The video opens on the range with the Heritage Rough Rider single-action revolver chambered in .22 Long Rifle and fitted with a 16-inch barrel. The host fires a cylinder at steel targets, noting that the long-barreled revolver is both ridiculous in appearance and very enjoyable to shoot. Recoil is described as essentially nonexistent with .22 LR. The revolver holds six rounds and is presented as a fun, unusual piece that resembles an exaggerated, cartoonish handgun, similar to something a comic book villain might use. Initial shooting shows that, despite its odd proportions, the long barrel can still provide practical accuracy and a very light-shooting experience.
The Rough Rider shown is a six-shot .22 LR revolver with cocobolo wood grips and a blued finish. The host highlights a cylinder-mounted safety system. When the safety lever is flipped up, it creates a gap that prevents the firing pin from contacting the rim of the cartridge, effectively blocking discharge. Flipped down, it allows normal operation. This is presented as a simple visual and mechanical safety indicator. The revolver’s overall look, with its long barrel and wood grips, is emphasized as distinctive and somewhat humorous, but still fully functional. A voucher is mentioned that allows ordering a .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire cylinder from Heritage with free shipping, enabling the revolver to be converted to fire .22 WMR if desired.
The host explains basic operation for viewers unfamiliar with single-action revolvers. Unlike swing-out cylinder designs, this Rough Rider uses a loading gate at the rear of the cylinder. Opening the gate and partially cocking the hammer allows the cylinder to rotate for loading individual chambers. An ejector rod under the barrel is used to push out spent cases one at a time. The revolver is a true single-action, requiring the hammer to be manually cocked before each shot. The host demonstrates “fanning” the hammer, where the trigger is held back while the hammer is rapidly worked with the support hand, similar to classic Western films. Accuracy and efficiency suffer when fanning, but it is shown as a playful way to run the gun. The host also mentions using standard Aguila .22 LR and references very quiet, powderless Aguila Colibri-style rounds as an interesting low-noise option for casual plinking.
The Rough Rider’s 16-inch configuration is described as being based on the Colt Buntline, a long-barreled variant of the Single Action Army that commonly used a 12-inch barrel and sometimes a shoulder stock. The Heritage version keeps the long-barrel concept but in .22 LR with a 16-inch tube. The host revisits the safety, clarifying that when the revolver is on “fire,” a red dot is visible and the internal hammer stop sits flush, allowing the firing pin to be struck. Rotating the safety to the “safe” position moves the hammer stop so that it creates a small gap between the hammer and firing pin, preventing ignition even if the hammer falls. This provides an additional mechanical safeguard beyond standard single-action handling practices, while preserving the classic look and manual operation of the revolver.
The 16-inch Heritage Rough Rider is noted as weighing just under three pounds. The added barrel length shifts some weight forward but, combined with the .22 LR chambering, keeps recoil extremely light even with hotter .22 loads. The cocobolo wood grips and blued finish are emphasized as visually appealing, and the revolver is described as a potential conversation piece or display gun as much as a plinker. The host mentions growing up shooting .22 rifles and Heritage-style revolvers at cans and small targets, underscoring the platform’s suitability for learning firearm safety and basic marksmanship. The revolver is highlighted as being manufactured in the United States, which is presented as a positive point for those wanting to support domestic production while enjoying an unconventional long-barreled .22.
To illustrate how long the Rough Rider’s 16-inch barrel is, the host compares it to the current giveaway firearm, a Maxim Defense PDX pistol chambered in 300 Blackout. With the brace collapsed, the overall length of the PDX is only slightly longer than the Rough Rider’s barrel alone. The PDX is described as a braced pistol with an overall length of about 18.75 inches, equipped with a Vortex Spark red dot sight, a Franklin Armory flat-faced binary trigger with a third binary mode position, a Radian Raptor charging handle, and a 20-round Lancer magazine. Because it is configured as a pistol with a brace, it does not require National Firearms Act registration beyond the standard Form 4473. The segment closes by encouraging viewers to see the separate giveaway video featuring a binary-trigger “science experiment” and to consider both the compact 300 Blackout pistol and the long-barreled .22 Rough Rider as distinct, interesting platforms.
Loading...