the Wrangler revolver.


Last month, I had the opportunity to get a tour of the new Taurus facility in Bainbridge Ga., all 205,000 sq.-ft. of it, by none other than the president of Taurus, my long-time friend David Blenker.


The Heritage guns are made in the United States, and not long ago, a 16"-barrel gun was introduced. At first glance, it looks like a prop from a Batman movie one of Joker’s minions would have with the flag that comes out the end that says “Bang!” No, this was just like all the other .22-cal. revolvers made by the company, just with a longer barrel. Not a true Buntline, but close enough that it sold like hotcakes.


Now we have the Rough Rider Rancher carbine. It’s just like the other single-action revolvers just with a fixed walnut buttstock.


It is a six-shooter with an overall length of 32" that weighs just a little more than 4 pounds with its 16.125 inch barrel. The sights consist of a fixed-blade front and a Buckhorn adjustable rear. And it even comes with a handy leather sling.


Revolving carbines have been around for a long time, the Colt Model 1855 comes to mind, but this fun interpretation of the genre makes for a very affordable plinker. While I was in Georgia, the Taurus guys let me be one of the first to use their impressive, new test range. And I had to remember a lesson about the little carbine and that is, unlike most revolvers, there is a safety on the left side.


When a revolver is fired, its chamber is in the cylinder, and the bullet has to make the jump to the barrel. Depending on the amount of cylinder gap, you get certainly some flash but also sometimes lead spitting. That’s why you don’t get your thumb near the cylinder gap. That is certainly the case with the Rough Rider.

As a matter fact, that is why there’s an extra extension on the trigger guard for the weak hand. Keep your hands, feet and all other body parts away from that cylinder gap, and you will be rewarded with lots of plinking fun. All at an affordable MSRP of $297.93.

Latest

Nraam 2025
Nraam 2025

See New Guns & Gear At The NRA's Annual Meetings In Georgia

Freedom-loving American patriots gather every spring at the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits to celebrate their liberty and check out the newest crop of guns, optics, ammunition and accessories. This year, 2025, the fun will take place in Atlanta, Ga.—we hope to see you there!

Rifleman Q&A: A Hornet In Father’s Attic

From the pages of the April 2025 American Rifleman, learn about a Savage rifle in .22 Hornet that was found in an attic. 

Spring Into Savings With Federal & Remington Ammo

Two of the industry’s finest began offering ammunition rebates on April 1 and the special savings continue through June 30.

The Revolutionary Art Of Don Troiani

By using surviving artifacts, eyewitness testimony, accurately reproduced uniforms, original firearms and the thorough study of battle sites, Don Troiani has done more than imagine what happened 250 years ago. His art is as close as it can get to a true representation of what period combat would have looked like.

The Armed Citizen® April 21, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Captain John Parker's Fowler: Witness To History

While thousands of firearms were used in and around the Massachusetts towns of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, few survive today. One survivor is the flintlock fowler used by Capt. John Parker of the Lexington militia.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.