Ruger mk pistols

soldier506

soldier506

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Hi, wondering what is the difference between all the .22 cal mk pistols? Used to have a mk2 in the past. Was a very reliable accurate pistol but a pain to strip apart to clean. Neverless I managed to put way more lead through it than anything else I ever had.
See ruger now is on the mk 4 . Out of all the models which is the best/worst
 
The MKI has a 9 round magazine.

The MKII changed to a 10 round magazine, added a slide stop lever, and added relief cuts to the receiver at the bolt (to make bolt manipulation easier).

The MKIII moved the magazine release from the heel of the butt to the rear of the triggerguard, and added both a magazine disconnect and a loaded chamber indicator.

The MKIV added a new takedown latch (to make disassembly quicker).

Many people don't want the magazine disconnect, so the aftermarket will sell you a replacement bushing that will enable you to remove the magazine disconnect. Likewise, many people don't want the loaded chamber indicator, so the aftermarket will sell you a replacement part that will enable you to remove the loaded chamber indicator.
 
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Wendell said:
The MKI has a 9 round magazine.

The MKII changed to a 10 round magazine, added a slide stop lever, and added relief cuts to the receiver at the bolt (to make bolt manipulation easier).

The MKIII moved the magazine release from the heel of the butt to the rear of the triggerguard, and added both a magazine disconnect and a loaded chamber indicator.

The MKIV added a new takedown latch (to make disassembly quicker).

Many people don't want the magazine disconnect, so the aftermarket will sell you a replacement bushing that will enable you to remove the magazine disconnect. Likewise, many people don't want the loaded chamber indicator, so the aftermarket will sell you a replacement part that will enable you to remove the loaded chamber indicator.
Click to expand...

^^ pretty much it. Though I do have a Mk1 with a magazine that holds 10rds. Also, the Mk111 and forward can be had with 1911 shaped grip rather than the steep angled styled after the Luger.

Mk1 will be cheapest to obtain but if I were looking to buy another I'd vie for a Mk11: I can count rounds and rarely drop the hammer on empty chamber, but the slide stop added to the Mk11 would remove the cringe I have every time I hear the hammer drop on empty as a visitor shoots an imaginary round.

I usually cleaned my Mk1 after every range trip as I also put more rounds through it: the process becomes very easy when the idiosyncrasies of the design are remembered.
 
I neglected to mention that Ram-Line used to make a 14-shot magazine for the MKII which generally worked great until they broke. (Mine actually broke while in storage; the plastic just failed.) Nowadays, Ram-Line is out of business, and magazine capacity limits mean we are restricted to ten.

One of the features of the MKII is that it is actually safe to dry-fire; you'll find that fact in the owner's manual.

I, too, never minded the disassembly/reassembly process of the MKII, but it does require a few tools. (I use a twist-tie and/or a wooden pry tool and a butcher block.)
 
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I have had MK II, II and now IV

I really like the way I can do a 1 button take down and clean on the IV
Also the magazine drop is great - touch the button and the mag flies out of the grip.

There are tons of after markey stuff you can buy

Majestic Arms sells a kit to turn a MK III into a IV - so it is easy to clean - instead of a button it is one set screw to remove
They sell other kits as well

TandemKross sells trigger kits, ambi safeties etc

Can't go wrong with a Ruger MK III or IV
 
Mk IV field stripping and cleaning is a dream. The one button takedown was probably the best thing to ever happen to this line of pistols. The factory trigger is kind of meh but there are upgrades available if that is your cup of tea.
 
Never played with a MK4. But out of the rest the MKII is my favorite. The reassembly isn't bad once you have done it a few time. YouTube is your friend.

The MKIII has the better magazine removal. But the stupid load chamber indicator and the stupid key.
 
I have a MKIV Tactical and its the most accurate .22 pistol I have ever shot, super easy to take apart and put back together. To take it apart you just have to hit the rear button on the grip and it all comes apart, putting it together is super easy as well. Its a huge improvement over the earlier versions.
 
If some of this was covered already, sorry. But I will add:

1. Both Mk 3 and Mk 4 have the awful magazine disconnect.

2. There are three different magazines used in the various models, not interchangeable with each other.
Mk 1
Mk 2
Mk 3 and 4 (take same mag)

3. All generations of these .22's are designed to not be harmed from dry firing.

In my opinion, Mk 1 and 2 would be the best if they had the easy take down of the Mk 4.
But Mk 4 would be the best if it could be had from the factory without the magazine disconnect and loaded chamber indicator with key.
 
There's another version (or 'half' version) of magazine, that for the 1911 grip -styled 22/45 versions of the pistol. Mag. bodies are the same but not base plates, and combined with different dimensions of the mag. opening and interior of the grip, means you can't always switch between them.

We are ignoring the pre-Mark Ruger Standard pistol...
 
Mark IV does not have loaded chamber indicator or key,
Mag disconnect is easy to remove.

Never had a problem with old take down on earlier versions, except some were very tight the first few take downs.

Steel version Marks IV can develop a loose fit between the upper and lower when the rubber pads wears, 22/45's don't use pads so not an issue with them.
 
Nouseforaname said:
Mark IV does not have loaded chamber indicator or key,
Mag disconnect is easy to remove.

Never had a problem with old take down on earlier versions, except some were very tight the first few take downs.

Steel version Marks IV can develop a loose fit between the upper and lower when the rubber pads wears, 22/45's don't use pads so not an issue with them.
Click to expand...
Good to know was thinking about one
 
I shoot Hi Standard's, But the mk1 target I have handled had great triggers before they started worrying about lawyers ( there is a solution) but that is for another day.
The later MK1's will take a MK2 mag, they switched which side of the mag the thumb stud was on, and MK 2 mags you can change the sides.
Never had or worked on the MK 1V, but they sound interesting, other than the pricing. But maybe that is more the light?
I have never understood the problem with take down on the Rugers.
 
For decades the Ruger Mk i's,II's were the ONLY firearms manufactured that were NOT investment cast,polished turds.

With 1 MkIV in hand for trigger work for a buddy
The CNC'd frame & Bbl's bore was beautiful machine work.
A MkII hammer & hammer bushing replaced the MKIV's hammer & mag safety BS w/ the MKIV's sear as a proprietary item had to be re-worked since a MkI/II sear could not be interchanged.

The best option of any Ruger Mk series pistol is they shoot cheap 22LR ammo under 1/2" at 50yds.
 
This is my Mk II. I have had it for a long time and it has sent literally thousands of rounds down range. It got a little worn and so I sent it to Black Box Customs for some TLC. They cerakoted it in Midnight Black. After I got it back I installed a Volquartsen trigger kit. It shoots as good as new and I couldn't be happier. I also have a MK IV and it is quite as accurate also. The easier take down is a nice touch. I installed a Volquartsen trigger kit in it as well which also removed the mag safety feature. Beautiful trigger on it now.
I agree with what others have said about the MK II take down. It really isn't that big a deal. Just do it a lot and it becomes second nature.
I don't know about shooting 1/2 inch at 50 yds. But it will do that nicely at 25. With target ammo you can get impressive groups at 50.
All I know is that people love shooting them. I use them to introduce new people to shooting and that's always the .22 handgun they want.

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Ruger MK IV

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