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.

Based on the legendary western side-by-side, the new Badlander features two 18.5-inch barrels with a more modern, corrosion-resistant black oxide coating, while retaining the simplicity and durability of the old-school design. Between the barrels is a sturdy brass bead sight, clearly visible with your cheek nestled on the Turkish walnut wood stock.

The tang-mounted two-position safety sits within easy reach of most shooters’ thumbs, and the twin triggers mean you can really “give ‘em both barrels” with the new Badlander. The cylinder bore preserves the authentic intent of the shotgun, making it perfect for home defense, cowboy action shooting, or whatever else you might need a side-by-side 12-gauge for.

Specifications:

Caliber: 12 GA
Capacity: 2 rounds
Barrel Finish:
Front Sight: Bead
Safety: Tang
Stock Material: Turkish Walnut
Weight: 6.375 oz.
Barrel Length: 18.5 inchers
Overall Height:
Overall Length: 34.85”
MSRP: $894.99

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61 COMMENTS

    • Agree.

      And that is WAY too much money for a simple side-by-side shotgun with a cylinder bore and short (18.5-inch) barrels.

      (Premium shotgun manufacturers claim to justify their expensive side-by-side shotguns designed for accurate shooting at long distances because it allegedly takes significant effort [e.g. expense] to align BOTH barrels accurately. The specimen of this article is clearly intended for close-range self-defense and superb alignment of both barrels is thus unnecessary along with any claim for extra expense to do so.)

      • That’s what I thought too. I like Heritage 22s, but wouldn’t dream of spending anywhere near $900 for a shotgun made by them.

        These aren’t actually being manufactured by Benelli are they? 🤣

  6. As I was reading the article (although well before finishing), I anticipated that this shotgun would sell for something like $250 and I was really excited to purchase one. Then I saw the $895 MSRP and my desire to purchase one evaporated.

    • “Then I saw the $895 MSRP and my desire to purchase one evaporated.”

      *Completely* evaporated…

  9. Concur, way too much for too little. And, since when is “Taurus®, the world’s foremost manufacturer of firearms”? I mean I like the two Taurus pistols I own but….really?

    • CWT,

      Excellent data point for comparison.

      And I am guessing that Stoeger believes their name justifies such a high price for such a simple shotgun. Hence my earlier comment that I was expecting Heritage–a brand whose identity is all about being inexpensive–would sell their version for around $250.

    • As I recall Stoeger is also make in Turkey (or was it Brazil)

      Was just at Heritage website. Some great Christmas sale prices. I didn’t recall that they had been bought out. Sad when a small business gets gobbled up.

      • Last week Sportsman’s Warehouse had Heritage Rough Riders for $99. We have one of their stores where I live, so shipping and transfer fees weren’t an issue. That’s a pretty good price, so I bought one.

        • They’re just fun little guns. Heritage has so many different grip and cylinder options (different engravings and finishes) on their site now that you can bling them up quite a bit for show.

    • I just bought a Stoeger Deluxe uplander coach gun for less than this, and as far as I can tell, it’s better in every respect: the deluxe version has a nice butt pad and interchangeable chokes (I swapped out the tock MC/IC combo for a FC/MC combo, so it will pattern tighter a little farther out).

  14. $900 for a double-barrel shotgun and it’s not a Parker or L.C. Smith? If you want an economical ‘home defense’ shotgun, go to your local pawn shop and buy an old but reliable J.C. Higgens (Sears&Roebuck), ‘MonkeyWard’ or other cheap pump action shotgun and have a competent person (doesn’t have to be a certified gunsmith) saw the barrel off to 18-20 inches. Chamfer the inside and outside of the muzzle. You won’t need a front sight since it is for ‘home defense’ and using buckshot. Most pump shotguns will hold up to five rounds with the ‘plug’ out. Don’t be concerned with the cosmetics of the gun as long as it is functional. It is a tool, not an art object. Practice with it (as with any gun) so that you are proficient with it and know how to operate it in the dark. Practice with low-power birdshot (trap&skeet) rounds that don’t cost as much as buckshot and are lower recoil. Safety Note: Beware that most older shotguns have a 2.75 inch chamber and will not safely fire 3-inch shotgun shells. You can have a very serviceable ‘home defense’ shotgun with more than a two-round capacity and can save yourself $700.

    • If it hasn’t got a vent rib I use a pipe cutter, it does a better job then a saw.
      Loose, once around, slightly tighter, once around, continue until the barrel falls off. If you dont crank the handle down tight and take your time you wont mess up the bluing either.

      • Good luck finding that in person depending on your region. I think Maine is the closest that I can actually buy one unless we restocked somewhere from last year.

      • That’s what I was going to say too. My Maverick 88 7+1 20″ was $199 on sale.

        Heck, I’ve also picked up a Stevens 320 with both a long and short barrel for $199.

    • +1 on the JC Higgins pump. I learned shotgunning on my grandfathers model 20 deluxe. I cried when it was lost in a house fire, but I was eventually able to find a near identical replacement at an auction so it’s back in the family collection. Heavy gun (all steel and walnut) but has the slickest pump action you can imagine.

  15. I worry Heritage is over-extending themselves. They also just came out with a lever action .22. I think they’re best when they stick with variations on their tried-and-true single action .22 frame.

    • Knowing that Heritage is owned by Taurus, and Rossi is also owned by Taurus, maybe there is some Rossi Heritage cross pollination going on here

  16. Considering what it’s putative use would be, I’d never spend that much on a home defense shotgun, let alone a cheapie Heritage… My Mossberg 500 cost me $200, has a ghost ring sight, holds eight buck or slugs, made in USA, and suits me fine.

    • I’ve got two Heritage revolvers and I’ve never had a single mechanical issue with either. I know that’s a small sample, but I also have a lot of friends who I know from doing a regular cowboy train robbery show. Heritage revolvers are pretty common blank guns among that crew and I’ve only seen one issue — one girl had a frame screw holding the trigger group come loose and she put it back together wrong. It still cocked okay if she tilted the gun a certain way while she cocked it, lol! I don’t know if she ever got that fixed.

      • I’ve owned one for about a decade (and just picked up another for $99 to have one with a shorter barrel). Last year the cylinder hand spring broke on mine. I was able to fix it myself and the part is only $5. For a cheap fun little plinker I can live with that. I’ve heard that the Colts can also have that problem.

        For a cheap plinker the Ruger Wrangler is probably better, but is also a bit more expensive.

        • I’ve got one of those, too (Ruger Wrangler). Nice little revolver. I actually won it in a drawing at my local gun store. It’s the bronze Cerakote version.

  19. Not a bad shotgun. But way too much money for what appears to be a budget gun.
    for the grand in price you could get a better grade of gun. Looking at the pictures it should be in the 5 to 6 hundred dollar range.

  21. I’ve owned one for about a decade (and just picked up another for $99 to have one with a shorter barrel). Last year the cylinder hand spring broke on mine. I was able to fix it myself and the part is only $5. For a cheap fun little plinker I can live with that. I’ve heard that the Colts can also have that problem.

    For a cheap plinker the Ruger Wrangler is probably better, but is also a bit more expensive.

  23. I wouldn’t touch a $99 Heritage because of those god awful safeties. It’s an abomination to have a safety, especially a giant ugly safety, on a single action revolver. I’m definitely not paying $800+ for one of their coach guns and I’ve been looking for a coach gun. They must have gone off their rockers over there.

  24. If they’re making a high-dollar double and calling it a “coach gun,” why doesn’t it have exposed hammers like an authentic Colt 1878, for the reenactors? If this is an imported and rebranded Turkish gun, I wonder if it’s the same one that’s sold under the Stoeger brand name for half the asking prices. The Turkish doubles have a really poor reputation among those who shoot in competition in SASS, too. They’re not much better than the Chinese doubles that were briefly imported, and much more expensive, though at least spare parts are available for them. This is CZ Sharptail coach gun money. Of course, the Sharptail is made in Turkey too, but the QC seems to be quite a bit better and they aren’t assembled out of floor sweepings like the guns they make for Stoeger.

    Also,

    >two-shot breechloader that must be reloaded one at a time
    >”perfect for home defense”

    El oh el. It’s 2024. Breechloading doubles weren’t on the short list of suitable tools in 1924. It’s better than harsh language or a pointy stick, I guess. Consider how many Palmetto State Armory ARs, how many mags, and how much ammo you could get for the grand and change this one will run you after sales tax, shipping, and transfer fees.

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