Ruger Mark-series upgrades

TrueBlue711

New member
One of my pistols is the Ruger Mark III .22 pistol. Really fun to shoot and I just ordered the Griffin Armament Checkmate .22 suppressor. I need to get my Mark III's barrel threaded for it. That got me thinking about what other upgrades I could do to it as it's taken apart for the threading job. I'm all about making something better than it was before and I usually upgrade all my guns in at least one way (none of my guns are "as is off the shelf" anymore). I'm looking at the Volquartsen sear and trigger on Midwayusa. Roughly $55 for the both of them. Has anybody installed these in their Mark series pistols? How much did they improve the shooting? What other good upgrades are out there for them?
 
Do the trigger first. Ruger .22's usually have really crappy triggers. Don't see any advantage to a suppressor just because you can, now.
Having the muzzle threaded won't be cheap either. Barrel needs to come off and you need to pay a machinist over $100 per hour plus set up time.
 
Thanks, I'll get that trigger for sure. Probably the sear too. Read good reviews on it.
Barrel needs to come off and you need to pay a machinist over $100 per hour plus set up time.
I already have that taken care of. Local guy with good reputation does $85 per barrel + $45 to move the front sight post back.
The suppressor is more for my 10/22, which is already threaded. Being able to put it on the Mark III is just frosting on the cake.
 
I've modified my MkIII 22/45's in four ways...

Fiberoptic sights.
Installed the different bushing that removed the magazine disconnect.
Disabled/removed the loaded chamber indicator.
Performed the mod that allows chambering a round with the slingshot method.

These are all fairly simple mods with which I have been pleased.
 
I installed the accurizing kit, loaded chamber indicator filler, firing pin and extractor. The trigger is really nice. Defiantly recommend the trigger and sear.
 
In my MkIII 22/45 I installed the bushing to get rid of the mag disconnect and am very happy with it. I also run a can on my gun and it is super fun, its so quiet its Hollywood quiet. I love hearing the bullet slap on the backstop. It takes a while to wipe the :D off my face.
 
I've been working with, and on, Ruger Mark pistols for 47 years now. There has been some good "personal" advice posted above. Modifying the Ruger Mark pistols is always a personal choice made to fit the needs of the current owner.

Mechanical changes for the betterment of your pistol are again, a personal choice. I always recommend a much better extractor that performs much, much better than the "stamped" extractor Ruger has been providing since day one ( 1949 ).

The Ruger Mark III is a fine example of those pistols despite the problems some encounter with dis and then reassembly. With a few changes, that are easily accomplished, the Mark III version will duplicate the same mechanical aptitude of the Mark II pistols. My recommendations to customers who ask are:

• A well fitting hammer bushing to replace the magazine disco parts

• A much better extractor with a more positive hook angle on the working tip

• A "steel" trigger replacement, or modification of the factory trigger to add a steel bushing in the pivot pin hole

• A target sear that provides 2½ to 3 pound, safe, trigger pull

• Optional: A matching filler to replace the "Loaded Chamber Indicator"

• Smoothed up factory magazines that will feed rounds much better without shaving cartridge brass

Once all the sharp edges and burrs are removed from internal parts that work together, you will have a pistol that you can truly enjoy.

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