Newbie needs handgun help

[TH3180]

Hi my name is Tim I am a newbie to the forum and guns all together. I have never shoot a gun before except a BB gun. I have decided to get a handgun to shoot at the range a few miles away from my house and to shoot pop cans and stuff at a farm some friends of my parents own. I plan on taking a handgun safety course at the range and then renting some guns to get a feel for them before I buy one. I found a gun shop near my house and have held many guns. They explained to me how a gun should fit in my hand along with some other things. I have decided I want to start this hobby with a .22. Out of all the guns I have held the Ruger Mark IIIs feel the best to me. I am looking for as many opinions I can get pros/cons and why you feel the way you do. Like I said I am a newbie so type slow and please explain in detail. The two guns I am looking at are the "Ruger Mark III KMKIII678H hunter" and the "Ruger Mark III KMKIII512 Stainless" I understand there isn't a lot of difference between these two gun. The price difference at the shop is $65. One of my questions, is $65 worth the an 1 3/8" longer barrel and Fiber-Optic front sight? Will the hunter be to big of a gun to carry comfortably around the farm? I would say my shooting time will be split 50-50 between the farm and the range. How much will that extra length in the barrel help with being accurate? Since I am using my stimulus tax check to buy this the extra $65 dollars isn't a big deal to me I would rather spend more and get the best thing for what I want to use it for then go cheap and be unhappy in the long run. So if you folks could help me out that would be great. Heck the most simply question of all. If you were in my shoes what would you do?
Thanks for the help
Tim
Ruger Mark III KMKIII678H hunter"
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=10118&return=Y

"Ruger Mark III KMKIII512 Stainless"
http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=10103&return=Y

 

[Ghost Tracker]

The Hunter is quite nice...but the Stainless 5.5 rides in a holster just a little more conveniently. Either (and I'm a Buckmark man) is a GREAT starting point on becoming a pistolero. Welcome to The Club.

 

[glockman19]

I voted Ruger Mark III KMKIII678H Hunter.

Why? Because I just bought one and It shoots as good as it looks. I love the HiViz sights and fluted barrel.

And YES I think it's worth the $65 difference. with the Fluted barrel weighs 1 oz. less. I prefer the longer lighter barrel personally.

 

[xring44]

Either of the two pistols you ask about will work for you. I personally liked the Mark lls better, but some are very happy with the newer version. I have owned both pistols, I shot the longer barrel better, that will be a decision only you can make.

Welcome to the wonderful world of shooting, and welcome to the forum!
You seem to be asking the right questions, willing to learn, thats the key ingredients to becoming a shooter!

 

[SoCalShooter]

Get this one "Ruger Mark III KMKIII512 Stainless"
and if you ever decide to get into shooting more you can shoot bullseye pistol with it.

 

[bestseller92]

Get the one I want -- the KMKIII512.

 

[Baba Louie]

1st... Welcome to THR Tim. A good gathering of people here, glad you decided to join.

Now, about your quest. Excellent choices and a hard decision it might be, to say that one is better than the other, because both should prove to be very good choices.

Me... I'd go for the Hunter. Having felt one or two in various shops, it feels gooood in my hands. Balances well and the sights come up naturally to my eyes. I already own 4 other MkII's, otherwise that would be the one that came home with me. Nothing at all wrong with the 512 tho'.

Make sure you read the takedown instructions once or twice before you ever field strip it, cause they're as much fun as a chinese puzzle initially. Once you get the hang of, I recommend you still read the instructions on takedown/re-assembly for future field strips (tho' unless you're shooting 1000's of rounds at a time, you shouldn't need to take it down for cleaning each and every time you shoot).

You might want to buy a spare magazine or three and a good holster if you have any of that $ left over. It goes without saying that you'll be buying a few bricks (500 rds) of .22 to go along with it. Make sure you try a few boxes of target .22 ammo just to see how accurate that Hunter (or 512) can be. While target ammo is usually not as zippy as the high velocity and it might cost you $1.50 or more per box, it seems to group smaller in a couple of my MkII's.

Again, welcome to THR. Let us know which one you do buy, take a few photos, maybe a quick range report.

 

[Technosavant]

Either would work fine. The extra barrel length won't add tremendous levels of accuracy; those Rugers tend to be quite accurate as it is. Get whichever you prefer.

As Baba Louie said, make sure that once you follow the instructions to the letter when stripping it for cleaning. If you don't, reassembly can be rather difficult if not impossible. But they are good shooters, enjoy whichever you choose.

 

[dagger dog]

The 51/2" just screams classic, the balance is there, a little muzzle heavy, they just feel"right".

Then the Hunter it's got the longer sight radius, you could hang a scope on it and it will shoot like a short carbine! Then you've got those nice day glo sights and the wood stocks.
I've got a 67/8"bbl MKII and I can tell you, it SHOOTS!

The only bad thing about both of them is that you're the one doing the buying and not ME!

 

[TH3180]

Thank you so much for all the responses and all the warm welcomes. Let me ask this is, the hunter to long of a gun to carry around the farm in a holster comfortably? That is really my only worry about it. The wood verses the black grips I guess I don't have one I like over the other. How often would I have to replace the fiber-optic tubes? If I bought the bull I see I can buy a Fiber-optic front sight for about $40 from Ruger about how much would it cost to have a gun smith put that sight on for me?
Thanks
Tim

 

[Confederate]

You can't go wrong either way. Still, the 5 1/2-incher is easier to carry and use. The Hunter is great on the range and hunting (as the name implies), but for regular shooting, I'll take the shorter barrel.



The Ruger made guns for every need one could think of.



This is the old AMT Lightning, which Ruger made AMT stop making. It had
a scope mount, Pachmayr wrap-around grips, Millett sights and a custom
trigger. The ones that worked were great!

 

[Technosavant]

If I bought the bull I see I can buy a Fiber-optic front sight for about $40 from Ruger about how much would it cost to have a gun smith put that sight on for me?

You might not need a 'smith to put that front sight on. That looks like the same front post that was on my 22/45, and it was held on by a screw. I don't know for certain (never pulled mine off), but you could probably swap it out in moments if it is just that screw (I think it is).

 

[TH3180]

You might not need a 'smith to put that front sight on. That looks like the same front post that was on my 22/45, and it was held on by a screw. I don't know for certain (never pulled mine off), but you could probably swap it out in moments if it is just that screw (I think it is).

That just got put on my list of things to look at the next time I stop in the gun shop thank you. Like I said I am a newbie I just figured to change anything on a gun I would need a gun smith to do it for me.

 

[glockman19]

is, the hunter to long of a gun to carry around the farm in a holster comfortably?

I guess if you have ahloster that is open on the bottom then what's 1.25"?

 

[woad_yurt]

A Mark II is just a Mark III without all of the lawyer-pleasing butoons and levers, right?

 

[GingerGuy]

I have a II and a III, the III is a 22/45. They both work just fine. Watch the videos on youtube to learn how to fieldstrip them both. It will still take some time to learn the 'ropes' of breaking it down.

I bought the II used and have since bought many used handguns without a problem....such as Ultra Carry II, EMP, Colt revolver, SP101 and a Rock Island GI. I have had a lot of fun looking at and buying used guns.

Ruger's are good you have made a good choice, but be ready to move up in caliber. Try a 9mm.

 

[tsanford405]

Welcome to the forum! I myself just bought the "Hunter" a couple days ago. It's a great gun. Reliable and accurate. I have not shot the other one yet. For the holster purpose, the shorter one would probably be a bit better, and you also would not have to worry about knocking out the HiViz tube when holstering/unholstering. You may consider the thought that the "Hunter" may hold its value a little bit better. Plus every person you show it to will be in awwww at its beauty! Good luck choosing, you will love either one!

Cheers!

 

[1SOW]

I agree that the short barrel will holster better, and it will probably be faster if you're plugg'n varmints. I would get that hi-viz front site either way.
BUT, that Hunter sure is pretty!

 

[TH3180]

Once again thanks for all of your input on this. I have learned a lot so far so please keep it coming. We just got back from dinner with my Grandpa and I told him I am getting a handgun. He perked right up and said well have I got something for. After I take my safety class he is going to give me his Colt revolver .22lr that he said is about 50 years old. As long as I don't sell it. I figured on getting a revolver after I got a semi-auto. So now I will get to have both even sooner. Happy days for me. Now just so we don't go on strike next week I can do my class and buy a semi-auto.

If anyone votes the thrid one please tell me why you feel that way.
Thanks
Tim

 

[GigaBuist]

After I take my safety class he is going to give me his Colt revolver .22lr that he said is about 50 years old. As long as I don't sell it.

Don't sell it then. There's a special place in Hell for people that sell family firearms. Right next to the child molesters and people that talk in movie theaters.*

I'd probably take the one with the hi-viz sights. I've used them on a Ruger 22/45 before and really enjoyed it.

If it were me I'd probably try and find a used MK II. Magazine disconnect safeties and I just don't get along well.

*: Lifted from Firefly

 

[Nozzelnut]

Can't go wrong with either; $65 is plenty of ammo to learn how to shoot.

 

[1911 guy]

I'd opt for the one that you personally like better. I know they're on the same frame, but one might feel more balanced than the other due to barrel length. For popping tin cans and varmints, though, I'd personally like to have that fiberoptic front sight.

 

[kle]

My vote is for KMKIII512, mainly for the sights--I like the plain black square notch-and-post sights (or 3-dot sights, which are modified square notch-and-post sights).

The Hunter's V-notch and fiber-optic front sight are quick to pick up in a hunting/varmint situation (the target presents itself for only a fleeting moment or two, you've gotta get a shot off before it's gone), but for range work (which is all that I do, not living on a farm or anywhere requiring pest control), I find I'm much more accurate with the plain black square notch and post sights.

YMMV, of course. The longer sight-radius of the Hunter should help you with accuracy and, according to Ruger's website, the Hunter is actually lighter than the KMKIII512 (by 1 oz., probably due to the fluting of the Hunter's barrel). Plus, the Hunter comes with wood grips (I love wood grips!).

See if you can try them both out (somehow) or at least handle them side by side.

 

[TH3180]

Intresting how this has turned out so far. 14 for the 512, 13 for the hunter and 7 say niether they're both junk. So basically there isn't one better then the other. I really wish the 7 would post why they feel the way they do. Like I said this is all new to me and I am looking for all the help I can get. Thank you to all of you that have taken the time to post and give your advice. As of right now I am still undecided.

 

[jlbraun]

I will chime in to say that this is a newbie that is starting out on guns the right way with a .22 pistol. Too often people go out and buy a .40 or something then discover it's expensive to shoot and it ingrains their bad habits.