New Ruger Wrangler.... I'm confused

Status
Not open for further replies.
Gtscotty

Gtscotty

Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2007
Messages
3,634
Ruger has announced a new .22 revolver on their home page called the Wrangler:

https://www.ruger.com/products/wrangler/models.html

I'm a bit perplexed by this revolver, it looks full sized and weighs 30 oz, but only holds 6 rounds of .22. Only comes in Cerakote finishes, and the MSRP is $249. I guess the frame and maybe the outside sheath of the barrel are aluminum?

So an aluminum Ruger .22 thats heavier and bigger, but cheaper than the Bearcat.. I guess that sounds good, especially since with an MSRP of $249, street price will likely fall below $200, Heritage Rough Rider territory.

So what is this? A poor man's Bearcat? A better made Rough Rider? A kit gun? An ultra cheap just for fun plinker?
 
It looks good. Probably be a pretty good idea for grabbing those who don't like the heritage for whatever reason but still want a plinking revolver on a budget.

I love my rough rider but if I didn't have it I would consider this especially if the street price is lower than msrp.
 
I had a Heritage for a while, and thought it was great fun until it wore prematurely, went out of time and started spitting lead out the sides. Ruger knows their metallurgy, I'd have more faith in their product lasting. I guess if the reviews are good, I'll probably pick one up to play with. At the price they'll be going for why not? I've never had a .22 pistol that wasn't fun to shoot. The MSRP for the LCP is $10 more and I've seen ads for them at $170.
 
Ruger probably got tired of getting their butts handed to them. Heritage at 200 is a lot better than 550 for a single six. I understand the quality difference but a lot of people can’t pony up that much for a plinker .22. Ruger has been taking the entry level items across the board by storm.
 
Last edited:
Looks to me that Ruger is aiming squarely at Heritage. Except the Wrangler is most assuredly a better gun than the pot metal Rough Rider.

I don't know about Ruger getting their butts handed to them. Ruger is the largest and most prolific firearms manufacturer in operation. The Heritage is a cheap gun and it shows. I wouldn't want a free one. And for the record, I have Single Sixes I bought used for as little as $200, $225 and $250. Hell, I bought one from the 1950's in mint condition for less than the cost of a new one.
 
Sounds interesting. I will wait to see what the Beta testers say. I wonder if cylinders for the single six will fit?

If you look at the extra pictures it looks like the chambers are sleeved in to the cylinder. And you can see the casting part line on the grip frame so not a lot of polishing done there. And you can see the part line on the main frame under the cylinder release pin. I don't see a sleeve on the barrel. Rough Rider. Move over. There's a new cheap pistol in town.

Can you say... New Truck Gun?:thumbup:
 
Last edited:
A rough rider was on the list for this year but after seeing this I'll probably go this route. Trust Ruger a bit more than heritage. Ruger keeps releasing cool new products like this and the PC I'll be a fanboy before too long.
 
@CraigC I meant Ruger losing on just the single action .22 market on new production pistols. I’m sure used ones can be had a lot less, Heck I got my stainless one for 375 with a holster rig, but Ruger is in the new gun business and I agree this offering is to aim squarely at Heritage to cut them off at the pass.
 
I’ve always wanted a Single Six but the price has always been the problem, could never justify it for what would be for me just a fun plinker. Now it looks like my problem has been solved!
 
CraigC said:
Looks to me that Ruger is aiming squarely at Heritage. Except the Wrangler is most assuredly a better gun than the pot metal Rough Rider.

I don't know about Ruger getting their butts handed to them. Ruger is the largest and most prolific firearms manufacturer in operation. The Heritage is a cheap gun and it shows. I wouldn't want a free one. And for the record, I have Single Sixes I bought used for as little as $200, $225 and $250. Hell, I bought one from the 1950's in mint condition for less than the cost of a new one.
Click to expand...

Im going to say that with the Wrangler... just because you can, doesnt mean you should. My first look at it and I thought HiPoint started making SA's.

My second pistol was a Single-Six, bought it in 1987 for $249. It was a very poor example, and the start of the Road of Woe between me and Ruger single-actions. It was quickly sold off for a Smith 63. I still wish I had my 63, the Ruger not so much.
 
For that kind of money it would be hard to go wrong. I'll have to look at one in person, but I've been searching for the right single six for years. One of these would be hard to resist for $200.

Jeff
 
I'm sure that the Wrangler is a response to the Heritage Rough Rider. It's basically a Single Six with an aluminum cylinder frame and a Cerakote finish which is cheaper to apply than blueing. It also looks like the hammer and internal parts might be made in a faster and non-traditional method.
The barrel is steel, but I'm not sure about the cylinder. In one view it appears that it might have steel cylinder liners, meaning that it may be aluminum alloy. I'm not sure whether the grip frame is aluminum alloy or polymer. They don't say.
Considering the variety of Single Six and Single Ten revolvers available in both blue and stainless, I'm sure that these continue to sell well.
However, they obviously were not being bought by those of modest means and by those who just didn't want to pay a Blackhawk price for a .22 revolver.
Heritage carved out a niche market with their somewhat inferior, but much cheaper revolver. It must have been enough of a concern to Ruger in order to motivate them to produce the Wrangler. But then, Ruger has been producing all kinds of cheaper and non-traditional handguns like the LCR and LCP.

It's quite amusing really. The wrangler MSRP is $249.00 which means that it will probably retail for maybe $200.00 or less. And since it looks so much better than a Rough Rider and it is a genuine Ruger, Heritage are the ones that are going to get their butts handed to them. Also, consider that the Wrangler retains the transfer bar safety and cylinder gate interlock of the Single Six.

As far as durability, I owned a quality full-size German SAA clone made entirely of hard zinc-aluminum alloy, with barrel and cylinder liners. I obtained it third-hand after many many rounds had been fired, and it was still in excellent condition, apart from the cylinder stops, which had begun to wear out. Also, I would anticipate that the Wrangler is being made with music wire coil and torsion springs, meaning that the leaf spring breakage that occurs in the Rough Rider will be avoided entirely.
 
When they come back in stock I’m picking one up for sure if they come in at or below $200.! It’ll make for a great campfire plinker, kids will have fun as well when they get a little bit older.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Old Stumpy
  • Locked
.38 Special Wrangler?
2 3
Replies
53
Views
2K
leo96150
L
Solomonson
  • Locked
Ruger Wrangler ($176.00) vs. Ruger 5435 LCRx ($470.00)
2 3 4
Replies
76
Views
7K
Boarhunter
B
P
  • Locked
Wrangler, first impressions
2
Replies
30
Views
3K
1911junkee
1911junkee
S
  • Locked
Ruger Bearcat Advice?
Replies
13
Views
1K
foghornl
F
Howland937
  • Locked
Ruger, 20 years later.
Replies
13
Views
845
barnfrog
barnfrog
Back
Top