Model12Win
Moderator
how is the new ruger mk iv? I want one. thx.
mk iv
- Thread starter Model12Win
- Start date
I have the Mark IV 22/45 and love it. Trigger was horrible right out of the factory but the Volquartsen Trigger Kit helped a lot bringing the pull down from 6 lbs to 2.5 lbs.
I love the accessories available to the Mark IV. I added all the Tandemkross accessories. Not needed but I like the way they look and feel. Best accessory was the HALO charging handle.
I love the accessories available to the Mark IV. I added all the Tandemkross accessories. Not needed but I like the way they look and feel. Best accessory was the HALO charging handle.
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Model12Win
Moderator
I see about the trigger. I have read it isn't very good out of the box.
I was surprised just how bad the trigger is on the MkIV competition. That can be fixed and should be factored into the purchase price. Not everyone is going to need this but on a "competition target" is a must do.
The finish cannot be fixed. The gun looks good but not great. My major nit pik is the finish cannot be maintained. The old satin stainless could be scotch bright and metal polish or just polish with a cloth for a life time of good looks. There is no way to take out the inevitable scratches from the bead blasted matt finish. So; on day 1 the appearance is not as nice as the old stainless and worse yet over time it will deteriorate.
For the price, I think they could have done better. Seriously, guns such as stainless frame (competition and hunter) are high priced guns for the level of finish provided. And the Competition has ZERO actual competition features beyond the 'style' of a flat side barrel.
Even the thumb rest grip of the Comp model has 1/2 the thumb rest removed to make way for the slide release. It would have been better to delete the release than compromise the grip. Special target grade gun with ZERO real shooter features. How difficult to offer a modified slide release button with a real thumb rest for the hundreds of dollars price.
The finish cannot be fixed. The gun looks good but not great. My major nit pik is the finish cannot be maintained. The old satin stainless could be scotch bright and metal polish or just polish with a cloth for a life time of good looks. There is no way to take out the inevitable scratches from the bead blasted matt finish. So; on day 1 the appearance is not as nice as the old stainless and worse yet over time it will deteriorate.
For the price, I think they could have done better. Seriously, guns such as stainless frame (competition and hunter) are high priced guns for the level of finish provided. And the Competition has ZERO actual competition features beyond the 'style' of a flat side barrel.
Even the thumb rest grip of the Comp model has 1/2 the thumb rest removed to make way for the slide release. It would have been better to delete the release than compromise the grip. Special target grade gun with ZERO real shooter features. How difficult to offer a modified slide release button with a real thumb rest for the hundreds of dollars price.
g.willikers
New member
Ruger rimfire pistols have always been my favorite.
It's a shame about the trigger quality on the new version.
Maybe it's due to the low opinion their lawyers have about their customers shooting skills.
Good for the aftermarket suppliers, though.
It's a shame about the trigger quality on the new version.
Maybe it's due to the low opinion their lawyers have about their customers shooting skills.
Good for the aftermarket suppliers, though.
Model12Win
Moderator
Do these new Ruger pistols jam a lot?
SGW Gunsmith
Moderator
No, not if you use the RIGHT ammunition: 
When I have a customer with a new Ruger Mark pistol, it's been my habit to advise they run a few hundred rounds of CCI Mini-Mags through the pistol to exercise the springs until they reach their final "set". Once those springs are there, standard or high velo ammunition will run just fine.
The Ruger Mark magazines can be a bit troublesome when new. The inside edges of the feed lips may be fraught with rough edges from the stamping process, as can the magazine follower button track. Once those rough edges are treated with emery paper in #220 up through #600 grit, cartridges feed smoother and that follower button runs up and down much smoother also.
When I have a customer with a new Ruger Mark pistol, it's been my habit to advise they run a few hundred rounds of CCI Mini-Mags through the pistol to exercise the springs until they reach their final "set". Once those springs are there, standard or high velo ammunition will run just fine.
The Ruger Mark magazines can be a bit troublesome when new. The inside edges of the feed lips may be fraught with rough edges from the stamping process, as can the magazine follower button track. Once those rough edges are treated with emery paper in #220 up through #600 grit, cartridges feed smoother and that follower button runs up and down much smoother also.
Since Ruger has been making the basic design forever, I think they will be pretty much what people expect - an improved plinker that works great out of the box and also has enormous upgrade potential and aftermarket support. I've decided to get a blue Target model as soon as I sell one or two non-shooters in the safe. I've never owned a Ruger Mk 22 pistol, and I expect that the MkIV Target will be may main plinker for quite a few years.
Model12Win
Moderator
Julian I echo those sentiments wholesale. I do hope my Mk IV will be a good one. I need not God's supreme target gun, but a good plinker and decent shooter is but what I desire.
As for mini-mags, I've many of those and will heed the above to run them through my piece to prepare it for many types of munitions to follow.
As for mini-mags, I've many of those and will heed the above to run them through my piece to prepare it for many types of munitions to follow.
Liking my 22/45 Tactical so far. Only 350 rounds so far. I did have 5-10 fail to feeds in the first 200. But only 1 the last time out. My trigger is "OK". I wouldn't mind if it were a little lighter and had a little less take up, but I haven't decided yet if I'm going to change it - it certainly doesn't "have to" go.
Does it jam a lot?
Mine had a problem with Standard Velocity but worked perfect with High Velocity like Mini Mags. I bought a spring kit from Volquartsen so I could shoot my SV ammo in the 22/45. Since the modification I've run 5K rounds without a problem.
I was thinking of changing the springs when I shoot the SV and HV but the gun now runs flawlessly with both and the lighter spring so I'm good to go.
Mine had a problem with Standard Velocity but worked perfect with High Velocity like Mini Mags. I bought a spring kit from Volquartsen so I could shoot my SV ammo in the 22/45. Since the modification I've run 5K rounds without a problem.
I was thinking of changing the springs when I shoot the SV and HV but the gun now runs flawlessly with both and the lighter spring so I'm good to go.
carguychris
New member
Having shot a range-rental MkIV, I concur with the comments about the mediocre factory trigger, and I will also mention that the (IMHO) oversize ambi safety levers quite literally rubbed me the wrong way.
Note that the angle if the levers is a little odd; they are at frame level on-safe and below frame level off-safe (the pistol in SGW Gunsmith's picture is on-safe). Pushing the LH lever into the off-safe position caused the RH lever to dig into my knuckle on the other side.
I'd be interested in the pistol if the aftermarket comes out with low-profile safety levers to go with the trigger kits, but not before.
Note that the angle if the levers is a little odd; they are at frame level on-safe and below frame level off-safe (the pistol in SGW Gunsmith's picture is on-safe). Pushing the LH lever into the off-safe position caused the RH lever to dig into my knuckle on the other side.
I'd be interested in the pistol if the aftermarket comes out with low-profile safety levers to go with the trigger kits, but not before.
SGW Gunsmith
Moderator
One Ruger Mark IV pistol does not a Standard make. So far, I've had five of these relatively "NEW" pistols cross my bench for tuning and smoothing. Measured trigger pull weight, using a Lyman digital pull gauge, has run from 4 ½ to almost 6 pounds. The more concerning aspect, at least to me, is how the factory trigger wobbles on its pivot pin and then drifts, left and right. Those conditions are easily fixed, along with the addition of pre and over-travel adjustment screws in the factory trigger, if so desired.
When test firing all of the pistols I had in here, three of 'em shaved lead particles from the bullets bearing surface as fed into the chamber. I could feel the tiny particles hit my face and shooting glasses. That condition was also fixed using some judicious sharp edge removal and polishing.
It took several years of working on each of the Ruger Mark pistol versions ( Mark I, II, III and 22/45 ) to compile all the notes that I have acquired as to what can and may happen to each version, and, I'm sure that there just could be some issues that may develop as these Ruger Mark IV get into more and more folks hands.
When test firing all of the pistols I had in here, three of 'em shaved lead particles from the bullets bearing surface as fed into the chamber. I could feel the tiny particles hit my face and shooting glasses. That condition was also fixed using some judicious sharp edge removal and polishing.
It took several years of working on each of the Ruger Mark pistol versions ( Mark I, II, III and 22/45 ) to compile all the notes that I have acquired as to what can and may happen to each version, and, I'm sure that there just could be some issues that may develop as these Ruger Mark IV get into more and more folks hands.
Model12Win
Moderator
Since writing I have bought a mk IV. YES it has that EXACT problem, shaves a lot of lead/copper from bullets and they were EVERYWHERE inside the action when I cleaned it, and I was getting peppered by them when shooting. I also noticed it gouged up the front of the bullets when I cycled some without firing them. NOT cool.
It is currently en route to Ruger with detailed notes and pictures. I only hope they can fix it, I think for sure the feed ramp is rough or something and they can fix it.
