Ruger Wrangler

TJm15.38 · Apr 6, 2023

Back in August of 2019 I went to a big Ruger sale at the large local gun store and bought a Ruger Blackhawk Flat Top .44 Special. After I made that transaction, I saw this little Ruger Wrangler and had to have it too. Thought I wouldn't like the Cerakote on a sixgun, but it kind of grows on you. This one is sporting premium walnut grips by Altamont.

Goony · Apr 6, 2023

I bought (at a very reasonable price) these rosewood grips for my Wrangler directly off Ruger's website. I believe they're probably also actually made by Altamont. It's an easy way to dress up an otherwise rather plain gun. Best of all, they match up to the grip frame precisely, with no fitting required.

TJm15.38 · Apr 6, 2023

Goony said:
I bought (at a very reasonable price) these rosewood grips for my Wrangler directly off Ruger's website. I believe they're probably also actually made by Altamont. It's an easy way to dress up an otherwise rather plain gun. Best of all, they match up to the grip frame precisely, with no fitting required.

Nice one!

Altamont makes great stuff for Ruger, Colt and Smith and Wesson.

jeffrefrig · Apr 6, 2023

I'm curious: are the Wranglers as accurate as the Heritage 22s? I put six shots in the head of a target last week with my Barkeep with 22 Mag cylinder, 15 yards.
Ruger has a lot of nice stuff in their online store. Hard to find good stuff for the S&Ws, but I got 2 sets of Altamonts for the M27-9 and something as simple as stocks can make almost any firearm classy-looking. And they fit. Both of those pics above prove that! Ruger store is great at Christmas time or birthdays, too. I think a Wrangler may wander into my pile of handguns.

GypsmJim · Apr 6, 2023

Soon after they were introduced I saw an online dealer had several pairs of consecutive numbered Wranglers. They sold at a $20 premium over a single gun ($220 at the time). Soon after I received them I found an empty silverware case at a garage sale for 10 bucks. A little refinishing and I have a presentation case.

I alternate shooting them so they have a similar round count. They may not be as fancy as a Single Six, but they shoot extremely well.

18robert · Apr 6, 2023

I JUST ORDERED ONE OF THE NEW SUPER WRANGLERS. I GUESS I'LL SEE HOW THEY COMPARE TO A SINGLE SIX.

GypsmJim · Apr 6, 2023

18robert said:
I JUST ORDERED ONE OF THE NEW SUPER WRANGLERS. I GUESS I'LL SEE HOW THEY COMPARE TO A SINGLE SIX.

Looks like the only difference is barrel length and a mag cylinder.

They don't look as refined as a SS, but it still feels like a quality gun in your hand. I personally didn't see a difference in accuracy vs. my 2 SSs.

Nevertheless, at its price point it can't be beat. I've never shot a Heritage, but I have handled one, and IMHO it feels like a cheap gun.

Goony · Apr 6, 2023

I've never shot a Heritage, but I have handled one, and IMHO it feels like a cheap gun.

Well, they are cheap, as in inexpensive, sometimes on sale at that magical $99 price point. That said, shooting reviews more often than not cite their accuracy as on a par with, or even superior to, some much pricier single action .22's. They certainly do have some internal parts that can fail, but replacements are also cheap and generally drop in without any fuss. As an aside, many folks may not know it, but for over a decade now, Heritage has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Taurus.

I have an older one that came with way prettier wood grips than you'd have any right to expect.

Papa Lee · Apr 6, 2023

I picked up this Wrangler recently and put these grips on it to spruce it up. It shoots better than my old 1959 Single-Six! I will keep it. The only thing I don't like is the loading gate.

Erich · Apr 6, 2023

jeffrefrig said:
I'm curious: are the Wranglers as accurate as the Heritage 22s? I put six shots in the head of a target last week with my Barkeep with 22 Mag cylinder, 15 yards.
Ruger has a lot of nice stuff in their online store. Hard to find good stuff for the S&Ws, but I got 2 sets of Altamonts for the M27-9 and something as simple as stocks can make almost any firearm classy-looking. And they fit. Both of those pics above prove that! Ruger store is great at Christmas time or birthdays, too. I think a Wrangler may wander into my pile of handguns.

My birdshead Wrangler is slightly more accurate than my birdshead Heritage. Neither is a target gun.

GypsmJim · Apr 6, 2023

Goony said:
Well, they are cheap, as in inexpensive, sometimes on sale at that magical $99 price point. That said, shooting reviews more often than not cite their accuracy as on a par with, or even superior to, some much pricier single action .22's. They certainly do have some internal parts that can fail, but replacements are also cheap and generally drop in without any fuss. As an aside, many folks may not know it, but for over a decade now, Heritage has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Taurus.

I have an older one that came with way prettier wood grips than you'd have any right to expect.

I don't dispute accuracy, because I never fired one. It's just that in my hand it didn't feel right. Since they are made in the USA I would support them.

My first 4 handguns were Rugers. My last 4 handguns were Rugers. The 30 or so in between were S&Ws. When I'm in the market for a new one, those are the only 2 manufacturer's I look at.

One Taurus over the years - a model 85. I traded it for a Model 36 a few years later. There was no comparison.

tmd17 · Apr 6, 2023

GypsmJim said:
.... Soon after I received them I found an empty silverware case at a garage sale for 10 bucks. A little refinishing and I have a presentation case....

I have refinished over a dozen such cases for the same reason Jim. They make excellent gifts for special occasions. I have even had a local guy with a laser engraver burn designs into the tops.

BSA1 · Apr 6, 2023

I have Wranglers in Burnt Bronze and Olive Drab Green. The ODG has accidentally become the companion of a AR-15 I built and painted ODG. Their colors actually are a close match.

Last December I brought a Birdshead grip Wrangler in silver. Even with it’s small grip and short barrel it is my favorite one. It stays in a backpack and goes with me every range trip. I keep ammunition in some large medicine bottles I toss in the bag. (Relax fair Liberal. The bottles have childproof caps). I have not benched rested it for accuracy testing. I just have fun plinking with it while thinking of Doc Holiday.

I am disappointed that Ruger didn’t design it for a .22 Magnum cylinder though.

alwslate · Apr 7, 2023

Goony said:
I bought (at a very reasonable price) these rosewood grips for my Wrangler directly off Ruger's website. I believe they're probably also actually made by Altamont. It's an easy way to dress up an otherwise rather plain gun. Best of all, they match up to the grip frame precisely, with no fitting required.

I thought I might buy a Wrangler. After I got the first one, black, I went back to RK where they are usually on sale and also bought the silver and bronze. Great guns for the money in my opinion

I like the looks of your grips and just checked Ruger's website to order a pair, sold out

Mike SC Hunter · Apr 7, 2023

TJm15.38 said:
Back in August of 2019 I went to a big Ruger sale at the large local gun store and bought a Ruger Blackhawk Flat Top .44 Special. After I made that transaction, I saw this little Ruger Wrangler and had to have it too. Thought I wouldn't like the Cerakote on a sixgun, but it kind of grows on you. This one is sporting premium walnut grips by Altamont.

Do your grips fit the frame at the bottom and top?.........Most after market grips don't. I'm looking for a pair that does.

TJm15.38 · Apr 7, 2023

Mike said:
Do your grips fit the frame at the bottom and top?.........Most after market grips don't. I'm looking for a pair that does.

Trust me; the Altamont grips will fit your handgun nicely as long as you specify the correct model. I have bought Altamont grips for several S&W and Ruger handguns, and they have all been first rate, beautiful grips with a precise fit.

TIMETRIPPER · Apr 9, 2023

I bought a new Wrangler last summer. Silver with a black cylinder. Was looking for a used Single Six but a new Wrangler is half the price. Have no complaints and it is every bit as accurate as any Single Six I've owned or had the pleasure to shoot.
Before buying I did some hard looking at the Heritage models but decided to splurge the extra $50 on the Wrangler as it has the transfer bar safety and looks better.
I've read that the stocks are the same size as those on the Single Six. Standard Blackhawk grips will not interchange because of the grip screw location.

John

Goony · Apr 9, 2023

It's interesting how the Wrangler is being marketed right now. Ruger is finishing them in numerous colors and making each available from a specific distributor. For example, here's the Davidson's version: Sweet As a Plum - Davidson's Exclusive Ruger WranglerThe Firearm Blog And here's an article on all the various hues Ruger's been churning out: Wrangle The Rainbow - American Handgunner

TALO offers a special Wrangler with wood grips and a holster: NEW TALO Distributor Exclusive Ruger Wrangler 22 Long Rifle

I can see in coming years a new generation striving to assemble a complete collection of all these Wrangler variants....

GeoJelly · Apr 9, 2023

Don't have a picture, but I picked up one of the Birdshead Wranglers last year. It's the only .22 revo (just a few) that I have that won't pass my range rod test. That said, it shoots just fine with no evidence of lead shaving. I've seen, prolly over on Ruger Forum, that Ruger will send another cylinder if you call and complain about it. It hangs, upside down, just above the inside door frame of a little linen closet in the ... ahem ... primary bathroom. I drilled a hole up there and glued in a wooden dowel for it to hang from. I'm already well past my Best Used By date, but when I pass the actual expiration date I guess some cleaning person might find it and go into a tizzy.

Finally had a chance to upload a picture. Needless to say, these are prolly the best $200-ish you can drop on a firearm nowadays. Factory panels were nice with good grain, and I shipped them to Chig to add some medallions. Pretty happy with it!!

GypsmJim · Apr 9, 2023

TIMETRIPPER said:
I've read that the stocks are the same size as those on the Single Six. Standard Blackhawk grips will not interchange because of the grip screw location.

John

The wrangler uses the XR3-Red grip frame. That covers Single Six, New Model Blackhawk, New Model Super Blackhawk, Single Ten, etc.

Some older Blackhawks, and of course the old Super Blackhawks have a different frame size.

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