Ruger Mark IV Questions

[DblActionJEB]

Was looking into getting a Ruger Mark IV with a 5.5" barrel and noticed some big differences in the models available.
The standard Mark IV Target comes with either a blued steel or stainless steel barrel with lowers either made of aluminum alloy or stainless steel and the Mark IV 22/45 5.5" has a blued barrel and a polymer lower. I feel like the polymer looks the worst, but I'm curious if it actually makes any difference. Will any of these hold up any better over time (particularly the lowers)?
Also, is the trigger pull the same in the Mark IV and Mark IV 22/45. I noticed that their replacement triggers and parts are not interchangeable so I was wondering if one starts out better than the other.
Thanks!

 

[triplebike]

I have the MKIV 22/45 w/5.5 barrel. I purchased the 22/45 because I prefer the grip angle. It's also less expensive. I absolutely love the gun have about 5000 rds through it. I doubt I will ever wear the lower out. I have a MKIV 22/45 lite also with about the same rd count, same lower. My lite came stock with a better trigger then the 5.5 but it's acceptable to me so I doubt I'll change it. Both triggers have improved over use. Both are excellent 22's in every way.

 

[DblActionJEB]

Thanks for the insight!
Do you feel that the longer sight radius and heavy barrel on the 5.5" help it to shoot better groups than the 22/45 Lite? Does one balance better in the hand than the other with the significant weight differences?
Thanks!

 

[AlexanderA]

You're going to have to do something to improve the trigger pull, regardless of which model you get. In particular, the magazine-disconnect mechanism has to go. Figure on $100-200 added to the bottom line. That is, if you're serious about your target shooting.

My personal preference is the 5.5" Target model. (I started with the Mark I back in 1970, and have all the subsequent versions.)

 

[doubleh]

You are going to have to work really hard to wear any one of three out in your lifetime. If you are going to use your gun for a hammer like the sheriffs did in old western movies did then I would opt for the stainless model.

 

[DblActionJEB]

Thoughts on this one?
https://www.ruger.com/products/markIVTarget/specSheets/40163.html
https://grabagun.com/rug-40163-mkiv-22lr-target-5-5-as-tb-ss-bl.html

Its looks like a pretty good combo of features. It has the 5.5" threaded barrel in stainless and it has the aluminum alloy receiver which looks a little nicer than polymer but weighs less than the stainless steel version.

 

[flashhole]

I have that exact model gun. I love it. It's very solid and very well balanced. Easy to hold on target but the black on black sights are not the easiest to pick up at an indoor range. I plan on picking up a fiber optic front sight. I painted the flat on the front sight fluorescent orange. It worked great until the paint came off. The Federal Auto Match bulk pack target ammo is very accurate in my gun. You will not be disappointed if you buy one.

 

[alfsauve]

I have two polymer framed 22/45 and both work great. (one is with red dot, the other iron sights)

Be advised most Ruger's have some minor nits. With the MkIV it's a) MkIII mags won't fit without modification b) The windage and elevation adjustments require different tools. None are deal breakers just nits.

 

[Kookla]

One thing I like about the polymer frame on the MK (this was on an MKIII I had) is that it never seems to get as cold as the steel frame.

 

[AlexanderA]

Be aware that a threaded barrel will get the pistol classified as an "assault weapon" under the new, proposed Virginia legislation (this may also be a trend in other states). But since there looks to be grandfathering, the time to get one may be now.

 

[Trashyshoots]

I bought a 22/45 mk4 to hold me over till my volquartsen scorpion is finished. So far I have about 6k rounds through it and its been a peach so long as I feed it good ammo

 

[edwardware]

This will sound cliched, but: buy a Mk II. You won't have to add parts to fix the magazine disconnect, and you'll avoid subsidizing dumb design decisions.

And before anyone starts whinging about reassembly, it's actually no harder than any 3rd grade reading comprehension test.

 

[Labguy47]

I own both and prefer the 22/45 over the standard model trigger. However the all steel ones smooth out over a long time of use.