TESTED: Heritage Badlander Nickel Double-Barrel

Our contributor “gets her Western on” with the new Badlander Nickel double-barrel from Heritage Manufacturing

by Barb Melloni

I don’t know about you, but looking back on my younger years, I have many fond memories of watching Western classics on TV with my family. After positioning the antenna just right so the picture was nice and clear, we’d grab our favorite snacks and gather for an evening of entertainment. Our eyes were glued to the screen as we watched the Cartwright family drama unfold on Bonanza, Marshal Matt Dillon lay down the law in Gunsmoke, or the escapades of famous outlaws such as Billy the Kid and Jesse James.

Fast forward to the 21st century, and the simplicities and qualities of the days gone by are relegated to memories, but memories brought back to life with the release of a new shotgun within the Badlander lineup — this one with an extra dash of flair.

Heritage Manufacturing introduced its Badlander lineup in 2023. This initial collection of double-barreled side-by-sides all sported a classic, understated black oxide finish. Looking to spice things up a bit, Heritage launched their new nickel-finished Badlander in spring of 2025.

Functional Aesthetics

When we received this shotgun for review, the first thing to stand out, of course, was the new nickel finish adorning the barrel set, as well as the receiver, trigger, trigger guard, safety, and top lever. Especially welcome is that Heritage opted for more of a matte nickel finish, which, in my opinion, elevates the shotgun instead of cheapening the appeal with a super-slick chrome-like finish. The nickel finish is also corrosion-resistant, staving off the destructive effects that moisture can have on any metal. The guts of this gun all sit securely within a Turkish walnut stock with just the right amount of checkering along the grip and forend.

In modern-day coach style, the Badlander nickel sports a set of 18.5-inch cylinder bore barrels. Opting for a cylinder bore format over a more constrictive choke allows for the shot to spread into the widest pattern as quickly as possible. This is especially ideal for close-range encounters while hunting small game in dense brush, defending your home, or defending a stagecoach after somehow managing to time-travel back to the late 1800s.

Atop the business end of these two barrels sits small brass-bead front sights.

Operation

Working our way back down the gun, we come to the action. Just like the barrels, the action and all the smaller essentials surrounding it feature the same nickel finish. The tang-mounted slide safety is easy to manipulate and allows for a clear visual as to whether the gun is on safe or is ready to fire.

Just forward of the safety is the top lever, which, when slid to the right, allows you to break open the gun. Being that my sample was brand-spanking new, breaking it open took a little effort. I fully expect that to ease up a bit after ample time on the range.

This new iteration of the Badlander is currently available in 12-gauge and accepts up to 3-inch shotshells.

When it comes time to send shot flying, the Badlander offers two separate triggers. The front trigger is set just slightly right of the rear trigger, mirroring the configuration of the barrels. Pressing the front trigger will fire the barrel on the right, with the left barrel actuated by pressing the rear trigger.

Range Time

Having had enough of simply admiring this double-barreled beauty, it was time to hit the range.

While I can appreciate the multitude of uses of this side-by-side, I couldn’t help but lean towards using it in the woods. It wasn’t long before I found myself daydreaming about how I could strap it to our Kawasaki Mule and make it the UTV version of a truck gun. On that note, it would fit nicely behind the bench seats of our old F-150, but I digress. With nothing in season, I decided to shoot some clays.

I opted for a pairing of tried-and-true shotshells from Remington and Federal. From Remington, we selected their Premier STS #8 Light Target 12-gauge shells. These rounds are marketed as producing slightly less felt recoil, which is always welcome when expecting an afternoon at the range. From Federal, we opted for their Top Gun #8 12-gauge. While flying slightly faster than what we selected from Big Green, the difference in felt recoil proved negligible. With a difference in cost of around $2, give or take, I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase either one or would simply go with what was most readily available.

Rounds fed easily into each of the Badlander’s chambers, and the firing process went off without a hitch. Swinging to my target was effortless as I moved quickly from a low-ready position to my dominant eye. While shooting clays is typically done with a barrel length far exceeding that of the Badlander’s, you can get the job done with less.

For those considering using this shotgun for hunting or home defense, its compact build allows it to be highly maneuverable in tight quarters or dense brush without having to worry about getting snagged along the way.

Having run dry, out of habit, I began to angle the gun towards my right to avoid getting smacked by a pair of smoking hulls, but stopped myself, remembering that this was not necessary. When designing the Badlander series, Heritage opted to forgo ejectors and go with a simple one-piece extractor instead. Upon opening, each of the 12-gauge shells were raised up just enough to pluck out and swap in a fresh pair. Ejectors are great, and while it’s fun trying to eject spent shells into a nearby garbage can, having control of where the hulls end up makes cleanup a breeze.

From the stagecoaches of yesteryear to modern-day, the newest Badlander to join Heritage’s ever-growing lineup of guns truly embodies the spirit of the wild West. Don’t let the new nickel finish fool you, as this 12-gauge is no safe queen. It is a simple, unassuming workhorse of a gun built to get the job done and look good doing it.

Heritage Badlander Nickel Specifications

Caliber: 12-gauge
Front Sight: bead
Action Type: break-open
Capacity: 2 rounds
Barrel Length: 18.50 in.
Overall Height: 7.10 in.
Overall Weight: 102.40 oz. (unloaded)
Overall Length: 34.85 in.
Overall Width: 2.26 in.
Frame Material: alloy steel
Barrel Material: alloy steel
Stock Material: Turkish walnut
Frame Finish: nickel
Safety: slide, tang safety
Barrel Finish: nickel
MSRP: $939.39

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Barb Melloni

Barb Melloni was born and raised in rural Indiana, where her passion for guns, hunting, and anything outdoors is rooted. If she is not afield with her coonhound Browning hunting small game or tucked away in a deer blind, you are likely to find Barb instructing a variety of courses as co-owner of Renaissance Firearms Instruction in New York with her husband Frank. While not working, you can find her with a nice cigar on a sporting clays course, relaxing with a backstrap in the smoker or enjoying a bit of long-range shooting alongside friends.