swiftak
Member
I worked on my MKll for a few min at a time over the span of several days before I finally got it back together. It doesn't get field stripped anymore.
Ruger MK I, II, &III: Sittinng in Closet?
- Thread starter SharpsDressedMan
- Start date
- Status
Kerf
Member
I was thinking back, trying to remember if the MK I originally came with a manual showing assembly and dis-assembly; I was thinking it didn't. Then it struck me that I've never bought one "new", so that's the reason I don't know, or have a manual. They say the memory goes first...
kerf
kerf
Smaug
Member
No. It really is worth the effort to actually read the manual to take it apart and put it together.
I also disagree with the idea that "Ruger was not Browning." I think he was every bit as good of a gun designer as Browning was. His 22 pistol is just as simple of a design as the 1911, for instance. The Ruger design actually is faster, once the disassembly lever is flipped.
I also disagree with the idea that "Ruger was not Browning." I think he was every bit as good of a gun designer as Browning was. His 22 pistol is just as simple of a design as the 1911, for instance. The Ruger design actually is faster, once the disassembly lever is flipped.
SharpsDressedMan
member
You want simple, try Browning's .25 1908, or .32 Model 1903. Or Glock anything. Ruger gets points for improving the single action, perfecting manufacturing from investment cast, and building strong, reasonably priced, well marketed American guns. Many of his "designs" were merely improvments of other very basic designs, but often, at the price of complex assembly or disassembly. This applies to his rimfire and centerfire auto pistols.
skeptical_in_Ohio
Member
I'll fess up. I field stripped my wife's Mark III for the first time, literally today. It's not that hard, but it's just lots of little fiddly things that have to be just so or it turns into work.
Being "new" (and yes there was a procedure for "new" ones), the driving the bolt stop out with a plastic pin, using a zip tie to get the mainspring blade release out, and (my personal favorite) having to whack the back of the barrel with a plastic mallet to separate it from the frame (and the frame to seat it back in place on reassembly) were a bit disconcerting (all procedures, btw mentioned in the Ruger manual, so yes, I did read it). The only issue I really had was geting the hammer positioned right, making reattaching the mainspring a bit of a challenge. The "put a magazine in for one task but take it out for another" or "hold the trigger now but not NOW" got a bit old too.
Of course, my mood was darkened a bit while driving out the bolt stop I mis-hit the mallet (one with a screw-in nylon insert), slipped off the dowel and dinged the back of the barrel just above where the bolt is. That one's on me.
I also changed the sights to the Hi-Viz for her, which is another fiddly little task that took a bit more time too (did not enjoy at all the installation of the rear blade). This also probably darkened my mood a bit. Still, it has nice hi-viz sights now, so the missus is happy, which usually leads to brightening the mood some.
By comparison, I also field stripped, cleaned and reassembled my LC9, my XD45 and Neos today too (first time on all but the Neos). All three of these combined took less time than the same tasks on the Mark III.
Being "new" (and yes there was a procedure for "new" ones), the driving the bolt stop out with a plastic pin, using a zip tie to get the mainspring blade release out, and (my personal favorite) having to whack the back of the barrel with a plastic mallet to separate it from the frame (and the frame to seat it back in place on reassembly) were a bit disconcerting (all procedures, btw mentioned in the Ruger manual, so yes, I did read it). The only issue I really had was geting the hammer positioned right, making reattaching the mainspring a bit of a challenge. The "put a magazine in for one task but take it out for another" or "hold the trigger now but not NOW" got a bit old too.
Of course, my mood was darkened a bit while driving out the bolt stop I mis-hit the mallet (one with a screw-in nylon insert), slipped off the dowel and dinged the back of the barrel just above where the bolt is. That one's on me.
I also changed the sights to the Hi-Viz for her, which is another fiddly little task that took a bit more time too (did not enjoy at all the installation of the rear blade). This also probably darkened my mood a bit. Still, it has nice hi-viz sights now, so the missus is happy, which usually leads to brightening the mood some.
By comparison, I also field stripped, cleaned and reassembled my LC9, my XD45 and Neos today too (first time on all but the Neos). All three of these combined took less time than the same tasks on the Mark III.
Green Lantern
Member
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2006
- Messages
- 1,665
In my family, generally speaking I came away with the "book" smarts while my brother got more than his fair share of the "mechanical" smarts. He is VERY adept with many forms of machinery, though primarily cars and the like. For instance, while I had to go to a bodyshop to fix the "looks," he did the actual saving of my car after I crashed into a @#$! deer one day - one of the highlights was using a tractor to pull the radiator back up to where it was supposed to be...
...Which is why I've been terrified of the take-down procedure for the Ruger .22 automatic ever since that day years ago when it totally FLUMMOXED him, and he had to take it back to the dealer to get HIM to show him how.
Though I've never tried it myself...I think if I ever replace the hole left by the parting of my Taurus Model 94 it'll be with something like the new Umarex/Walther/Colt .22 pistol, or a P22, or maybe that Glock-clone .22. Just seems that the Rugers have THE reputation for being an ordeal to put back together.
...Which is why I've been terrified of the take-down procedure for the Ruger .22 automatic ever since that day years ago when it totally FLUMMOXED him, and he had to take it back to the dealer to get HIM to show him how.
Though I've never tried it myself...I think if I ever replace the hole left by the parting of my Taurus Model 94 it'll be with something like the new Umarex/Walther/Colt .22 pistol, or a P22, or maybe that Glock-clone .22. Just seems that the Rugers have THE reputation for being an ordeal to put back together.
MICHAEL T
Member
I took mine back to gunsmith . I have never taken down since I spray clean it and clean the barrel. I like pistol but will never buy another. Mine is a MKII .
CSA 357
Member
when i used to shoot 2000 rounds a week or so threw my mk i had it down to a art, now i have to take my time to get it right, i love my mk2 target cometition stainless, but when it gets dirty it wont work untill its clean
My MK II is still pretty tight taking apart/reassembling, but yeah R.T.F.M. and think abut about it, not TOO hard to put together.
Now, during my (somewhat) mis-spent youth, I took apart my Rem Nylon 66 too far, and ended up taking to the local 'smith. $20 later, I knew why those were called "Brown Bag" rifles...you carried into the gunsmith in a brown bag or 2
Now, during my (somewhat) mis-spent youth, I took apart my Rem Nylon 66 too far, and ended up taking to the local 'smith. $20 later, I knew why those were called "Brown Bag" rifles...you carried into the gunsmith in a brown bag or 2
Omaha-BeenGlockin
Member
I taught myself using the owner's manual back in 1985---never been an issue since.
Double Vision
Member
Thanks for sharing your experiences on this, it's good to know I'm not alone.
The Ruger Mk II is a real nice .22.
The re-assembly after cleaning is either going to go right or very, very wrong.
The last time I cleaned it, I worked at re-assembly for over 2 solid hours without success using my manual circa 1984. On a lark, I downloaded the new manual from Ruger.com and had it back together in the blink of an eye. A picture can be worth a thousand words in a situation like that.
Thank goodness for the internet!
The Ruger Mk II is a real nice .22.
The re-assembly after cleaning is either going to go right or very, very wrong.
The last time I cleaned it, I worked at re-assembly for over 2 solid hours without success using my manual circa 1984. On a lark, I downloaded the new manual from Ruger.com and had it back together in the blink of an eye. A picture can be worth a thousand words in a situation like that.
Thank goodness for the internet!
TimboKhan
Member
Good Grief.
I am no genius, but if you read the manual, the MkII isn't hard to put back together. I will grant that it is not intuitive, but neither is it rocket surgery if you simply read the instructions.
I am no genius, but if you read the manual, the MkII isn't hard to put back together. I will grant that it is not intuitive, but neither is it rocket surgery if you simply read the instructions.
- Status
