Ruger .22 auto magazines

[dirty dave]

I have a older Ruger .22 auto.Just reads ruger no Mark I,or standard,or MarkII.My problem is bought a extra clip for it thinking it was a Mark I so I bought Mark I magazine.But loadind button on mag is on left side my gun has the cut out for a mag with button on right side.how do I take the button off and change it to right side?any help would be great.

 

[Jolly Rogers]

The button is slotted and fits into the cut on the mag body. The mag body has a slot on the opposite side so the button can just be switched from left to right. It just is pinned into the follower. The mag must be stripped to components to reverse the button though.
Joe

 

[dirty dave]

Just how is this done?

 

[shooter1]

From reading your post, I'm still unclear what mdl pistol you have, MkI or II.
If you have a MkI, you're not going to make a MkII mag work in it. The button you're referring to has to be on the left side of the magazine on a Mk II to operate the slide stop. Nothing to changing it to the right side on a Mk II mag. Just strip the mag down, slide the button and follower into alignment with the large hole in the mag slot, and pull it out. Reinsert it on the opposite side, and replace the mag spring and floor plate.
str1

 

[dirty dave]

How do you strip down the magazine? I have a early model ruger does not read mark I or II.button on right side of mag have a mark II mag that I'm trying to use.

 

[shooter1]

Using a small punch or screwdriver, depress the plunger thru the hole in the floor plate while pulling the floorplate toward the front of the magazine. When the floorplate comes off the mag body prevent the spring and plunger plate from launching into space. Pull out the mag spring. The follower is then free to travel up and down in the mag. Slide it down to the bottom of the mag body till the button lines up with the large hole at the bottom of the slot. Pull the button out. You can then insert it into the other side without removing the follower if you like.
It's easy to do, and hard to explain. Do a search for Ruger magazine disassembly, there's got to be pictures or videos out there somewhere.
str1

 

[dirty dave]

THANKS SHOOTER1 worked great I'm not stupid just did not want to tear up a good magazine.will try it out soon.Do not see any reason it will not work now.fits in gun perfect

 

[outerlimit]

I wish they still made the 12rd aftermarket mags. I wonder why nobody has started making them again.

 

[fatelk]

I've always heard that Mark 2 mags won't fit in a standard or mark 1 also, but I have an old Ruger like the one the OP describes, definitely not a mark 2. I bought it well used about 20 years ago and it came with a mark 1 mag with the silver bottom. I've since bought several brand new mark 2 mags and have used them all interchangeably without modification.

I just checked my guns. My Mk2 is marked "Ruger MK.II .22 cal. Long Rifle". My old gun, which I've always assumed is a mark 1 or standard, is just marked "Ruger 22 cal Long Rifle Automatic Pistol". The bulge in the frame for the mag button is on the left on both guns, but the old one has no slide stop.

Is this how yours is, dirty dave? Are most older guns the opposite?

By the way, the take down is different for MKI mags; just push the follower down with a screwdriver or cleaning rod or something until the button lines up with the hole, then pull it out and push it in the other side.

Also, MKII mags are WAY better than MKI mags, IMHO.

 

[dirty dave]

Mine has button on magazine on right side as that is the way it is set up for.reciever reads as yours RUGER 22 automatic.was told it was made in early to mid 1950's maybe that is the difference

 

[shooter1]

Great, Dave! Hope it works well for you.
Savage

 

[bhp9mm]

it must be the real old ones the mark II mags don't work in i have a ruger mark I 5.5 inch bull barrel and mark II mags work fine in it

 

[fatelk]

I just realized that I misread your original post, though now I see that it's quite clear that you wrote the button's supposed to be on the right, as opposed to mine.

I looked up the serial number once, and IIRC, mine was made in the late '70s. Apparantly at some point between the '50s and the '70s they changed sides.

I just did a search and read all kinds of info. The "A 100" frame modification occured in 1971, and the button was moved from the right to the left at that time, long before the MKII came out in '82.

I've also wondered about the difference between the standard and the MKI: If it doesn't say "MKI", it's a standard. The MKI had a heavier barrel and adjustable sights. I'm sure that's probably common knowledge, but I never knew it.

 

[dirty dave]

Mine must be a standard then because it has no MARK I stamp on it.I was told it was a MARK I guess my seller knew not much more than me.Thats why this is a great site.I always learn something,

 

[outerlimit]

I've always heard that Mark 2 mags won't fit in a standard or mark 1 also,

Mark 2 magazines worked perfectly in my 1978 Mark I.

Unfortunately I no longer have that Ruger. It is one of the few firearms I really regret selling.