Went out to get a Heritage Rough Rider a few weeks ago. Actually really impressed with this pistol for the price. The action feels decent with four positive clicks and its surprisingly accurate. The only thing I was bummed about was the finish was hot garbage. I wasn’t really going to whine to heritage over the finished on a $110 pistol, so I looked into refinishing it myself. Saw a couple people sand off the finish and polish on youtube so I decided to try my hand. I’m blown away with how it turned out.
So what was your process? One of my favorites in the firearm world is a shiny revolver - got several and sometimes when I’m bored I’ll take them out and give them a good Flitzing.
That looks great and since I don’t have a .22LR revolver I may do the same.
If that is carbon steel its going to be a rustbucket quickly…
So I ordered from amazon, abrasive wheels for dremel (110 grit, 180 grit, 300 grit, 400 grit), polishing wheels and tips for dremel, and mothers mag aluminum polish. There was a lot of trial and error. What I ended up doing was stripped the pistol completely apart. I tried sticking to the 300 grit wheel mostly because i didn’t want to gouge the pistol too mich but i did have to go heavier for the more stubborn areas. So I got the finish off and went over the outside surfaces with 400 grit. I tried to avoid or go over very lightly critical areas like around the cylinder gap. After that I rubbed a thin layer of mother mag polish and hit it up with the polish wheel on my dremel. I did this about 3 times. I touched up some areas and repolished. It was pretty messy and took some patience. And I used a handful of rags whiping polish off, reapplying etc. I used my dremel for everything. Probably took about 3 hours. I could probably do it quicker if i were to do it over again.
The frame is some sort of aluminum pot metal. The barrel and cylinder are carbon steel. I’m most likely going to apply some clear ceramic coating. The polish and ballistol offer some temporary protection.
That’s true…carbon will rust almost overnight just sitting there. You’ll have to be really vigilant with protectants or keep it in some oiled sleeve if that’s the case.
My experience with polishing is that a dremel spins WAY too fast to get a job done cleanly. You always end up with swirls, scratches, and an uneven surface. I’ve always been more than a little OCD when it comes to the finished product, though…others may be different.
Its not perfect by any means but it doesn’t look bad either. Looks much better than the factory finish. I tried keeping a steady hand and go back and forth in straight lines. And honestly I would never have tried this if it wasn’t a hundred dollar gun. I’m not too worried about the bluing. I have a couple antiques that barely have any bluing at all. Just gotta keep them oiled. If it becomes a problem I can always clear coat or reblue it.
I have a polishing wheel in the garage. I did the exposed part of a 1911 barrel (the ejection port area) years ago. Turned out nice but I never went back for re-polish or touch up. If I remember I’ll ask the guy who has it now if it needs gone over. It was shiny and no rust when I let it go on to someone who could enjoy it more.
Frikkin’ Schweet!
Have one that no longer advances cylinder due to wear. It’s a good looking gun, and is fun to shoot. But the frame and parts didn’t hold up. My wife’s dad gave it to her, used, and we liked it. We never abused it, but her 87 year old dad was a sheriff’s deputy for 35 years and now watches old TV westerns all day long. 
He would hold the trigger down and fan the hammer til all six rounds cycled through for fun. Probably not a good practice for this gun. My said that he had done it every time she ever saw him fire it…
I disassembled it and inspected it. What I would call a ratchet pawl, is what advances the cylinder. It was worn out, and everything was loose (worn out) and that’s not good. The cylinder also no longer aligns properly with the barrel. Before I knew there was a problem, my wife fired it one handed, and it caused powder burns on her hand (and she’s lucky the bullet didn’t fragment from partially impacting the breech end of the barrel.)
I am looking at the Ruger Wrangler for the next .22. It has come down from $200 to about $149 lately. I am not trying to put down the Heritage Rough Rider, but I figure that the Ruger is well made, safer to operate and can be handed down through generations.
Ruger is the way to go for sure if you have that option 
I ended up with the Heritage.
Just curious, how many rounds did you have in it before it went to sh!t? Yeah I would not say these Heritage Rough Riders are built like tanks by any means. I did end up taking the revolver completely apart it was a little tricky putting it back together but once you get the hang of it its pretty simply. I think Heritage sells parts online. The claw that rotates the cylinder may have a chipped tooth or worn/broken spring. If it were mine I’d take it all apart and replace the parts that don’t look kosher and try to fix it. You can also try seeing if heritage will fix it. But if you reserving it as a desk toy I understand. Thats what i do with mine most of the time is use it as a fidget toy at my home office hahaha. Ruger makes good guns so you couldn’t go wrong with a wrangler. I would consider a Single Six as well but they are pricey for a 22. My goal is to step up to a colt clone in 45 eventually. Looking at probably a Uberti. That’s why i liked the rough riders because they are more “colt like”. Like a colt but also not really lol. Just how they operate and look are more similar to colt.
Yeah, ideally I want a Single Six with the .22LR/.22mag conversion, but the stainless ones are roughly $700 give or take and that’s a tough pill to swallow for a .22.
Really pretty wheelgun, though.
Dang you really can’t beat that price. I don’t think I’ve ever seen these for less than $100. I spent $110 which I didn’t think was that bad. Ended up spending another $45 on a 22mag cylinder and a cheap nylon holster. The magnum rounds are a riot. Was hitting steel silhouettes at 100 yards. Its not a tac driver by any means but plenty capable for such a cheap gun.
Yeah if I’m spending that money I’d want a real magnum round, either 357 mag or 45 colt. That being said, the single six just screams quality and durability. Those revolvers are beautiful.
Right!
I couldn’t believe it.
The local had a huge selection also… different designs…I actually purchased 3. One for my son (Dead man’s hand handle) and one for my dad (old style) for Christmas. Mail in rebate took about a month to get back $90! was thinking about another with that LOL.
I have had a .22/.22wmr for a long time. It always goes bang and changing out that Cylinder is just too easy.
I still have the original box. Was not sure I would like it, but it is definitely a joy to shoot. Heritage is now made in GA.
For the price, it is like that ubiquitous .22 rifle, Every household needs one.
Beautiful polish job.
Holy cow y’all. I have a Single Six with both cylinders. Had no idea it was that valuable. I probably got it 30 years ago. I’ll have to find the receipt. It’s around here someplace.
Yeah the Ruger single six goes for like $600. Might find used ones at auction for half as much. Then ruger came out with the Rangler which I believe was to compete with the Heritage Rough Rider. Wrangler is usually around $200/$250 from what I’ve seen.