Latest acquisition, Ruger Mark III Hunter.
- Thread starter stchman
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Ranger Roberts
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Very nice! I love my MK III hunter. Best of luck with it!
badkarmamib
Member
Beautiful! I have always thought that a stainless Ruger was the nicest-looking production .22 out there, but have never managed to acquire one. 
Snyper
Member
The MK IV has made it obsolete.
https://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/rugers-launching-new-mark-iv-pistols/
http://ruger.com/products/markIV/overview.html
(And this is the "revolver" section)
https://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/rugers-launching-new-mark-iv-pistols/
http://ruger.com/products/markIV/overview.html
(And this is the "revolver" section)
OP
OP
stchman
Member
The Mark IV isn't going to shoot better than the mark III, and right now I can't buy a Mark IV Hunter. I imagine that when the Mark IV Hunter is released, it will cost more than the $500 I paid.
The takedown and re-assembly is so overblown on the Mark III, it ain't that difficult.
I meant to put this in the Handguns: Autoloaders section. Can the mods please move this thread, I apologize.
GarySTL
Member
I've many Ruger pistols, OK, four, and they are all good shooters. Congratulations on your new Ruger.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
Congrats on the MKIII, stchman.
chicharrones
needs more ammo
Is that something worth pointing out for every firearm that has been superseded with a new model?
Ranger Roberts
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stchman said:
I totally agree. I have a MK II Target and a MK III Hunter and I have never understood why people make such a big deal about takedown and re-assembly. Plus, it's 2016, there is a youtube video about everything. If you can't figure it out, youtube it!
GarySTL
Member
I'd not hesitate to buy a MK 3 or MK 2 if it was a model I wanted. They are excellent guns and I don't plan to get rid of any of mine. Two of mine have TacSol uppers. Who knows if they'll make uppers for the MK 4, or how soon?
You got a new gun and should happy with that.
You got a new gun and should happy with that.
Snyper
Member
Many times it is.
The biggest overall complaint about the Rugers was difficulty reassembling them.
This revision changed something people have complained about for decades.
Few saw the MKIII as a real improvement over the MKII though.
OP
OP
stchman
Member
Installed the Tandemkross bushing today and had a mishap, all the trigger parts fell out. Thankfully there are a lot of videos out there to put them back together.
Took the Mark III Hunter to the range today and it is probably the most accurate pistol I own. It even makes me look like a good shot.
Took the Mark III Hunter to the range today and it is probably the most accurate pistol I own. It even makes me look like a good shot.
pittspilot
Member
I've had one for years. Most accurate pistol I own. Love shooting it. Enjoy.
sig228
Member
Or....download the user manual. Great step by step re-assembly instructions. I did need the you tube video for the stuck mainspring:
https://youtu.be/uWxtnC8amO4
On An Island
Member
Gotta agree, that's a fine looking pistol.
Tentwing
Member
To the OP I am certain that you will enjoy the accuracy, the reliability, and the quality of your Ruger as much as I have mine for years.
Tentwing
Tentwing
OP
OP
stchman
Member
The Mark III has a traditional thumb magazine release while the Mark II has a a heel release. The Mark III has the stupid magazine disconnect while the Mark III does not. The Mark III also has an internal lock as well. The Mark III's magazine disconnect can be easily removed with a bushing.
I far prefer a traditional thumb release over a heel release.
Olympus
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A thumb mag release isn't worth the dumb magazine disconnect safety and the goofy loaded chamber indicator on a Mark 3. It's not like most people are do speed reloading drills with their Ruger Mark 22 pistols. I never liked the Mark 3 and probably never will. I'll keep my Mark 2s.
Mainsail
Member
I had a MKII some years ago that was stolen in SC around 1996 so I never replaced it in the hopes that I would get it back. Yeah....I know.
So last year I started to get the itch for one and took a look at the MKIIIs in the 22/45 version. I figured I could use it to supplement my training since the grip angle was the same as my 1911s and Sigs. I was disappointed to find Ruger was using so much plastic, and the LCI was a deal-breaker for me after reading about how negatively it affects the trigger pull and further complicates reassembly. I looked at the all steel Hunter versions like yours and loved them, but the grip angle and LCI were detractors.
I also thought about how often we buy the Ruger and then replace parts one by one until we have almost enough stock Ruger bits in a box that we could just buy a few more and make another pistol. So I decided to go another route and build the Ruger pistol from scratch with very little Ruger. I started with a PacLite upper and a Volqs lower, then picked up a Ruger bolt and mainspring. Swapped the sights out to make them three-dot (to match my carry pistols) and it turned out great.
You got a beautiful pistol in the Hunter. I am still considering one just for plinking (vs open-sight training) because they look so sexy. Let us know how it shoots!
So last year I started to get the itch for one and took a look at the MKIIIs in the 22/45 version. I figured I could use it to supplement my training since the grip angle was the same as my 1911s and Sigs. I was disappointed to find Ruger was using so much plastic, and the LCI was a deal-breaker for me after reading about how negatively it affects the trigger pull and further complicates reassembly. I looked at the all steel Hunter versions like yours and loved them, but the grip angle and LCI were detractors.
I also thought about how often we buy the Ruger and then replace parts one by one until we have almost enough stock Ruger bits in a box that we could just buy a few more and make another pistol. So I decided to go another route and build the Ruger pistol from scratch with very little Ruger. I started with a PacLite upper and a Volqs lower, then picked up a Ruger bolt and mainspring. Swapped the sights out to make them three-dot (to match my carry pistols) and it turned out great.
You got a beautiful pistol in the Hunter. I am still considering one just for plinking (vs open-sight training) because they look so sexy. Let us know how it shoots!
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AlexanderA
Member
I have the whole Mark series (I just bought a Mark IV Target), and I have to say that the Mark IV is a quantum leap ahead. Prices of the others (except for collector pieces) are going to tank as soon as awareness of the Mark IV increases.
Ruger listened to its customers and eliminated the "loaded chamber indicator" from the Mark IV. The only lawyer-mandated feature that remains is the magazine disconnect, and that can be removed by substituting Mark II or III parts.
Ruger listened to its customers and eliminated the "loaded chamber indicator" from the Mark IV. The only lawyer-mandated feature that remains is the magazine disconnect, and that can be removed by substituting Mark II or III parts.
Kookla
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I hope the mkIII's do drop in price- I'll get one
I've had an MKI, MKII and a MKIII- and they all shot well. The MKIII was a 22/45 with wood panels- amazing shooter. Let it go for whatever reason and regret it.The magazine safety, LCI and takedown never bothered me much.
AlexanderA
Member
stchman wrote:
Yes, the Tandemkross bushing replaces the magazine disconnector, its spring, and the special bushing that goes with it. It's an elegant solution that allows you to use the Mark III hammer. When I bought my Mark III pistol, the Tandemkross bushing was not yet available, so I just ended up substituting the Mark II parts. (It's obviously cheaper to just buy the bushing than to buy the whole Mark II hammer -- that is, if you can find one.)
Another item that Tandemkross sells is a filler piece, in blued or stainless, that replaces the loaded chamber indicator (if you want to remove that as well).
Regarding magazines, there used to be an anomalous situation in Ruger's parts department, so that all the parts to put together a magazine totaled considerably less money than a complete magazine. I don't know whether they have corrected this, or not. It's worth checking, and could potentially save you some money.
The Mark III and Mark IV magazines are identical, except that the Ruger emblem on the baseplate is silver and red for the Mark III, and all black for the Mark IV. Magazines that come with the guns have a little opening on the left front, near the top, for the nub on the trigger of those guns (it's supposed to help fully seat the magazine as the trigger is pulled). That's a questionable feature, and it's worth noting that some replacement magazines from Ruger don't have that opening. The gun will function fine without it.
Yes, the Tandemkross bushing replaces the magazine disconnector, its spring, and the special bushing that goes with it. It's an elegant solution that allows you to use the Mark III hammer. When I bought my Mark III pistol, the Tandemkross bushing was not yet available, so I just ended up substituting the Mark II parts. (It's obviously cheaper to just buy the bushing than to buy the whole Mark II hammer -- that is, if you can find one.)
Another item that Tandemkross sells is a filler piece, in blued or stainless, that replaces the loaded chamber indicator (if you want to remove that as well).
Regarding magazines, there used to be an anomalous situation in Ruger's parts department, so that all the parts to put together a magazine totaled considerably less money than a complete magazine. I don't know whether they have corrected this, or not. It's worth checking, and could potentially save you some money.
The Mark III and Mark IV magazines are identical, except that the Ruger emblem on the baseplate is silver and red for the Mark III, and all black for the Mark IV. Magazines that come with the guns have a little opening on the left front, near the top, for the nub on the trigger of those guns (it's supposed to help fully seat the magazine as the trigger is pulled). That's a questionable feature, and it's worth noting that some replacement magazines from Ruger don't have that opening. The gun will function fine without it.
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