December 13, 2012, 03:05 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 23, 2006
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 5,210
|
My Yearly Ruger
For the second year in a row, my lovely wife has surprised me with a handgun from Ruger. Last year was a surprise New Vaquero and this year it's a MKIII 22/45 Target. Just like last year, I was completely blown away by the gift and did not see it coming.
I had wanted a .22 for quite some time and felt the lack of one really left a hole in my collection. The last .22 I had was a Walther P22 and it didn't last very long. I wanted something well made and more geared towards accuracy than whatever the P22 is geared towards. The MKIII fits that roll nicely and I think the wife did a good job on the configuration; A 5.5 inch barrel, adjustable sights in blue. I got to shoot it for the first time yesterday and loved it. I shot 150 rounds of various ammo I had left over (CCI, Remington bulk, american eagle) and had no issues what's so ever. The sights seemed to be right on out of the box and I really, really like the trigger. I know that probably sounds crazy to some but the trigger works very well for me, both the size/shape and the actual pull. My wife had the choice between a few different models of the same gun so it was a bit frustrating for her. She ended up going with the plainest model available, most likely what I would have done as well. Like everyone else who owns one, I had a really tough time breaking it down and getting it back together. I do not enjoy banging any of my guns with mallets and cringed with each blow. The biggest problem was the tightness and reinserting the main spring housing. Now that I know what to do, it should be no problem. All in all, I absolutely love my 22/45 and see it getting a lot of range time. Once I've really mastered the iron sites, I'll start considering one of those cool red dots sites or something similar. For now, it's perfect in every way. Oh, and for the next time my wife logs and searches my post for gift ideas.. Thanks babe, you're the best. Last edited by Shadi Khalil; December 13, 2012 at 03:34 PM. |
December 13, 2012, 03:34 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 18, 2011
Location: The Woods
Posts: 1,197
|
I recently got one myself. It's a great little shooter, and manages to feel like a "real" gun.
Sounds like you lucked out in the wife department as well.
__________________
si vis pacem para bellum |
December 13, 2012, 03:57 PM | #3 | |
Junior member
Join Date: October 4, 2007
Location: All the way to NEBRASKA
Posts: 8,722
|
No beating necessary.
Quote:
To replace the grip frame, put the muzzle on the wood, with the rear of the reciever pointing up, grasp the grip frame the right way (as opposed to bass-ackwards), putting the square lug in the recess on the reciever, and press down. It will pop right onto there. The hardest part I had with mine was getting the hammer to go forward (gotta have the mag in) on reassembly. That whole "Put the mag in, take the mag out Hokey-Pokey was a real PITA..... |
|
December 13, 2012, 04:02 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 23, 2006
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 5,210
|
Dayman,
I too like the way its set up. And yes, the wife is certainly a gem, thanks.1 Jim, Thanks for the tip. The mag in mag out was pretty annoying. I don't plan on taking it down for at least another couple range sessions. |
December 13, 2012, 04:14 PM | #5 |
Member
Join Date: April 8, 2010
Location: PA
Posts: 61
|
Congratulations.
I own 2 of these pistols. The Mk II and III. Once you take it apart a dozen or so times it will loosen up. I had the same snugness issue with the Mk II when it was new many years ago and know the Mk III will loosen up over time. Enjoy your new pistol.
__________________
Who Dares Wins! |
December 13, 2012, 04:18 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 23, 2006
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 5,210
|
Grail,
Thanks. I'm really interested in the whole MK series now. I love my 22/45 but would love to get my mits on one of the pre- 22/45 models, just to see how it feels and shoots. |
December 13, 2012, 08:05 PM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 23, 2006
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 5,210
|
Rather than start a new thread, I figure I'll ask questions here as I learn more about the gun...
Here's one... Before the gun was shot or disassembled, the magazine would drop free some of the time. Now, after being shot and disassembled, the magazines do not drop free at all. According to everything I've read, the magazines should not have been dropping free in the first place. Anybody else have this happen? Is it possible I did something wrong putting it back together? Thanks |
December 13, 2012, 09:08 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 19, 2012
Location: MS - USA
Posts: 899
|
I have the exact same one and love it. As to the breaking it down part...once was enough for me. All I ever do now is run a brush down the barrel and wipe it down. Still going strong.
|
December 13, 2012, 10:10 PM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 29, 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 135
|
Get a Mark ii hammer and hammer busing from volquartsen, while you are at it get the target sear and trigger as well... makes the gun twice as much fun to shoot and gets rid of the mag safety that is causing the mags to hang up when you hit the button.
|
December 13, 2012, 10:15 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 23, 2006
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 5,210
|
jm,
I hear a lot of people say the same thing, they rarely break them down and never have issues. Johnny, So I'm right to assume its normal for my mags not to fall free? I still don't understand why they dropped free prior to firing and then field stripping... |
December 14, 2012, 06:02 AM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 18, 2011
Location: The Woods
Posts: 1,197
|
Mine have never dropped free - if that makes you feel better. I was under impression the mag safety had something to do with that, but I don't know why yours would have dropped free before. It might something moved a tiny amount inside the mag well when you stripped it...
__________________
si vis pacem para bellum |
December 14, 2012, 11:59 AM | #12 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 23, 2006
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 5,210
|
Quote:
|
|
December 14, 2012, 12:19 PM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 18, 2011
Location: The Woods
Posts: 1,197
|
I'm pretty sure mags not dropping free is the norm unless you've removes the mag safety.
__________________
si vis pacem para bellum |
December 14, 2012, 01:25 PM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 21, 2011
Location: Idaho
Posts: 7,839
|
the 22/45 standard is the way to go IMHO. I have the 22/45 lite and though it is still a fine piece of ruger engineering the shorter sight radius and barrel length culminate to make a louder, less accurate pistol. it's great if you are planning too have it suppressed but if all you want is a high volume plinker the 22/45 is way better...not nearly as gaudy either.
she did good, I wish I had a significant other that would buy me guns for xmas.
__________________
ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin |
December 14, 2012, 01:49 PM | #15 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 23, 2006
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 5,210
|
Quote:
Another question, I want to order a butt load of .22 ammo. What's a safe brand of bulk ammo that is reasonably priced? Thanks guys. |
|
December 14, 2012, 03:43 PM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 18, 2011
Location: The Woods
Posts: 1,197
|
Mine eats bulk federal just fine. That was the first thing I tried, and so I haven't felt the need to experiment with anything else.
__________________
si vis pacem para bellum |
December 14, 2012, 04:31 PM | #17 |
Junior member
Join Date: October 4, 2007
Location: All the way to NEBRASKA
Posts: 8,722
|
I feed mine whatever bulk stuff is on sale.
Sometimes, with a new magazine, the first round of a full mag will dive into the bottom of the the feed ramp..... also, once in a while, there will be a dud in a box of 500/525/550/whatever...... No, bargain bulk .22lr is not "combat reliable", but them again, I would not use a .22 pistol to combat anything bigger than a 'possum...... for plinking and practical practice, it works. |
December 14, 2012, 04:45 PM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 21, 2012
Location: VA
Posts: 199
|
Congrats. I also have a Mark III target and love it. It's a great gun.
|
December 14, 2012, 04:51 PM | #19 | |
Member
Join Date: December 5, 2011
Location: Southern California
Posts: 74
|
Quote:
|
|
December 15, 2012, 04:05 AM | #20 |
Member
Join Date: April 8, 2010
Location: PA
Posts: 61
|
When you reassemble the Mk III the magazine tolerance is so tight that even if the barrel is off a millimeter the pistol will still fire but the magazine will not free fall.
What I do when I reassemble the pistol (and before I reinstall the latch pin) is to put an empty magazine in the well and test for free fall. If not I use a rubber mallet to lightly tap the barrel either forward or back depending on which direction I feel is causing the magazine snugness. Once I get it right and the magazine free falls I then remove the empty magazine and put the assembly/disassembly latch pin back in place. The Mk II has had many thousands of rounds fired and cleaned countless times so everything just slides into place tool free and there is no magazine disconnect.
__________________
Who Dares Wins! |
December 15, 2012, 02:05 PM | #21 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 2, 2011
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 301
|
Congrats. The Ruger MKlll is the most accurate/precise handgun I've ever owned.
I'm not sure if they're making them anymore, but I lucked out in buying the stainless model- less upkeep and easy wipe down. I took out the LCI and I'm thinking about the taking out the mag disconnect. I'm aiming to put in excess of 100,000 rounds than do a review Best thing is you can shoot all day for the price of a lunch buffet |
December 16, 2012, 05:32 PM | #22 |
Junior Member
Join Date: October 30, 2012
Posts: 1
|
Get one of these...
This is my favorite accessory so far. It makes reloading the mags ridiculously fast and easy. It's called the Ultimate Cliploader made by McFadden Machine. Just my 2 cents
|
December 16, 2012, 08:15 PM | #23 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 23, 2006
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 5,210
|
m_liebas,
I like your plan and would definitely follow that thread. I only have a few guns that I keep round counts on, the MKIII will be one of those guns. Cpm, I've been shopping around for a mag loader after my first time out. After about the fifth mag my thumb was feeling soar. Thanks for the recommendation. I do have another question... I'd like to either replace my front site with something more visible or just paint the stock one with something fluorescent. No matter what I decide to do, I'll need to remove the front sight. When I put it back on, does it require adjustment? To be honest, I've never owned a gun with fix sights so I just want to know before hand. Also, If I decide to go with the replacement sight, who makes a basic front sight with high visibility? I'd like something that does not break the bank and is easy to install. Thanks again for all all the replies. The more I talk about this thing, the more I want to shoot it again! |
December 16, 2012, 11:56 PM | #24 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 12, 2002
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 5,283
|
Shadi Khalil - NATURALLY I think TFL is the premier gun forum and there is *lots* of great info here but once in a while I do check over on:
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/index.php just to see what they've got to say. |
December 17, 2012, 03:50 AM | #25 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 23, 2006
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 5,210
|
Quote:
|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|