Heritage Badlander: A Western Classic

Nothing sparks the imagination of traditional Americana than Westerns. While their heyday permeated in the latter half of the 20^th Century, they remain relevant today. So much so that shooting sports devotes entire organizations to reliving the Wild West. While the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) and Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA) are the first to come to mind, many people collect and enjoy the firearms that made America. Unfortunately, it is rare to see modern renditions of these classics made by American hands. Most are imported from places like Italy, Japan, Turkey, or Brazil. Now, most of these are fine representations—it’s more the idea that something so uniquely American and highly desirable is not made here.

One such firearm is the quintessential Coach Gun. A Coach Gun is any number of side-by-side (SXS) shotguns used in the defense of traveling coaches (hence the phrase “riding shotgun”). While hunting versions were fine, they proved to be a bit cumbersome in close confines. Naturally, many “sawed” off the barrels to shorten the overall length. Today, this idea exists in popular media through films such as Unforgiven or Appaloosa and Tombstone as well as in video games such as Red Dead Redemption. Outside of media, many gun owners and “Cowboy Enthusiasts” gravitate towards these firearms for collecting, competition, or even home defense. The only issue, there aren’t many options, and of those options, none are made here. Enter Heritage MFG.

Heritage MFG Badlander

Heritage MFG of Bainbridge, GA is no stranger to Western classics. The company has a long-standing reputation for making 22 rimfire versions of the classic Colt Peacemaker. The best part is their affordability—usually under $200 for many of their models. Recently, they’ve jumped into the Lever Action game with several rimfire models. But in a surprising move, Heritage announced the addition of the Badlander to their catalog:

“Street Howitzer. Scattergun. Coach gun. All of these are synonymous with the iconic shotgun of the Old West: the 12-gauge side-by-side. Now, you can experience what it would have felt like to fire two barrels of buckshot with the new Heritage Badlander.”

From looks alone, the Badlander seems to be the answer for all those wanting the classic coach gun from an American Company. The gun is simple but relies heavily on modern manufacturing and materials. For instance, the barrels are coated with a corrosion-resistant black oxide as compared to the dated bluing process. The twin barrels are cut back to the shortest legal limit, 18.5”, and given a solid brass bead sight affixed between them. The stock is dark walnut finished, giving the gun a sleek but practical look. There is a two-position tang-mounted safety that is well-positioned, and the gun was given two triggers. The twin-trigger design offers redundancy in the case of failure and the ability to fire off both barrels at once.

Final Thoughts

There is a definite marketplace for the Badlander for both collectors and shooters. Whether it is the most practical defensive arm is another argument, however, its representation of the American West cannot be denied. The only issue is the price, $894.99. While the street price may be less, that’s still steep compared to its foreign competition. Heritage is banking that its reputation and the quality of the gun will be reason enough for the higher price. The Badlander will be hitting dealer shelves shortly.