Ruger MK IV - Trigger Upgrade Questions

[ReedTX]

I have a Ruger MKIV Target blued model. I have read online that a lot people really rate either the TK or the VQ trigger upgrade kits. Apparently the trigger weight is dropped form 5lb to approx. 2lb with a much cleaner reset and it transforms the pistol. I am a little reluctant to jump in and spend $100+ on a few small parts without hearing impartial reviews from you guys.

Has anyone done these upgrades, are they worth it?

Are there any other options out there besides the two mentioned above?

Thanks

 

[The Glockodile]

Honestly, I never noticed the triggers on my Mark IVs being in the order of 5lbs...

Though not as nice as those on the Smith & Wesson Victories, they're good enough out of the box.

Same video above I've been rehashing involving this pistol, nothing new.

 

[Riomouse911]

I put the Volquartsen kit in mine using their You Tube tutorial. IMHO it was the best thing I’ve done for it: zero creep, easy reset and a 1lb 11oz pull weight.



I recommend it.

Stay safe.

 

[AzShooter1]

I've done about 10 upgrades with the Volquartsen Accurizing Kit and I can tell you it's well worth the money.

My stock trigger pull on my Mark IV 22/45 Lite was 6 pounds and felt like I was pulling through the safety on every shot. I installed the VQ Kit and got my trigger pull down to 1 pound 7 ounces on average with my Lyman Digital Scale.

Every gun I did the trigger job on went to 2 pounds or less.

The VQ kit also has the transfer bar with it and that too helps while the TK does not address this problem.

Riomouse911 has much better pictures than what I've taken.

Watch the YouTube video on installation at least twice and you will have no troubles. It helps to have a set of forceps or good needle nose pliers.

First time took me 2 hours. Now I can do it in about 10 minutes taking my time.

TK upgrades with Volquartsen Accurizing Kit.

 

[AlexanderA]

The key element in improving the trigger pull is the sear, not the trigger itself. The sear is available separately from Volquartsen, and that should be your starting point. It goes without saying that the magazine disconnector has to go. Also, use a Mark II hammer to interface with the sear. The Volquartsen hammer is skeletonized, which is supposed to speed the lock time, but also lightens the firing pin strike. IMO that's a reliability issue.

As far as the trigger itself, I prefer the Clark (available now only on the secondary market, since Clark no longer offers it) to the Volquartsen. Note that with the Mark IV aluminum frame, you have to square off the front corners of the trigger opening (using a needle file) to get the Clark trigger to fit.

The stock Ruger trigger has a weird nub on the back, that fits into a notch on the magazine. This doesn't help the trigger pull.

In this picture, the stock trigger is in the middle and the Clark trigger is on the right. (The little magazine "kicker," at the base of the grip, is on the left. That can be removed as well.)

 

[9mmepiphany]

I've shot a few that have had the Volquartsen kit added and they were very nice.

Another manufacturer to consider is the Competition kit from Apex Tactical https://www.apextactical.com/action-enhancement-kit-for-ruger-mk-iv

I haven't tried this specific kit but have been very happy with their kits that I have installed in my S&W M&P9 and my SIG P320

 

[doubleh]

The Volquartson kit will take it from being a good gun to and excellent one. It has everything you need. Compare Rimfire Sports with everyone else for pricing before you purchase. I don't know about now but I saved several dollars by buying my kit from them sometime ago.

 

[AlexanderA]

Another manufacturer to consider is the Competition kit from Apex Tactical

At least the Apex kit (unlike the Volquartsen) doesn't have a skeletonized hammer. That, IMO, is a plus.

Apex takes an ambivalent attitude toward the magazine disconnector (they recommend removing it only for competition use). To me, removing the magazine disconnector is one of the first steps in improving the trigger pull.

The Apex sear has the "long tail," which is relevant only to the magazine disconnector. If you're going to remove the magazine disconnector, the "long tail" sear is a needless complication. The Volquartsen sear does not have this "tail."

The flat-face trigger is a personal preference. To me, it just looks and feels odd.

My recommendation is to get the Volquartsen sear (it's more precisely machined than the stock Ruger one), a Ruger Mark II hammer, and, if possible, a Clark trigger. Total cost should be less than a complete Volquartsen or Apex kit. Ditch the magazine disconnector mechanism.

 

[Demi-human]

Lots of Volq fans. I’ll sing the praise for TK.
Great parts and service. My MKIII has TK trigger parts and is wonderful. I highly recommend it, especially the magazine interlock delete.
Both are far and away stand up companies with parts that are desirable and worth it.

 

[ReedTX]

At least the Apex kit (unlike the Volquartsen) doesn't have a skeletonized hammer. That, IMO, is a plus.

Apex takes an ambivalent attitude toward the magazine disconnector (they recommend removing it only for competition use). To me, removing the magazine disconnector is one of the first steps in improving the trigger pull.

The Apex sear has the "long tail," which is relevant only to the magazine disconnector. If you're going to remove the magazine disconnector, the "long tail" sear is a needless complication. The Volquartsen sear does not have this "tail."

The flat-face trigger is a personal preference. To me, it just looks and feels odd.

My recommendation is to get the Volquartsen sear (it's more precisely machined than the stock Ruger one), a Ruger Mark II hammer, and, if possible, a Clark trigger. Total cost should be less than a complete Volquartsen or Apex kit. Ditch the magazine disconnector mechanism.

Lots of Volq fans. I’ll sing the praise for TK.
Great parts and service. My MKIII has TK trigger parts and is wonderful. I highly recommend it, especially the magazine interlock delete.
Both are far and away stand up companies with parts that are desirable and worth it.

This is an honest question from a new shooter, could you explain to me why the removal of the mag disconnect a big deal? I understand the need to fire without a mag on a self defense weapon but on a 22 range gun why is it needed?

 

[JDGray]

This is an honest question from a new shooter, could you explain to me why the removal of the mag disconnect a big deal? I understand the need to fire without a mag on a self defense weapon but on a 22 range gun why is it needed?

Lawyer crap…

 

[Throwbackguy]

New to the Mark series; just got a MkIV. And, as I can't seem to stop tinkering with things, went the TK route. I have a friend who competes, and swears by VQ; but I'm more a range-plinker, and I didn't want to go TOO expensive. Got their Ti firing-pin, the extractor, and a flat-faced trigger; personally I love the flat trigger feel. [Have one in my Ruger PCC chassis, and a couple M&P products with Apex flats.]

...For me, it wasn't about reducing the trigger weight; more about the feel of the trigger itself. I didn't bother with the reduced-weight springsets, and sear; I'm happy just as is.

For now. (!)

 

[AlexanderA]

could you explain to me why the removal of the mag disconnect a big deal?

Needless mechanical complexity, which is intended to protect the user from his own unsafe gun handling. This offers no advantage to someone who follows the basic gun safety rules.

Meanwhile, the magazine disconnector is responsible for most of the trigger-pull problems. Trigger pulls in the Mark I and II (pre-magazine disconnector) are much better than on the Mark III and IV. The Mark II is considered the gold standard, but I actually found the Mark I trigger pull to be the best, out of the box.

The following picture shows, from left to right, the Mark II sear, the Mark III magazine disconnector, the Mark IV magazine disconnector, and the Mark IV "long tail" sear. (The Mark IV magazine disconnector is part of an assembly which includes the hammer and hammer strut.) You can see the increasing complexity with each iteration.

 

[Skylerbone]

I bought my Mark IV 22/45 lower complete from Tandemkross and it has been all smiles. Comparing it with a 1911 I picked up over the weekend had me reaching into the bag of tricks to chase that feel, just fantastic what the aftermarket has brought to the Mark Series.


Magazine disconnect removed and “Blast Shield” installed.

 

[DDDWho]

I have a S&W 41 with a 2 lb. trigger that has absolutely spoiled me. I put a VQ trigger in my IV Compition equal to the Smith. Both are exceptional guns to shoot. .

 

[sparkyv]

Trigger/internal mods I've done to my MKIV listed in order of greatest improvement to least.
1. Bye bye mag disconnect
2. Tandemkross Victory trigger
3. Volquartson Accurizing kit (no reliability issue with skeletonized hammer for me)

Is it worth it? Each person has to decide, but it was to me. Sadly the already expensive MKIV requires an additional $200 of upgraded innards to make it into a shooter.

Has anyone done these upgrades, are they worth it?

 

[Gus Chiggins]

I was really disappointed with the trigger in the MK 4 Hunter I recently purchased. I installed the Volquartsen accurizing kit and I'm in love with it now. I get bored shooting at paper at the range and start picking off tiny bits of broken clay pigeons in the berm. And vaporizing them! My kit came with a shiny gold trigger and I put on a pair of black grips. The oversize rosewood target grips didn't work that well for me.

 

[Demi-human]

Imagine the number of people put out of work if Ruger only put a decent trigger in a MK series pistol.

 

[JohnKSa]

The MkII pistols had great triggers and people still bought aftermarket.

Every MkII I took apart had the factory "Target Trigger" installed. They had a trigger overtravel screw built into them. Adjusting the overtravel screw and putting a dab of moly grease on the sear resulted in a really nice trigger. My Ruger 22/45 (MkII vintage with all stock parts) has a trigger pull that's under 3lbs with no creep or overtravel.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I bought the VQ sear at a gun show for my MKII and went to install it only to realize it already had the Clark Custom trigger and sear already installed.

I looked for and eventually bought a MKII because it didn’t have the superfluous “features” of the MKIII and IV. I don’t really see easier takedown of the MKIV as a great reason to own a MKIV over any of the others either. I suppose for new folks it may be though.

I see that older MKIIs don’t go for much less than new MKIVs.

 

[AlexanderA]

The MkII pistols had great triggers

Improving the trigger pull on the Mark III or IV essentially means reverting to the Mark II. The aftermarket kits are more precisely machined, that's all.

 

[Skylerbone]

I looked for and eventually bought a MKII because it didn’t have the superfluous “features” of the MKIII and IV. I don’t really see easier takedown of the MKIV as a great reason to own a MKIV over any of the others either. I suppose for new folks it may be though.

This. While I was always interested in the Mark Series when younger, I entered the market very late at a time when classics have seen an uptick in price. Rather than pay a premium to hunt down what I wanted I chose the Easy Button who’s path affords many more options.

 

[The Glockodile]

Magazine disconnect removed and “Blast Shield” installed.
View attachment 1079612

What's the Blast Shield, and what does it do?

 

[doubleh]

I was really disappointed with the trigger in the MK 4 Hunter I recently purchased. I installed the Volquartsen accurizing kit and I'm in love with it now. I get bored shooting at paper at the range and start picking off tiny bits of broken clay pigeons in the berm. And vaporizing them! My kit came with a shiny gold trigger and I put on a pair of black grips. The oversize rosewood target grips didn't work that well for me. View attachment 1080041

The first thing I did to mine was make a set of fancy mesquite grips for it and and add grip tape to the front and rear of the grip frame. I still wasn't happy and tried the ugly Hogue rubber grip with thumb rest. It doesn't look like much but is very effective and I became a better shot with it. I am just ignoring the look because it will remain on the gun.

 

[doubleh]

What's the Blast Shield, and what does it do?

Makes your wallet lighter.