Ruger MKiii Government Target Model mkIII678G advice

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JudahBenHur

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Hi all. I recently did a trade off of armslist and came away with a Ruger MK III Government Target Model 678G. Serial number is 227-04686. It's in almost perfect shape, with box and mags. I've been on a couple of the Ruger forums (both .com and .net) and the nice people there have helped me a bit with the gun's origins, how rare it is (less than 200 made), etc. For an unknown reason, I can't seem to register on rimfirecentral, where people talk about this "unicorn" gun quite a bit. Either way, I've decided I need to sell it - get it to someone who has actually been really searching for one of these - and I'll just get a MKii or even a newer one to shoot. I originally picked it up in a trade - for something to teach my 8 year old with. The trade value was about $250, so I'm kind of tickled the gun ended up being pretty rare - supposedly. My question to all of you, is how would you go about selling something like this? I do quite a bit on gunbroker, but I didn't know if this would be the right medium because this gun is really for a niche crowd. I'm not looking to just throw it out for sale on here (I don't have enough posts), but I'd like your advice if possible. Here are some pics... and thanks in advance for any advice.
Ruger%201a.jpg
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If it's a true Unicorn. . . keep it. Buy a range toy next week, or month, but keep the Unicorn as minty as it came to you.

For a range toy, I suggest a MkII, not MkIII. The lawyer parts are ugly and annoying.
 
Thanks for the info. I used to have a MKii, traded it for something else years ago. Really missed it after I traded it. Great gun. This one is kind of a niche gun, and not really in mine as far as what it is or how rare it is. Any clue on value?
 
NVM....looked it up. The Government model has a longer barrel and is sighted by a patented laser targeting device, factory guaranteed to make 1.25" groups at 25 yards. So it shoots a little tighter. One thing I learned interesting is that Ruger uses CCI Green Tag for their accuracy measurements.
 
Thanks Berettaprofessor. I know they're pretty rare from what I've heard on a few different websites now. I'm just trying to figure out what the value on it should be for gunbroker. I don't want to get hosed if it truly is very rare, but I also don't want to be unrealistic. There are currently none of these models on GB, so nothing to compare.
 
Never saw a MKIII Govt. Didn't know they made one. I believe it is a unicorn. If it is in mint condition, I would guess it is a 500 dollar gun....I recently bought a nice blue MK II Govt with 3 mags for $375
 
I posted this on gunbroker. Not sure what forum rules are here so I won't give the link... but yeah, it's the only one on gunbroker, so it's not hard to find if anyone is interested. Thanks for the advice and help. Edwardware, I appreciate the advice on keeping it, but I'd rather get it into someone's hands who has been wanting one. I've seen people really wanting one on other sites.
 
Edwardware, That's a great idea on the advanced search for completed auctions. I did that for "Ruger Government Target". There are 2 pages of results and only one MK III. It's one guy who has/had one and he tried to sell it twice, the last time hit $680, but did not get to his reserve. Not to knock him, but he didn't sell the auction very well. Not showcased, none of the extras. It was blink and you miss it. Once again, no offense meant to him but his last auction had a total of about 50 views. Mine has nearly that from it's first 2 hours. We'll see how the cards play out I guess.
 
To kbob on Rimfirecentral.... thanks for putting the word on RFC. I still can't get my registration email from them. Tried again today. Not sure what the site's deal is. The folks here on THR have been great to me. Yes, the gun is currently on gunbroker.
 
berettaprofessor said:
It looks just like my Mark III Target Bull Barrel....any idea on what the difference is?
Click to expand...

On 1-30-91, the following letter was sent to me from James Van Ness, Service Department Manager for Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.:

"This is in reference to your letter concerning the difference between the 5 1/2" bull barrel Target Model pistol and the Government Model pistol.

"...The basic difference is that we do target the Government Model at 25 yards with CCI Green Tag ammunition to insure it shoots a 1 1/4" group. This is not to say you might not get the same results with your 5 1/2" bull barrel, but it would not have to in order to meet our manufacturing specifications.

"The Government Model also has a heat treated chamber which allows us to hold it to a slightly tighter specification.

"I think that with both firearms you will find that in most cases the pistols will outperform the shooters and the basic difference between them really comes down to personal preference..."
 
I have a couple of 5 1/2 guns and a Govt. My Govt is a tighter grouping gun. However, I also have four 10" guns. They all outperform the Govt.
 
Since Ruger decided to discontinue the MK series, the value will go up more than normal , just so you know, but Rugers don't rocket up like many others. Its still stamped and lathe turned mass produced, so It will probably not pass 1000$ in the foreseeable future, so I would shoot it, that is if you like it (I don't consider that silly hinged aluminum HiPoint looking thing a MK)
 
I've already got it listed on GB, so... that's that. That pistol feels freaking amazing in the hands though. I really wanted to shoot it, but there are others who would appreciate owning it more than me I think. SwampWolf, that's the best - most official info I've seen so far on the differences. Thank you. Also, I've tried to get onto rimfirecentral.com several times in the last few days and they're not allowing new people on or something (I've tried with 4 different emails and have also had other friends try). If anyone has an "in" there with the mods or admins, please throw me a bone and send me a PM or something. I've seen multiple posts there about people looking for this exact gun... yet I can't even get on there to let them know about it.
 
It probably will bring big money on GB. Rare or oddball MK guns do. I had a unfired 22/45 Great Eight that brought over $1k a few years ago. Had it been a metal gripped MK II Great Eight, it would have brought more. I probably would have kept it, though.

2013-03-23 23.45.52~2.jpg
 
ColtPythonElite said:
It probably will bring big money on GB. Rare or oddball MK guns do. I had a unfired 22/45 Great Eight that brought over $1k a few years ago. Had it been a metal gripped MK II Great Eight, it would have brought more. I probably would have kept it, though.

View attachment 763904
Click to expand...
That's beautiful. We'll see what happens I guess. Either way, I've been lurking on THR for years and this finally got me to start posting.
 
Sorry for the earlier posts. My ipad does not like THR, so I've switched to my desktop. My auction on this MK3 Government Target ends tomorrow evening. Honestly, I don't think it will wind up selling, and I'm kind of happy about that. Part of me really wants to just keep it... and shoot it. It feels awesome in the hands.
 
JudahBenHur said:
Edwardware, That's a great idea on the advanced search for completed auctions. I did that for "Ruger Government Target". There are 2 pages of results and only one MK III. It's one guy who has/had one and he tried to sell it twice, the last time hit $680, but did not get to his reserve. Not to knock him, but he didn't sell the auction very well. Not showcased, none of the extras. It was blink and you miss it. Once again, no offense meant to him but his last auction had a total of about 50 views. Mine has nearly that from it's first 2 hours. We'll see how the cards play out I guess.
Click to expand...
 
JudahBenHur

Honestly, I don't think it will wind up selling, and I'm kind of happy about that. Part of me really wants to just keep it... and shoot it. It feels awesome in the hands.
Click to expand...

If you feel this way about it, then you probably should hang on to it rather than have seller's remorse over it if it sells. I had any number of Mk.II pistols over the years (usually the 5 1/2" bull barrel version), that I should have hung onto but ended up selling or trading for some ridiculous reason. I eventually found one that's an absolute keeper!

8oubloU.jpg

7GMvgW3.jpg
 
Buckets of 'em on Gunbroker. Start at less than $300 apparently with little interest. There are lots of far better .22's for that kind of money. Had a 'Bull barrel' myself, long ago. Crappy triggers and a nightmare to work on. Strictly an entry level .22.
 
From Blue Book of Guns:
GOVERNMENT TARGET MODEL (MK678G)
commercial variation of the government training model without "U.S." markings, 6 7/8 in. bull barrel, adj. rear sight, blue finish, black plastic grips, 46 oz., first 30,000 were individually test targeted. Mfg. 1987-2004.
Grading 100% 98% 95% 90% 80% 70% 60%
$425 $350 $275 $200 $165 $150 $125

Government Target Model (MK678G) Military "U.S." Marked
blue finish, adj. sights, 6 7/8 in. bull barrel, U.S. marking on chamber, issued to U.S. military personnel for training purposes, must be factory verified, ser. no. range 210-00001 - 210-19300, approx. 35 believed to be in civilian hands. Disc. 1999.
Grading 100% 98% 95% 90% 80% 70% 60%
$1,250 $1,000 $750 $500 $375 $325 $300

Your serial number falls out of the range of the unicorn model but should be the commercial version.

This should be your gun:
MARK III TARGET
.22 LR cal., 5 1/2 in. bull or 6 7/8 (disc. 2009) in. tapered barrel, fixed front and adj. rear sights, operating mechanism is the same as the Mark III Standard, blue finish, checkered black plastic or laminate target fingergroove grips (new 2013), approx. 42 oz. Mfg. 2005-2016.
Grading 100% 98% 95% 90% 80% 70% 60%
$425 $370 $320 $290 $235 $190 $150
A few hundred of the MKIII678G Mark III Government models were produced in 2005 in the serial range 227-04601 to 227-06937. Add $150 if NIB.
 
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