Looking for a good book

[redneckdan]

I'm looking for a gunsmithing book on the ruger MK II pistol. I'm particularly intrested in barrel removal and installation.

 

[Sunray]

Go here for a free, downloadable .pdf manual. http://stevespages.com/page7b.htm
Be advised the barrel and receiver are in one piece and are a press fit. Usually needs a rubber mallet and a padded vise. I seem to recall seeing a smithing book too, but I forget where.

 

[redneckdan]

I thought they were threaded into the reciever?

 

[jaybar]

They are threaded.

The Ruger .22 semi-autos have a threaded ( screwed in) barrel/receiver mating. When they are assembled at the factory, Ruger screws the barrel into a piece of threaded tubing, then indexes on front sight and makes all the cuts in the tubing that makes it a receiver. That way they don't have to worry about fitting the barrel to the receeiver and lining everything (feed ramp, extractor cut, front sight) up. Problem is, that when they screw the barrel into the tubing they do it with lots of torque and there is a crush ring on the shoulder of the barrel that really distorts and locks the receiver pretty tight to the receiver. If you ever screw up the barrel ( like taking a Dremel tool to the chamber etc) such that the barrel has to be replaced. Ruger won't do it. They will sell you a new barrel/receiver with a new serial number because they don't have the time or propensity to fit a new barrel to an existing receiver. It can be done but takes a lot of time and lathe work to line everything up just right.
Disassembly requires special clamps that hold the receiver to avoid twisting it or flattening it out of shape due to the clamping pressures required. These tools are available through Brownells. Changing barrels can be done. Jim Clark made a lot of money converting Rugers to target guns by adding a Douglas barrel. Sadly Jim is long gone but his company lives on. Browse around their web-site www.clarkcustomguns.com and you'll see what it costs to switch out barrels etc. Check out his used parts - he sells the take-off barrel pretty cheaply and he might have one that you are looking for.