Double-Barrel Defense and the Heritage Badlander

The Heritage Badlander, chambered in 20 gauge, is the heartbeat of the selfsame series, coming to you from the best name in Western boom-sticks. Its double 18.5-inch barrels create a timeless profile of versatility, attitude and red-blooded grit. When gunslingers talk and matchstick civilians quake in nearby awe, it’s the double-trigger barmen and coach drivers that put the final punctuation at the end of the discussion.

Individual experiences may vary, but few would argue with the non-surgical precision of a Badlander cocked with a couple shells of either buck or bird. On behalf of the people’s voices: Heritage, we salute you.

A Timeless Ode to the West

The coach gun served as a protective piece for carriers abroad whether transporting mail, people or supplies. Suitable as a “scrub gun” hunting piece for targets of opportunity, the sawed-off retained the power of a conventional shotgun with the customized, and now classic, attribute of shorter barrels.

Double-Trigger Love

As familiar as a male’s thoughts on the fall of the Roman Empire, the Badlander’s trait double-trigger connection to the conspicuous side-by-side double barrel is – in the words of Mrs. Potts – a tale as old as time.

With the same veracious inquiry of “but why 2 barrels?” we can answer in kind with “why not?” Need a problem resolved with a follow-up barrel if the message isn’t received the first go-around? Look no further. Whether through the craft of hunting or defensive protection, the retort of the Heritage Badlander can satisfy as both a casualty-producing opener or a fantastic denouement.

Comfort and Appearance

When I first cracked the break-open action and stretched my cookie-eating arm out to give the Badlander a formal gander, my eyes were immediately drawn to the darkly stained walnut stock and foregrip. It shot me back to the copious amounts of linseed oil and wax that might have been used to protect and age such heirloom pieces.

The black-chromed barrels themselves are a welcomed update. What I appreciate most about this, as a soldier of the 21st Century, is that I can be rough-and-tumble without a lingering concern for a traditionally blued piece. On the way to the range, I didn’t hesitate to toss the Badlander into the back seat nor employ her around dead brush and scratchy spring growth. Macbeth would be proud there were no rubs nor botches in the work.

Whether it was the family shotgun that innocently rested in numerous room corners or it was the professionally employed sawed-off, dinged and marred through the eras, the Badlander speaks of times come and gone.

The shoulder pad tucks beautifully and if the double-trigger and single brass sight aren’t practically familiar at first glance, a few rounds sent downrange will remind any shooter that their hands are also those of their ancestors.

Plato said that “all knowledge is remembering” and as soon as I began bracketing paper targets, boxes and sheet metal with an initial barrel and a quick follow through, my hands began to remember what my forefathers and mothers had already carved a life with.

The Tactical High-Ground

Allusory retrospection aside, there is the question of modern tactical application. Undeniably limited by two 20-gauge shells preceding a deliberate reload, what I find compelling about the double-trigger is the speed at which each can be deployed.

As opposed to the clunkiness of a pump-action where target reacquisition can be hindered or lost after the subsequent chambering, the leading hand on a Heritage Badlander can remain in position as it merely waits for the fall of the trigger finger back to the rear trigger. It won’t escape the shooter that two options remain after both shells are expended: it’s either a deliberate reload or a swift transition to a secondary firearm.

The warfighters of today and wagon drivers of the past share the same appreciation for single-arm gun manipulation. This enables the user to free up a working hand while maintaining static or mobile security. Danger comes in many different forms, uniform styles and trends but the principle of thwarting these threats through multitasking is as important today as it was a century before.

Left-Handed Versatility (The Southpaw Saga Continues)

While a right-hand dominant firearm is not a manipulative dealbreaker, the balanced construction of the break-open action and lever-actions make cycling through shells and bullets easier and more enjoyable. The Heritage Badlander’s break-action release is seated atop the shotgun for ambidextrous use. This concept is not dissimilar to the lever-action lever seated directly underneath the firing hand for quick and versatile use.

As opposed to the firing hand of a lever-action dropping down and forward, either firing-hand thumb on the Badlander can sweep into a push or pull position for the reload. There’s not a complete crossover around the action or a need for awkward finger manipulation as there would be on a typical bolt-action or AR-15-style rifle.

Is and Is Not

The Heritage Badlander’s obvious allusion to the utility of a sawed-off speaks to the timeless force of a shotgun mixed with the maneuverability of a shorter barrel. This is a statement piece fit for home defense and vehicle defense. But, considering the amount of time that it takes to reload this handsome piece, she is – in this writer’s humble opinion – a great precursor to transitioning to an alternate firearm or sidearm.

The Heritage Badlander is fun, sturdy, powerful and is an everlasting testament to the tools that helped shape the American landscape.

MSRP: $893.99

About the Author

Ian Richardson is a devoted father, husband and English teacher in Missouri. He was an infantryman in the U.S. Army and remains a staunch advocate for gun rights and outdoor pursuits.

As an English teacher, Ian has a love for tying in literature to real-world situations and passions, often incorporating his own experiences as a father and husband to enrich old stories.

Ian enjoys the company of his wife and 3 young children and enjoys the prospect of passing on a deep understanding of nature, marksmanship and the craft of hunting.

Ian shapes and edits the Project ChildSafe contract at “Women’s Outdoor News,” has written for “Shooting Illustrated” and has done content creation for many firearm and outdoor-focused companies.