Ruger Super Wrangler Review (2026): 700 Rounds of .22 LR and .22 Magnum

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Table of Contents

Review: Ruger Super Wrangler – Two Cylinders and Real Sights for Half a Single-Six

Our Rating: 8.3/10

• RRP: $339, every model Ruger lists
• Street Price: $241.07 (Use our live pricing for the best up to date deal)
• Caliber: .22 LR and .22 WMR, one cylinder for each
• Action: Single action, transfer bar with loading gate interlock
• Barrel Length: 5.5 in. (4.62 in. on the 250th Anniversary model), cold hammer-forged
• Overall Length: 11 in. (10.25 in. on the 250th)
• Weight (unloaded): 37.7 oz (32 oz on the 250th)
• Capacity (cylinder): 6
• Frame Size: Single-Six pattern grip frame
• Frame Material: Alloy steel cylinder frame, Cerakote finish
• Grip: Checkered synthetic
• Sights: Ramp front, windage and elevation adjustable rear
• Twist: 1:14 in. right hand, 6 grooves

Quick Take

The Super Wrangler is the Wrangler with everything people asked for. A second cylinder for .22 Magnum, a rear sight you can adjust, a longer barrel and an alloy steel cylinder frame instead of aluminum. Ours ran 700 rounds across both cylinders, and the only hiccups were three rimfire duds that fired on the second strike.

The real story is price. Ruger lists every Super Wrangler at $339. Live prices on the 5.5 inch guns start at $241.07, and trusted retailers sell them from $256.99. Ruger’s older convertible .22, the New Model Single-Six Convertible, starts at $535.99. That is the same trick for less than half the money.

What you give up is weight. At 37.7 ounces it is nearly eight ounces heavier than a plain Wrangler, and the cylinders do not swap between the two guns.

Best For: Plinkers and small game hunters who want .22 Magnum on tap and sights they can zero, without paying Single-Six money. Not for anyone buying for a small child who needs the lightest gun possible, or anyone wanting a defensive revolver.

Four Models, One Price

Ruger’s Super Wrangler model page lists four guns, and all four carry the same $339 list price. Three are the 5.5 inch guns in black (2032), silver (2033) and bronze (2034) Cerakote. The fourth is the one to look at twice.

Model 2071 is the America’s 250th Anniversary edition in dark bronze, with “Made in the 250th Year of American Liberty” engraved on the barrel. It has a 4.62 inch barrel and, per Ruger’s spec sheet, weighs 32 ounces against 37.7 for the 5.5 inch guns. Same price, shorter barrel, 5.7 ounces lighter. That puts it just 2 ounces heavier than a 4.62 inch aluminum Wrangler while keeping the steel frame and both cylinders.

One catch on the 250th: Ruger lists it as not available in Massachusetts, where the three 5.5 inch guns are approved. All four are listed as available in California.

Model	Finish	Barrel	Weight	MSRP	CA / MA
2032	Black Cerakote	5.5 in.	37.7 oz	$339	Yes / Yes
2033	Silver Cerakote	5.5 in.	37.7 oz	$339	Yes / Yes
2034	Bronze Cerakote	5.5 in.	37.7 oz	$339	Yes / Yes
2071 (250th)	Dark Bronze Cerakote	4.62 in.	32 oz	$339	Yes / No

Retailers carry more than Ruger’s page shows. A 6.5 inch Midnight Blue gun sells as a TALO distributor edition, and there is an engraved Collector’s Series and a Midnight Blue and brass version. Ruger’s model page does not list them, so check the barrel length and finish in the listing before you compare prices.

What $70 Buys Over the Wrangler

Ruger lists the plain Wrangler at $269 and the Super Wrangler at $339. Here is what the extra $70 gets you, straight from the two spec sheets:

	Wrangler (2003)	Super Wrangler (2033)
Calibers	.22 LR only	.22 LR and .22 WMR, two cylinders
Cylinder frame	Aluminum alloy	Alloy steel
Barrel	4.62 in., cold hammer-forged	5.5 in., cold hammer-forged
Rear sight	Integral, fixed	Adjustable for windage and elevation
Front sight	Blade	Ramp
Weight	30 oz	37.7 oz
MSRP	$269	$339

For most buyers the rear sight is worth the money on its own. The Wrangler’s fixed sights mean you hold off when a load prints left or high, which is the one complaint in our Ruger Wrangler review. On the Super Wrangler you turn a screw. That matters more here than on most .22s, because .22 LR and .22 WMR rarely hit the same spot out of one barrel.

Ruger adds a footnote worth reading: Super Wrangler cylinders are not interchangeable with Wrangler or Single-Six revolvers. If you already own a Wrangler, you cannot buy a magnum cylinder for it. You buy this gun.

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How We Tested It

Our test gun was a silver 2033 with a 5.5 inch barrel. We shot it over four sessions on an outdoor range, from a chilly 44 degree morning to a 68 degree afternoon: 500 rounds of .22 LR and 200 of .22 WMR.

Phase 1: Break-In

The first 200 rounds were CCI Mini-Mag 40 grain and Federal AutoMatch 40 grain through the .22 LR cylinder. The cylinder turned a little gritty for the first couple of boxes and smoothed out by round 150. Lockup was tight from the start, with no side to side play at full cock.

Phase 2: Reliability

A single action revolver has very little to go wrong, and nothing did. The log:

• Three failures to fire, all bulk Federal AutoMatch, all fired on the second strike. That is rimfire priming, not the gun.
• Sticky .22 WMR extraction after about 60 magnum rounds without cleaning. The ejector rod pushed every case out, but it took a firm press. A bore snake through the chambers fixed it.
• Cylinder swaps: twelve changes between .22 LR and .22 WMR over the four sessions, done at the bench in under a minute each. Open the gate, press the base pin latch, pull the pin, drop the cylinder out.

Phase 3: Accuracy

Six shot groups from a rest. At 15 yards the best .22 LR group was 1.3 inches with CCI Standard Velocity 40 grain, and Mini-Mag averaged 1.8. At 25 yards the .22 LR loads averaged 2.4 inches.

The magnum cylinder shot to a different place, which is exactly why the adjustable sight exists. With the sight zeroed for Mini-Mag, CCI Maxi-Mag 40 grain printed about 2 inches higher at 25 yards. Two clicks down and it grouped 2.2 inches. Hornady Critical Defense 45 grain FTX was the tightest magnum load at 2.0 inches.

Ammunition Log

• CCI Mini-Mag 40 gr .22 LR: 200 rounds
• Federal AutoMatch 40 gr .22 LR: 200 rounds
• CCI Standard Velocity 40 gr .22 LR: 100 rounds
• CCI Maxi-Mag 40 gr .22 WMR: 100 rounds
• Winchester Super-X 40 gr JHP .22 WMR: 50 rounds
• Hornady Critical Defense 45 gr FTX .22 WMR: 50 rounds

What This Means for You

• Zero twice: Note how many clicks separate your .22 LR and .22 WMR zeros. Ours was two.
• Clean the magnum chambers: Run a bore snake every 50 to 60 magnum rounds and extraction stays easy.
• Ammo preference: Standard velocity .22 LR for groups, Maxi-Mag or Critical Defense for magnum.
• Accuracy expectation: Under 2 inches at 15 yards and about 2.5 at 25 with decent ammo.

Performance Results

Reliability (9/10)

Seven hundred rounds and no fault that belonged to the gun. The magnum extraction needs a clean cylinder, which is true of every .22 WMR revolver I have shot. It loses a point only because the cylinder was gritty out of the box.

Accuracy (8/10)

A 1.3 inch six shot group at 15 yards from a $257 revolver is very good. The groups are about what a good Wrangler shoots. What the adjustable rear sight adds is the ability to zero each cylinder, and that is what turns a two cylinder gun from a novelty into something you can hunt with.

Ergonomics and Recoil (8/10)

The Single-Six pattern grip frame points naturally, and the extra weight makes even .22 WMR feel mild. That same weight is the one real drawback. At 37.7 ounces, a young shooter holds it up for fewer shots than a 30 ounce Wrangler. The single action trigger broke crisp at about 3 pounds 10 ounces on our gauge.

Fit, Finish, and Quality Control (7/10)

The Cerakote was even with no thin spots, the barrel to frame fit was clean and the timing was right on every chamber. The gritty cylinder rotation for the first 150 rounds is the only mark against it, and it wore in on its own.

Technical Deep Dive

Frame, Cylinders and Safety

Ruger gives the Super Wrangler an alloy steel cylinder frame, where the Wrangler uses aluminum alloy, and that accounts for most of the weight difference. The lockwork uses a transfer bar mechanism and a loading gate interlock, so the gun can be carried with six rounds and the hammer down, unlike an old style single action that wants an empty chamber under the hammer.

Component	Specification	Why it matters
Cylinder frame	Alloy steel, Cerakote	Heavier than the Wrangler, soaks up magnum recoil
Barrel	5.5 in., cold hammer-forged, 1:14 RH	Consistent rifling, small groups
Cylinders	One .22 LR, one .22 WMR, 6 shots each	Two cartridges, one gun
Safety	Transfer bar, loading gate interlock	Safe to carry with all six chambers loaded
Rear sight	Windage and elevation adjustable	Zero each cylinder separately
Grip frame	Single-Six pattern, checkered synthetic	Single-Six grip panels fit

Loading and Unloading

It is a gate loader. Open the gate, rotate the cylinder, drop in one round at a time, and punch empties out one at a time with the ejector rod. With the transfer bar there is no need to half cock first. It is slower than a swing-out cylinder, and anyone who wants faster reloads should look at the Diamondback Sidekick below.

How It Compares

Our best .22 revolvers guide covers the whole field. These are the three a Super Wrangler buyer cross-shops.

Ruger New Model Single-Six Convertible ($500-$690)

The original Ruger convertible. The card below starts at $499.77 for a .22 LR Single-Six at Bass Pro, and the Convertible with both cylinders starts at $535.99. It has the history, the resale value and a long list of variations, and it costs more than twice as much as a Super Wrangler. Remember that the cylinders do not swap between the two. If you want the heirloom gun, buy the Single-Six. If you want to shoot both cartridges for the least money, buy the Super Wrangler.

Diamondback Sidekick ($213-$300)

A nine shot rimfire with a cylinder that swings out, so it reloads faster than any gate loader. Trusted sellers start it at $244.99, but read the listing: many of the cheapest are .22 LR only packages. The convertible Sidekick with both cylinders starts at $282.99 at Palmetto, so the Super Wrangler undercuts it by about $26 and adds an adjustable rear sight.

Heritage Rough Rider ($150-$200)

The budget single action, from $151.99 at a trusted seller, and some versions come with both cylinders. It is about $100 cheaper than the Super Wrangler, and most versions have fixed sights. For a first .22 that lives in a range bag it is fine. For zeroing two cartridges, the Ruger’s adjustable rear is the reason to spend more.

Verdict: The Single-Six is the heirloom, the Sidekick is the fast reloader and the Rough Rider is the cheapest. The Super Wrangler is the one that does .22 LR and .22 WMR properly without the Single-Six price.

Upgrades Worth Making

Upgrade Category	Recommended Component	Why It Matters	Cost Estimate
Grips	Single-Six pattern wood or rubber panels	The grip frame is Single-Six pattern, so the aftermarket is deep	$30 – $90
Holster	A leather single action belt holster for a 5.5 in. barrel	Carries it to the woods or the trail	$40 – $90
Cleaning	.22 bore snake and a chamber brush	Keeps magnum extraction easy	$15 – $25
Ammo	A brick of standard velocity .22 LR	The most accurate load we shot	$35 – $60 per 500

Skip trigger work. At about 3 pounds 10 ounces and crisp it is already good. Our best .22 LR ammo guide covers what to feed the rimfire cylinder, and .22 LR vs .22 WMR explains what the magnum cylinder actually buys you.

Common Problems and Fixes

• Sticky magnum cases: Clean the .22 WMR chambers every 50 to 60 rounds. A bore snake takes a minute.
• Point of impact shifts between cylinders: Expected. Zero for your main load and count clicks for the other. Ours was two clicks.
• Gritty cylinder when new: Shoot a couple of boxes. Ours smoothed out by round 150 with no work.
• Buying a Wrangler magnum cylinder: There is no such thing. Ruger says the Super Wrangler cylinders will not fit the Wrangler or the Single-Six.
• Duds: Almost always the ammo. Rotate and strike again, or change brands if a lot keeps failing.

Who Should NOT Buy This Gun

• Parents buying for a small child: 37.7 ounces is heavy for young arms. The 30 ounce Ruger Wrangler is easier to hold up.
• Shooters who want fast reloads: A gate loader is slow. The Diamondback Sidekick swings its cylinder out and holds nine.
• Anyone buying a family heirloom: The Ruger New Model Single-Six has the history and the resale value.
• Buyers under $175: The Heritage Rough Rider does the single action .22 job for about $100 less.
• Anyone wanting a defensive handgun: A six shot rimfire single action is a plinker. Look at our best revolvers instead.

Final Verdict

The Ruger Super Wrangler takes the cheapest single action Ruger makes and fixes both of its limits. You get a .22 Magnum cylinder and a rear sight you can adjust, along with a longer barrel and a steel frame, for $70 over a Wrangler at list and less than half the price of a Single-Six Convertible on the street.

Buy it if you want one revolver for cans, paper and small game. Skip it if weight matters most, and know that the 250th Anniversary model gives you the same gun at the same price, 5.7 ounces lighter with a shorter barrel.

Final Score: 8.3/10. The two cylinder Ruger that finally makes sense at a Wrangler-adjacent price.

FAQ: Ruger Super Wrangler