Which Ruger Mark IV to get?

white smoke said:

I have had a number of Mark series pistols but my favorite is my Mark 2 competition target. It has a fantastic trigger from the factory. I upgraded to a Mark 4 bolt with Volquartsen extractor and firing pin. Also added a Holosun 407 dot sight. Shoots better than I can. Just a side note, the first pistol I ever shot was a standard pre mark series back in the 50's.View attachment 1204361

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Ahh the slab side mkii. My unicorn. I have the stainless gov target model, but those slab sides are just so sexy.


But honestly, the mkiii is where the value is at because everybody hates the lawyer crap. The mk4 is stupidly overpriced. I've had most all the versions by now, and Ruger has priced themselves out of my market. Buying new today, I'd have to go buckmark.

But the version I shoot the most is a mkii frame full of vq parts, wearing a packite upper and a can.

>>The mk4 is stupidly overpriced<<

Perhaps so, but the PITA factor of the earlier models may negate this, as is evidenced by the popularity of the MKlV. Just saying.....

Had Mk1 and Mk2. No issues w.takedown.
22/45 can be a hassle sometimes.....learned the wiggle on those.

Id like a MK3 gripframe w a MK2 receiver and a non warning label barrel LOL.

Was gonna cost too much to assemble. So i got a Buckmark 5.5 .

The new Mk4 anniv target model looks tempting though. 6 7/8 taper bull is my fave. Had a minty Mark 1. Too nice to drill and tap, why it went bye bye.

Had the old Davidsons Great Eight 22/45.
Shot good but couldnt score a newer frame back then to help the looks. 1st version was slick and hideous. Put a 2x Leupold on it and was fun at 100 yards. But so big and bulky I went back to a rifle.

The 5 1/2" bull bbl is proly my ideal field rig (.holster carry ).

roval said:

i think it's the lobos industries mount seeen below. i had mounted mine yesterday on my clearance ruger mark 4 upper with loctite and ordered the red dot from amazon. i haven't shot the upper yet and have not checked the zero yet on the iron sights so i may try shooting it first to make sure irons are zeroed before mounting the red dot. btw, if your amazon order is eligible for overnight delivery they really mean it. i ordered around 2pm i woke up at 445am with my phone ringing. it was the amazon driver asking how to get gate access. fortunately he got in without my help as i was still trying to figure out who's number i was getting.
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Thank you, I see one of those in the cards...

white smoke said:

I have had a number of Mark series pistols but my favorite is my Mark 2 competition target. It has a fantastic trigger from the factory. I upgraded to a Mark 4 bolt with Volquartsen extractor and firing pin. Also added a Holosun 407 dot sight. Shoots better than I can. Just a side note, the first pistol I ever shot was a standard pre mark series back in the 50's.View attachment 1204361

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OMG I have a Mark 2 Target with the bull barrel I use it for competition because it is so dam accurate. But if I was buying a new one I would get the new Mark4 Competition I really like that gun.

Howdy Again

Funny thing. Since this thread started I have picked up my second Mark IV.

Let's recap.

I bought this Mark II many years ago, so long ago that I don't remember when. Like all Ruger Mark pistols, the factory trigger pull was quite stiff. So I put a Volquartsen trigger kit inside which brought the trigger pull down to around 2 pounds or so. But anybody who has one of the old Standard or Mark I, Mark II, or Mark III pistols knows, take down for cleaning was a royal pain. I always had to have the manual open when field stripping this guy for cleaning. I suppose if I did it more often I would not need the manual, but I always needed the manual in front of me. Trust me, the Mark I, II, or III was a royal pain to field strip for cleaning. Yes, it has an adjustable rear sight, but the fact is that once I had it zeroed in I never moved the rear sight again.






About a year ago I picked up this Stainless Mark IV Competition model. The Ruger website says it weighs 45.8 ounces with the Stainless frame and heavy, slab sided barrel.






This is the reason you buy a Mark IV. So simple to take down and clean. Stupidly over priced? I paid $849 for it (suggested list price is $969.00). The Mark IV was completely redesigned from the earlier models, that is why they are expensive. The factory trigger pull was pretty stiff, so I had a Volquartsen trigger kit installed, and the trigger pull is down around two pounds.






I just picked up this blued Mark IV with its six inch barrel a few weeks ago. $499.95 out the door (suggested list price is $569.00). This one has an aluminum frame, so it is much lighter than my Stainless Mark IV. I gave it to a guy to install a Volquartsen trigger kit in it, and I am going to pick it up tomorrow. The Ruger website says it is currently unavailable, so I guess I lucked out. The four inch version is still available. The website says this one weighs weighs 30.1 ounces.






Again, this is why you buy a Mark IV. No manual needed to field strip it.





I have no problem with the fixed rear sight, it will be no problem to drift it left or right if the need arises.


The 75th anniversary model is nice, with its adjustable rear sight, but it is hard to find. The Ruger website says the frame is aluminum, and it weighs 32.8 ounces.

I'm a Competition Model guy. My first Ruger Mark Series pistol was a Mark II 6" tapered barrel with fixed sights, but my second was a "slab side" Mark II Competition Model. I currently shoot a Mark III Competition Model the most, really wanting for a justified replacement by a MkIV version of the same. I used to like the Government models, obviously now rebranded. My wife loves the Hunters, she has a Mark III and a Mark IV. We just got my son a Mark IV Target with threaded barrel to shoot suppressed - it was a close race between it and the Tactical model.

My next Mark IV will be an integrally suppressed upper, meaning it will effectively look like a 10-12" Target model, but it sure won't sound like one.

I’ve always been a fan of the Mark series pistols. Unfortunately the only one I’ve had the chance to shoot was a mkIII 22/45 lite, which I didn’t care much for. I think the stock trigger combined with a light weight gun made for not so accurate shooting on my part.
When it came time to purchase I came across a Buckmark Hunter for a price I couldn’t resist and have been very happy with it.
I’d still like to get a mklV.

My biggest gripe with the mark pistols is the heavy trigger pull. Seems like with 10/22s it’s pretty much necessary to upgrade the trigger right out of the box.

I really like my Mk ll for its accuracy with a variety of ammunition and I'm comfortable with its trigger, but then I'm a field and casual range shooter so a really high grade trigger isn't a top $ priority. Given a two-handed Weaver hold (which would get you disqualified in "Bullseye competition), I get all the accuracy I can use.

Shooting in a NRA Bullseye league back in the '70's and 80's, I had a High Standard Victor but couldn't adjust to the grip angle....ended up trading for a Smith M-41 which I still have today.

Truth be told, I'm not crazy about the '41's super light trigger when out in the field. It's just to light for that type of carry and I usually take my Mkll instead. Here they are, with the M-41 wearing the 'Field Barrel' that I picked up when the heavy 5-1/2" Tgt was too much. Best Regards, Rod

I like the Mark IV Lite. I've also added the 5.5 inch target barrel and the 10 inch barrel just for laughs. The versatility of the Mark IV is a big advantage. I've installed Volquartsen trigger kit, Carolina Crusher compensator and Cornerstone Safety. I also switched the stock grips for StonerCNC's.

There's so much available for the Mark IV that you can build anything you want.

If it were my first Ruger I'd buy the 6 3/8 Hunter model. It looks great has wonderful balance and is very accurate.

TTv2 said:

75th anniversary model

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https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1026780132?pid=287379

Available now. $519.99. @ Midwayusa. Free shipping.