Charter Arms Pathfinder .22: The Kit Gun Nobody Talks About

A .22 revolver you can carry all day without caring about it is a better idea than it sounds. The Pathfinder is built for that role, and so, from the other direction, is the Heritage Rough Rider.

What a kit gun is for

The term comes from the old habit of packing a small, light revolver in a tackle box or camp kit. It was not a primary tool for anything. It was the gun you brought because it weighed little, cost little to feed and could deal with the small problems of a day outdoors: a can to shoot at while the coffee boiled, a snake or a rabbit where the law allows it, a way to teach a kid to shoot on a quiet afternoon.

The Charter Arms Pathfinder .22 fits the idea. Retail listings describe a stainless six-shot .22 LR with a 4.20-inch barrel. Add the fact that rimfire ammunition is gentle on the shoulder and the wallet, and you have the elements of a trail gun that does not demand reverence.

Why 4.2 inches is a good number

A 4-inch-class barrel is a quiet sweet spot for a .22 revolver. It is long enough to give a respectable sight radius and a bit of muzzle weight, and short enough that the gun does not catch on every branch. For a hiking or fishing companion, that is the difference between something you carry all day and something that stays in the truck.

We covered the broader argument for owning a rimfire revolver in every shooter needs a .22 revolver and the trainer angle in our best .22 LR trainer revolvers. This page is the model-specific look.

What to expect from the trigger

A double-action rimfire is not a double-action centerfire in a smaller case. Rimfire cartridges ignite when the firing pin crushes the rim against the edge of the chamber, and that tends to require a stout hammer blow. On a revolver, the stronger the main spring, the heavier the double-action pull.

What that means in practice:

• Expect a heavier pull than your centerfire revolvers if the Pathfinder uses a similar-sized action. This is a feature of the design, not a defect.
• Single-action will be easier. Cock the hammer for deliberate shots at a target, and use double-action for speed or practice.
• Do not lighten springs to chase a nicer pull. Light springs can cause light strikes and failures to fire with rimfire ammunition. Our action work guide explains what helps and what hurts.
• Practice builds the trigger finger. A rimfire revolver with a firm trigger is, if you accept it, a good trainer for centerfire double-action work.

The rimfire quirks worth knowing

Rimfires are lovely to shoot and a little fussy to own. A few truths about them:

1. Fouling builds quickly. .22 LR ammunition leaves a good deal of residue, so the cylinder and barrel need regular cleaning. Our cleaning routine works as a template.
2. Dry-firing can hurt. Many rimfire firearms can be damaged if the firing pin strikes the edge of an empty chamber. Check the manual and use snap caps if the manufacturer allows dry-fire practice.
3. Ammunition varies. Cheap bulk ammunition and premium rounds can behave differently in the same gun. Try a few brands and keep what works.
4. Do not assume .22 Magnum is safe. .22 LR and .22 WMR look similar but are not interchangeable. See our .22 LR vs .22 WMR piece for the details, and fire only what the gun's markings allow.

The Rough Rider alternative

If a double-action trigger is not your thing, the Heritage Rough Rider .22 LR is the traditional alternative. It is a single-action revolver in the cowboy mold: you cock the hammer for each shot, load and unload through a loading gate, and enjoy the slower, more deliberate rhythm. The retailer listing shows a six-shot cylinder and a barrel of about 6.5 inches.

If you choose the Rough Rider, read our single-action loading rule before the first session; single-action revolvers have a loading routine that differs from swing-out guns.

The honest limits

A kit gun is not a precision tool, and a working-class rimfire revolver is not going to match a target pistol on a bench. You will give up some sight quality and trigger refinement. What you gain is a gun that does not make you nervous when it gets wet, dirty or dropped in a tackle box.

You also give up some range-time economy if you do not commit to cleaning. Rimfire revolvers that go uncleaned drift into frustrating territory: dirty chambers, sticky cases and an unwillingness to eject the way they should. Maintenance is the price of entry.

For a broader sense of where the Pathfinder and Rough Rider sit in the pistol world, see the network's best .22 pistols by role.

Who should pick which

Pick the Pathfinder if:

• You want a double-action revolver for fast handling, hiking and teaching double-action technique.
• You like the idea of a stainless rimfire you can carry and clean without fuss.
• You prefer a swing-out cylinder and the familiar speedloader-style routine.

Pick the Rough Rider if:

• You like the cowboy-style feel and the deliberate single-action rhythm.
• You want a longer barrel for easier sight alignment.
• You enjoy the process of loading one chamber at a time.

Skip both if you need a precision rimfire trainer for formal target work. A dedicated rimfire target pistol or a higher-grade revolver will do that job better.

Verdict

The Pathfinder is a kit gun in the older, humbler sense. It does not try to be impressive, and its job is to be there when you want something that shoots cheaply and weighs little. If you can live with a firm trigger and take cleaning seriously, it is a quiet success. The Rough Rider is the other flavor of the same idea. Choose the one whose action you would enjoy using, because the best rimfire revolver is the one that gets shot.

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications and publicly available information. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and legality for your own situation.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links to Ammunition Depot. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial choices are not influenced by commissions. Check current price, stock and specifications directly with the retailer.