Ruger 22 Automatic - An American Classic

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whatnickname

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I think most folks would agree that the Ruger 22 Automatic is one of the most successful 22 pistols of all time. Over the years I’ve owned several and regret letting a few of them go, especially a Mark II with a 4 & 1/4” heavy taper barrel in stainless. Today I own three MKII pistols. Two are full blown Clark Custom conversions with bull barrels (Douglas barrels), Bowmar sights & Clark triggers with recut sears. These pistols have 2 pound triggers that break like glass. Both will shoot one hole groups at 50 yards. I own two MKIII 22/45 pistols that have Clark trigger jobs.The third MKII is a 6&7/8” stainless Target model that I just acquired on GB in like new condition for $283.00. Gave Clark a call, as I have had Clark do trigger jobs on all my Ruger 22 Automatics. Clark no longer works on Ruger 22 Automatics. They referred me to Majestic Arms in NYC. They never would answer their phone so I ordered the Master Up-grade kit on line. It was pretty easy to install. I now have five Ruger 22 pistols with superb triggers and all are highly accurate. That said the MKII pistols have much better triggers in them than the MKIII pistols. I’m thinking it’s because of the magazine disconnect devices in the MK III pistols. The MKIII pistols aren’t bad. The MKII pistols are just better. All of which started me thinking. What in the opinion of most folks is the better Ruger 22 pistol? The MKI, MKII, MKIII or the MKIV? Haven’t laid hands on a MKIV. That said for my money when they came out with the MKII they got it right.

And now a side bar: The reason that no one was answering the phone at Magestic Arms, is that the owner, Dino, passed away from a very aggressive form of cancer December 4th. While I have long been a Clark Custom fan, I believe that the shooting world has lost an asset with Dino’s passing. Going forward, looks like Volquartsen may be the only game in town when it comes to slicking up a Ruger 22 Automatic!
 
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Power custom makes some stuff for the rugers.

I know if I was lucky enough to own a 10/22mag, I'd have their 25rd mag.

I have a mk II and have shot a 22/45. It's a sweet little gun, and was my first pistol. Blued with a long bull barrel, target sights, and hogue soft rubber grips. My pops has a pencil barrel version in stock form. I didn't care for the way the 22/45 felt in my hand.

Agree that disassembly is not easy...
 
I've got half a dozen Mk II pistols and a couple of 22/45 Mk III pistols. The MK II IMHO is a true classic. My 10" always gets looks and questions at the range. My Government Target is a dream to shoot. I haven't done any modification to any of them. Maybe someday I will.

I picked up my first SR22 yesterday and shot it today. Ruger hit a homerun with that model too. I've got to find a way to sneak a 4" model into the house now.
 
I've got half a dozen Mk II pistols and a couple of 22/45 Mk III pistols. The MK II IMHO is a true classic. My 10" always gets looks and questions at the range. My Government Target is a dream to shoot. I haven't done any modification to any of them. Maybe someday I will.

I picked up my first SR22 yesterday and shot it today. Ruger hit a homerun with that model too. I've got to find a way to sneak a 4" model into the house now.

I recommend getting a set of the rubber hogue grips for one of the mk II's, they really feel nice. Plus, it's not a permanent or expensive modification either. Mine have finger grooves on the front strap. Control with them is amazing
 
If anyone here that reads this is a lefty I've got a deal for ya. I've got a set of Volquartsen Volthane target grips I have no use for. They came on a MK II I bought and I'm not a lefty.

They fit the MK II of course.

PM me for info.
 
I bought my MK1Target, 6 7/8 inch heavy tapered barrel in 1976 to shoot with a local NRA pistol club. I can't remember ever having a ftf or fte. Awesome trigger and accuracy. Politics closed our shooting facility, ( in the basement of a local high school ) so I only shot for one season. I still have that MK1 and shoot it at the gun club often. I put on a set of Ruger thumb rest grips that are nice walnut on it. I love that pistol but the mag release and bolt open on last shot features on the newer ones are a nice improvement . take down was never a problem for me. hdbiker
 
I have only owned the original Standard Model and the MK11 Competition Target Model. I won't bore you guys by posing that same pic of the MKII. I don't find the reassembly of the MkII to be as much of a pain as it is made out to be, but it does bother me to have to use rubber mallet to separate the receiver from the grip frame. When the MKIII came out I thought that the push button mag release would be nice, but not at the cost of the mag safety! Same goes for the MKIV. I hate mag safeties!!
 
Mag safety comes out easy. MKII or MKIII for me. I have no need of a MKIV and I understand the right side safety can be irritating for those with large hands.
 
The Standard that I bought my dad for Father’s Day made us both cry. It’s a quiet family tradition in dads family that the boys buy their dad a pistol, has been that way since they left Ireland looking for good tater growing soil. Recently it’s been kinda lost but it came up at a family reunion and I picked up on it. Give me a standard all day every day. Only thing I like better on a mkII is the mag release. Possibly the sights, but I have yet to see a base model Ruger with decent sights, of any sort. Not saying they don’t exist, I just haven’t found them.
 
One drawback of the original MKI pistol for Bullseye shooters was the nine-round capacity magazine. Bullseye matches are fired in five round segments, making a nine rounder one shy of the five/five ideal capacity. A popular after-market accessory for Bullseye shooters using Ruger pistols back in the day was a modified plastic magazine follower that allowed the magazine to hold ten rounds. The drawback was that the follower was the only thing holding the slide back after the tenth round was fired, requiring the shooter to hold the slide to the rear so that the magazine could be removed.
 
What in the opinion of most folks is the better Ruger 22 pistol? The MKI, MKII, MKIII or the MKIV?
I have all of them. The Mark IV is the best, if you get rid of the magazine disconnect, replace the sear with a Mark II or Volquartsen sear, and install a Clark trigger.
 
Hate warning labels.
Ideally, I want a MK 3 frame (mag release button), with a MK 2bolt/receiver and a MK3 6 7/8 bbl (warning label underside).
I might just get a Mk3 and put the filler in, but I want the big eared bolt of the Mk2.
They just look better to me than the MK4 stuff.
And take down has never bothered me.
There is a MK2 6 7/8 taper bull at LGS, Consignment, too high.
 
I say this half-jokingly, but the MKIV is the best- at driving down the cost of used MKI, MKII, and MKIII's. I've had all except an MKIV and in my hands, they've all shot the same- excellent. If you don't mind the extra effort in take one down, the earlier editions are still just as awesome as they have always been.
 
I've been working with, and on, Ruger Standards and Mark versions since 1971. I have kept some very extensive notes and records on what all can go wrong and what remedies I've devised that will get these pistols back up and running safely. Can't remember how many have arrived in a bag or a box, completely disassembled, so they are fairly easy to take apart, it's getting 'em back together that gives some folks apoplexy.
Once accepted, and understood, the process of tilting the barrel into a 45° angle upward so that the hammer strut swings back and over the 'cup' in the mainspring housing assembly is done, the mainspring housing latch will go easily into place with a very slight bit of pressure, to close completely.
With a bit of smoothing, and along with a few aftermarket parts, Ruger Mark pistols will run right along with any of the other 'labeled' target .22 pistols including the Smith & Wesson Model 41, which cost 2 ½ times more:

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Power custom makes some stuff for the rugers.

I know if I was lucky enough to own a 10/22mag, I'd have their 25rd mag.

I have a mk II and have shot a 22/45. It's a sweet little gun, and was my first pistol. Blued with a long bull barrel, target sights, and hogue soft rubber grips. My pops has a pencil barrel version in stock form. I didn't care for the way the 22/45 felt in my hand.

Agree that disassembly is not easy...
I feel disassembly isn't terribly difficult, reassembly on the other hand can be downright frustrating. Once you do the first one you never forget.
 
My Mark I it says Mark I on it Circa 1961 IIRC with the original grips

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I picked up the Mark I pictured at a local Gunshop for $137.00 with the magazines and original grip about 6 years ago. Note the magazines with their chrome plated bases, and the thumb assist on the right side. The Mark I was the bull barreled target model which I believe came out in 1957. The tapered barrel model was the Standard and did not have Mark I on the action. My example circa 1961 is the same age as me! I also have a couple of Mark II pistols as well, a 4" standard taper barrel fixed sight, and a KMK 512 stainless bull 5.5" barrel. The trigger was better on the KMK512 out of the box Than any others.

This is the part that gives folks trouble putting the gun back together:

Once accepted, and understood, the process of tilting the barrel into a 45° angle upward so that the hammer strut swings back and over the 'cup' in the mainspring housing assembly is done, the mainspring housing latch will go easily into place with a very slight bit of pressure, to close completely.

You have to look into the back of the gun to make sure the dangly thing hanging off the hammer is dangling over the cupped part of the mainspring housing it needs to go into that spot and you must tilt the pistol back and forth slightly as needed ( make sure you have pulled the trigger to release the hammer or the strut wont be dangling).
 
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Sadly the MK's II, III & IV are someone's attempt to sell more pistols. They do not improve on the MK I's in any way, shape or form.
My only problem isn't with the pistol, it's with my eyes. So...
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