Ruger America 250th Anniversary 22s — Because Some Things Just Go Together
October 20, 2026
Gun Talk Staff
Two hundred and fifty years of American liberty, celebrated with 22s. It makes sense: the 22 is the cartridge more Americans have learned to shoot on than any other. Ruger’s 250th Anniversary Super Wrangler revolver and Mark IV 22/45 pistol are both engraved “Made in the 250th Year of American Liberty,” and both are guns you’d actually want to shoot.
Commemorating a milestone like this with a pair of 22s is exactly right. The 22 connects generations of hunters and shooters, and it arguably does more to introduce people to the shooting sports than anything else on the market. Ruger built its 250th Anniversary lineup around that idea.
The Super Wrangler
The Wrangler is Ruger’s entry-level single-action revolver: cowboy action styling, simple operation, and the kind of fun that comes from running a single-action wheelgun with a 22 round inside. The Super Wrangler takes that platform and adds a second cylinder for 22 Magnum, so you can run either cartridge depending on what you’re doing. The 22 Magnum cylinder makes it a more capable varmint gun. The 22 LR cylinder keeps it affordable and fun for plinking.
The 250th Anniversary version comes in a dark bronze Cerakote finish. It has a steel frame rather than the aluminum frame of the standard Wrangler, plus adjustable sights that make it genuinely useful rather than just decorative. It looks the part of a commemorative firearm while being a gun you’d actually want to shoot.
The Mark IV 22/45
The Mark IV 22/45 is a different kind of gun entirely: a semi-automatic pistol that combines 22 LR performance with 1911 ergonomics. The name tells you what you’re getting. It shoots a 22 and feels like a 45. The grip angle and panel design mirror the 1911 closely enough that it serves as a legitimate training tool for anyone who carries or competes with a 1911-style pistol.
The 250th Anniversary version adds an optics plate on top that supports three footprints: RMR, Delta Point Pro and RMSc. That covers a wide variety of the red dots people are actually running. An adjustable rear sight gives you iron sight capability if you prefer to run it without a dot. Ergonomic familiarity, an optics-ready design and adjustable iron sights make the Mark IV 22/45 a genuinely versatile platform.
Ruger 250th Anniversary 22s at a glance
Super Wrangler
Mark IV 22/45
Type
Single-action revolver
Semi-automatic pistol
Caliber
22 LR and 22 WMR (two cylinders)
22 LR
Capacity
6 rounds per cylinder
10+1 (two 10-round magazines)
Frame
Steel
Polymer grip frame
Sights
Adjustable
Fixed front, adjustable rear
Optics
None
Plate supports RMR, Delta Point Pro and RMSc
Marking
“Made in the 250th Year of American Liberty”
On the Range
Ryan and Chris took both guns to the range and set up a friendly competition shooting at candy — ducks and suckers — which managed to be a legitimate demonstration of the guns and completely entertaining at the same time. The Wrangler limited Ryan to six shots per cylinder, which he cheerfully blamed for leaving one target standing. Chris ran the Mark IV with the dot and showed exactly why an optics-ready 22 pistol is so much fun to shoot.
The lightness of the Mark IV got specific attention. Chris picked it up and noted that it’s light enough to shoot one-handed without any real difficulty, which makes it accessible for new shooters or anyone who wants to extend a range session without fatigue becoming a factor.
Final Thoughts
The Ruger 250th Anniversary 22s are a fitting celebration of a milestone that matters. The Super Wrangler connects to a cowboy tradition that’s woven through American history. The Mark IV 22/45 represents the practical, versatile side of American gun ownership. Both carry the anniversary marking, both are worth having, and both are exactly the kind of guns you buy knowing you’re going to enjoy them for years.
Happy birthday, America. What better way to celebrate than with guns?
