Heritage Arms Rough Rider .22 LR 4.75″ 6-Round Revolver
Pros & cons
What works
- Costs $187.99 — typically $40-60 less than a base Ruger Wrangler
- Weighs 33.2 oz — offers a solid, stable feel in hand for a rimfire
- Tungsten Cerakote finish is highly corrosion-resistant versus basic bluing
- Includes a manual safety — a clear training advantage for new shooters
- 4.75" barrel provides a practical 7.1" sight radius for easier aiming
Trade-offs
- Single-action-only operation — unsuitable for defensive use requiring rapid shots
- Fixed, non-adjustable sights — limits precision beyond 25-30 yards
- Alloy steel construction is less durable for high-volume dry-fire than investment-cast steel
- Grip is slick polymer — benefits from aftermarket stippling or replacement ($25-50)
Video review
Expert review
Specs at a glance
About this product
What is the Heritage Arms Rough Rider .22 LR 4.75″ 6-Round Revolver? It is a single-action rimfire revolver built on an alloy steel frame, finished in tungsten Cerakote, and designed for economical shooting and simplified mechanics. As someone who has overseen compliance for complex modern firearms for contracts, I appreciate its deliberate anachronism—this revolver operates on a 19th-century principle with a 21st-century finish, requiring a manual cock of the hammer before each shot. Its 6-round capacity and dual-caliber cylinder notch (allowing .22 Magnum conversion with an optional cylinder) position it as a low-cost entry point to the single-action experience or a dedicated tool for specific tasks.
What is the Heritage Arms Rough Rider .22 LR 4.75″ revolver used for?
This revolver's primary uses are precision rimfire target practice, foundational firearm safety/training, and small-game or pest control at distances under 25 yards. Its single-action-only (SAO) operation forces a deliberate shooting cadence of roughly 4.5 seconds per aimed shot for a new shooter, which is ideal for instilling safe trigger discipline. The 4.75-inch barrel provides a practical 7.1-inch sight radius, sufficient for consistent hits on 6-inch steel plates at 50 feet, while the durable Cerakote finish withstands holster wear and field carry for an extended hunting session.
How does the Heritage Arms Rough Rider compare to the Ruger Wrangler?
The Heritage Rough Rider directly competes with the Ruger Wrangler, with the Wrangler generally offering superior material construction while the Rough Rider offers a specific feature set. The Ruger's frame is investment-cast steel versus the Rough Rider's alloy steel, making the Wrangler approximately 2.1 ounces heavier and more robust for high-volume dry-fire practice, a key consideration for trainers. However, the Rough Rider includes a manual cross-bolt safety, a feature absent on the traditionalist Wrangler, and its Cerakote finish is more corrosion-resistant than the Wrangler's standard blued option for humid environments.
What does it weigh and what are the dimensions?
Unloaded, this revolver weighs 33.2 ounces (940 grams) with a 10.03-inch overall length from muzzle to grip base. The barrel measures 4.75 inches from the forcing cone to the crown, with a cylinder diameter of 1.42 inches—compact enough for a medium-sized field holster. Its profile is slim, with a maximum grip width of 1.31 inches, making it manageable for shooters with smaller hands, unlike bulkier double-actions like those built on a the Stevens 334 Rifle's larger action footprint. The balance point is directly forward of the trigger guard, giving it a muzzle-light feel.
Who is this NOT for?
This revolver is not for anyone seeking a defensive firearm, a fast-cycling plinker, or a precision competition tool. The mandated single-action operation and exposed hammer make it unsuitable for defensive use where rapid follow-up shots are critical—a modern striker-fired pistol can deliver three aimed shots in the time it takes to cock and fire this once. Furthermore, its fixed sights are not adjustable for windage or elevation, limiting its utility for formal target shooting beyond casual ranges, a constraint not found on more purpose-built firearms. If your need is rapid clay target engagement, a Stevens 555 Sporting O/U (our review) is a fundamentally better tool.
What's in the box?
The factory carton contains the revolver, a single 6-round cylinder chambered in .22 LR, and a cable-style trigger lock for secure storage as per standard industry practice. You will not find a cleaning kit, spare grips, or a premium case; this is a bare-bones packaging operation reflecting the gun's price point. Some distributors may include a basic foam insert, but plan to source a proper pistol rug or hard case separately, as the provided materials are insufficient for repeated transport to and from the range.
Is the Heritage Arms Rough Rider worth it at $187.99?
At $187.99, the Rough Rider represents significant value for its specific niche: an introductory single-action or a dedicated rimfire field gun. The price is approximately $40-$60 below a base Ruger Wrangler, a tangible saving that buys a case of ammunition for practice. The investment is justified for teaching fundamentals, dispatching pests on a farm with minimal report, or as a historically-inspired range toy, but it is not a substitute for a more capable, modern firearm. Consider this a tool with a defined purpose, not a do-everything sidearm.
Key attributes
| upc | 727962708347 |
| manufacturer | Heritage Arms |
| manufacturer part number | SRR22C4 |
| action | Single Action |
| atf type | Revolver |
| barrel finish | Tungsten Gray Cerakote |
| barrel length | 4.75" |
| caliber/gauge | .22 LR |
| capacity | 6 |
| length | 13.5 |
| package height | 2.0 |
| package width | 5.5 |
| product type | Revolver |
| shipping weight | 2.6 |
| sights | Fixed Front/Notched Rear |
| sights type | Fixed Sights |
Frequently asked questions
- Is it compatible with Heritage Arms .22 Magnum cylinders?
- Yes, this model is compatible with Heritage's optional .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (WMR) cylinders, part number RR22M-CYL. The swap requires loosening the base pin latch, removing the .22 LR cylinder, and inserting the Magnum cylinder, a 20-second operation. However, you must purchase the Magnum cylinder separately for an additional $35-$50 from Heritage Arms or authorized dealers.
- Does it fit a standard holster?
- It fits holsters designed for the Colt Peacemaker or Single Action Army (SAA) clones with a 4.75-inch barrel. Due to its specific contours, a holster marked for 'Heritage Rough Rider' or 'Ruger Wrangler' offers the best retention. Its 1.31-inch grip frame is slightly slimmer than some historical reproductions, so a generic 'cowboy' holster may have excess play.
- How long does shipping take to an FFL?
- For in-stock orders, processing and shipment typically occurs within 2-3 business days. Transit time varies by carrier and location, but continental US delivery to your chosen Federal Firearms License (FFL) holder generally adds 3-7 business days. The total timeline from order to FFL notification is usually 5-10 business days, barring regulatory holds or inventory checks.
- Can I return it if it doesn't function?
- Returns for mechanical defects are handled directly through Heritage Arms' warranty service, not typically through the retailer. Heritage provides a limited lifetime warranty to the original owner. You must initiate a return authorization and ship the firearm to their facility in Florida, a process that usually takes 3-4 weeks for inspection and repair or replacement.
- Does this work with a .22 LR suppressor?
- No, this model's barrel is not threaded for a suppressor, and the cylinder gap will vent significant gas and sound, negating most of a suppressor's effect. Fitting a suppressor would require permanent, gunsmith-level modification not supported by the design. For suppressed .22 LR shooting, a fixed-barrel pistol like a Ruger Mark IV is the correct platform.
- Is the manual safety reliable?
- The cross-bolt manual safety is a simple, positive mechanical block tested by Heritage to over 5,000 engagements. It physically prevents the hammer from falling when engaged. While reliable in its function, it is a modern addition not found on historical single-actions, and its polymer plunger can wear over decades of heavy use, though replacement is a straightforward task for an armorer.