Ruger MkII grips?

[pepperbelly]

I have a stainless Mk II with a 5.5" bull barrel, a custom comp and am currently using a Leupold/Gilmore red dot scope.
I shoot falling plate matches, and won the overall in the last match, as well as starting to shoot in bullseye. I am currently using the stock grips with a few pieces of grip tape in a couple of places. I am not happy with my grips, especially in bullseye. My score last week was 776, and should have been better.
I have looked at a set of Volquartsen grips. They have a "medium" palm shelf and a thumb rest. I think they are hard rubber. I held a MkIII that had them installed and after a very brief time they seemed to feel good- I did not shoot it with them though.
Since I will be using the pistol for both types of matches, which means both a single hand and double hand grip. I have medium-large hands and long fingers. The MkIII felt good, I think, because it filled my hand better. I have no idea what it will do to my trigger pull.
Has anyone had any experience with this particular grip?
Does anyone have any suggestions for another grip I might look at?

I also shoot a SA .45acp with a similar set-up, that has Pachmeyer grips. Do Pachs work well in this situation?

BTW, neither pistol is exactly stock, although I have kept the trigger pull a little on the heavy side. A lighter pull would help a lot in bullseye but I worry about it in fast action shooting.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[mscott]

I have tried the Volquartzen's and Hogue's. I didn't like either one. I just didn't feel I could get a good 2 handed grip with them. I'm back to the stock grips. Midway had the Volquartzen grips for something like $23 in their last sale paper.

 

[pepperbelly]

I saw that ad, and with my C&RFFL it is around $20.00 plus shipping. However, a friend at my range has a pair that he bought to build up a MKII, changed his mind and built a MkIII instead. He will sell the NIB MkII grips to me for $25.00.

The only other thing I forgot to ask was how does the mag release work with the Volquarten grips? Do the grips make it hard to release the mag?

Jim

 

[lil ski]

I like the Hogue grips with the thumb rest that is what is on my Mark II. I tried the Volquarten grips and didn't like them it forced my grip angle to change because of the bottem ring on the grip Hogue does not have that. I also have med grip and Hogue just felt better to me. Just my 2 cents.

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

I have two ssMKII's. 6 7/8's Slabside Gov. Target as my primary BE/Duello gun and a 4 5/8's Target Bull with V-Comp. One with the Ruger Walnut target stocks, the other I switched long ago to the Hogue finger grips. I also have some grip tape at the heel of each pistol just below the mainspring release.

The Volquartsen Volthanes are great for one hand BE. And for a true two handed grip, the weak thumb below the strong thumb with fingers wrapped under would be fine for a medium handed shooter. A large handed shooter might feel a bit compressed within the constraints of the bottom swell.

The Volthanes will not holster well. Neither do the Walnut stocks.

The Walnut and Volthanes really do need an extended bolt release installed for anyone with larger digits. The Volthanes don't need it, but it's a plus on a MKII to install an extended magazine release.

Two reasons I don't have the Volthanes... Price. (when I was looking for grips), If I want to, I can holster the Hogue equiped pistol.
The Packmayrs for Ruger MKII's are harder than the Hogues.
You have at least one more choice.... http://www.jnb.com/~funggrip/ruger.html

Drop the Volquartsen Accurizing kit in the MKII for a lighter trigger.!!! That, combined with the Volquartsen grips will raise BE scores 20% for most people. But doing so will probably put your gun in an other than stock class for Falling Plates. Working the hammer/sear is an other option with a Trapper main, sear, trigger spring kit. I prefer the older model VQ trigger, VQ sear, "Trapper" brand, main and trigger springs with the factory sear spring. Polish the out/right side of the disconnector. Polish the sides of the hammer.

Clark also makes a steel trigger with good geometry, but the two I've installed needed to be fitted. And Clark has had a few design changes in his triggers. The old style VQ is a drop in. I refer to the older style VQ trigger for the MKII, as I've just recently seen the new MKIII VQ trigger. I DON'T like it at all.

Don't change the bolt recoil spring. Modified this way, your MKII will still function great for rapid falling plate shooting or for Bulls Eye.

Take it in steps.

VQ grip. (if you find you don't like them, put'm on EvilBay)
Trapper lighter springs.
VQ trigger.
VQ sear/hammer.

Keep an eye on the VQ website for blemished items. Good prices that way. I ordered a VQ MKII hammer once and got a more expensive 10-22 hammer instead. My gain!

Then you can drill and tap the front trigger guard boss for a pre-travel set screw.

For informal centerfire BE or Duello my Kimber 1911 sports the Packmayr American Ledgends

I like finger grooves! The American Ledgends are soft. I lost one screw that holds the medalion to the rubber/wood. I suggest some super glue at these screws and some rubber cement between the rubber and the wood.

-Steve

 

[pepperbelly]

Thanks Jack.
I have a VQ trigger in it- the wide one. My dad is a good pistol smith on these Rugers and 1911s, and he makes custom comps, scope mounts, etc. (It's great at 48 years old to have a dad who makes stuff I need- saves me a lot of money.)
He also prepped the hammer and sear- prepped and polished, not altered.
I will check into a lighter VQ trigger. It isn't an issue in our club's plate matches. We only shoot classes. The only division with equipment is optics do not shoot against iron sights.


Jim

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

If he's prepped the sear and hammer, and you have the VQ trigger, then I'd just install a set of Trapper springs. Clipping the main spring doesn't do the trick. You'll lose hammer speed with a shorter spring. If you're getting misfires at all, pean the firing pin in the center area. It's pretty easy to get a few more thousanths of and inch length of the firing pin that way. Polish the firing pin too.

gosh, I wish I had a gun smith in the family. I'm the closest there is to one in my family, and all I do is tinker. I sure ain't no smith.

-Steve

 

[pepperbelly]

I'll look into the Trapper springs- thanks.
Since dad retired he has been working harder than he did when he worked.
He has a lathe and mill, and turns out some very nice stuff. People in our club say his comps look like the VQs, but he makes them individually for each barrel. Most don't need set screws, just a little blue Loctite holds it on the barrel.

My stainless MKII has never had a problem, but I did have trouble with my blu pistol. It was almost new when I got it and would have a FTE every so often. It made no sense and wasn't mag or ammo related. It had us stumped for a long time, until I stripped it completely and found a little piece of carbon on the bolt face under the extractor. Scraped that off and cured that little pistol.
] The comps work very well. I took one off just to see, and the muzzle flipped more than I remembered. The comp almost completely eliminates the flip.
My red dot scope has helped more then I though it would. I gained almost 100 points in bullseye and went from AAA to Master in plates, as well as winning the overall. I just love that little MKII!

Jim