Ever seen a worn-out Ruger MkII?

[hexidismal]

This thread kind of makes me wish I had just bought a used MKII instead of the U22 Neos I picked new recently. Not that there's anything wrong with the Neos so far, and I just ordered some optics for the built on top rail. I just wonder if it'll hold up as tough and solid as a ruger.

 

[redneckdan]

the MTU club has an MK that is starting to split cases. The chamber is not within spec. We go through about 3-4k rounds a semester/ per weapon, this weapon has been with the club since early 81. Roughly 200,000 rounds.

 

[TimboKhan]

This thread kind of makes me wish I had just bought a used MKII instead of the U22 Neos

Well, I for one am interested in owning as many .22 pistols as I can get my hands on, and while my favorite, by a large margin, is the MkII, I would love to own a NEOS. I would also like to get my paws on Olympic Arms version of the Whitney Wolverine.

 

[Desertscout]

If you had a Ruger that chronically malfunctioned, you should have kept it. It was a collector's item. Out of the 4 that I have owned and probably close to a million rounds that I have put through them, I have yet to experience my first malfunction.
The closest that I can remember is once when stationed in Barstow, CA, with the gun that I mentioned in my earlier post, when the extractor broke. We had been shooting all day and late in the day I noticed that the emptys weren't being thrown nearly as far away as they usually were although it still functioned normally. Upon inspection that night, I found that the extractor had broken.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

@ redneckdan: MTU gets a ton of traffic from what you say, so I imagine you're an even better proving ground than we. Do you think that somebody messed up the chamber through improper cleaning, or was it always out of spec but just became problematic recently?

IRT Neos: I was actually thinking about nominating a Neos as our next club pistol, as we already have Buckmark, SW22a, SW 63, Single Six, MkII, etc. However, seeing how hard we are on pistols, I'm thinking I'll nominate a MkIII 22/45. Folks like the Rugers, and it's just different enough to give us a little variety. I don't like the MkIII "improvements", but I don't think they make a difference in a club setting. I do like the new 22/45 grip more than the old soap-dish one, and it should be great for small-handed shooters.

-MV

 

[Lone Star]

In the Nov/Dec/, 1980 issue of, "American Handgunner," I published an article on the MKI, that being the form then made.

Curious to see how well one would endure, I asked Ruger and sources in Europe and in South Africa how long guns had lasted in their experience. At that time, South Africa was under a UN arms embargo, but guns did get through. However,some were shot more than usual, because some people had trouble getting new ones, and clubs owned guns that were used by members before buying their own. In Europe, club guns also got enormous amounts of shooting. Some had fired hundreds of thousands of rounds. One fellow quipped that they were "cleaned occasionally, if someone feels moved to do so." Yet, they worked.

Ruger's then-Export Director, the late Steve Vogel, told me that he knew of Ruger Standard and Mk. I autos that had fired astonishing amounts of ammunition, and were still in use. I believe he said that one gun in Europe had fired a full million rounds! (He didn't say if it had ever had small parts replaced.)

I don't shoot my own MK II nearly enough to worry about it.

Lone Star

 

[TimboKhan]

well, having never shot a NEOS, I can't add anything useful in terms of their function, reliability, etc.. But I have held a couple and I thought they were pretty comfy. MkII will likely always be my favorite .22 for both functional and sentimental reasons, but that NEOS is pretty cool. Plus, I like the fact that you can buy a carbine kit for the NEOS. It's not as if I need another .22 rifle, but it is just so darn cool. To be honest, I can't say that I have ever been displeased with a .22 pistol. In addition to my 2 MkII's (which I definitly favor over the MkIII's), I also own a Buckmark Hunter, and it is pleasant and enjoyable to shoot.

 

[CWL]

Wear out? I'll have to check for any signs of wear next time I clean my MKII, then again, I've never cleaned it more than a few sprays of brake cleaner and a boresnake since I bought mine 7 years ago...

 

[Dienekes]

We have had about five of them in the family, all but one bought used. The one I use most was a seventies model bought in "poor" condition for $59. It looked awfully rough but fired a full box of ammo perfectly the first time I tried it. Pretty much pitted overall but the bore and and mechanical function were okay. Did some draw filing to take out the worst of the pits, had a gunsmith bead blast it and throw it in the bluing tank.

I replaced the banged up sights, all springs, and the extractor on principle. Did a trigger job which turned out nicely and added a Volquartsen steel trigger for a bonus (felt nicer than the stock aluminum one). The original hard rubber grips were okay so kept them.

It is my ugliest .22 pistol and also the one I shoot best. Lately I have noticed that the stamped "U" shaped ejector is a little loose on its rivet but like a timex it keeps right on ticking.

I have seen guide rod/recoil spring assemblies break off parts but it doesn't seem to stop them--they just keep working.

Even better, spare parts are dirt cheap--so no reason not to have a full set of "just in case" parts on hand.

 

[panzermk2]

My grandmas from the farm in Iowa bought when they first came out. It spent most of its life in the barn or on the fergy. I have never had it fail unless caused by ammo, meaning round didnot go bang when also loaded into bolt action 22 older then the MKII

 

[TimboKhan]

I come from a John Deere family, so I am required to respond to this:

It spent most of its life in the barn or on the fergy

I bet the Fergy broke down more than the gun.

Also, the MkII runs like a Deere.

Did you have to use the MkII to put down the Fergy?

I could go on and on and on.....

 

[foghornl]

Oldest brother has a Mk I that he bought in 1968 or so.

Says he can still sit on his front porch and write his initials on your doorknob with it.

Doesn't know how may rounds have gone through it. Say he has actually worn out a couple of magazines, though.

 

[5Wire]

Not a Mark II but I've been trying to wear out this Ruger Standard Pistol since 1964 ($37.50). Used, abused for tens of thousands of rounds and it still shoots reliably and accurately. Tigerwood grips are only a few years younger. Made roughly using Dremel round burr tool. I'm on my third magazine.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

@5Wire: So... do you feel you're close to getting your money's worth out of it yet? $37.50 was a lot of money back then, or so I'm told.


I'm getting the other UTRPC members on board to vote to buy a MKIII 22/45 for the range's next gun. I don't like the mag-disconnect or the chamber indicator, but neither is a dealbreaker for a range gun. And I admit, the new 22/45 grip is far better than the previous 22/45.

This has been an awesome thread.

-MV

 

[5Wire]

@5Wire: So... do you feel you're close to getting your money's worth out of it yet? $37.50 was a lot of money back then, or so I'm told.

I'm definitely closing in on it. Let's see, $37.50 over 42 years. About $0.90 a year. Now, $37.50 would be $245.86 in today's dollars (a bargain).

No complaints but I did start in on a Mark II a couple years ago.

 

[panzermk2]

I come from a John Deere family, so I am required to respond to this:
Quote:
It spent most of its life in the barn or on the fergy

I bet the Fergy broke down more than the gun.

Also, the MkII runs like a Deere.

Did you have to use the MkII to put down the Fergy?

Do you know why John Deere’s are green? So their embarrassed owners can hide them in the field!

How can you tell a John Deere owner? He’s the one who keeps turning the ignition key on the fergy and can’t figure out why it won’t start!

Why are IH farmalls red? So you can’t see the rust!

I was born and raised in Chicago but spent my summers at the farm. Not many city boys know what a fergy is let alone start it. AND yes it had a homemade front loader on it.

So TimboKhan clue these other guys in about starting a fergy so they get the joke, and yes it's still sitting out there with an old coffee can over the stack and starts everytime IF you know the trick

 

[panzermk2]

Back on topic

Many a Squirrel ended up in the stew pot because of that MKII