I need more 22 pistol advice/input

[Veritas]

Hi Folks,

well, since the S&W M41 slipped through my grasp I'm now looking at a ruger MKII and was wondering if I could get some input, opinions, advice, and such.

It's the MK-678G, Government target model, Blued w/ a 6 7/8" bull barrel. Fairly new, about 1k rnds through it, stock w/ all the normal stuff it's supposed to come with. The guy will do $275 for it.

I've heard mostly good things about the MKII, other than the field strip PITA procedure. Although it seems most go for the stainless 5 1/2 bull... any downside to the 6 7/8 blued?

I don't know much about the MKIIs, but it seems as though some have a plastic/polymer lower while other have metal. Could the MK-678G have either, or does it only come 1 way?

Also, is it only the competition model that comes factory tapped for a scope mount?

And about the after market do-hicky that is supposed to make field stipping very easy... what's the scoop on that... does it work good, is it durable, does it affect perfromance at all? Is it a worth while add-on?

Any issues/problems that are specific to this model that I should look for when I inspect it before purchase?

Anything else I need to know?

Thanks folks, I appreciate your help.

 

[Ledbetter]

The Gov. Model comes tapped for a scope, and has a steel grip frame. You should be able to see the scope mount holes on top filled with small threaded plugs.

It comes with scope mount and rings.

Make sure the crown and chamber face are undamaged. Take down is easy after you have done it a few times. Don't get the crutch unless you need it. The On Target trigger shield is well worth the money and will keep the inside of the grip frame clean.

 

[firestar]

Hello,
Good choice. There are plenty of after market parts and accessories for the Rugers. You can customize them by buying any type of drop in part you want.

If it is a "MK" then it has a steel frame, if it is a 22/45 then it has the plastic grip frame.

$275 is O.K. for a blued one but not a "go run and buy it price". The blued models sell for quite a bit less than the SS ones. I like SS myself. I have a SS 5.5" MKII and a blued 22/45 5.5", both are nice and both are accurate, I think the choice is more about which feels better to you. I like the MKII grips because of the angle and you can get any grip you want, the 22/45 you are stuck with the stock grip.

Field stripping is a pain if you don't have the manual but not a big deal if you read it step by step.

The 6 7/8" bull bbl is very heavy. I am thinking about haveing my 5.5" milled down on both sides to make it a little lighter.

The weak link to the Rugers are the triggers. They tend to be very gritty and are not adjustable. Volquartan (sp) makes a drop in trigger unit that makes it great. The Rugers have all the accuracy most people will ever need.

 

[mgjohn]

Rugers do not have alloy frames or aluminum frames, they are all steel. (Except for the plactic ones of course) I checked 3 of mine, (1 MK1 & 2 MK 2's) and three Mk2's in the show case and all were steel. Thought they were but double checked to be triple sure.

 

[Handy]

Second that, there is no such thing as an alloy Ruger .22 auto.

The metal frames are made of two steel stampings welded together. You'll notice the blued frames are a perfect match to the blued barrels.


On field stripping, my brother was 13 when we got out Mk2. He read the manual and never had a problem. I bet you could probably fair as well.

 

[firestar]

Thats right! I got confused with something else. I edited my post to avoid giving false info. Sorry guys.

What was I thinking?

 

[10-Ring]

My MkII has been a fantastic performer. I go in phases where I shoot my revo or my MkII, right now I'm in a MkII phase. I will bring it w/ me to the range evertime out and shoot 500 rounds through it every time. I have more than gotten my monies worth out of it.

 

[Veritas]

Thanks for all the replies!

I'm a little concerned about the weight/balance of the 6 7/8 bull barrel. I've shot the 5 1/2 and it was fine, but I haven't shot the longer version yet. I guess I'll find out tomorrow if it feels good or bad, or if it's something I think I'll be able to live with.

I'm glad to hear that it should come factory drilled for a scope, just a nice little option to have for possible future use.

I'm betting the trigger will be so much better than the combat pistols I'm used to that it will feel great. I'll just make it a point to not use any match grade pistols so I won't learn otherwise

ok, well truthfully I'll just try to avoid them untill I can afford them!

While I'd probably prefer the stainless, I think I can live with the blued version, it'll just get that great patina after a few years.

And if I get it I'll skip the take down do-hicky, but I'll get that target trigger shield, thanks for the tip Ledbetter.

 

[Ledbetter]

"On Target" is the manufacturer, as I recall. They are a sponsor at

www.rimfirecentral.com

 

[yzguy]

it is not that hard to field strip them, instructions here:
http://www.1bad69.com/ruger/index.htm

I got an ultra dot and the solow mounts for mine:


also check out:
http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/52578?it=0

I reccomend the trigger shield also...

 

[Veritas]

Settled on $250 and it was in great shape -- just a bit dirty inside

bty, the Gov. model is not drilled for a scope mount that I could see, oh well.

Really nice trigger, nearly zero creep, nice and crisp -- maybe 3 lbs or there abouts (just guessing). Shoots reeeeeaaaallllly nice

Front sight was a little loose, I'll just toss some locktite on it if the screw backs out again.

Thanks for all the input.

 

[Cal4D4]

Gotta do the Loctite (blue). My front sight would not stay tight without it.

 

[RON in PA]

The competition (slab side barrel) model comes with the scope mount and tapped receiver and is only available in SS.

 

[podwich]

Yeah, you'll need loctite on the front sight. Otherwise it'll loosen every time on you. I used blue.

 

[Veritas]

I was too damn successful!

Took the wife to the range today and I COMPLEALTY 'lost' my new MKII to her.

Oh well, it's all for the 'cause'

 

[cratz2]

They are really nice guns. I have a friend that has two, one is a heavy barrel blued model that's about 12 years old and an original MK I with the standard barrel. Both have tens of thousands of rounds through them.

Now that you've shot it, how do you like the longer barrel? I've shot mostly the 5.5" bull version.

I'd like to get one of the 22/45s. The grip angle is closer to what I'm used to even though I'm not crazy about the poly frame. If you're trigger is in the 3 lb range, you are very lucky. Most are no where near that. Of course, if you are used to heavy combat triggers, you very well may be onder estimating the pull. Either way, as long as you are happy with it.

 

[yankytrash]

Y'all with the 5-6" barrels - You ever hunt with'm? Reason I ask is because I was thinking of purchasing the 10" barrel model for squirrelin'.

I thought I could easily wrap my thumb around the 10" barrel and my fingers around a small tree, for a nice rested shot at those 60yd squirrels. Seems like it'd be a little trickier with the shorter barrel, or is it? I thought it would be a nice compromise from luggin a rifle around...

 

[Veritas]

Reply to Cratz2...
I actually like the grip angle, points real naturally, and is somewhat close to the 'normal' Glock angle -- so I'm used to it.

I wanted to avoid the polly framed 22/45, I'm in a phase where I'm partial to real steel. I haven't heard anything real bad about the 22/45 though... it seems with the MKIIs and the 22/45 it's just hard to go wrong unless you get a real lemon.

I really think the tigger on my new MKII is around 3lbs, it just felt so damn good I couldn't pass it up. While I'm used to combat triggers I've used various other Ruger 22s and S&W 22s, and I've used a few revolvers that had trigger jobs with a known trigger weight (so I have some point of refrence). So yes, I count myself lucky

Re: the long barrel, I wouldn't mind it being about 12 oz lighter (5.5") but it seems like it will work great. If/when I get into bullseye I'd probably look into something a little lighter I think -- that being said this Government Target model will probably outshoot me for a really REALLY long time, so I'm well taken care of.

I noticed that the longer barrel makes it sooo quiet. I thought it was noticably more quiet than the 5.5". I can't wait to try some downloaded or primer only cartridges and see if I will be able to use it for possum and squirl duty around my property w/o annoying/alarming the neighboors. Yankytrash -- at 6 7/8" the government target model is accurate as can be, that 10" model from a rested position would probably do the trick for you... providing you can see the dang little things at 60 yards.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Ruger 22s

The first handgun I ever shot was a Ruger RST-4, when I was about 13 years old. It was one of the most exciting things that I ever did, and it cemented my love for handguns to go along with the affection I had for long guns already. It shouldn't be surprising that my first ever handgun was a Ruger RST-6 purchased back in '79. Love that gun to this day. So much so, in fact, that I went out and bought a high frills version much later in life, the KMK-512. Both are ultra-reliable and a total blast for just playing at an outdoor range or rural property. Field stripping is a PITA, sure, but like any other gun, when you've done it as many times as I have, it seems just a tad more difficult than all the others. All in all, the Ruger .22 autos are guns that I highly recommend to anybody interested in a first handgun, or handgun veterans that want to instill more fun in their range time.

 

[twoblink]

I bought the 22/45 instead of the MKII series for one major reason; the magazine release is where it should be.

The "Euro style" mag release on the bottom of the magazine really confused my ex-gf, and so I got a 22/45 so all the controls are placed where they should be.

After a trigger job; the 22/45 is a tack driver. I don't "LOVE" it like I do my other guns, but I do like it.. and it is accurate, reliable, and Oleg says more accurate then his Browning Buckmark.