Welcome to our Gun Of The Week video series. For this episode, we have a fun little single-action revolver from Ruger, and not only will this Super Wrangler accept the ubiquitous and affordable .22 Long Rifle cartridge, a simple cylinder conversion instantly converts the pint-sized rimfire into a magnum-chambered firebreather. Watch our video above to see this latest Wrangler in use on the range.
Back in 2019, Ruger came to market with its Wrangler, a single-action-army-inspired revolver that was built for budget-minded wheelgun fans. It came chambered in .22 Long Rifle and quickly became a favorite. The Wrangler mimicked the company’s well-heeled Single-Six revolver in many ways, except the Wrangler spinoff was made with Ruger’s most advanced aluminum castings that were blended with steel parts where it mattered most. This was done to save money, both in manufacturing and at the gun counter.
Since Wrangler’s debut, Ruger has advanced the lineup even further to include myriad finish options, barrel lengths and stock styles. There’s even a model built with a Birdshead-pattern grip frame. But it’s with the Super Wrangler model that things get even more interesting. Announced in 2023, the Super Wrangler takes what made the original fun and exciting, and cranks it up a notch to include .22 WMR. So, you still get the fun and affordability of being able to plink with .22 Long Rifle and the bonus of a spare magnum cylinder you can simply swap back and forth as needed.
There are a few differences outside of convertibility between the original Wrangler and the Super Wrangler. First is that the latter is heavier to withstand the higher pressures of .22 WMR, because a tougher steel frame material is needed. With its 5.5” cold-hammer-forged steel barrel the Super Wrangler tips the scales at just under 38 ozs. compared to the 6.5”-barreled Wrangler that weighs around 6 ozs. lighter. The Super Wrangler also comes with a fully adjustable rear sight assembly and ramped post up front, whereas the non-magnum version is merely a top-strap notch that pairs with a Cerakote-finished blade front. These are big improvements over the original design and worthy of the title Super Wrangler.
Like the classic single-action revolvers of the Old West, this one operates much the same way. Along the rear right side of the frame, there’s a loading gate. Unlike a traditional single-action army where the hammer must go to the half-cock notch, Ruger requires the hammer to be fully forward to open the gate for loading. There’s a transfer-bar safety mechanism, too. With this configuration, you get a six-round cylinder, and because of the transfer bar, it can be fully loaded without worry.
We found our time on the range with the Super Wrangler went too quickly, and that’s because it was a ton of fun to shoot. We appreciate the gun’s Cerakote finish and found that it helps knock out glare in the full sun compared to the glossy blued finishes of yesteryear’s six-guns. The checkered synthetic stock panels fit well, too, and the classic Single-Six-pattern frame means there’s a rich aftermarket available for upgrades. Add in the fact this little plinker can be fitted for magnum cartridges, and what’s not to like?
Ruger Super Wrangler Specifications
Manufacturer: Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.
Action Type: single-action, rimfire revolver
Chambering: .22 Long Rifle (convertible)
Barrel: 5.5" cold-hammer-forged steel
Frame: steel
Sights: fully adjustable square-notch rear, ramped post front
Stocks: checkered-synthetic
Cylinder Capacity: six-round
Overall Length: 11"
Weight: 37.7 ozs.
Accessories: owner's manual, .22 WMR cylinder, lock
MSRP: $329
