Ruger Mk II Help

[JCooperfan1911]

I am considering buying a 50th Anniversary Ruger Mk II made in 1999 here locally.

How is parts availability for the older Mk II guns? I know there’s a lot of aftermarket for the III and IV. Can a Mk II still be fired or are they considered collectors guns with no parts support?

Do the new Mk IV magazines fit the Mk IIs? If not, are mags still made for the old guns?

I plan on making it a regular shooter so just curious. I do not like the looks of the Mk IV the hinge makes for an ugly gun. Thanks all.

 

[marvin02]

In my experience the Mark IV mags work in the Mark II. I used Mark IV mags in a Mark II Competition Target. They don't work as well as Mark II mags because you have to insert and remove them at an angle due to the projection on the newer mags for the mag catch. I was able to purchase used Mark II mags so can't comment on the availability of new mags for the Mark II.

There is no reason I know of not to shoot a Mark II unless you want to keep it's resale value as high as possible.

Many folks think the Mark series has been on a downward slide since the Mark II.

 

[Frankl03]

Ruger Mk II are great guns. Parts should be no problem. Mags are available online. The Mark II takes a different mag than the III or IV.

Allot of people believe the stock trigger on the Mark II is better than later models .

The Mark II can updated with Volquartsen parts. I believe the bolt is the same as later models.

The heel mag release took some getting use to.

 

[edwardware]

Given the many millions of MkIIs sold in the last half century, I think parts support will be quite good for a long time. I would NOT send a MkII to Ruger, unless you want a Mk(current) back.

And I prefer the MkII, as it seems the changes to MkIII and IV were mostly done to accommodate the illiteratii who couldn't read and follow very simple reassembly directions.

 

[AlexanderA]

How is parts availability for the older Mk II guns? I know there’s a lot of aftermarket for the III and IV. Can a Mk II still be fired or are they considered collectors guns with no parts support?

Plenty of parts. In fact, the aftermarket "trigger kits" from Volquartsen, Tandemkross, etc., follow the Mark II design (no magazine disconnect). Many people consider the Mark II to be the "gold standard" of the series.

Do the new Mk IV magazines fit the Mk IIs? If not, are mags still made for the old guns?

The magazines are backwards compatible. The only possible reason that a Mark III or IV magazine might not fit in a Mark II is the (very small) nub for the 1911-style magazine release. But there's enough slop (looseness) in the magazine well that this shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Rule3]

I have a "few" MkIIs, Shoot them all the time.One of the best 22 semi auto ever made. Much better than the new versions. Parts are everywhere.

People just didn't want to hassle putting them back together, which is very easy once you learn how, The angle of the dangle.

 

[Tallball]

I like mine a lot. Getting mags and springs for it was NP.

Ruger Mark II 22lr

• Tallball
• Jul 25, 2020

 

[JCooperfan1911]

Thanks, gang!

What about bolt comparability with the new Mks?

 

[Riomouse911]

Buy it with confidence. As the guys said; there are lots of mags out there, plus you can easily get Volquartsen inner parts and Wolff springs. They’re are all you’ll ever need if (and thats a big if) something fails.



My 6.5” Mk II Government Target model (top) and an extra 5.5” upper for the Mk IV (I also have a 10” and a second 5.5” upper with a red dot.)

Stay safe.

 

[CoalTrain49]

I like mine a lot. Getting mags and springs for it was NP.

Ruger Mark II 22lr

• Tallball
• Jul 25, 2020

I have that same pistol. Had it for 30 years or more. I can't honestly remember where or when I purchased it but remember it was used when I got it. I put a red dot on it and keep it handy for coyotes that eat my neighbors chickens. 50 yard shots are baseball size groups. Not too shabby for a pistol.

 

[AlexanderA]

What about bolt comparability with the new Mks?

I believe all the bolts are interchangeable. There are minor cosmetic changes that don't affect function.

 

[bannockburn]

Ruger's website still shows Mk.II magazines available for $32.95.

 

[skfullen]

I have, and shoot Ruger Standard, MkI, II, and III's. Great pistols! Mags are interchangeable in some, but may require, as has already been said, that the button on the side be reversed.

 

[marvin02]

Thanks, gang!

What about bolt comparability with the new Mks?

Here's a page with some info on the differences between the various Mark series:

https://www.wirthweinguns.com/MK-FRAMES.php

Mark IV bolts will work in the Mark II.

 

[marvin02]

I believe all the bolts are interchangeable. There are minor cosmetic changes that don't affect function.

I believe that the Mark III is the only exception. Bolts from the Mark IV or Mark II will work only if the loaded chamber indicator has been removed.

 

[AlexanderA]

I believe that the Mark III is the only exception. Bolts from the Mark IV or Mark II will work only if the loaded chamber indicator has been removed.

That's right. The Mark III bolt has a groove milled out for the LCI, but it will work in the other Marks. Conversely, bolts from the other Marks will not work in a Mark III that still has the LCI, but it's a good idea to remove the LCI anyway. Aftermarket filler pieces are available to close the receiver slot for the LCI.

 

[AlexanderA]

Ruger's website still shows Mk.II magazines available for $32.95.

Try pricing the magazine parts separately, from Ruger, rather than buying the complete magazines. Several years ago, I found that I could save money this way, due to a pricing glitch. This may no longer hold true, but it's worth checking out.

 

[film495]

I went out of my way to find a used MK2, haven't needed any parts for it - but, picked up a couple more Ruger mags off e-bay new in box for pretty cheap.

 

[SwampWolf]

I've had all the "Marks" except the IV and my favorite is the MKII. I paid a little over fifty bucks for a new Mark I Bull Barrel back in 1974 when they were retailing for $78.50. The one I use most now is a MK II "Government" model, which I paid $209.95 for new on 2-25-91. It's every bit as accurate as my Smith & Wesson Model 41 pistol but doesn't have as nice of a trigger pull.

 

[Jeff olson]

The mark iv is the worst of my group. The mark ii target is a great shooter. Both of them. The 1954 standard us property by far has the best trigger and shoots the tightest groups.

 

[BrotherMaynard]

CDNN has factory mags for $24:

https://www.cdnnsports.com/magazines/mkii-22-10rd-ruger-fact.html

I have a 50th anniversary MK II that will not feed consistently from the original mags (red background on the medallion) but runs fine with other factory mags.

Obligatory pic:


ETA pic.

 

[Otto]

^^ good find at CDNN.

I use 12 round stainless mags made by Ramline . They’ve been 100% reliable and I prefer them above the factory mags. Ramline stopped making them over 20 years ago and are now unobtainable.

 

[czhen]

Great pistols that need very few up-grades to convert it in a competition pistol (steel challenge for example, mostly in ergos). Easy to do a trigger job (mostly a new sear from Volquartsen, accuracy great from the get to go, mags are everywhere, tons of videos, book or material on Youtube.
Ruger Mark III suffered the lawyer punishments (chamber indicator and mag disconnector), some people complained about assembly and diss. difficulties (I wonder if they can start a 2 cycles lawn mower or change a tired without using a youtube.) After removing those obnoxious devices is a super pistol. The Ruger mark II did not have the above so superb pistol from the beginning. Look at prices Ruger II are sold as fast as hot cakes.
I've the Ruger III slab side 6" 7/8 and converted to a Ruger II 5"1/2 removing the above for my steel practices.
To make a long story short, easy to upgrade, plenty of resources, very few contenders in accuracy and lastly ergo is a taste thing.

 

[film495]

I picked up a MK2 a few years back. Put these maple grips on it, just for something different, and it looks a bit like the commemorative white grips. Seems good to me, haven't done anything to it, but clean it and put new grips on it and get a couple extra mags. In 2019 when I picked this up, it was not expensive particularly, so - I went out of my way to find the version I wanted.

If I wanted a MK2, I personally would have jumped on a commemorative MK2, but I like the one I picked up off gunbroker, for really to me a very reasonable price.

 

[epags]

The Ruger website says this:
FIREARMS WITH LIMITED PARTS / SERVICE AVAILABLE:
Please contact Customer Service to determine the extent of parts and service that is available for the models below.
Mark I, Mark II and Standard .22 Caliber Pistol
Mini-14 Rifle (Serial # Prefixes Below "580-")