Ruger Wrangler

gwpercle · Apr 9, 2023

I have become quite fond of my black $199 Wrangler .
It's a lot more fun than a barrel of monky's /// I had to show my respect with a set of nice looking Faux-Stag grips and a nice leather holster from DeSantis .
Best danged $199 I ever spent on a new Six-Shooter , well made , fitted , timed and finished just fine ... Lot's of fun to shoot ...
L Like It !
Gary

gwpercle · Apr 9, 2023

GypsmJim said:
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.

The grips from my 1970 - 1971 made Three Screw Blackhawk , on which the frame is marked "XR3-Red" Do Not fit my new Wrangler . The 70-71 BH grips are about 1/4 inch too short ... I was expecting the grips to be the same but the Wrangler grips / frame are longer ... but that 1/4 " makes a difference , I like the slightly longer grip !
Be careful when buying grips ... I can't figure out what fits what ... so many different frames used over the years !
Gary

CAJUNLAWYER · Apr 9, 2023

I sincerely hope that the Wrangler doesn't do to the Single Six what the Ruger American .22 did to the 77/22 or what the Centerfire rifles did to the Hawkeye series... Just sayin'.....

GypsmJim · Apr 9, 2023

gwpercle said:
The grips from my 1970 - 1971 made Three Screw Blackhawk , on which the frame is marked "XR3-Red" Do Not fit my new Wrangler . The 70-71 BH grips are about 1/4 inch too short ... I was expecting the grips to be the same but the Wrangler grips / frame are longer ... but that 1/4 " makes a difference , I like the slightly longer grip !
Be careful when buying grips ... I can't figure out what fits what ... so many different frames used over the years !
Gary

I can't explain that. I have 2 Wranglers, an old Model Single Six, a New model Single Six, a new model Single Ten, an old model Blackhawk and a new Model Blackhawk. They all have exactly the same grip. I have swapped grips periodically.

By your size description it sounds like your grips might be the XR3 version, but that would have been pre-1962.

I dunno. Check your serial number and date to verify the year of manufacture.

gwpercle · Apr 10, 2023

GypsmJim said:
I can't explain that. I have 2 Wranglers, an old Model Single Six, a New model Single Six, a new model Single Ten, an old model Blackhawk and a new Model Blackhawk. They all have exactly the same grip. I have swapped grips periodically.

By your size description it sounds like your grips might be the XR3 version, but that would have been pre-1962.

I dunno. Check your serial number and date to verify the year of manufacture.

I was wrong ... BH frame is marked XR3-RED and Wrangler Grips fit like a glove ... they interchange perfectly .

My Blackhawk serial number is 30-397XX , I'm having trouble deciphering the date of mfg.
Should it have a XR3-RED grip frame ?

I may have a set of Factory Walnut BH grips , that I thought came on this gun ... but evidently didn't ... those factory walnuts are 1/4" too short and don't fit the Wrangler or XR3-RED frame .
The gun was "on loan" to a buddy for 20 years ... I wonder if he did a frame swap for me ?
Sign me dazed and confused on this one ...
But one thing ...XR3-RED and Wrangler fit each other !
Gary
I'm having trouble

Goony · Apr 10, 2023

gwpercle said:
My Blackhawk serial number is 30-397XX...Should it have a XR3-RED grip frame ?

I believe so, my 30 prefixed serial number Blackhawk has an XR3-RED grip frame, albeit it's about 10K further along than yours.

Goony · Apr 10, 2023

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

I was checking Altamont's website this morning, and they're currently out of all their Wrangler grips, too. Not sure what the problem is at this juncture.

Grayfox · Apr 10, 2023

About 6 months ago I stumbled across a Wrangler at I price I just couldn't pass up. Seems like a very nice little gun, but I haven't gotten around to shooting it yet. Not sure why, it just hasn't happened.

However, I'm already thinking of selling it ANIB unfired and putting that money towards a new Super Wrangler. I much prefer adjustable sights on a .22 revolver.

I don't know what's going on with Altamont. Last week I ordered a set of grips for a different gun. Got an e-mail this morning saying it will be 1 to 3 weeks as they have to make them.

Mike SC Hunter · Apr 10, 2023

TIMETRIPPER said:
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

The wrangler grip frame is longer for some reason. Most all grips are short on the bottom by at least 1/16 in.

GypsmJim · Apr 10, 2023

gwpercle said:
I was wrong ... BH frame is marked XR3-RED and Wrangler Grips fit like a glove ... they interchange perfectly .

My Blackhawk serial number is 30-397XX , I'm having trouble deciphering the date of mfg.
Should it have a XR3-RED grip frame ?

I may have a set of Factory Walnut BH grips , that I thought came on this gun ... but evidently didn't ... those factory walnuts are 1/4" too short and don't fit the Wrangler or XR3-RED frame .
The gun was "on loan" to a buddy for 20 years ... I wonder if he did a frame swap for me ?
Sign me dazed and confused on this one ...
But one thing ...XR3-RED and Wrangler fit each other !
Gary
I'm having trouble

Ruger's serial number lookup shows your Blackhawk to be a 1970 manufacture. That would make it an XR3-red.

TJm15.38 · Apr 10, 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.

Well, you be the judge. Certainly the Altamont grips are a perfect fit on the top. There may be a little extra grip frame on the bottom, but it's not even measurable. I'm satisfied with the fit right out of the box.

GypsmJim · Apr 10, 2023

Maybe I can settle this once and for all. I just disassembled a Blackhawk, a Single Six and a Wrangler.

I have OEM Ruger XR3-red Grips, Wrangler black plastic takeoffs, Altamonts and Arizona Grips.

The Wrangler frame, by my measurement, is 1/32" longer. All the grips fit all the guns except the Wrangler has 1/32" frame sticking out. If it had not been discussed here, I truthfully would not have even noticed.

OTOH, the plastic Wrangler grips stick out slightly on the BH and SS, and THAT was noticable.

As an aside, the Arizona grips fit all of the guns best of all.

TJm15.38 · Apr 10, 2023

GypsmJim said:
As an aside, the Arizona grips fit all of the guns best of all.

I bought a set of Arizona "Magna-Tusk" ivory grips for a Ruger Flat Top Blackhawk. That revolver is actually built on a Ruger Vaquero frame. The Arizona grips were a perfect fit. Arizona also had some good guidance on EBay on how to determine which frame you have.

TIMETRIPPER · Apr 10, 2023

The grips on my early model Vaquero are the same dimensions as the Wrangler but they will not work due to the screw location. I have a set of aftermarket grips that fit a 41 mag Blackhawk and fit the Vaquero but do not work on the Wrangler for the same reason. Profile is a match but the grip screw is located were the coil main spring is at on the Wrangler. I'm confused.
I don't mind the plastic grips on the Wrangler but the checking on the black plastic grips on the 41 Mag were painful with recoil. It was like holding sandpaper.

John

Talldog · Apr 10, 2023

My wife has the burnt bronze Wrangler with the shorter barrel and birdshead grip. She likes it enough that it has become her favorite range gun.

Goony · Apr 11, 2023

Gussied-up Wranglers

Not exactly to my taste, but evocative of the early tri-color Single-Six Lightweights of yesteryear. See: Ruger's .22 Wranglers - American Handgunner

Adding one other below that also wouldn't be my "go-to" for eye appeal, but in any event none of these guns have been modified in a manner that couldn't be reversed.

dobegrant · Apr 11, 2023

I have a pair one 4 1/2” and one 7 1/2” both are great shooters

Goony · Apr 13, 2023

Here's a brief article on the new Super Wrangler. At a suggested retail of only $329, it looks like another winner for Ruger.

New: Ruger Super Wrangler Convertible 22 LR/Mag Single Action :: Guns.com

TJm15.38 · Apr 13, 2023

Goony said:
Here's a brief article on the new Super Wrangler. At a suggested retail of only $329, it looks like another winner for Ruger.

New: Ruger Super Wrangler Convertible 22 LR/Mag Single Action :: Guns.com

It was a logical next move for Ruger. I just hope they don't do away with the Single Six.

Goony · Dec 31, 2024

The November 2024 issue of Guns Magazine has a rather gaudy pair of customized Wranglers on the cover. Here's a (free) link to the online version of the article: Attention Required! | Cloudflare

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