Sometimes, you just want to feel like a cowboy. For some, that means some kind of lever-action rifle or single-action revolver. For me, it means I’m grabbing a street howitzer—aka a shotgun. Heritage, a long-time budget brand producing Cowboy awesomeness, has introduced the Badlander. In 2025, they are giving us a shiny option with a stainless finish.
There is some unexplainable X-Factor when it comes to a stainless steel double-barrel room broom with wood furniture. It scratches an itch I didn’t know I had. The Heritage Badlander is a traditional box lock shotgun with two barrels and two triggers, daring you to make its day.
The classic coach gun layout brings you back to the days of Wells Fargo or, in my case, Doc Holliday at the OK Corral. Opening the actions and seeing those two massive bores staring back at you never gets old.
The Badlander gives you short 18.5-inch barrels that make it easy to whip around and control. A gold bead draws the eye and allows you to see the sight while focusing on the target, which is exactly what you want to do with a shotgun.
Shooting the Badlander
I sent a sizable amount of birdshot downrange at our recent Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous. I peppered steel targets over and over and felt happy I was shooting OPA (Other people’s ammo). Recoil is stiff, as you’d expect, but manageable. The checkering on the stock and forend allows you to dig in and get a solid grip for a good push/pull.
Honestly, the checkering is already beyond budget-worthy. However, the wood finish is fantastic and complements the stainless finish. Overall, the gun has an excellent look and feel.
The Badlander has a simple cylinder bore design that you’d expect from a coach gun. It aims to arm the wannabe cowboy and seems to offer an affordable option for SASS. Like any shotgun, you could throw it in any role, and it would succeed well enough.
Keep an eye out; we hope to get one in for more long-term testing.
