MarkIII Hunter
- Thread starter Teapot
- Start date
Don't know where you've read all these bad things. I've had nothing but good experiences with mine.
It's accurate, functions smoothly and digests any kind of ammunition with no problem.
Rugers are a bit tricky to field strip. However, most of the difficulties are due to people not reading the instructions carefully. After you do it once or twice it's easy.
It's accurate, functions smoothly and digests any kind of ammunition with no problem.
Rugers are a bit tricky to field strip. However, most of the difficulties are due to people not reading the instructions carefully. After you do it once or twice it's easy.
I have a MKIII (not the hunter version though) and I've really enjoyed it so far. I'm still breaking mine in, but I haven't had any FTF or FTEs with it after about 500 rounds. As mentioned already, they are a little tricky to field strip, but once you do it there's not much too it. There are a couple of good videos on youtube that really help.
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My Hunter was the first pistol I bought 
. I really like it. I haven't had any FTF or other issues with it. It's accurate and fun to shoot. That being said I shoot my 5 1/2 "blued" target MKIII more. It's a handier size while still giving good accuracy.
The only complaint I had with the Hunter were the hi vis front sight and the V-notch rear sight. These are definitely for hunting not target shooting. I had mine replaced with regular adjustable partridge style target sights. There's no going back. It was a lot more accurate.
I generally shoot American eagle 38 grain hollow points. They shoot decently. For more accurate stuff I'll throw in some Lapua Super club. The groups do tighten up. Still for most applications the Eagle works really well. No FTF or other problems with it in these pistols and accuracy is very acceptable for general shooting. I've put around 5,000 rounds through the target and probably 400 through the Hunter.
If I was only going to recommend having one Ruger pistol for target shooting and plinking (especially shooting metal) I'd have to give the nod to the 5 1/2 target model in stainless. It's a better all around fun pistol than the Hunter. I love my Hunter and it's a looker but it's just not as handy. A tiny bit more accurate due to the longer sight radius but not as much overall fun.
. I really like it. I haven't had any FTF or other issues with it. It's accurate and fun to shoot. That being said I shoot my 5 1/2 "blued" target MKIII more. It's a handier size while still giving good accuracy. The only complaint I had with the Hunter were the hi vis front sight and the V-notch rear sight. These are definitely for hunting not target shooting. I had mine replaced with regular adjustable partridge style target sights. There's no going back. It was a lot more accurate.
I generally shoot American eagle 38 grain hollow points. They shoot decently. For more accurate stuff I'll throw in some Lapua Super club. The groups do tighten up. Still for most applications the Eagle works really well. No FTF or other problems with it in these pistols and accuracy is very acceptable for general shooting. I've put around 5,000 rounds through the target and probably 400 through the Hunter.
If I was only going to recommend having one Ruger pistol for target shooting and plinking (especially shooting metal) I'd have to give the nod to the 5 1/2 target model in stainless. It's a better all around fun pistol than the Hunter. I love my Hunter and it's a looker but it's just not as handy. A tiny bit more accurate due to the longer sight radius but not as much overall fun.
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My MKIII Hunter 6 7/8 has been fantastic. I picked it up in the EE with 2 mags for $480 and it got alot of usage this summer. Fun to plink with or work on the fundamentals.
I soon took off the V Notch and put a Fastfire on the 1913 rail that goes on the top and soon after that when Wolverine got my dovetail mount I removed the rail and the front sight and put the fastfire in the rear sight dlovetail. Very nice and super accurate to plink with.
Nice and cheap to shoot 500 rounds for $15 bucks when I am taking newbies out to the range. They get some .45 and more 9MM but mostly its free so the 22LR helps.
Was a ##### to re-assembly the first two times but now that I know what I am doing its much easier to take apart and clean. Good instructions - http://www.guntalk-online.com/fsprocedures.htm
I soon took off the V Notch and put a Fastfire on the 1913 rail that goes on the top and soon after that when Wolverine got my dovetail mount I removed the rail and the front sight and put the fastfire in the rear sight dlovetail. Very nice and super accurate to plink with.
Nice and cheap to shoot 500 rounds for $15 bucks when I am taking newbies out to the range. They get some .45 and more 9MM but mostly its free so the 22LR helps.
Was a ##### to re-assembly the first two times but now that I know what I am doing its much easier to take apart and clean. Good instructions - http://www.guntalk-online.com/fsprocedures.htm
That's pretty cool Scotty.
I have to agree it took me a few tries to reassemble the pistol. I broke down and had to look up the instructions on the net. The other thing to note is that the stainless models are easier to disassemble. Especially when removing the upper barrel assembly from the lower trigger/hand grip section. Putting it back together was also easier. It was smoother and not as tight.
As for the MKIII "features". There is only one feature that I care about between the MKII and MKIII pistols. That's the mag release. The MKIII has a conventional thumb release at the top of the grip. The MKII has the heel release. I'll tolerate all the extra safety lock "features" any day for the conventional mag release. The heel mag release was the only flaw with the MKII.
I have to agree it took me a few tries to reassemble the pistol. I broke down and had to look up the instructions on the net. The other thing to note is that the stainless models are easier to disassemble. Especially when removing the upper barrel assembly from the lower trigger/hand grip section. Putting it back together was also easier. It was smoother and not as tight.
As for the MKIII "features". There is only one feature that I care about between the MKII and MKIII pistols. That's the mag release. The MKIII has a conventional thumb release at the top of the grip. The MKII has the heel release. I'll tolerate all the extra safety lock "features" any day for the conventional mag release. The heel mag release was the only flaw with the MKII.
The flutes on the Hunter help shed a very tiny bit of weight which helps with a 6 7/8" barrel. There's no point with a 4 1/2. Even the bull barreled 5 1/2" is well balanced. I would say 5 1/2" is the perfect compromise. It gives you the accuracy while still being handy.
The flutes aren't really needed for cooling. I haven't noticed any real benefit with my .22 pistols. Even with a lot of fire over a fairly long time, they only get warm. They don't seem to really get hot. Usually my thumbs are sore from reloading the mags well before heat dissipation becomes an issue.
You'll have to figure out what type of shooting you plan on doing. If you don't know I'd get a compromise so you're not limited and then later buy a more specific pistol for the type of shooting you're doing.
I have the MKIII bull barrell in stainless. It's a really great pistol and lots of fun to shoot. The main reason I chose this model was all the great reviews I found.
That said, with the price of gas these days I will be selling my pistol because I just can't get out to shoot it. If anyone's interested let me know.
That said, with the price of gas these days I will be selling my pistol because I just can't get out to shoot it. If anyone's interested let me know.
- Location
- Kingston, ON
I bought a MKIII target last spring. Love it!!! 1500 rounds and not a problem. Does not seem to be overly fussy about ammo either.
"Needed" a new plinker toy... Shoots the heck out of a pop can at 25M.
"Needed" a new plinker toy... Shoots the heck out of a pop can at 25M.
vagrantviking
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- High River, Alberta
Don't know who you talked to but you aren't going to find many complaints about any of the Rugers MI, II or III (other than the tricky assembly thing).
Mostly its just a matter of personal preference as far as the different "features" in the different models. I like the side mag release but the simplicity of the MI is nice too.
What I lust after is the MIII target model in stainless with the long slabside barrel, but with a S&W Model 41 coming to me for the same price, I'll have to put it off for a bit.
Mostly its just a matter of personal preference as far as the different "features" in the different models. I like the side mag release but the simplicity of the MI is nice too.
What I lust after is the MIII target model in stainless with the long slabside barrel, but with a S&W Model 41 coming to me for the same price, I'll have to put it off for a bit.
Ruger Mark III Hunter 6 7/8 fluted stainless. I've put several thousand rounds through it and it shoots like a dream. It's still my least favourite gun to strip, but I dont really need to clean it all that often. Picked it up for about 650 new from Wholesale sports about a year ago and I'd never sell it.
I usually get a couple FTE's for every 500 pack of ammo, but I find that has more to do with the quality of ammo than the gun. I've had to loc-tite the high-viz front sight to keep it from coming loose on me, but other than that, I have nothing but good things to say about them.
I usually get a couple FTE's for every 500 pack of ammo, but I find that has more to do with the quality of ammo than the gun. I've had to loc-tite the high-viz front sight to keep it from coming loose on me, but other than that, I have nothing but good things to say about them.
- Location
- Kingston, ON
I have had my MKIII Target for over a year. No complaints so far. It's not fussy about ammo. Shoots great when I do my part...
No way I'm giving it up.
No way I'm giving it up.
