Ruger Mark IV......Before and After?

S

SGW Gunsmith

Moderator
It's been a bit over a year now that the Ruger Mark IV made its unexpected arrival. It also seems that the alleged "recall" has subsided as far as what went south with the safety plate and, what some found, whereby the pistol could fire when the safety was half on. Or was that half off? :p I get confused.

I have had a few of the Ruger Mark IV pistols on my bench before and then after the recall measuring and recording dimensions for comparison to try and find out exactly what the heck all the "hoopla" was about. After the recall, the safety plate now has an "S" where a little white dot used to reside. I'm sure that obvious change did'nt fix whatever the actual issue was though.

For 67 years, the Ruger Standard, Mark I, II, III and 22/45 pistols used a "steel" detent in the thumb button protruding off the left side of the safety plate. Only issues I'm aware with that combination was when an owner lost that little devil and needed to get another one. So, why did Ruger go from a "tried and true" perfectly functioning "steel" detent in the safety, to a black plastic one?

yTusRD9m.jpg


Notice the nose on the black plastic detent? It's flat, and only after being flipped on and off during normal working conditions. Can't help but wonder "when" the nose of that detent will become flat enough to cause issues with the operation of the safety. So what, some say, "Just get a new one". I agree, but make sure the new one is steel. ;)
 
I just don't trust the Mk IV.

Fom this plastic detent, to the weird rubber bushing that keeps the barrel from wobbling, to the firing pin breakage issues, bad extractors, the safety recall,I just feel like it is a half baked product.

I wanted to buy the new tapered barrel standard model, but just can't bring myself to do it. Too many problems with the design.
 
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Model12Win said:
I just don't trust the Mk IV.

Fom this plastic detent, to the weird rubber bushing that keeps the barrel from wobbling, to the firing pin breakage issues, bad extractors, I just feel like it is a half bake product.

I wanted to buy the new tapered barrel standard model, but just can't bring myself to do it. Too many problems with the design.
Click to expand...
+1

I felt when Ruger came out with the Mark IV, it was a panic move because Smith and Wesson came out with their Victory back at SHOT 2016.

I don't think Ruger had planned to make the Mark IV and when they did, it was in the span of a few months to make major design changes. I think it was a rushed product and so far the recall and issues people are having with them confirms my suspicions.

And it's not like I dislike the Mark pistols from Ruger, I would love to have one of those tapered barrel standard models and the Hunter model, but I bought the SR22 pistol and like how light and reliable it is and the Victory is just a better gun.
 
SGW Gunsmith said:
It's been a bit over a year now that the Ruger Mark IV made its unexpected arrival. It also seems that the alleged "recall" has subsided as far as what went south with the safety plate and, what some found, whereby the pistol could fire when the safety was half on. Or was that half off? :p I get confused.

I have had a few of the Ruger Mark IV pistols on my bench before and then after the recall measuring and recording dimensions for comparison to try and find out exactly what the heck all the "hoopla" was about. After the recall, the safety plate now has an "S" where a little white dot used to reside. I'm sure that obvious change did'nt fix whatever the actual issue was though.

For 67 years, the Ruger Standard, Mark I, II, III and 22/45 pistols used a "steel" detent in the thumb button protruding off the left side of the safety plate. Only issues I'm aware with that combination was when an owner lost that little devil and needed to get another one. So, why did Ruger go from a "tried and true" perfectly functioning "steel" detent in the safety, to a black plastic one?

yTusRD9m.jpg


Notice the nose on the black plastic detent? It's flat, and only after being flipped on and off during normal working conditions. Can't help but wonder "when" the nose of that detent will become flat enough to cause issues with the operation of the safety. So what, some say, "Just get a new one". I agree, but make sure the new one is steel. ;)
Click to expand...

Is replacing the plastic detent with a steel one, something that I can do myself or do I need to send it to a qualified 'smith? Mind you, I have all ten digits, but they are all thumbs... :D
 
If you feel comfortable enough to go inside your Mark IV and remove the safety plate, it's not all that hard to replace.

The plastic detent may indeed cost only a few pennies when the cost is broken down over several thousand parts. Plastic injection molds to make those tiny parts can be pretty pricey, especially a "gang" mold that produces several parts at one time.

The steel safety detent in my Ruger Mark I that was shipped in 1981 still holds its shape and functions just fine after many thousand times being flipped on and off.
 
SGW Gunsmith said:
If you feel comfortable enough to go inside your Mark IV and remove the safety plate, it's not all that hard to replace.
Click to expand...

I may do that. Probably gonna consult a bunch of youtube videos on the topic; see if I am in over my head first. Obviously, I will need to locate the metla replacement part first...
 
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