Which MKIV?

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Good Ol' Boy

Good Ol' Boy

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I want to get one of the more inexpensive Mark4's and am trying to decide which one. Use will be casual target and plinking.

Besides the grip angle and the fact that one appears to have a polymer frame and one aluminium, are there any other differences between these two models?


http://dancessportinggoods.com/ruger-mark-iv-target-22-lr-black-10-round/


http://dancessportinggoods.com/ruger-mk-iv-target-22-lr-5-5-bull-barrel-10-round/



Any advice would be welcome.

NOT interested in a Victory or Buckmark so let's keep this Ruger related.
 
Last edited:
Your links are for the same pistol

But I'm guessing you are asking about a target model vs the 22/45.

I have a mkii standard and a mkiii 22/45.

The 22/45 is naturally lighter and has a 1911 grip angle.

The mkii standard has the luger like grip angle and feels more substantial and 'grown up ' or authentic.

Both are very accurate but the mkii just shoots more naturally somehow for me. The fixed sights haven't been an issue like one might think.

Honestly, on paper a 22/45 is the one to have but if you have a chance to handle both you may decide otherwise based solely on the feel.
 
Sorry fellas I corrected the links.

They are both listed as "target" models. But one seems to have a different grip angle and a polymer frame, and is $100 cheaper. Other than that I can't find any differences.
 
I used to have the heavy barrel / standard frame version. It was a good shooter. But it was way heavy for my purpose, which was just plinking. So, I ended up getting one with the polymer lower and a lighter upper. Much better feel, but the trigger totally sucked. After putting in a Volquartsen trigger kit the 22/45 is just awesome.
 
According to the Ruger website, the first model you link is a Target model. The 2nd link is actually a Mark IV 22/45 (polymer grip frame)

I have the Target model in stainless steel and really like it. I personally am not a big fan of polymer, although I have a LCRx for CCW. Personally I would choose the first model you linked.
 
Casual target and plinking I would do the 22/45. Light easy to carry.

You might even look at the 22/45 light. 22/45 lower and aluminum upper. It is very light and easy to pack if you are going any distance

I for one don't like super light 22's. I have a MKII lower with a Paclite upper. It is perfectly balanced for me
 
I haven't shot the Mk IV Target, but I did have a Standard for many years. A fantastic plinker. Mrs. McGee has a 22/45 that I gave her. It's also a great gun. Aside from weight, it feels like there are some differences in grip angle, but nothing to dramatic as to be a game-changer.
 
I have a MK II competition, and it is a great gun. One struggle I have is that, in steel competitions, if I am running both the Ruger and a 1911 the grip angle shift sometimes makes my 'point' with the 1911 low as I expect the Ruger grip angle. So if you also shoot 1911s, the 22/45 is the way to go. If it is just a gun on its own, I like the extra mass of the steel body.
 
Good Ol' Boy said:
I want to get one of the more inexpensive Mark4's and am trying to decide which one. Use will be casual target and plinking.

Besides the grip angle and the fact that one appears to have a polymer frame and one aluminium, are there any other differences between these two models?


http://dancessportinggoods.com/ruger-mark-iv-target-22-lr-black-10-round/


http://dancessportinggoods.com/ruger-mk-iv-target-22-lr-5-5-bull-barrel-10-round/



Any advice would be welcome.

NOT interested in a Victory or Buckmark so let's keep this Ruger related.
Click to expand...

I have a MK IV22/45 Target that I bought about 6 months ago and it has ran 100% with any type of ammo I have put through it. I am up to around 1400 rounds through it now. The 22/45 has the same grip angle as a 1911 if that makes any difference to you.

I have done trigger work on it to get the trigger down to around 2 lbs. I also removed the mag safety as it is not needed and just extra parts in the gun. Any of the MK IV pistols have the same accuracy potential. The 22/45 probably is the best bang for the buck in my opinion.

The MK IV Lites are nice guns if you want a lighter gun but some of the Lites have feeding issues which can be a PIA to get them working correctly and then again some of them run 100% out of the box. I have MKIII 22/45 Lite and it was a pain to get it feeding correctly but I finally have it working 99.9% now. With my experience with the Lite and reading about issues on one of the rimfire forums I personally would not buy another one. The Lites are typically at least $100 more than the regular MK IV's.
 
Good Ol' Boy

I much prefer the grip angle and extra heft of the all metal Target 5.5" Bull Barrel Model versus the polymer frame of the Target .22/45 5.5" Bull Barrel Model. When I got my MK.II I was looking primarily for a dedicated target pistol (I have other .22s for casual target shooting and plinking), and liked the balance and handling qualities of the metal frame with the 5.5" bull barrel. Have tried the .22/45 with it's polymer frame but didn't care for the way it felt in my hand or for it's weight distribution with the bull barrel.

Might want to try them on for size at a local gun shop or gun show to find which one feels right to you.

8oubloU.jpg
 
Good Ol' Boy said:
I want to get one of the more inexpensive Mark4's and am trying to decide which one. Use will be casual target and plinking.

Besides the grip angle and the fact that one appears to have a polymer frame and one aluminium, are there any other differences between these two models?


http://dancessportinggoods.com/ruger-mark-iv-target-22-lr-black-10-round/


http://dancessportinggoods.com/ruger-mk-iv-target-22-lr-5-5-bull-barrel-10-round/



Any advice would be welcome.

NOT interested in a Victory or Buckmark so let's keep this Ruger related.
Click to expand...

I recommend you use Green Top or Gunbroker and Us Gunworx In hopewell. Dance’s gun pricing alone is insane and their FFL fees are the worst around. I easily drive half hour farther north to Ashland for Greentop which is awesome, but mostly buy online and ship to US Gunworx in a Hopewell who has very low fees. The Dances counter personnel are also much less friendly than Greentop.
 
I appreciate all of the responses folks.

I went in to the LGS that I listed links to and they were out of the 22/45 but had a way overpriced stainless target model. I handled that one and a 22/45 "tactical" just to see the grip differences. I preffered the extra weight of the all metal target model as well as the slight different grip angle.

Then, I handled a $1,2k competition model they had with these factory finger grooved wood grips that I really liked.

So long story even longer, so much for inexpensive. I have decided to get a stainless "hunter" model either with those wooden finger grips or add them. That set up just felt great in the hand and I love the look of and the extra fluted barrel length of the Hunter model.

Only question now is whether I'll get it from Sportsman Guide and pay for it over 4 months or save a couple bucks and get it with the grips already from Buds.


Anyhow this has turned from a casual plinker into something that will hopefully not only be an exceptionally accurate plinker but a nice looking family keeper, and an investment.
 
Doc7 said:
I recommend you use Green Top or Gunbroker and Us Gunworx In hopewell. Dance’s gun pricing alone is insane and their FFL fees are the worst around. I easily drive half hour farther north to Ashland for Greentop which is awesome, but mostly buy online and ship to US Gunworx in a Hopewell who has very low fees. The Dances counter personnel are also much less friendly than Greentop.
Click to expand...



Dances is hit or miss on price depending on what you're looking for from my experience.

Im well aware of and am fond of Greentop but they are about an hour and twenty minutes from where I live. They can also be hit or miss.

I was using Hopkins for transfers until they recently went out of business. I recently became aware of US Gunworx and will be trying them out here very soon, although I'm not very fond of the Hopewell area.
 
Good Ol' Boy said:
Dances is hit or miss on price depending on what you're looking for from my experience.

Im well aware of and am fond of Greentop but they are about an hour and twenty minutes from where I live. They can also be hit or miss.

I was using Hopkins for transfers until they recently went out of business. I recently became aware of US Gunworx and will be trying them out here very soon, although I'm not very fond of the Hopewell area.
Click to expand...

He’s right off 295 in a nice neighborhood. No issues going there.


Dances wanted me to pay him $100 more than anyone else on a Glock 19 which isn’t a rare or hard to find model, then they wanted 75 if I bought online and did transfer there. So I bought on GB and shipped to USGW, saving over 150 dollars (more than 25%) in the process.
 
tkopp said:
I have a MK II competition, and it is a great gun. One struggle I have is that, in steel competitions, if I am running both the Ruger and a 1911 the grip angle shift sometimes makes my 'point' with the 1911 low as I expect the Ruger grip angle. So if you also shoot 1911s, the 22/45 is the way to go. If it is just a gun on its own, I like the extra mass of the steel body.
Click to expand...
I run this setup too and i find that i need to hold at 6 0'clock with the MK II and a 12 0'clock hold with my 1911 CMD
 
I prefer the Target version. If you intend to add a comp or suppressor, get the Target version with the threaded barrel. The target version may be heavy but it does soak up any more perceived recoil. I also liked the way it balances on the hand.
 
The first one you list has a pistol grip like my MKII and it's a natural pointer. I don't have any experience with the 2nd but I'm not sure you get the natural pointing with that grip?
 
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