Ruger 22/45 Mark III

[eric.cartman]

I just picked up this pistol in .22LR, 5" barrel :

Now I've got questions:

1) Can I dry fire this gun safely?
2) How do I field strip it???
3) What scope makes sense for this pistol?
4) Are after market parts available? Trigger job, etc?
5) A bit front heavy, ain't it?

 

[wally]

1) yes.

2) with great difficulty, have the manual, an empty magazine and a rubber mallet handy the first time.

3) a cheap read dot. I like the $20 BSA from CDNN, or the $80 4-reticle Bushnell.

4) Volquartson will have what you want. IMHO the only thing you might need is their extractor if you want to shoot the cheap Federal bulk pack ammo

5) Not after you mounted the red dot optic

--wally.

 

[mojalajab]

Go to http://www.guntalk-online.com/ and you will find all the answers to your questions regarding your Mk III, including step-by-step plans (w/ photos) on how to field strip your Mk III. It is actually pretty easy to take one apart and assemble as long as you follow the steps in order.

I recommend you take it apart and give it a good cleaning and lube before taking it to the range. They are a fun gun to shoot!! Enjoy.

 

[chris in va]

I had that same exact one, just shorter barrel and slab side.

Word of advice, shoot it for a while with the iron sights. Be sure you want to keep it. I added a Weigand mount and red dot, only to discover it was extremely top heavy with the polymer frame.

Disassembly is easy, just practice. Literally takes about 20 seconds once you figure it out. When you put it back together again, just watch the position of that little swinging arm doodad.

 

[XavierBreath]

1) Can I dry fire this gun safely?

Yes, as long as the firing pin retainer is left in the bolt. When you remove the bolt, the FP retainer is the little bar that goes through it laterally. It prevents the firing pin from striking the breech face.

2) How do I field strip it???

Ruger MKII Dis/Re-assembly Instructions Detailed

3) What scope makes sense for this pistol?

My opinion: Shoot it with irons. Shoot it a lot with irons. Use it to build and transfer marksmanship to your other guns with irons.

4) Are after market parts available? Trigger job, etc?

Yes. Volquartsen makes many parts, as well as entire pistols. The trigger, hammer and sear are the best package if you ask me. If you have to skimp, get the sear. Thank me later.

Clark Custom makes parts and customizes these pistols. They also sell their own parts for them. I do not know if they will work on a MKIII style pistol.

5) A bit front heavy, ain't it?

A Pac Lite receiver/barrel will cure that...........Here's more about them.

Great Ruger MKII/MKIII/22/45 information can be found on this forum.

Here's an article on your pistol's cousins, with a few pics of my own Ruger MKIIs.

 

[Brassman]

Personally, I think you have purchased one of the most accurate, quality firearms for practicing markmanship and trigger control for handguns. Use it with iron sights to acquire muscle memory for sight picture and control with its most affordable round and you can't go wrong. I used it to learn how to shoot and my wife absolutely is unstopable with it. We have both used this kind of weapon (Mark II, not III) to educate and condition ourselves over the past 3 or 4 years. We are big advocates of the 22/45 series. Even though I originally purchased the weapon to facilitate cheap practice for my Colt Commander in .45acp, we used this gun to learn how to control snubs which we carry daily. Hers is a Smith 642 (.38 sp) and I carry an M&P 340 (.357 mag).

 

[axeman_g]

The best .22lr handgun made, and one of the most affordable.

Exceptionally accurate, almost to the point of scary. I love shooting steel plates at 50yds, off hand....

Bang....... ping
Bang........ping
Bang........ping


It is a great gun. I never saw the 5" barrel... I have the 4". Shoot it with iron sights, you will be amazed.

My only issues is it's lack of ambi features, but since it is a range gun only no big deal.