Disclaimer: A Ruger Super Wrangler revolver does NOT currently exist. No one from TFB contacted Ruger for comment. All of the opinions expressed herein are of the author alone and are not associated with Ruger in any way.

Last week on Wheelgun Wednesday I provided all of you 5 compelling reasons as to why the Ruger Wrangler is the BEST cheap revolver money can buy for an affordable $200. The main talking points we discussed which gave it an edge over its equally affordable competitors were: Cerakote finish, Torx screws in the frame, crisp cylinder timing, the Ruger warranty, and the checkered hammer as well as grips. All positive attributes six-shooter fans can appreciate.

BUT WHAT IF…

Ruger decided to make a Super Wrangler?! You might begin to think, “Here’s the click-bait. What is this all about?” In actuality, it is much more plausible to happen than you think. Ruger has been known to make many “Supers” of their current revolvers; this is not something new. In fact, they have been making “Supers” for over 60 years. These are all of the “Supers” that have existed or currently exist in Ruger’s portfolio of firearms:

• Super Single-Six (Mfg 1964 – 1972)
• Super Blackhawk (Mfg 1959 – 1973)
• New Model Super Blackhawk (Mfg 1974 – Current)
• Super Redhawk (Mfg 1987 – Current)
• Super GP100 (Mfg 2019 – Current)

Ruger could easily produce a Super Wrangler in the near future through the process of making a couple sensible yet easy upgrades to this economical revolver. All of the current and former “Supers” exhibited small yet meaningful Custom-Shop quality upgrades to existing cataloged models to make them more desirable without a significant spike in price. Ruger could easily do this to their Wrangler since it has started out as an economy revolver that is more about function than frills. The improvements I am about to suggest might be aesthetically attractive and stylish, but they are more about practicality and earning that name of the Super Wrangler.

Ruger Super Wrangler – Add Better Iron Sights, Potentially Fiber Optic

One area in which the Ruger Wrangler could be upgraded to a Super Wrangler is through the iron sights. Right now the Front Sight Blade matched up with an Integral Grooved Rear Sight is pretty difficult to shoot. I praised Ruger for their sexy and durable Cerakote finish previously, but that same coating on the iron sights on a bright, sunny day is very difficult to stare down and shoot consistently with. If Ruger would transition to a 3-dot, white dot set or even fiber optic sights, it would make it significantly easier, for good eyes and bad, to shoot the Wrangler revolver.

Ruger super wrangler – improved grips, possibly wood or G10 material

In last week’s Wheelgun Wednesday I actually pointed out that this was one of the strong suits of the Ruger Wrangler so why would I bring it up again? Well, as good as the press checkered grips are that are currently fashioned on the Wrangler, Ruger could likely improve them even more with not a huge bump in the overall cost of the revolver. If they went the route of wood grips it might come across as more appealing and attractive to what I would deem traditionalists (as a collector, I fall into this category). If they decided to go with something more colorful and durable in G10 material it could draw in more modern shooters (I again fall into this category having an appreciation for advances in technology and modern materials). So, whether Ruger would decide on wood or G10, a newer set of grips could do a lot for the Wrangler as far as looks, dexterity, and durability.

Ruger super wrangler – offer interchangeable cylinders

This might be the most difficult ‘ask’ of Ruger to get them over the hump to make a Super Wrangler, not because of the engineering involved (Ruger is exceedingly capable of this), but it could push the MSRP up to that of their most affordable New Model Single-Six Convertible at $629. If that were the case then you might as well mothball the entire idea of a Super Wrangler. In order for this concept to manifest to market, it would need to gain several improvements like the ones mentioned yet stay under the lowest MSRP of a Single-Six. This way there is a reason for shooters to buy into a Wrangler versus a Single-Six.

final thoughts: Ruger super wrangler

It is a delicate task of improving features without exceeding the base MSRP of the New Model Single-Six which is the next logical purchase for wheelgun aficionados to make if a Super Wrangler ever became too expensive. The other element to worry about (or possibly not worry about at all) is the potential of Ruger cannibalizing their own sales.

Could Ruger make a Super Wrangler that is so groovy and cool that it cannibalizes the current sales of their New Model Single-Six? If Ruger completely believes this would happen, should they move forward and do it anyways? On the surface this might sound like madness, but what if a Wrangler and Super Wrangler generate so many sales that eliminating the New Model Single-Six is worth it?

Apple notoriously cannibalized their own iPod sales which was a billion-dollar market when they invented the iPhone. In the short term, people thought they were crazy, but in the long term, Apple ended up making even more money with the iPhone than they ever could have with the iPod alone. Could the Super Wrangler at a cheaper price-point with substantial quality usurp Ruger’s own New Model Single-Six with even higher, permanent sales in the long term? Let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.