Ruger Wrangler

Status
Not open for further replies.
D

doubleh

Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2007
Messages
7,366
Location
NM- far south of I-40
I went to the range early this morning with my #1 grandson and he brought along a Wrangle that had never been fired. I have read a lot of negatives about this little gun on various forums. I put three on an 8" gong and three on a 6" at 10 yards and then did it again. Sight were perfect so I backed up to 12 yards and did it again. My shaky pills were doing their job this morning. I was curious about the stiff loading gate that some really complain about. All I can say is if an octogenarian old geezer like me can work it without a problem either this gun is exceptional or a bunch of people need to start doing hand exercises. Yes, it was stiffer than my single sixes but not enough to warrant all the crying about it that I have read. I am even considering getting a Wrangler. It is a fun little gun.
 
The most enjoyment $199 has bought me in a long , long time ... I love everything about mine .
Don't believe all them Negative Nancies posting complaints ... they would complain if you were going to hang them with a New Rope ...( a saying of my East Texas mother... told me a new rope is rough and would scratch their neck)
Ruger Tech told me to spray a little white lithium grease through openings to grease the internals of the stiff gate ... that did the trick on mine . I wonder if they have a new spring that isn't quite so stiff ... I bought mine two years ago , before Covid , and the gate was stiff for my 70 year old fingers .
I might send Ruger a E-mail and see if a improved spring is available ,
Gary
 
I liked mine so much I just bought the 3.5” version with the Birdshead grip frame.

The silver-colored sights were a bit tough to see indoors but the gun shot/operated perfectly. (8” colored circles, 4” white @ 10 yds)

30F79DBA-07B6-4B94-B969-9B3CDBA17E33.jpeg 415A84C7-BAEA-4E63-BFF0-C83340E9DFC2.jpeg

Neat little plinkers, these Wranglers are.

Stay safe.
 
We stopped off at the local farm & ranch store on our way home to look for 30-06 ammo. The place has the best gun prices in the area. After finding no 30-06 ammo we looked at the pistols and I found a bronze wrangler and two bird' head models. I wasn't interested in those and didn't pay attention to the price on them but the regular one was $229. Considering what has been done to our economy since 2020 I didn't find that unreasonable and might have brought it home except for the bronze color which I don't care for.
 
I ended up with 2, black and silver.

The cylinder and important parts are steel, the frame I think is aluminum ot Zamak maybe.

Been shooting the silver one every range trip for almost 2 years, no issued, always plink the steel target out at 30 yards. They'll shoot.

One thing with these, I bought both in person at a real shop. I looked at maybe a half dozen, mix of birdshead etc. The cerakote finish did vary, as did the overall fit and finish. I picked the two with the best feeling loading gates, flawless finish, best actions etc.

If you can, I'd check a few out in person. Ruger qc seems to be more in question since 2020.

If you get one, you might check out rugers website for grips and holsters. Woos grips are inexpensive and a very nice leather holster is available in black or tan.
 
I had one a few years ago when they first came out. Mine definitely had the loading gate problem. It was still to the point that the edge of the loading gate would leave deep indentation marks on your finger. Using it at the range would quickly turn from unpleasant to actually a little painful.

I ended up trading it to a guy for a Marlin Model 60. He was going to try and fix the loading gate.

Other than the loading gate issue i really enjoyed that gun. I WILL be buying another. Probably this fall/winter.
 
Ya, the loading gates are a bit sharper feeling on the thumb compared to my other Ruger SA revolvers, but it isn’t a big deal.

They are what they are; inexpensive plinkers that offer good accuracy, lots of aftermarket grips/holster options and a lot of fun. :)

Stay safe.
 
Conelrad said:
Part of the loading gate issue is it also unlocks the cylinder for easier one-step loading.
Click to expand...
Is that not the same as with all New Model Blackhawks, Super Blackhawks, and New Model Single Sixes Ruger ever built? o_O
That's a question - I'm not trying to be a wise guy. It's just that between my wife and I, I'm sure we've owned at least 20 different Ruger "New Model" single action revolvers over the years (including a half-dozen Super Blackhawks), and every one of them unlocked the cylinder when we opened the loading gate. Yet I'm reading in this thread that some folks are having problems opening the loading gates on some Ruger Wrangler revolvers.
 
Last edited:
.308 Norma said:
Is that not the same as with all New Model Blackhawks, Super Blackhawks, and New Model Single Sixes Ruger ever built? o_O
That's a question - I'm not trying to be a wise guy. It's just that between my wife and I, I'm sure we've owned at least 20 different Ruger "New Model" single action revolvers over the years (including a half-dozen Super Blackhawks), and every one of them unlocked the cylinder when we opened the loading gate. Yet I'm reading in this thread that some folks are having problems opening the loading gates on some Ruger Wrangler revolvers.
Click to expand...

I'm no Ruger expert, and only own 1 Blackhawk. But I also own 2 SSs, and a Wrangler. The loading gate on my Wrangler is stupid stiff. I was hoping it would lighten up with use but so far no dice.
I will probably try to smooth up the appropriate surfaces someday to see if it helps. So far that's my only complaint about the Wrangler.
 
Eventually, there may be some Cerakote 'honest' wear around some of the edges due to a holster or other rubs? Those prices are something! The Heritage can be found at around those prices, if you're looking around. The Wrangler would be my choice.
 
ontarget said:
I'm no Ruger expert, and only own 1 Blackhawk. But I also own 2 SSs, and a Wrangler. The loading gate on my Wrangler is stupid stiff. I was hoping it would lighten up with use but so far no dice.
I will probably try to smooth up the appropriate surfaces someday to see if it helps. So far that's my only complaint about the Wrangler.
Click to expand...
A can of spray "grease" , I used plain ole white lithium grease but a good spray gun grease would probably be better ... insert the tube into any opening and get grease sprayed into / onto loading gate / latch internals.
A Ruger Technician told me to do this ... I did it once and a few days later , greased it again ... as a aside to easing the latch opening it also lightened / smoothed up the the cocking of the hammer and the trigger pull .
As a bonus ... I didn't have to take the gun apart ... I did take the grips off to get the spray tube into little spaces . The grease job works wonders and you probably have a can of spray grease on your shelf ...
Bicycle and motorcycle spray on chain lube / grease will also work ... you want it to spray on thin , then thicken into a light grease .
Gary
 
I have a Wrangler. It's my one and only handgun, as of now. I've used it for literally everything. Guess what ? For this half blind guy, it works well... Accurate, good quality. The finish is wearing around the muzzle and cylinder, but I have out this baby through the wringer...
 
CraigC

Nice trio of Wranglers there, along with the stellar holsters and belt!

Those black pearl grips look great with the silver finish on the guns too!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

T
Ruger Wrangler(s) Experience
2 3
Replies
57
Views
3K
silicosys4
S
Skylerbone
  • Locked
Ruger Wrangler Review
2 3
Replies
55
Views
6K
dodo bird
D
Riomouse911
  • Locked
Another Wrangler Thread
2
Replies
29
Views
2K
jstert
jstert
D
More Ruger Wrangler
Replies
6
Views
546
Riomouse911
Riomouse911
Biblethumpncop
  • Locked
Ex-Birdshead Wrangler!
2
Replies
26
Views
1K
Biblethumpncop
Biblethumpncop
Back
Top