Howdy Again
I can tell you from what I have seen in the Ruger photos the Wrangler hammer is not the same as a Single Six hammer. Here is a photo of a Single Six hammer. Notice it is flat on the side. If you look at the photos of the Wrangler on the Ruger website you will see there is a relief cut into the sides of the hammer. There is also a groove cut into the rear of the Wrangler hammer which does not exist on the rear of a Single Six hammer. I have never seen a rear groove like that on any Ruger hammer. Not having personally examined a Wrangler, I cannot comment any further on whether or not the rest of the internal parts are the same, but the hammers are not.
I am guilty of making the assumption that the only difference between the current Single-Six and the Wrangler is change of materials used to make the receiver and the grip. I am basing my opinion on how Ruger has made previous runs of fix sight ones.
I may be wrong.
edited: I am wrong at least as far as the hammers being the same.
I had the opportunity to watch Gun Blast and NRA videos on a large screen computer monitor and the hammers are different. The Wrangler hammer has a cut out on both sides of it. My first thought is that it is to accommodate changes necessary for free spin cylinder but why would it need the same cutout on both sides?
Lighter weight so it falls faster and hits harder? Hitting harder would increase the chance of the round going off. I think this is important when using budget ammunition in a budget gun. It is a common mod on race guns.
I can see a couple of reasons for them making changes to the internal parts;
The first is the New Model Single-Six was introduced in 1973 making it a old design. 46 years in today’s manufacturing world is a long time. I would not be surprised to learn the engineers at Ruger have figured out slight changes to the internal parts to cut costs, speed up manufacturing and/or to improve the action. Introducing a new model is the perfect time to make these changes.
The other is Ruger is changing the design to create sales of the parts.
Two separate production lines and parts inventory doesn’t make a lot of economic sense. If shooters embrace the design of the Wrangler could we be seeing a updated Single-Six using the redesigned parts?
TTv2,
I see no reason not to be excited about the Wrangler. I have neglected acquiring .22 Rimfire handguns. In fact I don’t even own one although I can shoot my Sons Buckmark and The Lady brought a SR22 last Fall. As I previously posted I am not impressed with Heritage “close enough” parts fit and quality of the casting of the frame.
As the cowboy saying goes; “You boys are going to get the drizzles if you don’t come out of the rain.”
edited to New Model Single Six.