Hating my Ruger Mk III Hunter

S

stephen426

New member
Let me start off by saying I am fairly handy and not afraid to follow online videos. I decided to install the Volquartsen Accurizing kit into my Ruger Mk III Hunter. I have only shot this a few times and had not broken it down for cleaning yet. I know new guns can be stiff, but this thing is absurd. The mainspring assembly required a wooden dowel and mallet to dislodge. I have better than average hand strength, and that thing would not budge.

After I finally got the main spring out and the bolt removed, I had to fight to remove the barrel-receiver assembly.

Is it just me or does this gun have a serious design flaw??? I have had a Browning Buckmark for over 20 years and that thing is a piece of cake compared to this gun. The trigger out of the box is also way better than Ruger’s.

For those who own both, is the Ruger more trouble than it is worth???
 
I dunno ...maybe it's you .... I can detail strip mine in 3 minutes .... 2 if I practice a couple of times .... and put it back together in the same time.
 
Or alternatively, what does the owners manual label it as- they have pictures ....

I'm turnin' in .... I'll try to help you tomorrow.
 
I know my next door neighbor has one. I’ll have him look at it. The Volquartsen trigger is amazing, but I’m pretty sure something isn’t installed properly. It only resets the trigger when holding it at certain angles. When it does break, it is very light. Hope this thing loosened up a bit.
 
I’m guessing that the sear spring may be in the wrong position. It seems to cock reliably when pointed up. This certainly is more complicated than the Buckmark.

I have the stainless Hunter with the fluted barrel and the big wooden grips. I absolutely love how this thing looks. I’m hoping I figure out the disassembly and get the kinks out.
 
Keep the faith. It's a great gun. I have one and love it.

It take some getting use to, to be able to take it apart. I have a friend with one that refuses to take it apart anymore to clean it. I finally convinced him to follow the manual and now he has no problems.

The biggest thing to watch out for is to hold the pistol straight up and fire it when assembling it. That will let the hammer strut fall into the right position so that you can get the main spring back in.

Even after taking mine apart lots of times I still have to use a punch and hammer to get the main spring assembly out. I like it because that means the gun is nice and tight for precision shooting.
 
I love shooting my Ruger MKIII slab side Comp Target. I love it less when I have to clean and lube it. Let's face it. Reassembly is a royal PITA. But, as most of us know, it becomes easier once you learn the steps and the reasons for each step in the process. I also had to deburr and polish parts and assemblies to improve component fit and function. Once done, my MKIII is as smooth as silk and flawless at the range. Breakdown and reassembly is much easier as well.
 
Once you learn the steps and your pistol is well broken in it's really not bad at all. First few times disassembling do require a dowel and rubber mallet though. Personally, I rarely separate the barrel from frame for cleaning. It just doesn't seem necessary. Be sure to check out the Ruger assembly/ disassembly videos on YouTube.
 
The key is to EXACTLY follow the instruction manual supplied with the pistol. Most have trouble with the exactly part.
Love my Mk. 3 Hunter, it is a looker. Mine became a good shooter once I removed that idiotic loaded chamber indicator.
Mine only functioned 100% with Mini Mags prior to removing the LCR. Now it eats most anything.
 
I have four Ruger MK II's, all bought new, and yes they are a little stiffer at first, but break in with a few disassembly, reassembles. I can field strip, clean and put back together in under five minutes for each gun. Piece of cake IF you follow the instructions. Oh yeah, REMOVE that Magazine Disconnect from that MK III. It will make thing easier.
 
Its you. I have no trouble with the four I own. I also feel the Ruger is better than the Buckmark in several ways(I have two of those as well). I bought both my Buckmarks used, and both were missing the recoil buffer. One had been shot so much without the buffer that the area where the buffer goes was beat up badly. It took some serious work to get that area straightened up so it could accept a buffer. That boss is also non replaceable. Its part of the frame. The Ruger doesn't use a plastic buffer, instead it uses a steel pin, which IF ever damaged(doubtful) IS replaceable. I also don't like the Buckmark has to have the safety off to unload a live chamber. IMHO the Ruger is a better pistol.

The "dangly thing" is the hammer strut. It its wasn't there, the pistol wouldn't fire. Its a simple process to get the strut in the correct spot when reassembling. Simply tilt the pistol muzzle up at a 60 degree angle, press and HOLD the trigger, and close the mainspring housing.
 
If you truly have difficulty with the pistol, have a gunsmith smooth things up for you, or get the Majestic Arms Speed Strip kit
 
Ruger marks are a class all unto themselves really. Take down is a learned process but certainly can be done. I've got to where I can do it in seconds (although not blind folded yet). It's a little like a puzzle. Replacing the hammer bushing can help tremendously (Volquartsen/Tandemkross). Be patient with it (though that might be hard to do).
 
What about the dangly thing for the hammer assembly? Why is it even there?
Click to expand...

If it's the hammer strut you are referring to, it connects the mainspring to the hammer ..... springs got to push against something.... or they don't do anything.... the strut has to fall into that little dimple on top of the mainspring in the mainspring housing (that's the part with the big fat pin that goes up into the receiver and pivots into the grip) .... it's why you have to point the gun up ....gravity works every time, unless something stops it .....

The manual does have pics ...lots of pictures.
 
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