New Super Wrangler

[GuitarmanNick]

Got the itch for a single-action plinker so after doing some research, I settled on a Ruger Super Wrangler in black Ceracoat. At $300, it is a bargain in my opinion, especially for those on a fixed income like me.

Got my order in and decided to grab a selection of Wolff springs to lighten the trigger before taking it to the range for the first time.

Picked up the gun and received the springs on the same day. The next morning I installed the springs. I will say that the Super Wrangler was a pain to get back together properly. Things have too much room to move around while you are attempting to put the two halves back together. Took me five tries before I was comfortable with putting the screws back in. The cylinder lock was the primary issue.

Trigger pull went from just over 4 pounds, to 1 pound - 10 ounces. Used the 30 ounce trigger spring with an 18 pound hammer spring.

At the range, things went perfectly. All of the 8 different types of ammo I tested produced good groups with no light strikes. Velocities ranged from 710 -2200 FPS with the best groups being produced by sub-sonic or over 1400 FPS offerings.

Shooting CCI VNT polymer tipped .22WMR was literally, a blast. Great big fireballs from the 5.5" barrel put a huge smile on my face. No real practical use for me, but it is definitely fun to shoot.

The original front sight has a stepped ramp that was reflecting some glare under certain lighting conditions, so a set of Williams fiber optic sights was installed yesterday and makes it much easier for my old eyes to pick up the sights. The plan is to zero at 25 yards with CCI standard velocity which should give a fairly flat trajectory out to 50 yards with most of the ammo in my stash.

A set of engraved rosewood grips are on order from Altamont and should arrive in a couple of weeks. These should dress the gun up, nicely.

Around $420 invested, and all of the performance and availability of upgrades/accessories of the high dollar "Single-Six".

Planning a trip to the indoor range tomorrow and calling it "Wheelgun Wednesday". The new Ruger will accompany my S&W 2" snubby in .38 special. No real projects at the moment so it is time to just have fun punching paper.

Once the grips arrive and are installed, I will post pictures.

 

[Bobster]

3-4 years ago I got a Heritage Rough Rider for $130 BF sale. I've had to do a bit of work to it just to keep it a shooter. In hindsight, I wished I had upped the ante and got me a Wrangler but they had just come out and were easily more than double the price of the RR. The .22 mag cylinder was $30 from Heritage including shipping (no tax at the time).

Barrel loosened up so I re-tightened it. Had to remove the case pusher tube, shallow drill/tap the barrel and re-install. You can see the old hole if you look close enough.
Since the front sight was now at 11 o'clock I had to figure out a sighting system. A cut-down 10/22 rail drilled and tapped into the top of the RR frame and a rando imported RDS from the resource pile.
An unknown solvent softened the paint on the "fake" wood grips so I rubbed it off with a little denatured leaving the black plastic.
An estimated $200 worth of 'smithing to get a $130 gun shootable...

 

[GuitarmanNick]

I too find it difficult to give up on a poor performer. Sometimes the persistence pays dividends. I have encountered several problem guns that were a challenge to get working to my satisfaction.

In looking at the reviews on the Rough Rider, it was clear that the QC is suspect, at best. I also saw a few bad reviews on the Wranglers, but most were people comparing them to the Single-Six.

I am frugal and always try to get a good value for the dollar, but avoid "cheap" products that will not serve the intended purpose well.

Many times, I am compromising with myself when making a purchase. Having Cadillac tastes on a Chevy budget takes some planning when it comes to any new acquisition.

 

[Bobster]

I am frugal and always try to get a good value for the dollar, but avoid "cheap" products that will not serve the intended purpose well.

Not learning from my first "mistake" , I picked up a like-new, in-box "Barkeep" .22LR for $100. Retailing at the time for $150ish. It was from an older guy who lived in the retirement park next to my shop so he delivered which was convenient. I thought it might be neat to see flames come out and feel the "kick" with the .22 Mag cylinder from the other gun but it was anticlimactic. Plus, it would barely hit paper at 7yds--accuracy was dismal. Sold it off for a quick $20 profit.



Last Sunday at "Public Day" there was a couple there with a bevy of "cheap" guns. Apparently they are "regulars" and come out every month. Aside from a BP revolver (which was amusing), they had a pink and a faux "case-hardened" Rough Riders, the latter with a Mag cylinder. They also had a Rossi semi-auto rifle ($125 BF she said). All guns were bought because that was what they could afford at the time. Can't really fault them for that... At least they are getting out there and shooting them (frugally).

 

[BeerHunter]

Got the itch for a single-action plinker so after doing some research, I settled on a Ruger Super Wrangler in black Ceracoat. At $300, it is a bargain in my opinion, especially for those on a fixed income like me.

Got my order in and decided to grab a selection of Wolff springs to lighten the trigger before taking it to the range for the first time.

Picked up the gun and received the springs on the same day. The next morning I installed the springs. I will say that the Super Wrangler was a pain to get back together properly. Things have too much room to move around while you are attempting to put the two halves back together. Took me five tries before I was comfortable with putting the screws back in. The cylinder lock was the primary issue.

Trigger pull went from just over 4 pounds, to 1 pound - 10 ounces. Used the 30 ounce trigger spring with an 18 pound hammer spring.

At the range, things went perfectly. All of the 8 different types of ammo I tested produced good groups with no light strikes. Velocities ranged from 710 -2200 FPS with the best groups being produced by sub-sonic or over 1400 FPS offerings.

Shooting CCI VNT polymer tipped .22WMR was literally, a blast. Great big fireballs from the 5.5" barrel put a huge smile on my face. No real practical use for me, but it is definitely fun to shoot.

The original front sight has a stepped ramp that was reflecting some glare under certain lighting conditions, so a set of Williams fiber optic sights was installed yesterday and makes it much easier for my old eyes to pick up the sights. The plan is to zero at 25 yards with CCI standard velocity which should give a fairly flat trajectory out to 50 yards with most of the ammo in my stash.

A set of engraved rosewood grips are on order from Altamont and should arrive in a couple of weeks. These should dress the gun up, nicely.

Around $420 invested, and all of the performance and availability of upgrades/accessories of the high dollar "Single-Six".

Planning a trip to the indoor range tomorrow and calling it "Wheelgun Wednesday". The new Ruger will accompany my S&W 2" snubby in .38 special. No real projects at the moment so it is time to just have fun punching paper.

Once the grips arrive and are installed, I will post pictures.

Pics or it didn't happen!

 

[GuitarmanNick]

New grips arrived and are a little wider than the originals. Feels great in my hand, and still shoots very well. The Williams fiber optic sights are much easier for my old eyes to pick up than the originals.

 

[Racer88]

Nice!

 

[Bobster]

New grips arrived and are a little wider than the originals. Feels great in my hand, and still shoots very well. The Williams fiber optic sights are much easier for my old eyes to pick up than the originals.

I like what you've done with it! Very tasteful AND functional mods! I was thinking what it would be like if you went back to the 1880s and put that gun in the hand of a six-gun-shooter what they would think of the fiber optics. Or imagine a red-dot or laser!

An estimated $200 worth of 'smithing to get a $130 gun shootable...

I wanted to show the aforementioned couple with Rough Riders MY RR at the next Public Day this coming Sunday where I will be RSO. Figured they'll get a kick out of it. I brought it to the range last Saturday so my daughter could try it after the "Action Pistol" event earlier that morning. My dot had accompanied me to the "match" (no scores are kept), did well and had a good time. She had a rare Saturday off and was up for it and any time I can shoot with either of my busy kids is a GREAT time. There will always be plenty of guns to shoot (and to test/sight in) so they know a trip to the range will be at least a 3-4hr affair and 100s of rounds. I try to include guns they haven't shot yet and my dot hadn't shot the .38 snub and it had been a while for the RR.

Anyhow, the RR started having timing issues and not rotating correctly while my dot was using it. After yelling at her for breaking it (JUST KIDDING ) I was lucky to even get it unloaded.
Also had trigger reset problems with the re-glued FW I'll update on in that thread. I didn't even get an entire mag through it. At this point we both decided it was time for lunch.

Getting back to the RR, there were several sales on them this past week. $100 plus "free" mag cylinder. Maybe you'll get a "good" one? I'm definitely experiencing "buyer's remorse" at this point... I'll update with some pics of the RR's "guts" once I get it apart. I think it just might be a little "dry" inside.

 

[Bobster]

Planning a trip to the indoor range tomorrow and calling it "Wheelgun Wednesday". The new Ruger will accompany my S&W 2" snubby in .38 special.

I up and made a separate thread for my Rough Rider and the "fix" which was apparently greasing the internals. Function-tested OK--live test will happen this weekend. LINK Sorry about posting so much in YOUR Ruger thread...

But @Stephen G asked a very valid question about cylinder gap and from what info i can find, it should be .004"-.007". My M206 .38 snub feeler-gauged at .008"--close enough. The RR gauged at .017" This is even after turning the barrel in an extra 30° after it loosened up.

So after your range trip described above, would you mind checking the cylinder gap of both the Ruger and S&W and reporting your findings here? I'm assuming you have feeler gauges... Inquiring minds want to know!

 

[GuitarmanNick]

The trip was last week but I pulled them out as my curiosity was peeked.

Tolerances on the S&W are really tight and the gap is .002". It is a 2" K-framed model 10-7 in .38 special. I am barely able to see the gap.

The Ruger is visibly wider @ .007". I did not expect it to be anywhere near the S&W. Not bad for the price point and the materials involved.

Glad I selected the Ruger and invested a little more.

The barrel being off would give me hesitation about shooting the gun. Good luck on your project, sir.