How do remove the barrel from my Ruger Mk II

Riss · September 6, 2002, 02:05 AM

Trying to remove the barrel from my Mk II. I know its threaded in there but it looks awkward to put the tapered barrel into a busing in an aaction wrench. Any tips, hints or no-nos out there ?

George Stringer · September 6, 2002, 05:58 AM

Riss, not knowing what type of barrel vise you have you can make a bushing to match the barrel either by boring one out on the lathe and then splitting it or use Brownells barrel bushing mold blocks and Steel Bed. George

Ledbetter · September 6, 2002, 11:48 AM

Riss,

No offense, but why remove it?

Hemicuda · September 6, 2002, 12:01 PM

this is on a MKII pistol?

Riss · September 8, 2002, 04:40 AM

Yes, A Ruger Mk II pistol. Was looking for an easy method. Guess I'll have my man at the shop make me up a new barrell block for the tapered barrel. See above post. Can't get the bolt lock thingy back together. Need help.

Riss · September 8, 2002, 01:24 PM

OK, well how about the feed ramp. That must be knocked loose before the barrel s turned out. How do I do that. Which was is loose ?

**Mal H** · September 8, 2002, 01:31 PM

Strictly a curiosity question, like Ledbetter said, why do you want to remove the barrel?

Hemicuda · September 8, 2002, 03:19 PM

There REALLY is no reason to remove the barrel from the bolt housing, unless you are replacing a damaged one...

burrhead · September 8, 2002, 03:47 PM

Can't get the bolt lock thingy back together.

Riss, your profile says you're a gunsmith. I gotta ask; your kidding, right?

Riss · September 9, 2002, 05:02 AM

An amateur one, AND having never worked on a MkII AND not having a manual ,it is all a learning process. All of the other guns I work on I can assemble from a bag of parts in the dark. This will be the next one to be put on that list.

George Stringer · September 9, 2002, 08:17 AM

Riss, go to http://www.clarkcustomguns.com/22sdtls.htm#22barrel and you'll see picture of Mark II barrels. The ramp is machined into the barrel so don't try to knock it off. If you need assembly instructions e-mail me and I'll scan and send them to you. They don't cover barrel removal but you shouldn't have to remove it to disassemble/assemble anything else on the pistol. George

Ledbetter · September 9, 2002, 12:36 PM

If asked, Ruger will tell you that the receiver and barrel are an integral part (see your parts diagram) not intended to be separated once assembled. I believe that is why installation of the Clark barrels requires "lathe work," and I bet you don't get you old barrel back.

Regards.

James K · September 9, 2002, 05:09 PM

Hi, Riss,

Do you want to remove the barrel, or do you only want to remove the barrel-receiver part from the frame? You should be able to work on any part of that gun without removing the barrel from the receiver (the round part that has the ejection port in it).

If you just want to remove the barrel-receiver from the frame, remove the bolt and magazine, then whack the muzzle with a block of wood and the receiver will pop right out of the frame.

Jim

Riss · September 9, 2002, 10:46 PM

Well removing the barrel was the first ides. Easier to work on the barrel in a lathe with it OUT of the receiver. I can (safely ?) assume then that the barrel (did not go to the link yet) is pressed and not screwed into the receiver.

Riss · September 9, 2002, 10:50 PM

Well that Clark pic sure looks threaded to me. Like I said , all I wanted to do is remove it to work on it, recrown, rechamber, etc. Can do the work while all is assembled but is more work.

Chuck Dye · September 10, 2002, 12:53 AM

A gun rag article years ago described replacing a MkII barrel with one machined to accept a suppressor. Said the original is threaded, turned in to a compression fit. Said furthur to expect to ruin the old barrel in removing it.

DeBee · September 10, 2002, 11:25 AM

Huck Phinn got it right, the simple answer to your question is-- you don't remove the Mk II barrel...

The barrels are threaded and 'crush fitted' to the receiver- essentially permanent to the amateur gunsmith...

You'd have to chuck the assembly in a lathe and begin machining away the barrel area nearest to the receiver without touching it and then use you best barrel wrench...

Best left to the professional Ruger pistolsmith (like Clark, Volquartson, Power). The risk is a buggered gun at least...

James K · September 12, 2002, 07:19 PM

The barrel of a Ruger .22 auto can be removed the same way as a rifle barrel. They are screwed in and tight, but I never had to relieve one to get it off. But I still can't see any reason for removing the barrel except to replace it. There is no repair to the Ruger that requires barrel removal and no advantage in removing it to work on the rest of the gun. Even cutting the barrel, recrowning or replacing the sight can be done more easily with the receiver-barrel unit than with the barrel alone.

Ruger basically intended the barrel and receiver to be a permanent assembly, and all their books show it as such. If a new or different barrel is wanted and is made by Ruger, I would send the gun to the factory.

Jim

Alex Johnson · September 13, 2002, 11:10 AM

I remember reading an article in the NRA gunsmithing manual where they were accurizing a ruger. Barrel was removed off this one by cutting the old barrel off and boring out the stub until the threads could be collapsed. Seems extreme but I guess that would be one way of doing it if you had no use for the original barrel in the first place. Of course at the time this article was written there wasn't near as many options for the MK series in the ruger line. I shot competition for years with a MK II and the accuracy from a standard factory barrel far surpassed my talents as a marksman, seems to me a replacement trigger, target grips, and perhaps different sights are all that should need to be done to a stock MK II to make it a viable competition gun and none of these things as Jim says requires the barrel to be removed.

Poodleshooter · September 13, 2002, 02:32 PM

Are barrel/upper receiver assemblies available from Ruger or any other vendors? Changing those out would make for a handy pistol that could handle double duty for kit use, or target work, not to mention having a suppressed barrel assembly. Would they need fitting for headspace purposes, or is that set automatically by the tolerances built into the frame?

James K · September 14, 2002, 07:41 PM

The receiver (the part the bolt slides in) on a Ruger is the serial numbered part, not the grip frame. So to buy one would be the same as buying another pistol. I don't think Ruger sells them separately, but a phone call to them should settle the question.

Jim

September 6, 2002, 02:05 AM	#1
Riss Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 1999 Location: Eastern, PA, USA Posts: 147	How do remove the barrel from my Ruger Mk II Trying to remove the barrel from my Mk II. I know its threaded in there but it looks awkward to put the tapered barrel into a busing in an aaction wrench. Any tips, hints or no-nos out there ?

September 8, 2002, 03:47 PM	#9
burrhead Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 1999 Location: Chihuahuan desert, Texas Posts: 1,148	Can't get the bolt lock thingy back together. Riss, your profile says you're a gunsmith. I gotta ask; your kidding, right? __________________ Join the GOA, SAF and the TSRA I'm offended by people that are easily offended.

September 9, 2002, 12:36 PM	#12
Ledbetter Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2000 Location: California USA Posts: 4,533	Ruger If asked, Ruger will tell you that the receiver and barrel are an integral part (see your parts diagram) not intended to be separated once assembled. I believe that is why installation of the Clark barrels requires "lathe work," and I bet you don't get you old barrel back. Regards.

September 6, 2002, 05:58 AM	#2
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	Riss, not knowing what type of barrel vise you have you can make a bushing to match the barrel either by boring one out on the lathe and then splitting it or use Brownells barrel bushing mold blocks and Steel Bed. George

September 6, 2002, 11:48 AM	#3
Ledbetter Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2000 Location: California USA Posts: 4,533	Riss, No offense, but why remove it?

September 6, 2002, 12:01 PM	#4
Hemicuda Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,757	this is on a MKII pistol?

September 8, 2002, 04:40 AM	#5
Riss Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 1999 Location: Eastern, PA, USA Posts: 147	Yes, A Ruger Mk II pistol. Was looking for an easy method. Guess I'll have my man at the shop make me up a new barrell block for the tapered barrel. See above post. Can't get the bolt lock thingy back together. Need help.

September 8, 2002, 01:24 PM	#6
Riss Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 1999 Location: Eastern, PA, USA Posts: 147	OK, well how about the feed ramp. That must be knocked loose before the barrel s turned out. How do I do that. Which was is loose ?

September 8, 2002, 01:31 PM	#7
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 16,971	Strictly a curiosity question, like Ledbetter said, why do you want to remove the barrel?

September 8, 2002, 03:19 PM	#8
Hemicuda Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,757	There REALLY is no reason to remove the barrel from the bolt housing, unless you are replacing a damaged one...

September 9, 2002, 05:02 AM	#10
Riss Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 1999 Location: Eastern, PA, USA Posts: 147	An amateur one, AND having never worked on a MkII AND not having a manual ,it is all a learning process. All of the other guns I work on I can assemble from a bag of parts in the dark. This will be the next one to be put on that list.

September 9, 2002, 08:17 AM	#11
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	Riss, go to http://www.clarkcustomguns.com/22sdtls.htm#22barrel and you'll see picture of Mark II barrels. The ramp is machined into the barrel so don't try to knock it off. If you need assembly instructions e-mail me and I'll scan and send them to you. They don't cover barrel removal but you shouldn't have to remove it to disassemble/assemble anything else on the pistol. George

September 9, 2002, 05:09 PM	#13
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Hi, Riss, Do you want to remove the barrel, or do you only want to remove the barrel-receiver part from the frame? You should be able to work on any part of that gun without removing the barrel from the receiver (the round part that has the ejection port in it). If you just want to remove the barrel-receiver from the frame, remove the bolt and magazine, then whack the muzzle with a block of wood and the receiver will pop right out of the frame. Jim

September 9, 2002, 10:46 PM	#14
Riss Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 1999 Location: Eastern, PA, USA Posts: 147	Well removing the barrel was the first ides. Easier to work on the barrel in a lathe with it OUT of the receiver. I can (safely ?) assume then that the barrel (did not go to the link yet) is pressed and not screwed into the receiver.

September 9, 2002, 10:50 PM	#15
Riss Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 1999 Location: Eastern, PA, USA Posts: 147	Well that Clark pic sure looks threaded to me. Like I said , all I wanted to do is remove it to work on it, recrown, rechamber, etc. Can do the work while all is assembled but is more work.

September 10, 2002, 12:53 AM	#16
Chuck Dye Senior Member Join Date: June 28, 2002 Location: Oregon-The wet side. Posts: 949	A gun rag article years ago described replacing a MkII barrel with one machined to accept a suppressor. Said the original is threaded, turned in to a compression fit. Said furthur to expect to ruin the old barrel in removing it.

September 10, 2002, 11:25 AM	#17
DeBee Senior Member Join Date: October 5, 1999 Posts: 408	Huck Phinn got it right, the simple answer to your question is-- you don't remove the Mk II barrel... The barrels are threaded and 'crush fitted' to the receiver- essentially permanent to the amateur gunsmith... You'd have to chuck the assembly in a lathe and begin machining away the barrel area nearest to the receiver without touching it and then use you best barrel wrench... Best left to the professional Ruger pistolsmith (like Clark, Volquartson, Power). The risk is a buggered gun at least...

September 12, 2002, 07:19 PM	#18
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	The barrel of a Ruger .22 auto can be removed the same way as a rifle barrel. They are screwed in and tight, but I never had to relieve one to get it off. But I still can't see any reason for removing the barrel except to replace it. There is no repair to the Ruger that requires barrel removal and no advantage in removing it to work on the rest of the gun. Even cutting the barrel, recrowning or replacing the sight can be done more easily with the receiver-barrel unit than with the barrel alone. Ruger basically intended the barrel and receiver to be a permanent assembly, and all their books show it as such. If a new or different barrel is wanted and is made by Ruger, I would send the gun to the factory. Jim

September 13, 2002, 11:10 AM	#19
Alex Johnson Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2000 Location: Grand Forks, ND Posts: 812	I remember reading an article in the NRA gunsmithing manual where they were accurizing a ruger. Barrel was removed off this one by cutting the old barrel off and boring out the stub until the threads could be collapsed. Seems extreme but I guess that would be one way of doing it if you had no use for the original barrel in the first place. Of course at the time this article was written there wasn't near as many options for the MK series in the ruger line. I shot competition for years with a MK II and the accuracy from a standard factory barrel far surpassed my talents as a marksman, seems to me a replacement trigger, target grips, and perhaps different sights are all that should need to be done to a stock MK II to make it a viable competition gun and none of these things as Jim says requires the barrel to be removed.

September 13, 2002, 02:32 PM	#20
Poodleshooter Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2000 Location: Floating down the James River in VA Posts: 2,599	Are barrel/upper receiver assemblies available from Ruger or any other vendors? Changing those out would make for a handy pistol that could handle double duty for kit use, or target work, not to mention having a suppressed barrel assembly. Would they need fitting for headspace purposes, or is that set automatically by the tolerances built into the frame?

September 14, 2002, 07:41 PM	#21
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	The receiver (the part the bolt slides in) on a Ruger is the serial numbered part, not the grip frame. So to buy one would be the same as buying another pistol. I don't think Ruger sells them separately, but a phone call to them should settle the question. Jim