Latest acquisition, Ruger Mark III Hunter.

I had been always looking for a nice stainless Mark III, and found one on Armslist. Was able to negotiate a price of $500. The gun is unfired.

I ordered two more mags and a Tandemkross bushing to disable the stupid magazine disconnect.

 

Very nice! I love my MK III hunter. Best of luck with it!

 

Beautiful! I have always thought that a stainless Ruger was the nicest-looking production .22 out there, but have never managed to acquire one.

 

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)

 

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.

 

I've many Ruger pistols, OK, four, and they are all good shooters. Congratulations on your new Ruger.

 

Congrats on the MKIII, stchman.

 

Is that something worth pointing out for every firearm that has been superseded with a new model?

 

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!

 

Such a good looking gun. Congrats.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

I've had one for years. Most accurate pistol I own. Love shooting it. Enjoy.

 

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

 

Gotta agree, that's a fine looking pistol.

 

What's better than a Mark 3? A Mark 2! Sorry, I had to say it before someone else did.

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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!

 

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.

 

and stchman- nice score!