Another Wrangler Thread

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Riomouse911

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I picked up a new Black Wrangler the other day for $235.50 OTD and finally got to take it to the range for a side-by-side-by side with my Ruger Single Six 6.5” and my S&W M-17 6”.

Observations on the new gun:

The same fit and finish issues the others have noted as nice to good to okay:

Wrangler.jpeg

The loading gate is a bit stiff but not unreasonable. I’m not a fan of the “carved out” look of the hammer, but it fires every time so it’s not a big deal. The all-black Cerakote is evenly applied, I saw no bubbles or scratches. The muzzle’s straight-cut face was square by my measurements, and the front sight appears perfectly aligned vertically. The smooth-faced and wide trigger feels good. There is a bit of a rattle from the ejector rod and from the transfer bar when it's cocked, but otherwise it's a solid little revolver.

Hammer.jpeg

And no so great:

The casting line around the grip frame is obvious. There is the annoying gap that shows light between the front of the grips and the frame. (Why Ruger can’t address this one small issue is beyond me!) I did notice that the gun wouldn’t cock when the cylinder was between charge holes. I had to line it up to get it to cock the hammer. The fixed sights are very, very tough to see at an indoor range. Between the narrow front blade and the matching-color sight trough across the frame I had to really search for the front sight at times.

grip (2).jpeg

gap.jpeg

(I wiped the gun down after shooting, the spots on the frame is lint)

The trigger pull measured 4.9 Lbs on my Lyman gauge for 5 pulls. The B/C gap is a serviceable .007”. To compare, the trigger pull on my Single Six convertible was 3.7 Lbs for 5 pulls, and the M-17 has a very light and glass-breaking 2.1 Lb SA pull.

The ammo:

I grabbed a representative hodge-podge that those of us who buy .22 LR ammo every time we see some worth the expense would probably have:

Aguila Super Maximum Hyper Velocity 30 gr solid

Aguila Super Extra 38 gr HP

Aguila Target 40 gr solid

Norma Tac-22 40 gr Solid

Federal High Velocity 40 gr plated solid

CCI Blazer 40 gr solid

CCI Mini Mag 40 gr plated solid

(I also brought along Armscor 38 gr HP loads as well, but I ran out of targets so these weren’t fired today.)

I can't set up my chronograph at this range, so no velocities were recorded.

Wrangler range.jpeg

The shoot:

All shots were indoors, single-action, fired from a front-of-the-frame rested support. The rear (hands) was rested as much as possible on a pad. The targets had 20 separate squares, each with a 1” black bullseye. The targets were at 10 yards. I fired three-6 shot groups with each load through each gun and measured as closely C-T-C as I could with a finely marked ruler. (The resulting fractions are kind of wonky, I apologize!)

Wrangler:

Aguila SM: 2 7/12” Avg. Best 2 1/4”

Aguila SE: 2 1/6” Avg. Best 1 9/16”.

Aguila Target: 2 1/3” Avg. Best 1 1/4”.

Norma Tac: 2 11/24” Avg. Best 2 1/8”.

Federal HV: 1 3/4” Avg. Best 1 1/4”.

CCI Blazer: 2 5/16” Avg. Best 1 1/2”.

CCI Mini: 1 5/6” Avg. Best 7/8”.


Single Six:

Aguila SM: 1 5/6” Avg. Best 1 5/8”

Aguila SE: 1 3/4” Avg. Best 1 5/8”.

Aguila Target: 1 13/16” Avg. Best 1 5/8”.

Norma Tac: 1” Avg. Best 3/4”.

Federal HV: 1 3/8” Avg. Best 3/4”.

CCI Blazer: 1” Avg. Best 3/4”.

CCI Mini: 1 5/6” Avg. Best 1 1/2”.


M-17:

Aguila SM: 1 3/16” Avg. Best 1”.

Aguila SE: 1 5/24” Avg. Best 1”.

Aguila Target: 1 13/24” Avg. Best 1 1/4”.

Norma Tac: 1 3/16” Avg. Best 11/16”.

Federal HV: 5/6” Avg. Best 5/8”.

CCI Blazer: 7/8” Avg. Best 3/4.

CCI Mini: 1 1/6” Avg. Best 3/4”.


It’s clear that the small, non-target sights and a slightly heavier trigger pull had some effect on my shooting with the Wrangler. Those with younger or less distance-challenged eyes would probably post much better numbers than I could with all three guns I fired, not just the Wrangler.


For fun, the across the board 6-shot averages for these loads in these three handguns were all sub 2”:

Aguila SM: 1 2/3” Avg.

Aguila SE: 1 2/3” Avg.

Aguila Target: 1 11/12” Avg.

Norma Tac: 1 5/9” Avg.

Federal HV: 1 1/3” Avg.

CCI Blazer: 1 5/12” Avg.

CCI Mini: 1 5/12” Avg.


Even though the sights were frustrating, I still did pretty well with the little gun. All the groups were roughly 1" larger at 10 yards with the Wrangler than the Single Six. (I did expect them somewhat larger due to the sights and longer sighting plane of the SS.) At further distances I will expect the Wrangler to be even further behind the SS unless I can brighten up the front sight a bit. (Testors paint time!)

I have ordered some Altamont grips to replace the factory ones (They were 19 bucks on Black Friday :thumbup:), so once those come in I'll report if they cover that grip/frame gap and also fill the hands a bit more or not.

For those in the market for an inexpensive .22 LR plinker that’ll shoot pretty well compared to guns that cost 2 to 3 times more, I'll say give a Wrangler a shot. It's certainly soda can accurate at plinking distances and a fun little range-toy for sure.


Stay safe.
 
Great review Riomouse! Nice job of of covering the good and the not so good with your Wrangler. Bottom line is for the money it seems like a decent little plinker.
 
Great review, Does seem like a nice Plinker and fun gun. It will be interesting to see how well they perform once Ruger really starts putting them out in high numbers. Will Ruger Quality Control stay consistent? Will Ruger be committed/and devoted to this one model for years? At this stage it seems like it could go either way. A low price point revolver which in itself seems to be a Niche market. It will be a interesting firearm to follow in the years to come.
 
Good review. I will eventually buy one of these. For the last few years I have used a florescent/lime green acrylic paint I bought at Hobby Lobby for a front sight paint. I like it better than day-glo orange. You still need a base of white first. But a sight painted with it really pops out and is super easy to see.

I hope Ruger does well with these and keeps making them. As well as they are liked I suspect they will be a permanent part of the line up. I hope Ruger designs a few other guns along these same lines. I would like one of these in 32 long and I think a few others would too.
 
I saw my first one in the wild today. While at my Farm Supply Store they have a bronze model in the display case for $199.99. As we were are getting down to the wire to finish our Christmas Shopping I did not ask to look at it. Once enough of them reach the market I expect to see sale price of $179.99.

As I believe in “2 is 1 and 1 is None” I need to decide whether to get a consecutive serial number pair of bronze models or two different color models.
 
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The gun was on sale for $189.99, the regular price has been $209.99. I got a 5% discount as a "club" member that helped keep it down a bit more. With the added sales tax and the Ca DOJ "DROS" fee it brought the total up to $235.50. Not a bad deal even with the added costs.

Once the grips arrive I'll re-post pics and an update on the feel compared to the originals.

Stay safe.
 
A very good in-depth and up-close review that paints a picture for the prospective purchaser.
All in all it seems like a great little tin can plinker, which is what it was really designed to be.
For the price, you really can't expect it to be a Single Six in every way, but I have yet to see a reason not to buy one. It has the same unbreakable coil and music wire spring action as a Single Six which is a plus.
As far as the sights are concerned, it's really just a matter of getting used to them.
I have shot quite a few traditional single actions like a Colt SAA and Italian clones, 1858 Remington, Ruger Bearcat, and an old J.P. Sauer and Sohn .22 western revolver.
You can shoot quite good groups with such fixed sights if you believe that you can.

I think that shooting tests should be conducted at 20 yards with handguns. 10 yards really doesn't tell you much IMHO.
 
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It's threads like this which keep poking me in the butt, because I got a Single-Ten just about a month before the Wrangler came onto the market. But I keep telling myself that the all-SS construction of the Single-Ten justifies (along with its flawless performance) the extra dollars which the Single-Ten cost me. Would I have got a Wrangler instead? Maybe, or maybe not.
 
I want to try out a Wrangler. Will it take precedence over a single ten purchase? Not sure, but a Wrangler is a heck of a lot less money though. I also keep thinking about the hrr birdshead too, but I just don't know if it or the wrangler will put off a single ten...
 
I want to try out a Wrangler. Will it take precedence over a single ten purchase? Not sure, but a Wrangler is a heck of a lot less money though. I also keep thinking about the hrr birdshead too, but I just don't know if it or the wrangler will put off a single ten...
You could probably get a birdshead HRR and a Wrangler for the price of a Single Ten, so maybe go that route and fill both those holes in your want pouch...

Just a thought.

Stay safe.
 
You could probably get a birdshead HRR and a Wrangler for the price of a Single Ten, so maybe go that route and fill both those holes in your want pouch...

Just a thought.

Stay safe.
Kinda my thinking, just not sure that would satisfy the urge for the single ten... The Wrangler does look really good though. Haven't held one, but I did get within 5 feet of one in the wild. LGS was selling one right when they came out and the dealer really liked it too.
 
It's also possible to do it with simpler tools, using the brass ball and Clover Compound method described in many old gunsmithing books. It works quite well.
that bearcat muzzle face was not even close to being perpendicular to the bore. I took a ton of metal off one side. so, while your method is great for fixing dents and dings on the crown, my bearcat problem required a crowning kit to get the crown right.

luck,

murf
 
that bearcat muzzle face was not even close to being perpendicular to the bore. I took a ton of metal off one side. so, while your method is great for fixing dents and dings on the crown, my bearcat problem required a crowning kit to get the crown right.

I can't speak to your Bearcat muzzle, but I have used the technique myself several times. I wasn't fixing minor dents or dings; I was correcting an unfinished crown on a Ruger SR1911 that escaped quality control, and also shortening barrels on military surplus rifles to sporter-ize them. It works well.

But, I would certainly prefer to use the Brownell tools on a new gun like your Bearcat if I had them.
 
I haven’t heard anything from Altamont yet, I hope the grips are at the house when I get back (Away at a training course this week).

I ordered a Rosewood and a Walnut set, one for the Wrangler and one for the Single Six. I’ll shoot some pics and post impressions when they arrive.

Stay safe.
 
and also shortening barrels on military surplus rifles to sporter-ize them. It works well.
how did you get the muzzle face square before you used the brass screw? file and sandpaper?

I have used the brass screw method on an old sporterized 03 springfield muzzle, but that was to get rid of the dings.

murf
 
how did you get the muzzle face square before you used the brass screw? file and sandpaper?

Yes. You place the barrel vertical in a padded vise. You then use a small machinist square and carefully file while moving in a circle while constantly eye-balling your progress. When you reach a point where you can't tell anymore if there is any error, you draw file the muzzle flat, again moving in a circle. Then you switch to fine grits of emery cloth wrapped around the file. Even if the barrel tapers a bit you can still use the square for a baseline comparison.
The brass ball or round-headed brass screw is coated with Clover Compound (Silicon Carbide Moly Grease Mixture) (I use 400 grit) and chucked in a carpenter's brace and rotated into the muzzle while revolving the pad end in a circle to distribute wear on the screw.
Some more filing to round over the muzzle, (staying away from your new crown) and then finishing with various grits of emery cloth rolls used boot black fashion over the muzzle, always moving in a circle.
 
I got the Altamont box a couple of days ago and finally got a chance to put them on the Wrangler and the Single Six.

I chose the checkered fleur-de-lis in walnut and put them on the Wrangler, and the same style in Rosewood for the Single Six. The grips were on sale for 19 bucks a set on Black Friday.

Wrangler:

The plastic ones were pretty thin, and had all the soul of synthetics. The Altamont grips make the upper part of the entire grip a fraction of an inch thicker, which I like.

The fit was literally “pop off, pop on” easy and both sides lined up perfectly with no sanding or other work needed. The grips come with three different length screws and the mid-length one fit perfectly.

The grips fit the frame very well, but there is still a touch of a gap on the front flat portion of the grips, allowing light to peek through the small gap but it’s better than the plastic ones in this area.

Single Six:

The rosewood grips have a similar color to the originals, however the checkering gives the gun a different look. These aren’t quite as thick at the top of the originals, but still feel good in my hand. The originals needed to tapped off when the grip screw was undone, the Altamont grips went on smoothly with no sanding or fitting needed.

The originals had a bit of a tighter fit on the top flat part of the grip where the Ruger logo is on the factory grips (I couldn’t see light through the grip frame with those on), but these are a tiny bit shorter and will show a sliver of light if held up to the light. (If you look for it you’ll notice it, if not it’s not very obvious)

These are merely observations, once I get a chance to shoot after the holidays I’ll report about the shooting feel and if the point of impact changed, etc.

Stay safe.

740E6B2E-FD3A-4EB3-A72A-1B9C3692BEE6.jpeg
 
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