Ruger MKIII magazine selection

[Grey Morel]

I have a MKIII that I love. It's a sweet shooter.

In the past i have run into the problem with stovepipes caused by the ruger factory magazines. I tried out the feed lip mod on one of my mags, and it worked wonders.

My experience with Mec-Gar magazines has been positive for my CZ and KelTecs. I was wondering if there MK II magazines have the same problems as the Ruger factory mags?

Additionally, are their any other MKII/III mags that run reliably in the MKIII?

 

[Grey Morel]

This is the malfunction im having with my MKIII



I normally shoot Federal, red, 550 round bulk packs. I don't think i have ever fired anything other than bulk pack through this gun. Do you think its ammo related? I went to the range today, and snapped this picture. i wanted to try out some good ammo, like CCI MiniMags, but they didn't have any in stock.

 

[KBintheSLC]

The MKII mags will likely have the same issues. This happens on specimens that have particularly tight tolerances. I would just grab more factory mags and perform the same mod. This issue is not ammo related either.

 

[bigfatdave]

I'm not sure if mkII mags will work without modification ... there was no mag safety on the mkII, and the mkII has a heel release for the magazines.

I get the same malfunction occasionally, and it isn't just an ammo problem, as I get it with various CCI loads and 2 kinds of FBP.
What did you do to your magazines to solve the problem before?

 

[Sheldon]

Maybe this mod?? Haven't tried it, but will to see if it helps any.
http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/2008/10/mkii-magazine-tweak.html

 

[RyanM]

I don't think that's a magazine problem.

I'd recommend getting a Volquartsen Exact Edge Extractor. https://www.volquartsen.com/products/251-exact-edge-extractor-mkiimkiii

Best $12 you'll ever spend on your Mk.III. And Volquartsen Custom is good people. I had a problem with the first extractor I got from them (it was ground backwards!), e-mailed about it at 2 AM, got a reply back within 15 minutes, and then a replacement was dropped in the mail the next day.

I bet that'll solve the problem, as it looks like the gun just isn't ejecting the empty in the first place. The extractor not holding it tight enough to the breech face could definitely do that. I believe all the "feed lip mod" actually does is make it so that the next round coming up kicks the empty free.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

It might be an ammo problem. I usually get failures and jams with that ammo in my 10/22 and I didn't when I used CCI standard velocity.

Also, will a mark II magazine work in a mark III

 

[EGGMAN240]

Were you using Std. Velocity Ammo? This happened to my MkIII when I used Fiocchi. When I use Minimags or Stingers, it is a different story... Not ONE FTE or FTF! Try it out and see what happens...

 

[slammy]

Timely Post, I bought a MKII today (looks like a fun gun) and I'm wondering if anyone has a suggestion on red dots or scopes and has anyone had FTF or similar problems with their MKII's?

 

[Grey Morel]

Sheldon: That mod is exactly what iv already done to all of my mags. it helped, but didn't eliminate the problem.

Ryan: I will try the new extractor, and I will let you know how it goes. Thanks for the tip.

 

[KBintheSLC]

I don't think that's a magazine problem.

I'd recommend getting a Volquartsen Exact Edge Extractor.

Actually, it is usually a mag problem... believe it or not. Another extractor will likely not fix it. The shell is being extracted just fine, but is getting hung up on the mag lips before it hits the ejector. In other words, the empty is not traveling back far enough to clear the chamber before it is disrupted by the mag lips.

The mod on here...

Maybe this mod?? Haven't tried it, but will to see if it helps any.
http://xavierthoughts.blogspot.com/2008/10/mkii-magazine-tweak.html

... will fix it 9 times out of 10.
Just be careful not to remove too much metal. It will result your last round failing to feed... pointing too high and missing the chamber. Just round the edges ever so slightly, and the stovepipes will go away.

If it still fails, try disassembling the gun and rejoining the upper and lower. Sometimes, the upper and lower are not aligned perfectly and the round fails to eject. Check the bolt stop pin hole to make sure they are perfectly aligned.

...

 

[RyanM]

Uh, if you look at the way that Ruger magazines work real closely, you'll notice that mod does allow rounds to pop up out of the magazine sooner than normal. And that would cause the next round to kick the extracted one free.

I just know that I used to have very similar jams in my old Mk.II, before swapping out the extractors.

 

[greyling22]

I guess I never realized how lucky I was to have never had a problem with 8 magazines and 4 ruger mk#'s firing cheap ammo.

 

[Indifferent]

I smoothed my feed ramp and those problems were solved.

 

[blkbrd666]

Looks like the bolt is closing and has begun to strip off and feed the next round while the spent case is still held in position on the bolt face...it's an extractor/ejector problem. Different ammo with a slightly different rim may remedy the problem, but the Volquartsen will probably fix it. Shoot some CCI in it...different case material and more consistent powder charge.

 

[Grey Morel]

Thanks for your help so far everyone. Here is the situation now:

As previously stated, I have already done the magazine tweak. It helped but it didn't fix the problem; the jam pictured above simply happens a bit less often.

Last night i disassembled my MKIII and looked at the extractor. I placed a spent shell casing under the extractor claw on the breech face. The spent casing just fell out. In fact, its SO loose that you can rock the casing back and forth, as well as up and down while its still hooked under the claw. The extractor isn't griping the casing AT ALL.

Whats happening is that the extractor claw is simply "slapping" the cartridge backward out of the chamber. Its not gripping the spent casing. The extractor doesn't look broken or worn: its just not designed properly. With this in mind, its no wonder that the spent casing isn't being presented to the ejector properly.

I'm going to buy a Volquartsen extractor, and report back with the results. Thanks to Ryan for the tip.

Thanks to everyone for your help.

 

[Grey Morel]

Update:

I received my Volquartsen "exact edge" extractor today. I was surprised that shipping took only two days!

I installed my new extractor and hit the range around noon. Today I shot:

First: 150 rounds of Fiocchi copper plated high velocity rounds. I experience no malfunction of any kind. This ammo shot much dirtier than I remember from past experience, with sparks shooting out on occasion. No problems though.

Second: 50 rounds of Federal American Eagle; the kind that comes in a red 50 round individual pack. This ammunition was very dirty: lots of smoke. It is not copper plated. It was also inconsistent to the point that I could feel the differences in charges from one shot to the next. Still the gun ejected all casings, and no problems occurred.

Third: I fired 150 rounds of Federal Champion ammunition; this is the kind that comes in blue 50 round individual packs. This ammunition was also very dirty, and was not copper plated. It was also very inconsistent just like the American Eagle ammunition. After about 100 rounds, I had a round that both felt and sounded underpowered. I checked the action, and the brass had been ejected, but the action had not cycled. I racked the bolt and continued. 20 rounds later, the same thing happened again with another round that was obviously underpowered; the same thing happened again; the brass was ejected, but the action didn't have enough power to cycle. After this, i put 3 more magazines (30 rounds) of the same ammunition through the gun with no problems.

Fourth: Next, i fired 50 rounds of CCI Velocitors through the pistol. They functioned flawlessly. i had never fired Velocitors in this gun before, and both the force and the suddenness of the recoil was noticeably greater than other high velocity ammunition. They gave me no problems even though the gun was absolutely filthy. The brass shot of the ejection port like rockets! They bounced of the right wall of the stall and ricochet off the left wall. I was impressed!

So, now that I have my new extractor, the gun shot 45 magazines of various ammunitions, and the only problems were from two obviously under-charged rounds. No more stove-pipes! I'm a happy camper

 

[midiwall]

I just now saw this thread since you posted your update; I missed it back in April.

My MKIII has very similar issues, but - like other folks here - I've proven to myself that it's ammo. Specifically, it HATES any ammo that's not copper plated. A simple lead bullet will "reliably jam" 2/10 trigger pulls.

But.. it sounds like adding the new extractor could get me back into shooting my non-plated ammo that's currently gathering dust!

 

[RyanM]

Great, I'm glad the extractor worked out for you. The Ruger extractor is a real weak point in their autos, and often wears out after a couple bricks. The Volquartsen one should last a lifetime, though.

At least the "trick extractors" mean you can sometimes find Mk.IIs on the used market cheap, because they started jamming.