I'm thinking of adding a Ruger MK IV to the collection

[bigpower491]

Don't have a 22 autoloader, and have been kicking the idea around lately.
I like the looks of the MK IV Target, either blue or stainless. Never owned or shot one before.
Of course, haven't even picked up my last purchase and already I'm in the market for another. But when all is said and done, ill have the 22 rimfire part of my collection pretty set.
Thoughts, good/bad?

 

[armedwalleye]

I have a number of Mk 4 pistols in different lengths, finishes, sight options, some threaded, some not, and love them all. Great guns, accurate, decent triggers out of the box that get better with use.

my only suggestion is to hold snd handle the one you want; the stainless is all steel and the blued version has an aluminum lower which will change the balance point on the larger barreled versions.

 

[AlexanderA]

The Ruger Mark IV is a good starting point. If you get serious with it, you're probably going to modify it. There's a whole aftermarket industry catering to customizers of the Ruger.

For example, the first thing I did with mine was to get rid of the magazine disconnector, and substitute Mark II internals.

 

[3Crows]

I have several Mark pistols. I prefer the original grip style despite the fact I am a 1911 sort of guy. The 5.5 inch bull barrel target is a great pistol and so is the short barrel standard (if you can find one).

3C

 

[doubleh]

That is a very nice gun, especially with the Volquartson trigger kit, and decent grips. I found the slick frame and cheesy grips it comes with difficult to hang on to. The trigger kit fixes the less than stellar trigger and Hogue rubber grips fixed the holding on problem quite nicely for me. Not pretty but very effective. It is also a very accurate gun.

 

[The Glockodile]

Started off with the Competition (40112).

Favorite thus far.



Here it is getting some pew pew pew time.

Then added the Bull - barreled Target, with the threaded barrel (40126).

Also nice.

Swapped all their grips out with wooden "out of spec Ruger rejects" I got from eBay years back, couldn't be happier.

Love the Mark IVs.

 

[bigpower491]

Boy it's sure looking like I should get ready to break that wallet out

 

[LaneP]

Can't go wrong with a Ruger Mk series .22 auto. I have two Mk III's and they have been bullet proof and exceptionally reliable. My Mk III Target has seen many, many thousand rounds and still functions like it was new. Doubt I could afford enough ammo to wear it out.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I love my Rugers. I have MK3 and 4 and a 22/45. Neighbors buddy is thinking about selling a MK2 stainless with the 7 inch barrel. I have 1st dibs at it. Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[bigpower491]

Well I found one at a shop in the state here. The stainless model. Reckon I'm have to ride up there Saturday and check it out. I figured it be a pretty reliable little piece, and it should pair with the stainless 10/22 I got on the way nicely.
Thanks for the insight all

 

[bigpower491]

One last question

Ammunition. Plated or non plated?

Got quite a few thunderbolts and a bunch of Aguila Super Extra plated.
Do these pistols have a preference to that in all of yours experience?

 

[Average Joe]

Best shooting .22 pistol I own, lots of fun shooting it, and it's darn accurate too !

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I run plated mostly.

 

[Buzznrose]

One last question

Ammunition. Plated or non plated?

Got quite a few thunderbolts and a bunch of Aguila Super Extra plated.
Do these pistols have a preference to that in all of yours experience?

Either will work fine.

 

[bigpower491]

I run plated mostly.

Either will work fine.

Perfect, thanks guys

 

[Buzznrose]

Mine shoots pretty much anything pretty well. I mostly shoot plated as well but shoot lead too.

 

[The Glockodile]

CCI Standard Velocity through mine, with the paraffin dollops...

But anything would do.

 

[bannockburn]

bigpower491

My Mark II runs best with Wolf Match Target, CCI MiniMags, and CCI Standard Velocity. All three are extremely reliable in all of my .22s and deliver great accuracy too. After trying all of the other barrel lengths I pretty much have settled down with the Model 512 with it's 5 1/2 bull barrel as my favorite in terms of the way it feels and balances.

 

[BreechFace]

Love mine, being able to buy several different length barrels, to setup differently with one lower is a very nice option.

If one watches Volquartsen's website they often have takeoff barrels for $40.

 

[doubleh]

One last question

Ammunition. Plated or non plated?

Got quite a few thunderbolts and a bunch of Aguila Super Extra plated.
Do these pistols have a preference to that in all of yours experience?

Mine shoots whatever I load it with, lubed, plated, HV, or SV. It gets it's best accuracy with SV.

 

[Don_P]

The Volquartsen trigger kit will be a "must do"..... you'll see. Factory triggers are usually long and gritty. They work but the Volquartsen makes it exceptional. Save those Thunderbolts for when you have a lot of free time and extra cleaning materials and nothing better to do. Very dirty ammo. The gun will run on just about any ammo but if bragging accuracy is what you're after you can find the ammo to get you there here..
https://www.killoughshootingsports.com/

 

[SwampWolf]

For example, the first thing I did with mine was to get rid of the magazine disconnector, and substitute Mark II internals.

It shouldn't be hard to find a Mark II. I like all Ruger .22 auto pistols but I think the best of the lot is the Mark II variant, especially the Government model if serious target shooting is on the agenda.

 

[Steve51]

I have the stainless target model with bull barrel. It is the only semi-auto .22 that I own. It is fun to shoot and a great shooter.

 

[AlexanderA]

That is a very nice gun, especially with the Volquartson trigger kit

The heart of the Volquartsen trigger kit is the sear. They sell that separately. The Volquartsen hammer (part of the kit) is skeletonized. This supposedly reduces lock time, but it also reduces the strike force. I don't like it. The Volquartsen trigger itself (also part of the kit) has an odd curvature, and is not grooved. Again, I don't like it.

I used a Volquartsen sear, a standard Mark II hammer, and a Clark trigger.

The Clark trigger is no longer offered by Clark, but can be found on places like ebay. Stock up on them whenever you see them, even if you don't have a candidate gun at the moment.

The Clark trigger, being milled steel with tight tolerances, has squared-off front corners (where they bear against the pistol frame). This creates a small problem in the case of a Mark IV blued gun (with the aluminum frame). The trigger opening is rounded at the front, interfering with the front corners of the Clark trigger. The simple solution is to square off the trigger opening using a needle file. This is 5 minutes' work.

The stock undercut front sight is fine for target work, but is a "holster ripper" for anything else. I've found that the ramp sight for a Ruger Single Six revolver works well as a substitute. (Correct height, width, attachment method, etc.) If you're a perfectionist, you can match the bottom of the sight to the barrel profile of the bull barrel Mark by lightly grinding with a Dremel stone of the proper diameter.

Here is a picture of my Mark IV Target model, with the Clark trigger and Single Six front sight installed. Below it, from left to right, are the stock trigger, a Clark trigger, the stock front sight, and a Single Six ramp sight. The bottom of the Single Six sight shows how it is ground to fit the bull barrel profile.

 

[doubleh]

I am glad that you have your gun like you want it. I have mine like I want it. Individual likes should determine how you set up your firearm.