Ruger MKIV final verdict?

[Milkmaster]

SO now that the Ruger MKIV pistol has endured a couple of years since the debut, what is the final verdict? I am thinking of unloading my older MKII pistols in favor of the newer MKIV models. The MKIV assembly seems a sure improvement. I already know about the brief safety recall, but I understand that has been resolved. Are there any drawbacks to the new design that would make you still prefer the older MK II pistols?

 

[Sistema1927]

I really like my Mk IV 22/45 Lite.

Of course I also really like my Standard Model from 1958, but the new Mk IV is much easier to re-assemble.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

The MK IV is a good gun. I kinda like its milled frame vs. the stamped frame of the older models....With that said, I won't be selling my MK I and II guns to replace them.

 

[MikeInOr]

I am seriously considering selling my MKII and purchasing a MKIV.

 

[Water-Man]

^^BLASPHEMY^^

 

[bannockburn]

Even if I were buying a Mk.IV anytime soon, I would never sell my Mk.II. It's that good.

 

[tranders]

Good to hear about the MKIV. I also am a MKII owner and love it other than disassembly. I have become somewhat efficient with tear down over the years,but still can be aggravating. Learned that brake cleaner and an air compressor is your friend. Lol

 

[doubleh]

I have a MKIV and it's great. I didn't find true love for it with the crappy factory trigger that it comes with but a Volquartson kit remedied that problem. I guess I now love my Ruger/Volquartson hybred.

 

[bgw45]

+1 on the volguartson trigger.

 

[Deus Machina]

I'm wanting a MkIV now... but I don't have enough money for an extra toy, my MkIII is just about the perfect setup for me (22/45, 5.5" bull barrel), and I have to break it down seldom enough that the grumbling doesn't get in my way too much.
But if I came into a handful of cash to throw, I'd grab up a new 22/45, maybe with a longer barrel.

 

[Fiv3r]

I keep telling myself that a MkIV probably makes the most sense for a new gun. Cheap to feed, robust enough to last several lifetimes, much easier to clean.

I'm just not in love with shooting .22.

Still, I feel I kinda need a new .22 for the woods.

 

[Confederate]

Years ago I was in a gun store when a guy comes in with a paper bag.

Guess what's inside? Yep, a bag full of Ruger Mark II parts! The guy, bless his little pea-pickin' heart, had decided to take the gun apart before shooting it! He hadn't had the foresight to shoot the gun in before taking it apart. The owner of the gun shop was a friend of mine and the place was hopping. He didn't have time to mess with the guy so I told him I'd see what I could do. So I went to a little corner of the shop, sat down and tried getting the gun back together. It just wouldn't go. I did everything I could with the guy watching me, then I asked him to leave and come back in a half hour. (I didn't want him to see what I was going to do to his new purchase!) He left and I got my friend's tool chest. With the guy gone, I didn't have to worry about being gentle. As my dear grizzled little pappy used to always tell me, if it doesn't go...force it! And that's just what I did. I took a rag, put it over the hammer and what I did to that gun should never be witnessed by anyone calling himself a gun owner. And when he came back he had a fully functional, none-the-worse-for-wear Ruger Mark II.

Yes, I had beads of sweat across my brow and the look of a blacksmith who had beaten eight horseshoes out of a single piece of steel, but it was done, and I never forgot it. Now, me being able to take those things apart and put them back for a routine cleaning is a badge of honor. I have no problem taking them apart and cleaning them. I wouldn't deprive myself of the sheer pleasure of doing it. Yes, I know the new ones come apart much easier now, but so what? Let those weenies who shoot plastic pistols enjoy them -- the last remnant of steel automatic handguns. Take away the minor challenge and where's the thrill of doing it? I took the time to learn to take my Mark IIs apart for cleaning and by george, that's one of the things I love about cleaning them!


Why do people still shoot cowboy pistols? Not for ease of loading and unloading, speed of shooting
or convenience. It's because shooting them is fun. Same thing's true for cleaning your Ruger autos.

Remember Jeff Cooper? He wrote numerous articles saying that one should not take apart their .22LRs when they cleaned them. He said .22LR ammo had stuff in them that preserved guns. His advice? Clean the powder debris out of your rifles and autos with a toothbrush and break them down maybe once a year for a thorough cleaning! He said people put more wear and tear on their .22LR guns by cleaning them than anything else. I read those articles very carefully and studiously considered them. Then I did what I normally did with his articles. I laughed and cleaned my guns after every shooting! Not cleaning my guns is like not brushing my teeth. Ain't gonna happen.

I wouldn't worry about getting new guns if you've got the old. I predict you'll miss your old guns if you do. It's just the way the human mind works. After a spell you'll just be sorry you sold your old guns, even if they didn't have keys! And what will come next, seat warmers on your toilet? Heaven forbid!

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Ruger MK pistols are really simple to field strip and reassemble. Totally stripping the frame and bolt isnt a big deal, either....I need to start charging for lessons.

 

[.455_Hunter]

I would never take the MKIV over a good MKII.

 

[cp1969]

I just took apart a 22/45 last night. Don't know what 'Mark' it was; it didn't have any marking to tell.

I couldn't remember either the disassembly or reassembly sequence so I had to consult the manual. Following the directions, it was a piece of cake.

Despite having done this before, I never would have been able to figure out the sequence on my own.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

The correct angle of the dangle of the hammer strut is the secret to putting the mainspring back in.

 

[AlexanderA]

I have the whole series -- the Mark I, II, III, and IV. (All of which I bought new.) In general, each of the new Marks has been an improvement over the previous one. But they have also required more and more modifications by the owner to make them run right.

The big culprit in the Mark III and IV is the magazine disconnector (and the Mark IV is worse than the Mark III in this regard). I simply replaced those parts with Volquartsen sears and Mark II hammers.

It's interesting that my Mark I had a decent trigger pull right out of the box. All the others had a too-heavy trigger pull (unacceptable for a .22 target pistol). Removing the magazine disconnectors (and installing Volquartsen sears and adjustable Clark triggers) got rid of that.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

To remove the MK III mag disconnect, I just put in a MK II hammer bushing. No need to replace the hammer....10 bucks and 5 minutes...Done....I believe the bushing swap works for the IV as well...About all I have done to a IV is put a VQ kit in for someone.

As far as the earlier guns go, I agree the VQ sears are the bang for the buck for a good trigger pull. I do not replace the trigger. I drill the stock trigger and out put in pre and post travel adjustment screws.

With a little work, you can get a fantastic trigger pull.

 

[doubleh]

I'm pretty sure every Ruger MK pistol every made came with an owners manual. My Mk III and MK IV certainly did. The III Isn't difficult at all if you just follow the instructions in the manual. The IV is about as simple as a rock---- except when installing that super slick Volquartson sear. I'll bet I dropped that thing 20 times or more before I managed to get it where it belonged even using tweezers..

 

[AlexanderA]

I believe the bushing swap works for the IV as well.

You would have to put a spacer on both sides, since a Mark IV hammer is cut on both sides for the wrap-around mag disconnect. The Tandemkross "Blast Shield" does the same thing. But I'm a perfectionist. The Mark II hammer has no cutouts at all.

I do not replace the trigger. I drill the stock trigger and out put in pre and post travel adjustment screws.

The stock trigger has a lot of slop. Also, the stock trigger has a nub on the back, which engages a hole in the magazine, and slightly lifts the magazine as the trigger is pulled. (No idea why Ruger included this feature.) The Clark trigger lacks this nub, and is a perfect fit on the trigger pivot pin; I actually had to chamfer the hole a tiny bit to get it to fit.

To install a Clark trigger on a Mark IV, the front corners of the trigger opening (in the frame) have to be squared off with a needle file. That's because the frame is machined instead of stamped and welded as in the previous Marks, and the machining leaves those corners rounded.

I agree that the trigger itself is not the key in lightening the trigger pull. The key is a better sear, and getting rid of the magazine disconnector.

 

[doubleh]

True.You can get a light trigger with the sear replacement and still have all the slop built into the factory trigger. The Volquartson trigger is worth the money to get rid of this, especially when you purchase the whole works as a kit. Some people prefer the Tandemkross trigger and it probably does as good as the Volquartson. I just don't care for straight triggers.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Is this "slop" pre and post travel?

 

[AlexanderA]

I just don't care for straight triggers.

This is why I like the Clark trigger. Outwardly it looks like the stock trigger, but is machined to much tighter tolerances. Plus, it lacks that Ruger "nub" on the back. Raising the magazine by even a slight amount while pulling the trigger has to add to the trigger effort and, hence, weight.

Is this "slop" pre and post travel?

In all directions. The Ruger trigger is simply loose (relatively speaking) on its pivot pin. The Clark trigger does have an overtravel adjustment.

 

[doubleh]

Is this "slop" pre and post travel?

Yes, and and side to side. I don't understand how Ruger could make such an excellent and very accurate pistol as this and equip it with the trigger that it comes with. I also have a MK III 22/45 lite and it's trigger was every bit as bad as the MK IV's is. Volquartson came to the rescue on it too.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I put my own set screws in the factory trigger for adjustments. I have a bag full already drilled amd tapped. I never paid much attention to the side to side movement.