Ruger Mark I, II, III, IV &22/45 Pistols
- Thread starter SGW Gunsmith
- Start date
rt11002003
New member
Rugers are a gamble. Their QC is terrible (from my experience). Their CS is great! I'm sure it's statistics with them. Drop a few pistols with problems into the market, fix them via excellent customer service.
Of the five Rugers I own, one had such a bad trigger I gave up after firing ten rounds. Another one had the rear sight fall off. My 10-22 had a head space issue, blowing pieces of the bolt and the cartridge out thru the ejection port.
By the time those events happened, I'd discovered Volquartsen, KIDD and others ; and had started shooting my Rugers with either red dot sights, or scopes. So, I modified all of them and pressed on.
Mine are all target models: Mk iii Target, Mk iii Competition Target, Mk iii TALO Hunter (it's labelled target) and a Mk ii Government Target. The shorter barrel pistols seem better balanced. They shoot equally well.
Even modified, they are great values. For less than 50% of the cost, they offer performance almost equal to my S&W Model's 41 and a Hammerli Xesse Sport.
And, if one gets one , without a defect, and one has good eyesight, they're good to go right out of the box.
Of the five Rugers I own, one had such a bad trigger I gave up after firing ten rounds. Another one had the rear sight fall off. My 10-22 had a head space issue, blowing pieces of the bolt and the cartridge out thru the ejection port.
By the time those events happened, I'd discovered Volquartsen, KIDD and others ; and had started shooting my Rugers with either red dot sights, or scopes. So, I modified all of them and pressed on.
Mine are all target models: Mk iii Target, Mk iii Competition Target, Mk iii TALO Hunter (it's labelled target) and a Mk ii Government Target. The shorter barrel pistols seem better balanced. They shoot equally well.
Even modified, they are great values. For less than 50% of the cost, they offer performance almost equal to my S&W Model's 41 and a Hammerli Xesse Sport.
And, if one gets one , without a defect, and one has good eyesight, they're good to go right out of the box.
I own 7 Mark pistols. All 7 work fine. I have replaced the firing pins and extractors with VQ parts just because. All of them worked OK out of the box.
One thing I will say about Mark pistols is that many of them do not stay locked back after the last round. Not sure why that is. I've learned to live with it.
I prefer the Mark IIIs over the Mark II. I like the slide release and the magazine release on the Mark IIIs and believe it or not I like having the loaded chamber indicator.
One thing I will say about Mark pistols is that many of them do not stay locked back after the last round. Not sure why that is. I've learned to live with it.
I prefer the Mark IIIs over the Mark II. I like the slide release and the magazine release on the Mark IIIs and believe it or not I like having the loaded chamber indicator.
Hate that pesky LCI
My Mk. 3 hunter was a very finicky eater, until I removed the loaded chamber indicator. Once that was done, no more issues.
Prior to removal 1 jam per mag was the norm. Mini mags made it a jam every other mag.
I have no use for a loaded chamber indicator.
My Mk. 3 hunter was a very finicky eater, until I removed the loaded chamber indicator. Once that was done, no more issues.
Prior to removal 1 jam per mag was the norm. Mini mags made it a jam every other mag.
I have no use for a loaded chamber indicator.
SGW Gunsmith
Moderator
The early Standard and the Mark I's did not have an automatic bolt hold system. The safety needed to be employed to hold the bolt in the "open position". When the Mark II version arrived, the hold open feature was incorporated into that style grip frame. If the bolt hold open feature is not working in your Ruger Mark II or III, check the back face of the bolt stop assembly to see if the rear, top corner has rounded off. That part only costs around $9.00, or you can try grinding it flat once again.
I've had mine since 1980. I have no idea how many rounds have gone through it. Wore it out once and had to send it back. Ruger repaired the frame, installed new bolt assembly, all new screws, and re-blued it. That was a long time ago. It has eaten everything I have feed to it. About time to clean it up and reblue it again. It has had a hard life.
john in jax
New member
I am a big fan of the 22/45, it is a great, reliable, easy to shoot platform.
A Ruger Standard model was the first pistol I ever shot, I thought it was great. But when I got my hands on a 22/45 I found I liked it so much better. In fact I never went back to the Standard Model, the 22/45 is just "The .22" for me.
With that said, my brother-in-law liked his SR22 so much he bought a second one. He swears if I ever give the SR22 a thorough workout I'd never go back to the 22/45. As a cranky old man who is determined to be set in my ways I have made sure to miss every opportunity to shoot that SR22.
A Ruger Standard model was the first pistol I ever shot, I thought it was great. But when I got my hands on a 22/45 I found I liked it so much better. In fact I never went back to the Standard Model, the 22/45 is just "The .22" for me.
With that said, my brother-in-law liked his SR22 so much he bought a second one. He swears if I ever give the SR22 a thorough workout I'd never go back to the 22/45. As a cranky old man who is determined to be set in my ways I have made sure to miss every opportunity to shoot that SR22.
SGW Gunsmith
Moderator
"Heck I thought SWG Gunsmith owned that site. Got more posts than Trumph has tweets"
No, I'm just a poor 'ol gun fixer up here in Northern Wisconsin with too many guns.
Can't remember who, but I stole that verse from somebody else.
I do have a soft spot for these Ruger Mark pistols, and there ain't one of 'em that's a "safe queen".....................all are shooters!
No, I'm just a poor 'ol gun fixer up here in Northern Wisconsin with too many guns.
Can't remember who, but I stole that verse from somebody else.
I do have a soft spot for these Ruger Mark pistols, and there ain't one of 'em that's a "safe queen".....................all are shooters!
