Mark III cleaning question

[dog gone it]

Im thinking of buying a Ruger Mark III 22/45 Bull Barrel 5.5".
If I put a scope on it then do I have to remove the scope each time I clean it ?

 

[Fishbed77]

You would not need to remove any optic to field strip the Mark III for cleaning.

The Mark III comes with a Weaver rail to mount optics, and it mounts directly to the top of the frame/receiver.


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[dog gone it]

Thats great to know. Im not sure why but I was just so sure of myself in thinking that I read it somewhere that the scope/optics had to be removed on the Mark III to be cleaned.
Thanks Fishbed77

 

[GarySTL]

Well, if your using an ultrasonic cleaner, yeah. I did find that some cleaning solvents discolored the plastic cover for my Fast Fire 2.

 

[maxxhavoc]

If it's like the Mark II, you will find reasons not to strip it for cleaning. If it is, read directions carefully, and do not force anything on reassembly. It takes a secret handshake or 2 to get her back together.

Just in case nobody tells you that later. It comes apart easy, but reassembly can be a pain if you don't have a reference guide. First time I did it (pre-Internet days) it took me 2 hours to get the thing back together. Even then I had no idea how I did it. (I wasn't tilting it in the right direction on a step.)

 

[dog gone it]

This all sounds like some great advice. I will keep all this in mind.
Thanks for the help.

 

[Fishbed77]

If it's like the Mark II, you will find reasons not to strip it for cleaning. If it is, read directions carefully, and do not force anything on reassembly. It takes a secret handshake or 2 to get her back together.

Internet nonsense.

There in nothing particularly difficult about field stripping a Mark II or III. The method is just different from pretty much any other pistol. Fortunately, Ruger provides a very good instruction manual. Use it the first few times and you'll be fine.

I field strip and clean my Mark III pretty much every time I shoot it, and can dissasemble and reassemble it faster than a 1911. I will say that removing the unnecessary magazine disconnect makes the whole process even faster.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

What Fishbed said....They really are simple guns.

 

[maxxhavoc]

OK, I will say that once you get used to it, it can be done quickly. I wouldn't put my whole post down as "Internet nonsense." It is not an intuitive process.

I will repeat that if you do not follow directions the first time, it will be a pain. You have to hold the gun in specific orientations at specific times, and trigger position is important.

 

[Pilot]

I have several MK II's. After about 1000 rounds or so, I do a full field strip, and cleaning. It takes about 15 minutes if I take my time.

 

[Fiv3r]

Keep in mind that one thing a lot of mkiii videos/disassembly guides leave out is that the mkiii is super TIGHT when fitting the barrel to the frame. My frustration putting mine back together was that i didn't have the barrel pushed all the way to the rear...which required several good smacks with a dead blow hammer. The rest was pretty easy if you follow directions.

 

[Fishbed77]

I wouldn't put my whole post down as "Internet nonsense."

Sorry, but I would when it gets parroted over and over. I agree that it's not intuitive, but that's why Ruger includes a good manual. No secret handshake is needed.

 

[GLOOB]

I'll just add that the Mark III will never lose its zero from taking down for cleaning, either. The entire receiver and barrel are machined from one solid chunk of steel. The only play would be where the scope mount is screwed to the barrel.

When you break the gun down, you're basically removing the trigger mechanism and handle from the gun.

 

[Iron Sight]

I wrap my tube style red dot sights with rubber band secured Saran Wrap when cleaning.

 

[Theohazard]

I wouldn't put my whole post down as "Internet nonsense." It is not an intuitive process.

I agree. Sure, once you practice it a bit and memorize the steps, it's fairly easy. But it's difficult for many people at first.

At the LGS/range where I used to work, customers came in all the time with their disassembled Mk IIIs needing help to put them back together. One day we even had three different people come in needing help to reassemble their Mk IIIs.

One time our owner went over to the range and asked the range employees if they knew how to disassemble and reassemble the range's Mk IIIs. When they told him "no", he told them they were stupid and decided to show them how to do it. He got it apart OK, but after ten minutes he still couldn't put it back together. He finally stalked away in disgust with the pieces still on the counter.

Internet nonsense.

There in nothing particularly difficult about field stripping a Mark II or III. The method is just different from pretty much any other pistol.

It's definitely not "Internet nonsense" that many people find the Mk III difficult to take apart and reassemble. Most modern handguns can easily be field stripped without any proir knowledge about that specific gun. But if you haven't memorized the specific steps to disassemble and reassemble a Mk III, it can be difficult. I finally learned how to do it by pulling up a YouTube video and grabbing one of our range guns and taking it apart and putting it back together several times. Now I find it pretty easy. But I still remember that it gave me trouble at first.

Don't get me wrong; I think the Mk III is the best semi-auto .22 on the market, and nobody should avoid it because they think it might be difficult to disassemble and reassemble; all it takes it a little practice and from then on it's pretty easy.

 

[Fishbed77]

But if you haven't memorized the specific steps to disassemble and reassemble a Mk III, it can be difficult.

As mentioned - no meed to memorize the steps. Keep that manual handy and it will become second nature.