Ruger Mark IV

[browneu]

I picked up a new Ruger Mark IV over the weekend and is impressed with the changes made to the design. My father in law had a Mark II and I didn't like the magazine release being at the bottom entrance of the magazine well. Also, I didn't like the difficulty in taking it apart for cleaning.

Now it seems like Ruger listened to people like me and changed these items in Mark IV. The magazine release has been moved to where other guns have theirs. Also, breakdown is as easy as pushing a button.

Lastly, I like the case hardened finish. I know the colors will fade and the case hardening will wear but now it looks great to me. Others may think it's hideous but that's OK.

The guns is drilled and tapped for a scope and I'd like to put a rail on it for a red dot. Does anyone have any opinions on aftermarket picatinny rails.

 

[TacticalJanitor]

Nice pistol. I like them because the design was around when I was a kid, and have two now.

 

[Targa]

I like it!

 

[sparkyv]

Cool Hunter! I hadn't seen the case-hardened color scheme yet. I like it.

 

[armedwalleye]

Oh, my......

Which specific model is that please??

 

[AlexanderA]

We've previously discussed at length the changes needed to make the Mark IV into a passable target gun. The main thing is that the magazine disconnector has to go.

 

[Riomouse911]

That is a limited production, Turnbull case hardened pistol, very nice!

I like that I can go from a 10” bull barrel to a 5.5” bull barrel to a 5.5” with a red dot… all in about fifteen seconds.

A Volquartsen trigger set up made my Mk IV trigger pull a dream.

Stay safe.

 

[BreechFace]

Agreed, couldn’t sell my previous Ruger Mk fast enough.

 

[doubleh]

I like the MK IV for the fact that it has the same grip angle as my High Standard Military. I didn't like the trigger but fixed it with Voquartson parts. I like the MK 22/45 for the fact that it has the same grip angle as the 1911. Volquarson also rescued the trigger on mine.

 

[bannockburn]

browneu

That's a really fine looking Mk.IV you've got there! Normally I'm not a big fan of color case hardening on semi-autos but this Hunter Model, done by Turnbull, definitely lends itself very nicely to the overall appearance of the gun.

 

[HollowDawg]

Have a MKII stainless slab sided bull barrel. Crazy accurate. Looking forward to picking up many of those "nasty" MKII pistols that folks can't disassemble. I've never had a problem with 'em once I sat down an looked at how they actually function. Elegant design. I didn't realize the MKIV has a mag disconnect? If so, that's a deal breaker for me. Obnoxious feature imho! Is there a work around for the mag disconnect?

 

[DDDWho]

I disabled the mag disconnect on my Mark IV.

 

[BreechFace]

Eliminated my mag disconnect on mine as well, easy problem solved.

 

[HollowDawg]

Trigger improvement after mag disconnect disabled?

 

[DDDWho]

Trigger improvement after mag disconnect disabled?

I disabled the disconnect when I installed a 2# VQ trigger.

 

[AlexanderA]

I didn't realize the MKIV has a mag disconnect? If so, that's a deal breaker for me. Obnoxious feature imho! Is there a work around for the mag disconnect?

Both the Mark III and the Mark IV have magazine disconnects. Here are the offending parts. (Mark III on the left, Mark IV on the right.)



The workaround is to remove the offending parts, and install a Mark II hammer. You can also add a Vorquartsen sear. The rest of the Volquartsen accurizing kit probably isn't necessary.

 

[HollowDawg]

Excellent! Thx for the info!! Might take another look at the MKIV now. I like that the lower is now made in one piece as opposed to the two piece welded lower of previous iterations.

 

[Riomouse911]

Excellent! Thx for the info!! Might take another look at the MKIV now. I like that the lower is now made in one piece as opposed to the two piece welded lower of previous iterations.

The blued Mk IV lower is a non magnetic alloy (aluminum?) casting, so it’s very light. The stainless versions of the Mk IV are stainless steel so they weigh a few ounces more.

Stay safe.

 

[AlexanderA]

One difference in the Mark IV's machined lower, as opposed to the stamped and welded previous ones, is that the front corners of the trigger opening are rounded. This means that the squared-off aftermarket Clark trigger (my favorite) won't fit unless you do a bit of surgery with a needle file. No big deal, but you should be aware.

Below is a picture of my Mark IV with a Clark trigger and other modifications installed. Under the gun, from left to right, are the issue trigger, a Clark trigger, the issue front sight, and a modified ramp front sight from a Ruger Single Six.

 

[JDeere]

I have the IV target and she is nice and accurate. I got a rail from Ruger. I didn't even have to remove rear sight. Put a dot on it no issues...

 

[AlexanderA]

I have the IV target and she is nice and accurate. I got a rail from Ruger. I didn't even have to remove rear sight. Put a dot on it no issues...

My Mark IV Target (see the picture above) came with a rail, right in the box. This rail is 4 3/8" long, and can be mounted in one of two different ways. Either you can leave the rear sight on, in which case the rail overhangs the front of the receiver, or you can remove the rear sight and reverse the rail so that it's flush with the front of the receiver. I got an aftermarket rail that's 3 1/4" long and sits flush with the front of the receiver with the rear sight in place. I haven't actually used either of the rails.

 

[SDGlock23]

Real pretty, I love the MKIV's. Mines a threaded Target model and I installed a Volquartsen trigger in it and put a Dawson Precision fiber optic front on it too.

 

[If1HitU]

Two of my four Mark IV .22 Hunter & Competition .22

 

[JDeere]

@AlexanderA I did not receive a rail in my box but ordered one. I just let let it overhang the receiver since I decided not to remove the sight. Where did you pick up the shorter rail?

 

[AlexanderA]

Where did you pick up the shorter rail?

I forget now. It's been a while.

Under the gun, from left to right, are the issue trigger, a Clark trigger....

BTW, you may notice, in the picture above, that the issue trigger has a bump on the back that starts a little higher than where the overtravel screw is on the Clark trigger next to it. This bump engages a notch at the top of the magazine. As nearly as I can tell, the purpose of the bump is to raise the magazine to the fully locked position as the trigger is pulled, in case the magazine hasn't been fully inserted. Does this have anything to do with the magazine disconnect? Maybe, although I don't see how. Anyway, if you remove the magazine disconnect, it's a moot point.

This ridiculous and unnecessary feature adds to the notoriously bad trigger pull of this model Ruger. None of the aftermarket triggers, including the Volquartsen, has this.