Ruger Wrangler .22 LR
Model: 2002
Ruger Wrangler .22 LR
Model: 2002
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
The Ruger Wrangler is a six-shot single-action .22 LR revolver built for plinking. It has an MSRP of $269 and weighs 30.0 oz. Its cylinder frame is aluminum alloy under black Cerakote, which holds down both the price and the weight on an otherwise nineteenth-century layout.
The sights are a blade at the front and a notch formed into the top strap at the rear, and neither one moves, so a revolver that groups off the aiming point has to be fed a different load. The barrel is 4.62 inches and cold hammer forged, the revolver is 10.25 inches long, and a transfer bar and loading gate interlock mean all 6 chambers can be loaded. Loading and unloading go one chamber at a time through the gate. The grip frame is Ruger's Single-Six pattern with checkered synthetic panels.
Set against the alternatives, the Ruger Super Wrangler has an MSRP of $339 and adds 7.7 oz of steel frame, an adjustable rear sight, a longer 5.5-inch barrel and a second cylinder in .22 WMR. The Heritage Rough Rider has an MSRP of $166 with a zinc alloy frame and a hammer block in place of a transfer bar, so it costs less and asks more care in how it is loaded.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- The barrel is cold hammer forged, the same process Ruger uses on its centerfire rifle barrels.
- The grip frame takes Single-Six pattern panels, so wood or rubber replacements fit it.
- An aluminum frame is enough metal for rimfire pressure, and it saves the weight a steel frame would add on a gun carried all day.
- Ruger states the Super Wrangler's .22 WMR cylinder will not fit this revolver, so there is no route to a second cartridge.
- Aluminium is softer than steel, so the cylinder window and the gate are the places to look at on a heavily used example.
- Showing the revolver clear takes six separate movements through the gate, which is slow at a busy range.
Category Rankings
How the Ruger Wrangler .22 LR ranks among full-size .22 LR handguns.
Where to Buy
No prices available at this time.
Alternatives to Consider
Similar full-size .22 LR handguns ranked by similarity.
| NAME | BEST PRICE |
|---|---|
|
Heritage Rough Rider .22 LR
Heritage Manufacturing
|
— |
|
Ruger Super Wrangler .22 LR
Ruger
|
— |
|
Ruger Mark IV Standard .22 LR
Ruger
|
— |
|
Browning Buck Mark Standard URX .22 LR
Browning
|
— |
|
Smith & Wesson SW22 Victory .22 LR
Smith & Wesson
|
— |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it cheaper than Ruger's steel single actions?
The cylinder frame is aluminum alloy and the finish is Cerakote instead of bluing over steel, and the sights are formed into the frame instead of being adjustable parts.
Can it be carried with every chamber loaded?
Yes. The transfer bar keeps the hammer from reaching the firing pin until the trigger is held back, which the original single-action designs this one copies could not do.
Where is it made?
The United States, at Ruger's own plant.
