There is none of the fuzziness or difficulty loading like we found with the Chiappa revolver. With the loading gate open, the chambers are loaded one round at a time. The Heritage Rough Rider is loaded by placing the hammer on half cock. The action is smooth enough, breaking at 4 pounds even. The trigger guard is squared more than the usual single-action revolver. The cylinder is well fitted, and the pivot pin isn’t difficult to remove to clean the revolver or to change the cylinders. The revolver is manufactured from inexpensive material and makes use of various MIM, composite, and non-ferrous alloys. It is a purpose-designed 22-caliber single-action revolver. (Some models of the Chiappa are also offered with a Magnum cylinder.) The Heritage revolver is a fresh design that isn’t based on the Ruger Single Six or Colt Scout. Because the original intent was to test only 22 LR revolvers, this is an interesting side benefit. We did not mind paying $21 extra for the Magnum cylinder.
The cylinder was handy and available locally. We found it new on the shelf and went with it. The revolver illustrated, however, was supplied with a 22 Magnum cylinder. This Rough Rider is readily available at many outlets, usually the 45⁄8-inch-barrel version with only the 22 LR cylinder.
