[Lightsped]

I am considering buying a Ruger Mark II 22 pistol. Probally just a basic model with the 4 or 5 inch barrel, or maybe the Bull barreled version. Why do I want a Mark II? Simple, it is affordable, looks good, and I don't have one.

Currently I have pistols from all the usual brands. Sig, Colt, Glock, Beretta, Taurus, CZ, etc.... My question is, would buying a new Ruger Mark II really be a waste of time?

[Bullet]

I have one and I think they are real fun plinkers.

[Nineisfine]

I notice that you list a CZ among your pistols. If you have a CZ75 variant, I would suggest that you purchase the Kadet converstion kit for it. The kit is cheaper than the Ruger and is every bit as accurate...if not more so.

I had both a Ruger Mk II and a Buckmark. Nice guns, but they both had problems with feeding and ejecting. My CZ Kadet mounted on my CZ75B frame has never failed to function, even with cheap ammo.

I ended up selling both my other 22LR semi autos after I found out how great the Kadet is.

[Destructo6]

I like my standard 5.5" Ruger Mk2 22/45.

Your reasons sound as good as mine (actually sound identical) for buying it and I don't regret it one bit.

[Sisco]

I've wasted a lot of time with my 22/45. Wasted time shooting paper, pop cans, bowling pins, cottontails etc. May have been a waste of time but I sure had a good time doing it.

[arinvolvo]

In my opinion, the ruger mark II and all variants...(I have a 22/45) are like glocks in the sense that they are indestructible and amazingly reliable...

I have had my ruger 22 for a year and a half...Just got around to cleaning it earlier this week....

I had shot maybe 1500 rounds through it, without one single malfunction, failure to fire, failure to eject, etc....

Never even oiled the thing. They are definitely the "workhorse" of plinking.

As far as ergonimics and "pointability" go, they arent great...I can point shoot much easier with my Steyr M9.. they are also heavy, but that is ok (bull models)....it will make your everyday carry gun feel very light in comparison.

If you dont already have a 22 plinker, ruger is definitely the way to go...they are cheap, reliable, and accurate. And not to mention crazy cheap to shoot....Every time my friends and I go out shooting, we alway end up putting more rounds through our rugers than anything else....they are just fun, and you dont feel your wallet throb every time you pull the trigger.

One more thing...I love the mag design....there is nothing easier to load than a ruger 22 magazine.....just pull down the pin, and start dropping them in.

Also, they are infinitely customizable....There are a couple companies that make upgrade parts for almost every part of the gun....If I had the money, I would get mine silenced, just for the "gee wiz" factor...and so I can scrap my earplugs while using it....Apparently they sound like pellet guns with a good silencer.

So if you are looking for a good plinking gun (or a good "mob cleaner" gun) then you cant go wrong with the rugers. ;)

[arinvolvo]

one more thing....the cheaper the ammo, the better they work....

I have shot nothing but the cheapest, crappiest lead ammo through mine, and it eats it up like it is starving.

[Neal Bloom]

Great way to waste time in my opinion. Ruger sure does make some great time wasters. Quit waisiting your time listening to the naysayers and get the Ruger Mark II.

[Thirties]

Arinvolvo said:

"I have had my ruger 22 for a year and a half...Just got around to cleaning it earlier this week...."

There is a reason these guns don't get cleaned so often . . . the take-down and put-back is not as easy as in other .22 pistols. Removing and replacing the barrel is very difficult indeed, requiring the use of a rubber hammer.

I had a MkII Target which I sold about a month after getting a Kadet .22lr kit for my CZ-85.

It's easier to change slides from 9mm to .22 and back again with my CZ than doing anything on my Ruger ever was.

Ruger makes fine guns. But the MkII is a quirky one. Some love them. But you should try to field strip, and remove/replace barrel before you decide to buy one.

I'm not knocking the quality/accuracy of the MkIIs. Just bear in mind there are other very good choices in .22 plinker pistols.

As for these being inexpensive to shoot, all .22 plinkers shoot the same .22rf ammo (inexpensive). But the Ruger has an entire industry of aftermarket doodads you can buy to "improve" your gun. These things can actually get rather expensive to shoot.

[pinetree64]

I just picked up a MKII Gov't. It is a solid gun. Very fun and cheap to shoot. I helps me get back to form after shooting my 44mag.

I visit rimfirecentral for pointers and have made a trimmer line cleaning "rod" for it, added a trigger shield and an extend mag release.

tjg

[COK]

I have a Mark II that I will never part with , as everyone else said a fun plinker , inexpensive to shoot. It has provided hours of fun at almost no cost compaired to .357,.40,.45 's. Go get it.

[rugerfreak]

MKII reassembly is a non-issue-----------Sure the first time or two is a learning experience----follow the directions in the manual EXACTLY(we all read the owners manual---don't we???). Learning a new trick is a good thing.

Once you get the hang of it, reassembly is a snap---literally. IF pressed--I could probably reassemble a MKII's major components in 15 seconds or less. Just practice the procedure and quit whining.

As for the rubber mallet stuff---some MKII's are bit stiff when new(that's a good thing)---it gets easier with use and future disassembly. I had others that would come apart on their own after the bolt and retaining pin were removed----not a big deal either way.

[schild]

If you have a CZ75/85 get the Kadet. Since I got mine the Ruger hasn't come out of the safe.

[SouthpawShootr]

I have a Mark I, and no, a Mark II is not a waste of time. Unless something has drastically changed, these guns are very accurate and reliable. They are well suited for target shooting and plink. Like all Rugers, lots of metal makes for a substantial, stable base. I have a 5 inch bull barrel with adjustable sights. It is blued and I've had it since the '70s (it was a gift from my father and the first gun I ever shot). Over the years, I've lost count of how many rounds have gone through it, but I would estimate that it is in excess of several hundred thousand. If you're going to buy this gun, I highly recommend getting one with adjustable sights. About the only down side to these guns is that they are a bit annoying to reassemble after cleaning. I sent mine to a gunsmith a few years back for a thorough cleaning and that's all that has been done to it.

[seeker_two]

I have a Buckmark, but I think highly of the Rugers, too.

Be warned--if you get one, you'll have so much fun shooting it that the others will feel neglected...:evil:

[JohnK]

I have one, stainless 5.5" bull barrel it's a great gun, lots of fun, cheap to shoot, great for introducing new people to shooting.

Why would you even think you were wasting your time with one?

[yzguy]

love my MKII, and as for dis/re-assembly...

http://www.1bad69.com/ruger/field_strip.htm
(it's not hard....)

[RON in PA]

Ruger's first design and still his best IMHO. One of the classic American firearms. Don't be intimidated by the those who can't follow directions and have a hard time stripping and reassembling. Not as easy as stripping a SIG but after the first time no big deal. You don't have to strip it that often anyway.

NOT A WASTE OF TIME!

[Old Fuff]

Waste of time? No way. You will find this excellent .22 pistol to be a good understudy for you're center-fire automatics as well as a fine (and inexpensive) shooter in it's own right.

[standingbear]

ive got a ruger competition model.its drilled and tapped for a scope from factory and even came with the mount and rings.best money i spent on a 22.the plain bull barrelled blued version is good too.though not drilled/tapped,the open adjustable sights work very well.

[Porter Rockwell]

The Ruger MK2 is absolutely a waste of time!
Both of my slabside Rugers have completely destroyed my own accuracy "best groups" records!
Aside from the T/C Contenders, the Ruger Slabsides are the only handguns I expect to get subminute groups with!

[10-Ring]

I've got one, just talked a buddy into getting one, recommend them ALL THE TIME & I'm contemplating getting another one. ;)

Fun, reliable, fun, accurate, fun and inexpensive...oh & did I mention...FUN :D

[larryw]

Out of all my guns, the only one that gets shot every time I'm at the pistol range (2-3X per week) is my Mk II (KMK 512). I waste lots of time with this gun, always with a stupid grin on my face.

Takedown and disassembly were tough the first time, but then I read the manual and followed the directions to the letter and it was easy. No more difficult that stripping a 1911 or most any other semi; just a bit different.

But that said, I only clean it once or twice a month (needed or not ;) ). Gun digests everything I feed it and really thrives on the cheep Remington bulk packs.

One gizmo that is highly recommended (spend more time shooting than loading) is the Ultimate Clip Loader (http://www.arms-ordnance.com/ultimatecliploader.html). Dump a box of ammo in and you can load five mags in half-a-minute. Slick product. You can buy them from Brownell's.

[JohnKSa]

Once you've done it a couple of times, it's not hard to take these guns apart.

A friend of mine told me he bought one and I told him about the trigger overtravel adjustment. He didn't think he could adjust it so I took the gun down to itty bitty parts on his kitchen table, adjusted the overtravel and put it all back together in 15-20 minutes.

[yayarx7]

Everyone should own a 22 pistol and a 22 rifle. That way even us poor folk can afford to go shooting. Not to mention that it is still the best way to inroduce kids/other non-shooters to the excellent sport.

[Blueduck]

I'll be just a bit of a Devils advocate on this...

I have a 4" Bull BBL MKII (kind of an oddball gun discontinued recently I believe). I like it, it's perfectly reliable, very accurate and for me has perfect balance but... if not for the trouble involved I'd likely sell it without a whimper.

I have a limited supply of both time and money and as little as I have of each it seems I always have more ammo than free weekends with great weather to shoot it in. Ipso-facto (always wanted to say that ;) ) one or two of the the 45's, 9mm's or 357's go to the range while the Ruger stays home to collect dust months on end. Just don't have the desire or time to clean 4-5 guns after a shoot so only the top 1-2 actually make the trip.

Not saying this will happen to you, just something to look out for.

[VaughnT]

I have that exact model, boss, and wouldn't give her up for anything. That stainless beauty, with her bull barrel, is a sight to behold and she's dang accurate. Shooting her has made me a far better shot with my carry gun and you can't ask for more than that.

For the money, you can't beat Ruger. And if you have to buy a Ruger (and don't think you don't!), that Stainless MkII is the one to get. Trust me.

[Lightsped]

How will the quality of a new Ruger Mark II compare with a Ruger Mark II made from around 1975? My dad has a standard blue Mark II made in 1974 or 1975.

Also, I notice Ruger is making some Mark II guns with a Bull Barrel. What is the purpose/advantage of a Bull Barrel on a 22?

[arinvolvo]

Light, the purpose of a bull barel on a 22 pistol is to provide a heavier "more stable" shooting platform...I have also shot the standard barrel mark II and they are "butt heavy", making it hard to keep the front sight steady.

[Handy]

A Ruger MkII was my brother and my first gun. He was 13, but still managed to disassemble and reassemble without impact tools.

The trick to reassembly is to turn the gun upside down so you can control the mainspring pin.

The 22/45 is even easier to work with.

The Buckmark requires tools for disassembly.:banghead:

[hansolo]

Here are a few of the things I do with a MKII 10" Bull Barrel: squeeze-off the ten rounds as fast as I can...sounds like a full-auto; hit little spinners at 100 yds. w/o a scope that I can't hit with most rifles; knock-down 5-6" steel plates faster than with my 9mm's or .38 Special; bring to the range almost every trip along with a centerfire; shoot all week for about $10.00 and rarely fail to get comments like, "looks like a short rifle!" Yes, we all love recoil and noise, but this small-cartridge autofeeder is a fun, stress-free companion. My opinion...I could be wrong:rolleyes:

[Shmackey]

Having a .22 around is never a waste of time. As long as the Ruger fits your needs for it, get it.

[hawk0484]

It's a great "plinking" gun. It's also what I have started a couple of fellow gal (new) shooters on. It is accurate, cheap, and fun to shoot. I always "warm up" with it at the range, and usually finish a range session with it also.

The first couple of times cleaning it were a bear, but IF you follow instructions in the manual closely (manuevering the gun in the "odd" positions), it reassembles readily.

[Khornet]

my MkII 6-7/8" barrel bought in 1982 has seen me through many a match, and those who beat me were as likely to be using MkII as a Model 41 or a Hammerli.

Have never had a failure and takedown/assembly is no big deal. In the beginning I did need a mallet to get the barrel off, but now it just slides off.

I had a trigger job done in '95, with trigger stop and sear engagement adjusting screws, and it got even better. I reccommend a set of Pachmayr grips too. Buy the dang thing and don't look back.

[provalov]

I re-discovered the joys of plinking when I got my Ruger 22/45. Definitely not a waste of time! Controls are similar to my other semi-autos, so it makes for good, low-cost practice. It makes for a great intro gun for new shooters that you are introducing to the sport as well.

[Kahr carrier]

Nope no waste of time ,just hours of fun.:)

[mbott]

I don't have any time for a Mark II. I'm still shooting my Mark I purchased in the early 70's. :)

Shoot well!

--
Mike

[444]

I have owned a Ruger .22 auto pistol in one form or another for the past 32 years. I got my first one when I was 9 years old. At present I have two. A 5" stainless heavy barrel and a blued standard model with a red dot sight on it. I have one more on the way (hopefully) as we speak. It is a stainless with an integral suppressor.
I think they are terrific guns. I have put many, many thousands of rounds downrange with mine. They are accurate and reliable. There are tons of aftermarket accessories for them. If you are looking for a .22 LR handgun, I don't see what more you could want.
Ever since getting on the internet I have been reading about how difficult these guns are to take apart. I don't know, all I can tell you is that I didn't have problem with mine when I was 9 years old and I still don't. Read the directions.