Revolvers, Reliability, and the Heritage Roscoe

A throwback revolver designed in the spirit of the gumshoe snubbie, the Heritage Roscoe .38 Special is a modern revolver with classical appeal

by Bob Campbell

The three Rs — reading, writing, and ’rithmetic — were important basics when I began attending school. Today, as an instructor, I focus on different basics. Trigger, front sight, and grip — the skill set that must come together to accomplish goals important to personal defense.

One of the important tools of personal defense is the revolver. The snubnose .38 is a solid choice for many shooters. The snub .38 was one of the first handguns I was familiar with. Growing up, I was interested in firearms and learned a lot about safety. I don’t recall handling a firearm until after I had a few lessons in safety, although most of my family owned guns. My father and each grandfather owned .38s. As a peace officer and firearms student, I learned that many women made the choice of a snubnose .38 for personal defense. They often placed the revolver under their pillow at night. It gave these women, many of them living alone, a real sense of security. I could fill both hands with cases of women who have been awoken by an intruder at the foot of the bed or in the bed before they were aware. A fast-handling handgun that doesn’t require a safety to be manipulated, a slide pulled back, or a complicated manual of arms studied is a good choice for close-range defense. The revolver may be thrust into the adversary’s body and the trigger pulled again and again without the chance of a jam. An automatic would jam after the first shot if the slide were pressed out of battery.

Revolvers, Reliability, And The Heritage Roscoe — The author doesn’t use an Underwood typewriter and prefers modern gear, but he still writes at a leather-topped mahogany desk. The oscillating fan has a nice click-click sound. The Heritage Roscoe fits in well.

So, these folks were smart. Most shop keepers kept a snub .38 under the counter or in the back pocket. The snub .38 was a standard cop’s off duty gun. Many plainclothes officers carried a snub .38 and the Roscoe rode in an ankle holster as well. In film noir and pulp fiction, the hard-boiled PI, with his archetypical wrecked personal life and having been drummed off the department, carried a snub .38. It may be called a “gat” or a “piece” but Roscoe is a nickname that stuck.

The snubnose .38 is still carried by many shooters and probably more keep the Roscoe on hand as a house gun than as a hip pocket gun these days. The close-range advantages are many. Civilians tend to let a threat get too close. The snubnose revolver offers plenty of leverage if you keep a firm grip on the handle. A 1 7/8-inch barrel doesn’t give the gun grabber much leverage to wrest the piece away. Another advantage: the revolver is the simplest of firearms to check to see if it is loaded. Press a latch and swing the cylinder out of the frame. The manual of arms is simple: load and fire. With this in mind, I have recently broken-in a new revolver that is named for those pulp fiction gats. I’m talking about Heritage Manufacturing’s Heritage Roscoe .38 Special.

Heritage is owned by Taurus USA. As may be expected, the Heritage Roscoe is similar to the proven Taurus 85 revolver. This is a five-shot .38 Special double-action/single-action revolver with a two-inch barrel. The action is smooth in double-action mode. The hammer may be cocked for a crisp let off. While double-action fire should be used in personal defense, a quality snub .38 is a neat trick to take care of reptiles and rodents if necessary. Cock the hammer for a more precise shot. The Roscoe’s finish is a nice deep blue. The revolver features a ramp front sight and a wide groove fixed rear sight. These sights are fast to use. For most of us, raising the front sight just slightly for greater visibility works well. Take aim with the front sight held a little high aimed for the belt buckle region and shots will fall into the torso. That is the original nitty gritty fast shooting.

Another nice touch is the checkered wood grips. They fill the hand well and offer a good gripping surface. Close examination shows the Roscoe differs from some revolvers in particulars. The Roscoe ejector rod doesn’t lock up at the barrel but rather features a plunger type lock in the crane. The Roscoe features a transfer bar ignition system. A bar is situated between the hammer and the frame-mounted firing pin. This revolver cannot possibly fire if dropped. As the trigger is pressed, the action bar rises and takes a position between the firing pin and the hammer. The hammer falls and smacks the bar, which contacts the firing pin. Immediately upon releasing the trigger, the transfer bar moves to its original safe position. There is no handgun more drop-proof. The Roscoe is an all-steel revolver weighing 21 ounces. It is light enough for constant carry but heavy enough to absorb .38 Special recoil.

Prior to firing the Roscoe, I performed two chores. First, I cleaned packing grease from the action. Next, with a triple checked unloaded Roscoe, I engaged in a few dozen cycles of dry fire (aiming for a solid backstop). The double-action trigger pull weight exceeds my RCBS scale but it seems to break at a smooth 13 pounds. The single-action trigger is measurable at 3 lbs., 1 oz. The best means of firing a double-action revolver with accuracy is to pull the action straight through until the hammer drops. As the revolver recoils, allow the trigger to reset and get back on target. All that matters is that the front sight is on the target as the revolver fires.

At the firing range, I set up a man-sized target at 5 yards. That is a reasonable distance to test accuracy considering the house gun or back-up role the Roscoe is intended to fill. I began with Fiocchi’s 158-grain FMJ. While most FMJ loads are 130 grains, the Fiocchi loading allows practice with a load similar in weight to many service loads. I fired slowly at first, getting the measure of the Roscoe’s recoil. The 158-grain load landed a couple of inches above the point of aim. I sped up firing double-action. I fired as quickly as I could regain the sight picture and fire again. Results were good, with hits tightly spaced together. I also fired some of my 158-grain RNL handloads. They are reliable and accurate but noticeably smoky as bullet lubricant was burned off the projectile.

Stretching to 7 yards, the revolver continued to show good results. I fired a few groups at 10 yards. While the revolver will make center hits at this range or a little beyond, it is up to the skill of the shooter in manipulating the trigger and lining up the sights. Ten yards is a practical maximum for this type of handgun.

After firing a few handloads along with a box of Fiocchi range loads, I proofed the revolver with defense loads. First came the Fiocchi 125-grain JHP. This load isn’t difficult to control in double-action pairs. Point of aim and impact coincide nicely at 10 yards. This load offers a good balance of expansion and penetration. A heavier load suitable for trail use where animal defense may be a concern is the Fiocchi 110-grain JHP +P. This lighter bullet is more tightly constructed and offers more penetration. While there is some snap in recoil, the load is controllable in the steel frame.

Read more here about Fiocchi’s EDC loads.

The revolver turned in good results in fast combat shooting and proved as capable as any snub .38 at close range. I settled into the MTM Case-Gard K-Zone shooting rest to test accuracy at 10 yards, firing single-action. I fired the two Fiocchi defense loads. Firing to the point of aim, each turned in a two-inch group — acceptable for the intended role.

Carrying the Roscoe

An inside-the-waistband holster offers good concealment. Most of the frame is concealed between the pants and the body, with only the handle and hammer exposed. This makes for easy concealment with only a light covering garment. A light .38 doesn’t offer much bearing surface for retention, so be certain to choose a quality holster with a good balance of speed and retention.

The Galco Summer Comfort is a good fit. The Galco features dual belt loops that cinch up tight and a reinforced holstering welt. This holster mouth doesn’t collapse when the handgun is drawn and allows easy re-holstering. I also tested the Galco Ankle Glove. I don’t carry a primary arm in an ankle holster, but the ankle holster is the classic back-up carry. If bowled over on your back or driving a vehicle, the ankle holster is accessible. It just may be a lifesaver. The Ankle Glove is as comfortable as possible and offers good retention.

What I Like

Reliability is a given. Fit and finish are good, the trigger action is smooth, and the sights are well regulated for defense loads.

What I Don’t Like

The grips are not the most comfortable, but they are far from the worst. They are fine for concealed carry, attractive, and fit the Roscoe legend to a T.

What I Would Change

We need a bobbed hammer version.

Compare To

The Roscoe compares favorably to any revolver. It is a modified Taurus 85 with a better finish than most — no surprise there. It is at least comparable to Smith & Wesson or Charter Arms. The Roscoe doesn’t have a trigger locking mechanism, which is a device I despise. The revolvers that may shoot a little easier are also heavier or more expensive. The Heritage Roscoe is in a good place.