Ruger Mark III

Colduglandon · January 24, 2006, 03:16 PM

I shoot in a pistol league. I am using a High Standard Supermatic, about 50 years old. I love this gun, but I would like a back up in case I run into a problem during the league season. Anyone have any updates on the Ruger Mark III since it was introduced. They have them on sale, stainless and blue, at a shop near me. I live in Mass so my choices are somewhat limited.

Mastrogiacomo · January 24, 2006, 03:47 PM

I hear you about limited choices....

I'm going to be getting the Ruger Mark III standard. The reviews have been largely positive. I own three Rugers at the moment - all are wonderful so I've no hesistation about getting the Mark III.

CajunBass · January 24, 2006, 03:56 PM

Mine does ok. It's only from 7 yards, but I was happy with it.

Mk III 22/45 4" Bull Barrel

DBski · January 24, 2006, 05:11 PM

I have the Mark111 Hunter, 6 and7/8inch fluted barrel. Best 22 I've had. Traded A Buckmark for it and glad I did. Great shooter, accurate. Love the fiber optic front sight. get it.

Hamjack · January 24, 2006, 05:18 PM

I have the same model as DBski and I second his sentiments. Extremely accurate and after about 1,000 rds I've had only 2 minor jams.

Cool looking gun and fun to shoot.

Colduglandon · January 24, 2006, 11:02 PM

I am looking at the RUGER MKIII .22 LR 5 1/2" bull barrel.

CajunBass · January 25, 2006, 08:21 AM

Paul, I don't think you can go wrong with that one. There are a lot of other good ones on the market of course, but if you like the Ruger, it will do the job. Mine tended to jam a bit when it was new, but now it eats any kind of ammo I feed it without a hitch. It came with two magazines, already drilled and taped, with a scope mount, and a really nice padlock for my boat trailer, all in a plastic box. Good deal I thought.

7.62 · January 25, 2006, 06:20 PM

Paul, I have the same gun you are considering and I love it. Don't have a scope yet, and the front sight has a chip out of it but still can hold 4 inch groups at about 20 yards. Great gun, no jams. I bought 6 extra mags for it and everything works fine with any ammo, but specifically Federal Gold medal Match.

CajunBass, I agree about the padlock statement, I used mine on the ATV trailer for a while.

Easy E · January 25, 2006, 08:00 PM

I bought a MKIII Hunter early last year. Liked the sights, the balance, the look of it. Shooting it was only "ok". The trigger wasn't real good. Not like my MKII. After 1000+ rounds I still wasn't happy. I ended up trading it off for a Super Blackhawk.

topspin43 · January 25, 2006, 08:38 PM

I feel compelled to post this picure in every "which .22?" thread. This trigger is butter and cleaning is a snap.

2ksportny · January 25, 2006, 09:02 PM

Not to steal a thread here but I couldn't help but ask this question.

I am thinking about a .22 & I was looking at the ruger 22 automatic cia pistol. The old reliable as I have found it to be called. Any good or bad about it, I want a nice looking target 22 & this thing just screams buy me for $199. I am not to sure if they are accurate for target or should I stay awat from it?

Thanks

Colduglandon · January 25, 2006, 10:17 PM

topspin43

It's a bucky I get it.

2ksportny you made me google the ruger 22 cia pistol. Son of a gun its just a plain old Ruger. Learn something new everyday.

CajunBass the gallery league is 25 foot so thats pretty close to 7 yards

Easy E the eyes are getting old. I will mount a red dot. The thing I like about this gun is that it comes with the mount. Looks like some people like it, and some don't.

I just don't want a finicky gun. I used a frineds Mark I the first year in the league and that gun would shoot anything. It took me a while to tune a set of mags for the Hi Standard and find ammo that it likes, CCI Blue Standard Velocity, now its pretty much flawless for an old gun. I hope the Mark III would be a painless experience like the Mark I. I recall stripping down the Mark I for a thorough cleaning I before I handed it back was a challenge. I downloaded a manual off the net which made the reassembly possible. It definetly was tricky. (Reminded me of a nightmarish experience in the barracks trying to assemble an M 60 without the manual or a training class. Sarge says by the way you are now an M60 gunner, clean this and turn it in).

2ksportny · January 26, 2006, 04:14 PM

Gee thanks

Colduglandon · January 27, 2006, 08:37 PM

Went to the gun shop.

Got the bull barrel.

They had another model, a 45/22 with polymer frame. Nice looking gun, but kinda light for me. Anyone have one of these. I think it had a stainless barrel.

CajunBass · January 27, 2006, 10:56 PM

Mine is the 22/45 with the polymer frame. I like it. Mine is blued of course.

We might be in the market for another Ruger 22 soon. My wife is tired of me hogging ours at the range all the time.

So many guns. So little money.

clayking · January 29, 2006, 08:35 PM

I just received my Mark 111 687, competition model and shot it for the first time this past week-end. After about 100 rounds it starts failing to fire about 1 out of each load. At least twice it failed to fully load the shell and I had to push it forward. I was shooting Rem HV hollow points. On the loads that did not fire they would not eject. The gun shoot like a dream but this other was not pleasant. Anyone else have these problems?...................ck

By the way, my first post here, and looks like a great site. I usually hang out at Archery Talk and some shotgun sites, but getting back into banging....

NINE · January 29, 2006, 10:18 PM

Sounds dirty to me? Take out the extractor and give it a good cleaning. Use minimal lubrication.

CajunBass · January 30, 2006, 08:58 AM

Clay, it could be dirty or it could be just breaking in. Mine would jam every once in a while for the first few hundred rounds, especially with some types of ammo. Now it works 100%, clean or dirty, cheap ammo or the best stuff out there. It don't matter. Give it a good cleaning, then run some CCI mini-mags through it and see if that doesn't help.

One tip about cleaning the Rugers, and it probably applies to all 22 semi-autos. Read and study the instructions, then read and study them again, and maybe again, then do EXACTLY what they say. I've found when I was having trouble getting mine back together, I was doing something wrong.

VaultDweller · January 30, 2006, 09:25 AM

I've had my 5 1/2" bull bbl MkIII for almost a year now and I have no complaints. As others have said, it may require a little break in to be perfectly reliable but after the fist 100-200 rounds you should be good to go.

I've found that my gun likes the german-made Wolf match .22s best. With this ammo the gun is as accurate as I am.

fairview mick · January 30, 2006, 11:54 AM

Paul
I also shoot in a league. I have a Sig Trailside and a Ruger Mark III. Both are less that 8 months old. The sight mount pivot on the Sig broke so I used the Ruger in the league. Both guns are great, the trigger on the Ruger has a slightly heavier pull, but is very crisp. Both are accurate. If my wife starts to shoot, I'll give her the Sig and go back to the Ruger. One problem which my shop said was rare, is the firing pin broke after about 2500 rounds.???????

Colduglandon · January 30, 2006, 06:32 PM

I liked the looks of the Trailside. But you can't buy them in the Peoples Republic thanks to our AG.

Brought mine to the range last night. Put about 70 rounds through it with no problem. Friend was there and put another 20 throught it without a glitch (He is looking at the slab side model). I was using some old Olin standard velocity, military I think in a generic white box, at least 20 years old. He was using some federal match ammo.

For better or worse when I cleaned the packing oil off the gun I put a drop of breakfree on the extractor before I left the house.

Gun shot as well as I do. The trigger is a little heavier than my Hi standard but its consistent.

Going to put a red dot on it. When I bench it to sight in the scope I will see how well the gun does without my intereference.

(A note on scopes. I went the cheap route and paid the price. Bought a cheap BSA at a local discount store. Got it home, turned it on and could not find the RED DOT. Then I heard a rattling sound. The lens inside was loose. Oh Well.)

Any thoughts on scopes for less than $100. Sportsmansguide has a slew of them for sale.
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/brows...asp?c=73&s=169

steinermd · January 30, 2006, 08:11 PM

I am still breaking in my Mark III. Will high velocity help with break in because it jams less when shoot high velocity.
Cleaning the Ruger is no where near as easy as my High Standard Supermatic 101, the thing with the trigger when putting it back together.

Colduglandon · January 30, 2006, 10:10 PM

steinermd

I just put a light coat of break free on the action after I cleaned up the packing lubricant and it worked flawlessly with standard velocity ammo first time at the range. Must be lucky.

steinermd · February 2, 2006, 10:33 PM

Thanks for the tip, I'll try that.

This forum is great everyone is so helpfull and there is so much good info.

Colduglandon · February 4, 2006, 12:19 AM

steinermd

Went to this site for the first time. Lots of accessories for Ruger and other 22s. Prices are competative and there is FREE shipping.

[url]http://www.rimfiresports.com

Went to the range to site in the Red Dot. From the bench using a rudimentary rest, this gun is more accurate than I am at this point. Could not believe the group this gun shot. I am considering a compensator to eliminate the slight bit of muzzle rise I encountered.

Missed a good sale at Midway last month, they had some nice grips on special for the Mark III. Ordered a Tipton cleaning rod. Are they really that much better?

CajunBass what was I thinking, the gallery league is 50 feet.

January 24, 2006, 03:16 PM	#1
Colduglandon Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 1999 Location: Mass Posts: 493	Ruger Mark III I shoot in a pistol league. I am using a High Standard Supermatic, about 50 years old. I love this gun, but I would like a back up in case I run into a problem during the league season. Anyone have any updates on the Ruger Mark III since it was introduced. They have them on sale, stainless and blue, at a shop near me. I live in Mass so my choices are somewhat limited. __________________ From the People's Republic of Massachusetts

January 24, 2006, 03:56 PM	#3
CajunBass Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2005 Location: North Chesterfield, Virginia Posts: 4,767	Mine does ok. It's only from 7 yards, but I was happy with it. Mk III 22/45 4" Bull Barrel __________________ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)

January 24, 2006, 05:11 PM	#4
DBski Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Location: Canton Mi Posts: 372	Mark111 I have the Mark111 Hunter, 6 and7/8inch fluted barrel. Best 22 I've had. Traded A Buckmark for it and glad I did. Great shooter, accurate. Love the fiber optic front sight. get it.

January 25, 2006, 08:21 AM	#7
CajunBass Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2005 Location: North Chesterfield, Virginia Posts: 4,767	Paul, I don't think you can go wrong with that one. There are a lot of other good ones on the market of course, but if you like the Ruger, it will do the job. Mine tended to jam a bit when it was new, but now it eats any kind of ammo I feed it without a hitch. It came with two magazines, already drilled and taped, with a scope mount, and a really nice padlock for my boat trailer, all in a plastic box. Good deal I thought. __________________ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)

January 25, 2006, 06:20 PM	#8
7.62 Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2005 Location: Middle TN Posts: 376	Paul Paul, I have the same gun you are considering and I love it. Don't have a scope yet, and the front sight has a chip out of it but still can hold 4 inch groups at about 20 yards. Great gun, no jams. I bought 6 extra mags for it and everything works fine with any ammo, but specifically Federal Gold medal Match. CajunBass, I agree about the padlock statement, I used mine on the ATV trailer for a while. __________________ Support America's Firearms Manufacturers! www.ruger-firearms.com www.smith-wesson.com

January 24, 2006, 03:47 PM	#2
Mastrogiacomo Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2002 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,297	I hear you about limited choices.... I'm going to be getting the Ruger Mark III standard. The reviews have been largely positive. I own three Rugers at the moment - all are wonderful so I've no hesistation about getting the Mark III.

January 24, 2006, 05:18 PM	#5
Hamjack Member Join Date: January 14, 2006 Posts: 26	I have the same model as DBski and I second his sentiments. Extremely accurate and after about 1,000 rds I've had only 2 minor jams. Cool looking gun and fun to shoot.

January 25, 2006, 08:00 PM	#9
Easy E Senior Member Join Date: June 19, 2005 Location: Northeastern PA. Posts: 228	I was dissapointed with the MKIII I bought a MKIII Hunter early last year. Liked the sights, the balance, the look of it. Shooting it was only "ok". The trigger wasn't real good. Not like my MKII. After 1000+ rounds I still wasn't happy. I ended up trading it off for a Super Blackhawk.

January 25, 2006, 08:38 PM	#10
topspin43 Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2005 Location: Palm Beach Posts: 761	Bucky here I feel compelled to post this picure in every "which .22?" thread. This trigger is butter and cleaning is a snap. __________________ Be careful out there.

January 25, 2006, 09:02 PM	#11
2ksportny Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2005 Posts: 135	Not to steal a thread here but I couldn't help but ask this question. I am thinking about a .22 & I was looking at the ruger 22 automatic cia pistol. The old reliable as I have found it to be called. Any good or bad about it, I want a nice looking target 22 & this thing just screams buy me for $199. I am not to sure if they are accurate for target or should I stay awat from it? Thanks __________________ Victims, Aren't we all.....

January 25, 2006, 10:17 PM	#12
Colduglandon Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 1999 Location: Mass Posts: 493	topspin43 It's a bucky I get it. 2ksportny you made me google the ruger 22 cia pistol. Son of a gun its just a plain old Ruger. Learn something new everyday. CajunBass the gallery league is 25 foot so thats pretty close to 7 yards Easy E the eyes are getting old. I will mount a red dot. The thing I like about this gun is that it comes with the mount. Looks like some people like it, and some don't. I just don't want a finicky gun. I used a frineds Mark I the first year in the league and that gun would shoot anything. It took me a while to tune a set of mags for the Hi Standard and find ammo that it likes, CCI Blue Standard Velocity, now its pretty much flawless for an old gun. I hope the Mark III would be a painless experience like the Mark I. I recall stripping down the Mark I for a thorough cleaning I before I handed it back was a challenge. I downloaded a manual off the net which made the reassembly possible. It definetly was tricky. (Reminded me of a nightmarish experience in the barracks trying to assemble an M 60 without the manual or a training class. Sarge says by the way you are now an M60 gunner, clean this and turn it in). __________________ From the People's Republic of Massachusetts Last edited by Colduglandon; January 27, 2006 at 08:35 PM.

January 26, 2006, 04:14 PM	#13
2ksportny Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2005 Posts: 135	Gee thanks __________________ Victims, Aren't we all.....

January 27, 2006, 08:37 PM	#14
Colduglandon Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 1999 Location: Mass Posts: 493	Went to the gun shop. Got the bull barrel. They had another model, a 45/22 with polymer frame. Nice looking gun, but kinda light for me. Anyone have one of these. I think it had a stainless barrel.

January 27, 2006, 10:56 PM	#15
CajunBass Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2005 Location: North Chesterfield, Virginia Posts: 4,767	Mine is the 22/45 with the polymer frame. I like it. Mine is blued of course. We might be in the market for another Ruger 22 soon. My wife is tired of me hogging ours at the range all the time. So many guns. So little money. __________________ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)

January 29, 2006, 08:35 PM	#16
clayking Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 796	I just received my Mark 111 687, competition model and shot it for the first time this past week-end. After about 100 rounds it starts failing to fire about 1 out of each load. At least twice it failed to fully load the shell and I had to push it forward. I was shooting Rem HV hollow points. On the loads that did not fire they would not eject. The gun shoot like a dream but this other was not pleasant. Anyone else have these problems?...................ck By the way, my first post here, and looks like a great site. I usually hang out at Archery Talk and some shotgun sites, but getting back into banging....

January 29, 2006, 10:18 PM	#17
NINE Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 431	Sounds dirty to me? Take out the extractor and give it a good cleaning. Use minimal lubrication.

January 30, 2006, 08:58 AM	#18
CajunBass Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2005 Location: North Chesterfield, Virginia Posts: 4,767	Clay, it could be dirty or it could be just breaking in. Mine would jam every once in a while for the first few hundred rounds, especially with some types of ammo. Now it works 100%, clean or dirty, cheap ammo or the best stuff out there. It don't matter. Give it a good cleaning, then run some CCI mini-mags through it and see if that doesn't help. One tip about cleaning the Rugers, and it probably applies to all 22 semi-autos. Read and study the instructions, then read and study them again, and maybe again, then do EXACTLY what they say. I've found when I was having trouble getting mine back together, I was doing something wrong. __________________ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)

January 30, 2006, 09:25 AM	#19
VaultDweller Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Posts: 40	I've had my 5 1/2" bull bbl MkIII for almost a year now and I have no complaints. As others have said, it may require a little break in to be perfectly reliable but after the fist 100-200 rounds you should be good to go. I've found that my gun likes the german-made Wolf match .22s best. With this ammo the gun is as accurate as I am. __________________ "Giving MONEY and POWER to government is like giving WHISKEY and CAR KEYS to teenage boys." -P.J. O'Rourke "You can't defend one right by sacrificing another. Other people are going to do things with their lives you don't approve of, just as they're unlikely to approve of everything you do. Making criminals of them gives socialists a precedent for making a criminal of you."

January 30, 2006, 11:54 AM	#20
fairview mick Senior Member Join Date: November 3, 2005 Location: North Olmsted Posts: 795	Ruger mark III Paul I also shoot in a league. I have a Sig Trailside and a Ruger Mark III. Both are less that 8 months old. The sight mount pivot on the Sig broke so I used the Ruger in the league. Both guns are great, the trigger on the Ruger has a slightly heavier pull, but is very crisp. Both are accurate. If my wife starts to shoot, I'll give her the Sig and go back to the Ruger. One problem which my shop said was rare, is the firing pin broke after about 2500 rounds.???????

January 30, 2006, 06:32 PM	#21
Colduglandon Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 1999 Location: Mass Posts: 493	I liked the looks of the Trailside. But you can't buy them in the Peoples Republic thanks to our AG. Brought mine to the range last night. Put about 70 rounds through it with no problem. Friend was there and put another 20 throught it without a glitch (He is looking at the slab side model). I was using some old Olin standard velocity, military I think in a generic white box, at least 20 years old. He was using some federal match ammo. For better or worse when I cleaned the packing oil off the gun I put a drop of breakfree on the extractor before I left the house. Gun shot as well as I do. The trigger is a little heavier than my Hi standard but its consistent. Going to put a red dot on it. When I bench it to sight in the scope I will see how well the gun does without my intereference. (A note on scopes. I went the cheap route and paid the price. Bought a cheap BSA at a local discount store. Got it home, turned it on and could not find the RED DOT. Then I heard a rattling sound. The lens inside was loose. Oh Well.) Any thoughts on scopes for less than $100. Sportsmansguide has a slew of them for sale. http://www.sportsmansguide.com/brows...asp?c=73&s=169

January 30, 2006, 08:11 PM	#22
steinermd Member Join Date: January 29, 2006 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 32	I am still breaking in my Mark III. Will high velocity help with break in because it jams less when shoot high velocity. Cleaning the Ruger is no where near as easy as my High Standard Supermatic 101, the thing with the trigger when putting it back together.

January 30, 2006, 10:10 PM	#23
Colduglandon Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 1999 Location: Mass Posts: 493	steinermd I just put a light coat of break free on the action after I cleaned up the packing lubricant and it worked flawlessly with standard velocity ammo first time at the range. Must be lucky.

February 2, 2006, 10:33 PM	#24
steinermd Member Join Date: January 29, 2006 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 32	Thanks for the tip, I'll try that. This forum is great everyone is so helpfull and there is so much good info.

February 4, 2006, 12:19 AM	#25
Colduglandon Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 1999 Location: Mass Posts: 493	steinermd Went to this site for the first time. Lots of accessories for Ruger and other 22s. Prices are competative and there is FREE shipping. [url]http://www.rimfiresports.com Went to the range to site in the Red Dot. From the bench using a rudimentary rest, this gun is more accurate than I am at this point. Could not believe the group this gun shot. I am considering a compensator to eliminate the slight bit of muzzle rise I encountered. Missed a good sale at Midway last month, they had some nice grips on special for the Mark III. Ordered a Tipton cleaning rod. Are they really that much better? CajunBass what was I thinking, the gallery league is 50 feet. __________________ From the People's Republic of Massachusetts Last edited by Colduglandon; February 6, 2006 at 12:02 AM.