Heritage Rough Rider on a ride to factory

[TMan]

I thought the Heritage Rough Rider in .22LR was a great buy... less than I paid in sales tax for the Wilson CQB, but I've never been able to get good groups with it. Problem solved: went to plain white paper targets and now I can see the sights, whereas I couldn't see them good on the Shoot-N-C targets.

However, after a couple of hundred rounds this morning, concentrating, trying different positions of the index finger on the trigger, I was still shooting groups several inches to the left of center. Had the range officer try it, and he said: hey the front sight is bent. Well actually the whole barrel was loose. I took it back to the gun shop where I bought it, and when he touched it, the whole ejector rod assembly came apart and on the floor. No telling where the screw went. Apparently, the screw came loose, which allowed the barrel to unscrew. His comment: "told you to buy a Ruger... I'm sending this back to the factory".

Don't anyone tell me that you get what you pay for. I know, I know, I'm just letting y'all know about this in case you get one of these. Make sure the screw that attaches the end of the ejector rod to the barrel is kept tight.

Dang, a Republican in Texas can't be shooting to the left. ;D

[Flipper]

"Told you to buy a Ruger" ......a man after my own heart ;D But a Bearcat would have probably cost you twice as much $. Chalk it up to experience and don't let it get you down. I was recently intrigued by a Bird's Head Heritage and almost bit because of the price. Who knows, perhaps given a second chance they'll make it right.

[TMan]

Flipper, actually I have a Bearcat, but the thing is too small for my hand. I consistently shoot to the right with it. An instructor was there at the range one day watching me, and informed me that the thing was too small for me, and I was pulling it to the right as I tried to pull the index finger back. I thought I'd try a Heritage before giving up on revolvers. What I should have bought was the Ruger Single Six, but glad I didn't because they have a new model the KNR-7H in .22LR/.22WMR. I'm glad I waited. However, I'm not sure I want another SA revolver. Since I got the S&W 617, I kind of like the DA better. You can always shoot it in SA mode, which I do 99% of the time.

I tried holding a birdshead model once and it just about put my index finger in front of the barrel. ;D I'm a little guy, but I have a big paw.

[TMan]

It's back from the factory. Total cost was $15 for shipping from my gunsmith. According to the receipt, "Heritage Replaced Barrel, Ejector Tube Screw and Adjusted Cylinder Bolt"

I took it to the range yesterday and was absolutely amazed. It shot far better than it did when it was brand new. Which begs the question why?

This gun cost me $139, and this particular shop gets a 20% up lift. Which means if there weren't any distributors involved, the maximum the factory could have gotten would be $111. Assuming they aren't a union shop, and are paying minimum wages, there is no way that this gun could have received much human TLC by anyone skilled and the company remain solvent.

Therefore, I conclude that having this thing break was a blessing because it received some human attention to its details.

I've always liked this gun and was disappointed when it broke. Now I absolutely love it. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one. It is really fun to shoot, and because it wasn't expensive, I don't hesitate to shoot the cheapest .22LR ammo that I can find through it i.e. it doesn't get the CCI Mini Mag stuff.

[TMan]

In case you're interested: I shot this gun again last week, and then yesterday, and was still amazed. Then while cleaning it this afternoon, I used my trigger scale, and found that the trigger is now 3.0lb from the 4.0lb it originally read.

So, I think this proves that the gunsmith at Heritage that fixed it, really worked it over. Although I was unhappy that it broke in the first place, and swore I'd never buy another from Heritage, their service department completely won me over. When I finally wear this one out, I will definitely replace it with another from Heritage. This is just a fun gun to shoot. (Don't get as tight a group as I do on some of the semi-autos, but I think that is my eyesight and the fixed sights.

[tptplayer]

I purchased one for my stepson who is graduating from college. I didn't shoot it yet, letting him be the first. I got the one that also has the .22 WMR cylinder. I'm glad to hear you like yours.