The Heritage Rough Rider Small Bore is a single-action .22 LR revolver with a 6.5-inch barrel and a 6-round cylinder. It's a straightforward gun: cowboy-style design, alloy frame, fixed sights, 33.4 ounces. At this price and caliber, it's aimed at plinking, range practice, and casual small-game use. 
 

Key Specifications 

• Manufacturer: Heritage Manufacturing 
• Model: Rough Rider Small Bore 
• Type: Revolver 
• Action: Single Action 
• Caliber: .22 LR 
• Barrel Length: 6.5 inches 
• Capacity: 6 rounds 
• Finish: Black 
• Frame Material: Alloy Frame 
• Weight: 33.4 ounces 
• Sights: Fixed Sights 
   

Detailed Features 

The single-action mechanism requires manually cocking the hammer before each shot, which slows down the pace and keeps the shooter deliberate — appropriate for the intended use. The 6.5-inch barrel gives a longer sight radius than shorter-barreled versions, which helps with accuracy at typical plinking distances. Fixed rear sight and front blade are simple and adequate. The alloy frame keeps the weight low. 
 

Usage Scenarios 

• Plinking with .22 LR — economical ammunition and low recoil make extended range sessions easy. 
• Target shooting at close to moderate distances where the 6.5-inch barrel aids accuracy. 
• Small game hunting where a lightweight, quiet sidearm for rabbits or squirrels is useful.

The Heritage Rough Rider in .22 LR is a budget-friendly single-action revolver, and the feedback it gets is largely consistent with that positioning.

Price is the most cited reason people buy it. For what it costs, buyers generally feel they're getting good value — a functional, historically-styled .22 revolver that works for plinking and casual range use without a significant investment.

The design is consistently praised. The classic cowboy aesthetic is part of the appeal for a lot of owners, and the simple operation makes it accessible for new shooters. Recoil with .22 LR is minimal, which contributes to its reputation as a low-stress gun to shoot.

Accuracy at plinking distances draws positive comments. Most users aren't using this for precision work, and at 15 to 25 yards it performs adequately.

Reliability is where opinions split. Most owners report no issues, but there are occasional reports of misfires or cylinder alignment problems, usually tied to specific production batches. Long-term durability also gets some skepticism — the alloy frame and overall construction don't match higher-priced revolvers.

The ability to swap in a .22 WMR cylinder (on models that include it) is noted as a practical plus.

If you want a dependable, no-frills .22 revolver for plinking or as a first handgun, the Rough Rider delivers. It isn't a match for more expensive options in build or finish quality, and that's expected at the price.