Ruger Mark 3 or .22lr SP101 ?

[default57]

which gun should I purchase?

Ruger Mark 3:
-semi-auto (probably Hunter of some barrel length)
-holds 10 round magazines
-good semi-auto practice
-difficult maintenance/takedown
-more picky with ammunition Compared to revolver
-unmatched credibility and praise in the .22lr realm


Ruger .22 SP101:
-slower reload time
-less maintenance
-more versatile ammunition
-8 round capacity
-still a new and un-tried product

I am still not sure, despite extensive research, about which one I should get. I'm leaning more towards the revolver because it more reliable and carefree. But it is slower to reload for when the zombies attack. Plus I will probably get a .22lr conversion hit for a Glock anyways for practice. Does a revolver provide good glock or other semi-auto practice?

Please add any further traits, and correct my mistakes as I have little first hand experience with these two guns.

 

[243winxb]

Are both legal for hunting in your state? Go with the oldest design. Auto.

 

[CoRoMo]

-difficult maintenance/takedown

I do not agree.

What do you want a .22 handgun for after all? If it is for Glock practice, get that conversion kit and forget about either of these substituting for it. For 'greater handgun practice', I vote for the Mk III.

 

[David E]

I disagree with your maintenance/take-down conclusions.

The longer barrel option on the Mk III will allow greater iron-sighted accuracy at distance if hunting is on the agenda.

If primarily for hunting, it's the best choice, even tho it's bigger.

For general "all-around," the revolver is an outstanding choice.

 

[roaddog28]

Mark III has the track record for accuracy. The SP101 is a nice revolver but it is more of a pinker/fun revolver.
Howard

 

[StrutStopper]

I said MK III because that's the next gun I plan to get. I've got nothing against the revolver but I don't intend to get a revolver chambered in .22 LR. Maybe after I shoot my semi for a while I'll decide to give a revolver a whirl, but I'm just not thinking about that right now.

 

[ClemY]

I already have a MK II and a couple of MK IIIs, and a number of .22 revolvers. I like revolvers. I intend to get the new SP101 to go with my others. The MK III would be more accurate. The 101 would be easier to carry, and for some, more fun.

Buy both.

 

[default57]

Clemy, I probably will buy both eventually, but I gotta get the short list. Then I'll go long. Ya'll are making the Mark III really attractive though...

I'm still pretty torn because I know the revolver will feed everything and be well, a revolver. And the fact that the Mark will be more accurate has swayed me away from the revolver, back to the middle. But then the Mark, I can put a red dot on...hmmm.

Do you think that a Mark is less difficult to maintain and more reliable then the .22 revolver!? much less any revolver?

 

[BLB68]

-still a new and un-tried product

I'm pretty sure this isn't the first time they've released the SP-101 in .22LR. So, maybe not so unproven, if they're using the same design as before.

I really couldn't answer the question the thread poses. For me, it'd come down to a) which shot better for me and b) what I could afford. I'd probably lean toward the 22/45 with the removable grip panels, mainly due to cost. I'd like to own both, though.

 

[ClemY]

I think there are trade-offs between the two. Only you can make that decision. If you do expect to eventually get both, then you only have to set your priority and get that one first. Both, IMO, need work as they come from the factory. I don't know which may need more work, but they each require different things.

The MK III has the lawyer mandated features. I don't really care about the loaded chamber indicator. Some do and remove it. I haven't yet. I pay absolutely no attention to the key lock. I don't like the mag safety, but it is easily taken care of. I get a VQ MK II hammer and sear and a MK II hammer bushing and replace them when I do the trigger work. I like the Marvel trigger and put these things in as one job. I also like the VQ slide lock and install one of those. The only thing a little trickey is installing an extension to the mag release. I drilled the mag release with a hand drill and tapped it for the little screw and screwed on a 1911 mag release extension. I also squared up the front sight and serrated it with a checkering file and replaced the rear sight with a VQ sight. You may find you want to do all of these mods or some or none. That is up to you.

On my SP101, I have an old 3" .357. I am waiting to be able to get the new .22. I smoothed the appropriate surfaces in the trigger mechanism and replaced the springs. I also sent it to the Cylinder and Slide shop for installation of a S&W J frame rear sight. With the new .22 that is no longer necessary. After putting sights on it that I can actually see, I was pleasantly surprised how accurate it is. The .22 should be at least as accurate. The problem may be that new barrels can sometimes be a little rough. One cure for that is just to shoot it putting lots of rounds through it to smooth things out. I like jacketed bullets in centerfire guns to do this, but with .22s the closest I can come is tough copper wash stuff. I am heading to the range tomorrow to pump some CCI Velocitor ammo through a S&W Model 63 that needs additional smoothing.

Good luck. You really can't make a bad choice. If you are a tinkerer like I am, you couldn't keep your hands off even if you tried.

Now that I am home, I can include some photos. One is my 3" .357 SP101 and the other is my MK III Hunter. I changed out the sights on the Hunter because I don't care for the V rear sight.

 

[BCRider]

I would not say that one has higher maintanence needs than the other. Both will be about the same. The semi will require a bit of stripping down to do the cleaning but you'll soon get the hang of doing that. The reputation that the Ruger Mk series has for being tough to put back together is only from those that are new to the "trick".

As for semi vs revolver you can't be further apart for style without also considering a single shot. It comes down to what you want to use the gun for and if one or the other will be a venture into a new area of shooting for you. And if you embrace or want to avoid this "adventure".

As far as shooting the SP101 in .22 would aid you for shooting a 9mm Glock I'd have to say that what you would gain would be minimal at best. But then the Mk III with its Luger like grip angle and feel is also a long ways from a Glock for feel.

Frankly asking us which of these two guns you should by is pretty much useless. It's you that has to shoot it. At best the replies from myself an the others should be used to help you decide which things with the two are most important and which will aid you in making up your own mind.

And if you really are just not able to actually make up your own mind because both are calling to you then there's only one way to decide.... count the number of semis and revolvers you have. Buy the one that you have the least of....Because everyone knows that what we need in life is a balance in all things. And an equal number of semi autos and revolvers is a key element to the balance of life....

 

[wickedsprint]

Just between those two, I'd opt for the SP101 as I'm not a fan of the MKIIIs. If not already mentioned, the Browning Buckmark is a good choice as well, if you can find one. Stay away from the camper model due to its plastic sight base.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I already have a Ruger MK II, and it usually stays in the safe -- when I go into the woods (every day since I live in the woods) a Colt Woodsman rides in my holster. If I spring for a new .22, it will be an SP 101.

 

[doc2rn]

I am a fan of the Ruger MK II and the Ruger Standard but the MK III just doesnt measure up in performance to my older ones. Revolvers on the other hand like GPs and SPs are great wheel guns built like tanks and I would not hesitate to buy one.

 

[jad0110]

What handguns do you own now? Just the Glock?

If you are going to eventually get a .22 conversion kit for the Glock, I'd skip on the Mk III (or used I or II I might add) and go straight to the SP101. Most who master the art of the DA pull can apply those trigger control skillsets to all platforms and become a better all around shooter.

Another thing. Ruger has built the .22 SP101 in the past. I'd suspect the design is identical to the previously produced iteration, which was highly prized and regarded by revolver guys.

With the Ruger Mk Series, I do prefer the older Is and IIs simply because they are a bit simpler to take down and put back together. Still tricky, just a little less so. But beyond those, I actually like the Browning Buckmark even more. I don't own one yet, but a friend owns a very nice once that he paid only $350 for. I wish I could remember the exact model; it has nice all black iron sights (partridge style) that I prefer to the fiber optic sights that seem to be all the rage these days.

 

[buckeye8]

I'm not sure how serious you are when you talk about "reload speeds", but this would be at the bottom of my list when buying a rimfire gun.

 

[jad0110]

I'm not sure how serious you are when you talk about "reload speeds", but this would be at the bottom of my list when buying a rimfire gun.

Perhaps it will be used for SD??? Though the OP already has a Glock.

Even if just for fun on the range, a lot of people avoid SA style .22 revolvers (such as the Ruger Single Six) because of the slow unloaded and reloading.

But unless the OP is planning to take a whole bunch of preloaded magazines to the range, in my experience, a DA revolver will actually go through rounds more quickly.

 

[osteodoc08]

Ive got a Mk III and a single six. While I enjoy plinking with the single six, I usually prefer the Mk III with a reflex red dot on it for fun and stress relief since I can really burn up some ammo with it and the several mags I have for it currently. It's not unusual for me to burn through 5-600 rounds a range session in 22lr. Usually plinking at stuff on the berm. Just good ole fun.

 

[788Ham]

ClemY,

How much was the rear sight from Cylinder and Slide for your SP 101 .357? Just curious, might get that done on mine also. Thanks

Ham

I'd also think about the Browning BuckMark, damn nice .22!

 

[default57]

which gun would you say is more accurate?

 

[Buzz9mm]

I would go with the Ruger Mark III. I wouldn't recommend using a .22 though if the world ends lol ...

Also, I wouldn't go with this conversion nonsense or a revolver. I'm sure the revolver would be fun but it's pretty expensive for a .22 and a semi auto would definitely be preferred under stressful conditions. The Ruger isn't perfect and I hear it's hard to take down but it's tried and true.

 

[tubeshooter]

I am in a similar boat.

I already own a couple of Buckmarks. I have no issue or complaint with them, I want a Ruger just to have one in the stable.

I'm also a revolver guy at heart, so when the new SP-101 came out it really garnered my interest.


Depends a lot on what the main purpose is. I think an auto is going to let you burn ammo quicker, but that doesn't necessarily mean "more fun".


I went ahead and got a Ruger MK III Standard this weekend. For one thing, I have yet to see the SP-101 in person and it's not readily available for me yet. Sure I could order it online, I guess...

For another thing, if S&W ever fixes my 317 and sends it back (I'm looking at you, S&W) I might not need to get the SP.

Finally you could almost get 2 MK IIIs for the price of one SP-101. That may affect your decision, and it also may change over time.


Either should be a good purchase, whatever you decide. I personally would probably steer relative newcomers to .22 towards the Ruger.

You can always get the other gun later.

 

[maroast]

Ruger Mark 3: -difficult maintenance/takedown

I also disagree. It's a common misconception that this gun is difficult to service. It's perpetuated by people who dont care to read or take the time to learn how to do something. Not trying to be a jerk, just calling it as it is.

Im not saying anything bad on you. All I'm saying is that you shouldnt take this fact into account when decinding what gun to buy.

As a matter of fact, I love shooting my MK3 hunter and really dont mind cleaning it. I also love shooting my 4in Tarus .22 revolver but I HATE cleaning all those damn little cylinders after shooting it.

-more picky with ammunition Compared to revolver

My MK3 feeds any and all .22lr ammo I throw at it...the good stuff and the cheap bulk stuff with no problems at all. Also, with the addition of an Ultimate Pistol Cliploader (google it) you can load mags in seconds and just burn through a brick of ammo without sore thumbs!

What I like about my 22 revolver is that it feeds ALL .22 ammo.... LR, short, CB short, some of that wonky low power/odd shaped aguila ammo that you cant stuff in the ruger. When I lived in Dallas I would go pop off .22 CB shorts in the woods down the street from my house...really quiet stuff that was fine in the 3-15 yard range.


Just some things to consider.

 

[ClemY]

ClemY,

How much was the rear sight from Cylinder and Slide for your SP 101 .357? Just curious, might get that done on mine also. Thanks


It wasn't cheap: something north of $200, but the new 4" guns in both .357 and .22 come with very nice adjustable sights. Even though I intend to get the 4" guns, I really like the little 3" with good sights.

 

[eastbank]

my older rugers a .22 SS ruger mk-11 and my .22 SS ruger sp101, both are very nice firearms. and do the jobs they are intended to do,i can,t ask any more than that from them. eastbank.