Honest apples to apples comparison of NIB Wrangler and NIB HRR.

If they fixed that I would probably buy 6 of em. One for me and each niece and nephew.

I got my HRR about a month before the Ruger was announced, but I'm not upset.

I got the HRR especially for the swapping of cylinders from 22lr to 22mag. Shoots both "minute of small game" easily to 25 yards.

Oh, and I picked out one with the "bronze" style frame finish with blued barrel. That way the rear sight notch is gold, and the front blade is black. Much easier to see.

So, either way, 2 tone with those little sights makes life easier.

ontarget said:

I don't want to derail my own thread but one really has to wonder how a Glock makes it on the approved list in California but single action 22s don't?

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I don’t want you to derail your thread either.
Quick answer: When CA created the roster Glock Gen 3s were on the list. Since Glock still makes Gen 3s for CA the DOJ cannot remove them as long as Glock submits renewer paperwork every year. Another reason I like Glocks. Loyalty to customers.

Now, back to fun single action .22s

There is just something about that burnt bronze Wrangler. At first I thought “Man, that’s a terrible color on a .22.” But it has grown on me. The silver looks nice too.

Pat Riot said:

I don’t want you to derail your thread either.
Quick answer: When CA created the roster Glock Gen 3s were on the list. Since Glock still makes Gen 3s for CA the DOJ cannot remove them as long as Glock submits renewer paperwork every year. Another reason I like Glocks. Loyalty to customers.

Now, back to fun single action .22s

There is just something about that burnt bronze Wrangler. At first I thought “Man, that’s a terrible color on a .22.” But it has grown on me. The silver looks nice too.

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Same here. I ordered a bronze Wrangler in May, but took a Silver one when that was all the shop could get in. Ordered a bronze one from another shop in June. While waiting for it I stumbled in to a deal on a black one. Recently another shop got the bronze one in “for a few dollars more” so I snatched it up and canceled the three month old order. Over 3300 rounds through silver, about 1300 through the black one and close to 200 through the bronze. Couldn’t be happier with them.

ontarget said:

I failed to specifically call that issue out in my review but when I said the Ruger was stiff that was part of what I was referring to. I'm hoping it will loosen up over time.

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It does get better with use, but even after 3,300 rounds through my Silver Wrangler it takes a little more effort than my Single-Sixes. Only really notice when I take both to the range.

I own three Wranglers and don’t own a Heritage, but I did pick up an Armi Tanfoglio FIE TA76 yesterday, which is the gun the Rough Rider is based on, descended from, and mechanically identical to, except the safety was redesigned. Took it to the range along with a Wrangler, a Single-Six and a Hawes Montana Marshal (made in Germany by Sauer). The Tanfoglio was not as accurate as the two Rugers, but more accurate than the Marshal. The hammer spring felt a little mushy, but never failed ignite a round. Granted it’s probably forty years old, but the Single-Six is thirty years old and shot as well as the week old Wrangler. My 63 year old Lightweight Single-Six would be a more fair comparison. That 63 year old Ruger shoots just as well as my new Wranglers. The Single-Six is pictured with my Black Wrangler.

Pat Riot said:

Ontarget, thank you for your reviews. After reading them I went online to the California DOJ site to see if Ruger or Heritage were on the “approved” list. They are not so I cannot purchase either here. I was actually considering buying one. Had they both been on the list I would have had a decision to make. I guess the Nanny State has chosen for me.

No worries. I pick up my Glock 34 next week and next month I plan to buy a .22 revolver. It won’t be a Wrangler or a Rough Rider though. Maybe a S&W 63 or a Ruger LCRx .22. Not sure.

Have fun with those revolvers and those grandkids.

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The Wrangler and Rough Rider can be bought here in the Golden State with no problem. There is something you do not understand about “the list”. Single-Action revolvers are exempt so are not listed. Manufacturers do not have to submit them for certification. I don’t know if that new knowledge will change your plans or not.

single-sixshooter said:

The Wrangler and Rough Rider can be bought here in the Golden State with no problem. There is something you do not understand about “the list”. Single-Action revolvers are exempt so are not listed. Manufacturers do not have to submit them for certification. I don’t know if that new knowledge will change your plans or not.

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HOLY COW! You’re right! Thank you. I did not know this. Excellent news!
I moved back here last November and was told if it’s not on the list you cannot but it. I have not seen a Wrangler in any of my LGS, they weren’t on the list so I figured they weren’t available here.

I went back to my original post and corrected it.

Thank you for posting and correcting me.

Pat Riot said:

HOLY COW! You’re right! Thank you. I did not know this. Excellent news!
I moved back here last November and was told if it’s not on the list you cannot but it. I have not seen a Wrangler in any of my LGS, they weren’t on the list so I figured they weren’t available here.

I went back to my original post and corrected it.

Thank you for posting and correcting me.

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I don't know where in CA you are... but if you have one near you, Turners has them on sale this week.

https://www.turners.com/guns/browse/keyword/wrangler

I'm one of the few that likes the manual safety on the Heritage. It allows for dry-fire.

The first Wrangler I ever laid eyes on was at a gun show six days ago, and it was the only one there. Had I not already owned two RR revolvers (and a Single Six I've never gotten around to shooting, despite having it maybe three or four years), it might have left with me just because nothing else did.

MedWheeler said:

I'm one of the few that likes the manual safety on the Heritage. It allows for dry-fire.

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Per Ruger, dry-firing will not harm the Single Six revolver. Even so, I personally will always have qualms about dry-firing very many times any rimfire firearm.

I'll use drywall anchors with the rough Rider never occurred to me to use the safety. Can't find any that will consistent feed through my buckmark so it gets snap caps.

i have a hrr, rss, ruger bearcat and a newly acquired ruger wrangler. if i didn’t already have the hrr i wouldn’t go get one after the wrangler. if i had none of the above and wanted just one 22lr plinker, i would be happy with a wrangler. if i had to choose between the hrr and wrangler, i would choose the wrangler. the hrr isn’t bad, but the wrangler is quite good. if i wanted a 22lr/wmr absolutely right now i would get a hrr, if i could wait i would look for a used rss. the only way to improve the wrangler would be to give it an eight shot 22lr cylinder or downsize it to bearcat dimensions.

Love great reviews and this was one. I actually like the safety on the HRR, and the funny thing is, I never paid much attention to it, until I saw some folks that say they do not like it. I like shooting the HHR but, it is not a gun I really shoot often. It is a fun Plinking gun. I like the gun a lot. And of course the Wrangler seems a very nice gun as well. Now cost was a factor for me. That was about 10 years ago with there was not much alternative other than the Ruger which was 5 times the cost. Even if I was to buy one today, I would go with the HRR for cost and because I enjoy the shooting characteristics.. And through Bud's you can get a lifetime Warranty for under $10.00 so all is good and I get the Magnum cylinder as well.
I think if I were to really shoot these guns heavily, I might go with the Wrangler. Even though I am not a fan of Cerokote I think it will be a aid to the gun in the long run or will it? Not that familiar with Cerokote other than the local guy that does this, told me himself it wears down and later would have to be done again.
And then of course you would have to factor in Rugers great customer service which is worth a certain cost as well.Seems like a toss up with a edge going to the HHR with so many options and a magnum cylinder.
Thanks for taking the time to do a very good review.

ontarget said:

Possibly a sign of oversize chambers on the Heritage. They fall in but come out hard.

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That's a good guess, I think.

ontarget said:

Possibly a sign of oversize chambers on the Heritage. They fall in but come out hard.

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Sounds like mine drop right in but a little sticky ejecting. If you told me the Chambers were oversized I'd believe you but doesn't seem to effect the operation if you don't mind the ejection.

Trashyshoots said:

The only thing off putting about the wrangler imo is how awful the loading gate is vs the single 6s.

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Agreed about the loading gate. The couple I’ve handled dang near needed a crow bar to get it open.

ontarget said:

The Ruger is smooth but I have to force the rounds to fully seat in the chambers. Ejection is tight but not terrible. I haven't cleaned them yet but in my original review I mentioned the chambers were tight on the Wrangler. I'm guessing they are fouled now and need scrubbed.

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I have to admit that my Bearcat is like this too. Apparently some Ruger .22 revolvers have close tolerance chambers.
It seems to depend on the brand of ammunition as well and the powder being used in them.
Starting with a clean cylinder, loading is very easy, but after a box of 50 with some brands, the normal amount of fouling starts making it necessary to push cartridges in with some effort.
Scrubbing the chambers with a bore brush confirms that this is the issue.
With the cylinder removed and clean, cartridges will drop in to the chambers easily from the rear or the front, so they are bored correctly for a heeled bullet.

Keith G said:

Agreed about the loading gate. The couple I’ve handled dang near needed a crow bar to get it open.

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I had a stainless Super Blackhawk that required more effort than was normal to open the loading gate.
Not bad mind you, just noticeable compared to other Rugers that I had owned. After repeatedly opening and closing it a couple of hundred times it smoothed out some.

I’m teaching 2 little girls to shoot. That means the gun has to be able to easily be made safe at any time, immediately. The transfer bar is not an acceptable option because a cocked gun still goes bang if it gets plopped down on a table and the trigger wiggles. A hammer block blocks the hammer and the gun goes click. It’s just that simple, give the gun an off switch, or don’t use it as a training tool. With that in mind, my Single six doesn’t work, a Wrangler doesn’t work, and most semiautos have other issues which I find unacceptable for brand new shooters, especially those who are 8 years old and easily distracted. The HRR does fit the bill, and once the shooter is past the point of being responsible and hands are big and strong enough to safely keep a gun pointed down range and ease the hammer down then the other guns can come out of the safe. That single point is where the HRR shines in my eyes, because it has a positive safety whereas the wrangler only has a safety that is functional to prevent the gun from firing when dropped on a lowered hammer. As the dad who is training the girls I am confident in going downrange to set targets or to take a cocked gun from them if the lever is flipped. No so confident with a hammer block. The other option is to just shoot the round to lower the hammer, but that’s not always a good option either. What do you do when the dog goes to investigate the noise at the target? You flip the safety on, then lower the hammer.

I have to confess, I'm not a fan of either gun. I've only handled a Wrangler in the LGS. He asked me what I though of it and after handling it I said," Being truthful, meh". It just felt a little "off" from what I like in a SA revolver. The standard Heritage is the same way. Just a little "off".