Ruger MKIII Hunter or Comp Tgt - Which ONE?

[Four Knives]

K folks, need some help because I'm way too indecisive.


If price were equal, help me pick between:
- Stainless Ruger MK III Hunter
- Stainless Ruger MK III Competition Target (slabside)

Which one and why?

- Favor the aesthetics of the slabside barrel on the Competition Target
- Favor the fiber optic sights of the Hunter, but the fluted barrel just looks too "Buck Rogers"


Help me choose...help me have a restful night's sleep again :banghead:

 

[Greg528iT]

GO with the slab side then. The front sight is easily replaced

 

[ClemY]

It could depend on what sights you prefer. I have a MK III Hunter and a MK II Slabsides. The only problem with the Hunter was the round, HiViz front sight and V rear sight, a combination I can’t stand. I swapped out the front sight with a standard square post, and put on a VQ rear sight. If you like the HiViz/V setup, go with the Hunter. If you prefer the square post and you can’t be bothered changing the sights yourself, go with the Slabside.

Either MK III, for me, would require a VQ MK II and hammer bushing and VQ sear because I don’t care for the mag safety, but that is just me.

 

[MCgunner]

Either is an accurate, reliable gun. Go with what you like the looks of and change the sights if you don't like 'em. Me, I just have a standard blued Mk 2 and it's a tack driver. I have a scope on it, so sights didn't matter to me.

 

[nathan]

I have the Hunter Mk 3. It is as accurate as my Mk 2 5.5 bullbarrel.

 

[biohazurd]

Personally i prefer the slab sides. But the hunters sure are purdy too. Honestly any ruger mark series are
beautiful.

 

[arcticap]

I prefer the Competition model too. They've always been noted for having a better trigger for .22 Bullseye shooting. The .22 Bullseye shooters that buy nearly any of the other Ruger models usually have some kind of trigger work performed on them.
The Hunters do make great steel plate match guns though.
And I don't recall ever seeing anyone use a Competition model for our .22 steel plate matches. The fiber optic sights and extra barrel heft probably make the Hunter more suitable for it.
But if intending to mount a red dot scope on it then the lighter slab side barrel would be an advantage for most folks, especially if shooting one handed.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I also do not care for the round HiViz front and V rear sights on the Hunter. I have a buddy that just bought one and hated them from the first s hot as well. He ordered a new rear blade and regular front sight in a matter of days.

As far a triggers go, a 25 buck VQ sear make any of the models a whole 'nuther gun. I find it the best money spent on a MK. If you want to get really fancy, you can put a set screw in the trigger to adjust the pre-travel.