Ruger MK II vs MK III

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Lightsped

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Anyone seen the Ruger MK III yet? I saw some today at my lcoal dealer.

Differences I noticed are the mag release is up near the trigger guard like most pistols. Also has a large loaded chamber indicator on the left side of the slide. That is all I noticed right off hand.

I am proally going to go ahead and get the MK II as the lack of a loaded chamber indicator keeps the gun looking better. This gun is just for fun anyways, not defense.

Any other differences I missed?
 
Get The MKII

The loaded round indicator= :barf: Who needs a big slit cut in the receiver for that :barf: :barf: :barf: :barf:
I do like the new fluted barrel they offer but I could live without the plastic hi-vis sight.
I would not be too surprised if the MKII did not get dropped from the line in favor of the MKIII :(
Fortunately I have a few stainless MKIIs already in my collection so I guess I have a lifetime supply :D
Enjoy your new gun :)
 
The Mk III has a potentially hazardous issue regarding the loaded chamber indicator (some moron thought it would be a good idea to index the thing on the RIM of a RIMFIRE cartridge - a guy on one of the .22 forums did some tests and found that it would fire a round if the indicator was hit while the gun was loaded.

Stick to the Mk II.
 
The differences:

1) Magazine release location and the different magazines needed

2) Magazine safety on Mark III.

3) Loaded chamber indicator.


The magazine safety is the biggest issue since it plays havoc with disassembly and reassembly due to the need to manipulate the trigger during these activities.
 
I have had a MKIII 512 for about 6 months. I bought it at a Ruger promo here for about $285+Tax. I just found out about the loaded chamber indicator being a possible safety issue about a week ago. I'm not terribly worried about it, as I have a red-dot sight on the gun that protrudes out to the side enough that the indicator can't hit the ground if it falls on a flat surface. Still, that seems like such a stupid engineering error. Maybe they will do a "New Model" that doesn't have such an issue and I'll just get to send mine back (turn around at Ruger is currently about 3 months, guess how I know this.) I don't think its an eyesore, you harldy can see it unless you look for it.

I really like the mag release a lot better. My dad has an old taper barrel Standard, with the mag release on the bottom. I have never liked it (though I have caught my self several times trying to change mags on the MkIII by pressing on the bottom of the magwell. Don't work.)

I could do without the mag safety, I have other pistols with them, but I don't like them very much. I like to be able to drop in one bullet and shoot. Not really for any good reason, I just do.

If you can find a MkII for a similar price, I'd say go with it. I kinda worry about the chamber indicator thing.
 
The MKII is no longer in production. The last 1000 were actully made as a special run and inscribed as such.
The MKIII has hd the loaded chamber indictaer redesigned and those shipping now have the newer design.
 
I went home and chambered a round in the MkIII and pointed it safely at the ground, and hit the chamber indicator with a 8 oz. hammer about half a dozen times, as hard as I could make myself hit my own gun (not that hard, but I think at least as solid a lick as dropping it from six feet). I tried safety on, safety off, mag in, mag out, every possible combination I could think of. No discharge. Maybe I have the "new model" indicator. My gun has been back to Ruger once since I bought it ( I broke the little clip on the back of the spring guide), I just got it back the first of this month.
 
i would get a mk II while you can, i got two more just to have them. i wont get another ruger product because of their sellout ideals.
 
I went home and chambered a round in the MkIII and pointed it safely at the ground, and hit the chamber indicator with a 8 oz. hammer about half a dozen times, as hard as I could make myself hit my own gun (not that hard, but I think at least as solid a lick as dropping it from six feet). I tried safety on, safety off, mag in, mag out, every possible combination I could think of. No discharge. Maybe I have the "new model" indicator. My gun has been back to Ruger once since I bought it ( I broke the little clip on the back of the spring guide), I just got it back the first of this month.
Click to expand...
Do you see the cause and effect relationship there? :scrutiny:
 
I spoke with a lady at Ruger a couple of weeks ago, and explained why I bought a Mk. II while I could. I know that many others agree with me.

She did say that Ruger will probably offer a retro kit to re-fit the early loaded-chamber indicator bars that may give trouble if struck sharply. Not sure if they'll charge for that. I'd guess not.

Lone Star
 
:rolleyes:
Actually it went:
Insert mag, chanmber round. Safety on.
Tap.
No bang.
safety off.
Tap.
No bang.
mag out.
Tap.
No bang.
Safety on (mag still out).
Tap.
No bang.
Reinsert mag.
Tap.
No bang.
Safety off.
Tap again.
Still no bang.
Point at ground , pull trigger.
Bang.

Lesson learned.
 
I sure as heck won't buy one. Also where the magazine catch used to be on the MKII's there's a big hunk of plastic now.. :barf:
 
I don't understand everyones problem with it. I love the MkIII. Most people like the updated mag release. I'm really scratching my head at the loaded chamber indicator. It isn't noticable unless you are looking for it. The safety issue has apparently been corrected. I just don't see what the big deal is.
 
I like the new magazine release button. The chamber indicator is a ho-hum. I'm not fond of the magazine safety.

But what really gets me is that in all this re-engineering, they ignored the ONE thing all Ruger owners agree on -- it's a bear to strip and reassemble. And, considering that you can buy an aftermarket device to make disassembly easier, that puzzles me.
 
There's an aftermarket easy takedown kit for the Ruger MKI, MKII & MKIII. I can't remember who makes it, I just saw it again the other day too. It's somewhere in my 1,000,000 strong favorites file..
 
There's an aftermarket easy takedown kit for the Ruger MKI, MKII & MKIII. I can't remember who makes it, I just saw it again the other day too.
Click to expand...

And given the fact that someone else can make a lot of money with that aftermarket kit, it's a wonder Ruger didn't decide to make the MK III so it would take down without all the hassle.
 
Essentially it replaces the mainspring housing and bolt stop assembly (the first part you remove when stripping an MK II.) It has a hex head on the bolt stop, so you can simply disassemble the gun with an allen wrench.
 
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