Thinking of getting MKiii

I just got a mk3 Hunter and while it's silly accurate, it so far hasn't delivered on one of the major reasons I sold the Sig 1911-22 and got it - it won't cycle weak ammo like Win Wildcat. Maybe it needs breakin or a lighter spring but there it is.
 
I have Mk III target and it eats any ammo I throw in her. Very accurate out of the box. Paid 429 new. It's a little bit of work to disassemble but once you doit a couple times it's not difficult.
 
I have a MKIII hunter and a MKII target. Both are way more accurate than I can shoot them, and both cycle just fine with anything I feed them when they are clean. They start to get a bit fussier after a brick or two, but what semi doesn't? I paid $300 used for my MKII about 10 years ago in almost new condition (blued target, 5.5" barrel), and $550 new for my MKIII hunter 6.875" a few years ago. If I were to buy a used stainless target model, I would think it would be worth between $350 to $450. Depends on condition and how many mags.
Kristian
 
While they are a nice gun I would not say that they fully deserve the reputation they have. I've got two of them because I like the design. But for pure quality IN STOCK FORM I'd take a Browning Buckmark over a Ruger Mk. Especially if I were not going to fit some of the aftermarket goodies.

You want a GREAT gun right out of the case? Then buy a S&W Model 41 or a Beretta Model 87. Truly superb guns. Or a S&W Model 17 or 617 revolver. You'll pay far more for any of these. But it would cost you as much as these guns to get the Ruger up to the same feel as any of these three.

Having said all this for general plinking they are superb. They'll eat just about any sort of ammo and they'll keep on running until things inside are REALLY ugly.

Case in point. I did a magazine disconnect for a buddy. When I stripped the gun I commented on the fact that it had been some time since he cleaned it. He more or less proudly admitted that he had never cleaned it in around 7 years of ownership. Just kept adding oil. I had to use a dental pick to pull out the wads of packed in stone like fouling from the various nooks and crannies. When I asked if it had been shooting OK he replied that it was fine. And truthfully when I'd seen him shooting it I never noticed any issues either.

Oh, he did comment that the trigger felt quite a bit nicer once everything was de-gunked.....:bangHead:

Reliable? I guess you could call it that.... :D

One thing. If it's the 22/45 version you're considering spend the extra and get the model with the replaceable side panels. The other "one piece" lower frame is way too thin for human hands to hold well. The Ruger forums are chocked full of stories asking about how to fix that silly version so it can fatten up the grip feel or use the gun with wood scales like a "real" 1911. So spend the extra now if that's the one you want.
 
I've got a MKIII Competition, great pistol, shoots any ammo I feed it and is stupid accurate.

TehS1va.jpg
 
Love mine. I have a MK III 5.5" target, blued. No failures except those due to ammo. The only bad thing is how much your thumb will hurt after loading 500 rounds. If you do get one, make sure you get an ultimate clip loader for it. It is the most amazing magazine loader ever invented. You can charge 5 magazines in probably 30 seconds. They are only like $21 off amazon and totally worth it.
 
Get a couple of extra magazines and join the fun at Speed Steel at Mission this summer. And along that same line check out Abby's Steel Challenge events as well.
 
I just got a mk3 Hunter and while it's silly accurate, it so far hasn't delivered on one of the major reasons I sold the Sig 1911-22 and got it - it won't cycle weak ammo like Win Wildcat. Maybe it needs breakin or a lighter spring but there it is.

Mine cycles CCI Quiets, which are so weak, they aren't even rated for semi autos. I did polish the bolt on mine though.

Would highly recommend getting a "Mcfadden ultimate clip loader". It makes loading mags 100 times easier. 200 round trips into 2000 round trips? Makes it possible ;)

Also you can fit a MK II parts kit into it to remove the magazine safety if that's something you don't like. I put a Volquartsen MKII accurizing kit in mine, along with a MKII bushing. It removed the magazine safety, and gives it a trigger pull of about 2.5 lbs.
 
I've got a MKIII Competition, great pistol, shoots any ammo I feed it and is stupid accurate.

http://i.imgur.com/TehS1va.jpg[IMG][/QUOTE]

That trigger looks like you've got an VQ accurizing kit in it too. Also, is that... Costco Sponge Towels or Bounty? Very nice choice of background. Quality.
 
Back
Top Bottom