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Old 10-04-2021, 09:21 AM
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Default The Ruger Mark II Government Target Model

This is an advance draft of a future article. As always, comments welcome.

John



The Ruger Mark II Government Target Model

Back when I was in the Army in the early 1960s I shot on a pistol team. The .22 target pistol that I used from our arms room was a Ruger Mark I with a 6 7/8” tapered heavy barrel. It certainly was no match for privately-owned S&W 41s or the svelte and envied line of High Standard slant-grip “space guns” that were then prolific on the firing lines. As a junior officer, I was in no position to afford the higher-grade guns, so I made do with the issue Ruger, which was marked “U.S.” on the side. Today those military-marked Ruger Mark Is have become collector’s items with impressive price tags! I now own an identical civilian version of that same Mark I primarily for nostalgic reasons; but certainly not because it’s a world beater for accuracy.

In the early 1980s, the U.S. armed forces made it known that they wanted a new .22 target pistol that would be extremely accurate for high-level service bullseye target competition. Ruger responded and won the contract from the Army’s Rock Island Arsenal in 1983. The gun they came up with could place 10 consecutive shots into a circle measuring one and 1/4 inches or less at 25 yards from a machine rest, which was the military requirement for a new target pistol. This of course was using pistol match ammunition. Ruger shipped over 18,000 of these pistols to the U.S Army.

This new pistol was based on the Ruger Mark II design, which I still consider to be the best Ruger .22 pistol platform, even though Mark III and Mark IV pistols were later introduced. The Mark IIs have everything you need and nothing you don’t (such as loaded chamber indicators, magazine safeties, and non-traditional takedown procedures). The main improvements on the Mark II pistols over previous guns was that they incorporated a bolt hold-open device which was automatic following the last shot in the magazine, and a bolt-release lever. They were quite reliable, well made and remain very desirable on the used-gun market today.

Like some of the existing Mark II target guns, the new guns had bull barrels, but instead of the previous 5 ½” barrel length, featured a 6 7/8” barrel, giving a longer sighting radius, a heavier and therefore steadier gun, and increased velocity for longer distances. The chambers were held to precision dimensions tighter than standard models, but not so tight as to interfere with reliable semiautomatic chambering. The chamber was roller swaged around a mandrel rather than being reamed so as to insure consistent burnished interior dimensions. It was then heat treated to the proper hardness level. Comparison tests using the same match ammo and a Ransom rest have proved that the burnished chamber does provide a noticeable accuracy edge over the standard Ruger match pistol chambering.

The rifling, with a one in 15” twist, was specifically selected to pair with the characteristics of match ammunition. Ruger developed and used a patented laser sighting system to initially align the sights with the bore. Each gun was then function tested and a 10-shot test group was fired at 25 yards with CCI Green Tag match ammo from a machine rest. The target used was then examined to insure that the group size met the government requirement of 1 ¼” inches or less. It should be noted that more often than not, the size of the group was even smaller than the requirement. Some guns were reported to generate groups that went into less than one inch in one ragged hole. Each target was then signed by the Ruger employee who fired the group, and the target was then saved to be shipped with the gun. Each gun that passed these tests and sent to the military was stamped “U.S.” over the serial number on the right side of the upper receiver. All were blued. The serial number block assigned to the military guns was 210-00001 to 210-18500. They were officially chosen as the standard .22 target pistols for our armed services, retiring the earlier guns from Ruger and other manufacturers. Very few of these have been acquired by civilian collectors, and of course the military marking demands a premium on the market today.

In order to continue using the expensive specialized equipment, jigs and fixtures for the military guns, in January of 1987 Ruger began shipping guns to the civilian market. None were shipped until the military contract had been fulfilled. The civilian guns were identical to the military models in all respects. They were processed on the same production equipment, had the same match chambers and rifling and met the same accuracy requirements. The same laser sighting equipment was used. The only difference was the elimination of the “U.S.” stamp and roll marking “GOVERNMENT TARGET MODEL” behind the ejection port on the right side of the upper receiver. These were also shipped with their individual test targets and facsimiles of the government technical manual. The factory model designation for these guns was MK678G. The “G” of course stood for “Government.” Most were blued, but some were produced in stainless steel in later production. The stainless guns had the model number KMK678G. They were offered until the Mark II models ceased to be manufactured in 2004. The serial numbers initially used the military 210- prefix, but as production continued that prefix was discontinued at about 210-50000 and other random blocks of numbers were used beginning at about 215-10XXX.

The Ruger records department confirms that approximately 200 Mark III Government Targets were produced in stainless steel around 2011. The receivers on these were drilled and tapped for a scope mounting base which was provided with each gun. It’s conjectured that these used left-over barrels from the last Mark II stainless production. Each was marked "GOVERNMENT TARGET MODEL" identically to the Mark II pistols. Serial numbers have been reported as being between 227-04601 and 227-06937. The Mark III guns are pretty rare, as they were never cataloged and no more were ever produced.

There was another gun, model number MK678GC, which was stamped “COMPETITION TARGET MODEL” behind the ejection port. The “GC” portion of the model number stands for “Government Competition.” The 6 7/8” semi-bull barrel had been slab-sided to save weight, and these are most often seen in stainless steel. There have been some 5 ½”- barreled slab-sides with the model number MK512GCL. The “L” indicates they were sold by Lipseys, the exclusive distributor. These have the same model marking on the side of the upper receiver.

My personal Government Target Model is in the photograph above, and it is a far cry from the Mark I pistol I fired in competition years ago. It was shipped from the factory in March, 1987 shortly after civilian shipments began. I purchased it new in its factory yellow and black box in May, 2006. The test target and all the papers were intact. It carries the serial number 210-216XX (last two digits not shown). As indicated in the photo, not having any match ammo, I shot it with Remington Golden Bullets (high speed hollow point ammunition) which was most assuredly not the best for accuracy. It was not fired from a machine rest, either. In spite of this, the 10-shot group measured exactly 2”, which for me was a miracle – the best as I’ve ever shot at 25 yards off hand. There is no doubt that this gun is very accurate.

My only complaint is that the gun does not have a readily available adjustment for trigger overtravel. I addressed this by installing a trigger shoe, placed so that its edge abuts the frame just after letoff. Now the trigger pull is both crisp and short, as good as it gets.

Alas, these incredibly accurate target pistols are no longer made. They are also somewhat hard to find on the used gun market, as their owners typically know what a treasure they have and are understandably not very willing to part with them. They are precision instruments in every respect. If you are fortunate enough to have one, don’t let it go. If you find one for sale, expect a premium price. I currently see asking prices for nice condition stand-alone specimens running from roughly $600 to $800. If they are found new in the box with the test target and original papers, expect to pay more. If you are an active bullseye competitor, they certainly remain as some of the finest .22 target guns you could have.

(c) 2021 JLM
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Last edited by PALADIN85020; 10-06-2021 at 09:32 AM.
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Old 10-04-2021, 09:43 AM
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Interesting article, enjoyed it. My only comment is it seemed to short. 😎

The Ruger Mark II series of pistols probably doesn’t get the credit it’s due. Well made and affordable. Each model seems to be capable of surprising accuracy with ammo it likes. One of the great firearm designs of it’s time.
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Old 10-04-2021, 09:50 AM
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In addition to these I have a 41. In my hands there is no difference in the accuracy of the two. A top shooter probably could but not me.
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Old 10-04-2021, 10:00 AM
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Years ago I had a KMK-678G, the stainless version of the Mark II Gov't Target model, and I sold it. 'Always regretted letting that one go, it was an amazing shooter. 'Haven't sold another gun since.
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Old 10-04-2021, 10:48 AM
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You are a pretty fair wordsmith. Nice piece of work.
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Old 10-04-2021, 11:24 AM
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I traded for or bought outright (can't remember which) a very slightly used Gov't. Model in 1989. I still have this pistol along with a MKI 5 1/2" bull barrel gun I bought new in 1976. I shoot both these guns regularly, almost always with CCI-SV.

I've never done a side-by-side benchrest comparison, but shooting Bullseye style, one-handed at 25 yards, I can see no difference in accuracy between the two pistols. Each gun shoots every well, but the Gov't. Model is a bit muzzle heavy. Fatigue sets in more quickly with this one than the Mark I gun. That's a small criticism for a fine shooting pistol. Opinions will vary on this and all shooters are different.

Based solely on personal experience, I've never been able to accept the alleged "longer sight radius" advantage that's often preached and repeated. However, I'm not an expert shooter and there may really be something to this, particularly at longer ranges which few of us shoot with handguns.
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Old 10-04-2021, 12:47 PM
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Very interesting. I have accumulated a couple Woodsmans, Hi Standards, and a S&W K22 over the last 10 years and they are all very accurate 22's. I have never even heard of this Ruger model. Now I have added something to my wishlist...
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Old 10-04-2021, 12:52 PM
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The Mark II is the best of the Ruger. 22 pistols IMHO. Great article. thank you for sharing.
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Old 10-04-2021, 01:28 PM
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What a nice article on the Ruger .22 Mark II.
Did you letter your pistol to nail down the shipping date? I have a 210 series Government Target as well that I bought used back in the 90's. Ruger doesn't have the 210 series pistols listed in their Mark II serial number search. For some reason I always thought it was built in 1985.
Again, great article!
Ken
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Old 10-04-2021, 01:41 PM
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Back in 1990, I was torn between the Govt. Target Model and the shorter 5 1/2" bull barrel. I went with the shorter length. I love the gun, shoot it well, but I do like long barrels. I often wonder...
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Old 10-04-2021, 03:00 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SS336 View Post
Interesting article, enjoyed it. My only comment is it seemed to short. 😎
I was still researching some data to add. More info has been added, and I hope the length will be more to your liking!

John
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Old 10-04-2021, 04:05 PM
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Very well written article John, I always appreciate your gun writeups.

I agree that the MKII's in general are the best of the Ruger MK series. I had the opportunity a while back to purchase a very nice Mark II Government Target Model at an estate sale. Along side of it was a MKII Target with 5 1/2 inch bull barrel. At the time I didn't realize the significance of the Government Target Model, instead, I was trying to determine if I preferred the 5 1/2 inch barreled MKII or the 6 7/8 inch barreled MKII. After hefting the two side by side I decided on the shorter barrel, and won it at bid and didn't even bid on the Government Target Model. I was later disappointed in myself once I determined what I let get through my fingers, although I have been very pleased with the 5 1/2 inch Target model.


The Ruger Mark II Government Target Model-ruger-mkii-bull-6-jpg
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Old 10-04-2021, 05:45 PM
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Someone, I think Clark made an after factory trigger for it. I installed one in a Mk I about 1984 or so.
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Old 10-04-2021, 07:16 PM
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bravo... I too love the MKII... my late father had a MKI when it was just called the Ruger.. 1949/50 build... I am the custodian of that now.. bought my siblings 50th anniversary models to let them remember dad with... but both myself and both of my brothers have a slab sided stainless MKII mentioned in the article... thanks for confirming our good choice.. lol
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Old 10-05-2021, 07:01 AM
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I have a MkII Gov't Target model, it was the first 22LR handgun that I bought. Only real issue I've had is trigger over-travel. I solved that issue by folding a strip of thin sheet metal until I had a small cube that was just the right size to allow the sear to fully release, yet eliminated the over-travel. Used a bit of epoxy to attach it to the receiver, then painted it black. Cheap and effective.
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Old 10-05-2021, 08:35 AM
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Default short hammer pin

I love the iconic Rugers. I currently own both MKII and MKIII, and have owned several MKIs in the past; all are "garbage eaters" with gazillion of rounds fired. Have any of you noticed that the Hammer pivot pin is a bit ( 1/32 ") short of fitting flush with the right side of the frame. Both my current models, as well as several previous are like this. I have installed new pins with the same results. Anyone else notice this ?? Must be an intentional design, but I can't make sense of it. Can someone explain this ??
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Old 10-05-2021, 08:40 AM
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Here's mine: From what I understand, it was made in 1990.




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Old 10-06-2021, 06:49 PM
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Your usual good job John. You made me get mine out of the safe to check it. It is a stainless MKII Target. It appears to have a 4 inch barrel, is that possible.

It is very accurate and I always enjoy shooting it.
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Old 10-06-2021, 09:45 PM
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I have the 6 7/8 target model slab side 22/45 MKII blue. Don’t have a 41 however it is the most accurate 22 pistol I’ve ever owned. It really likes federal champion 510 loads. My grandson will end up with it at some point.
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Old 10-07-2021, 09:48 AM
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Your usual good job John. You made me get mine out of the safe to check it. It is a stainless MKII Target. It appears to have a 4 inch barrel, is that possible.
That would not be one of the Government Target guns; those are specifically marked as such. There are many variations of Ruger adjustable sight target pistols from the Mark I to the Mark IV. Only guns marked GOVERNMENT TARGET MODEL on the right side of the upper receiver have the extra touches of the Mark II military contract guns.

I have a number of bull barrel target guns with 5 1/2" barrels; I'm not aware of any with 4" barrels. If you could post a picture of your gun, that might help. Barrel lengths are measured from the muzzle to the face of the bolt; not from the muzzle to the receiver.

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Old 10-07-2021, 10:29 AM
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I knew it wasn't a Government Model, just somewhat similar. You are probably right about the barrel length.
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Old 10-07-2021, 10:54 AM
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Interesting, I didn't realize there was anything special about the Government Target Model. I have one I bought years ago, I thought it was a tad front heavy, but the price was right. It is very accurate and reliable with just about any ammo, but I kind of expect that from a Mark II.

I'm happy to learn it has added value:



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Old 10-07-2021, 12:12 PM
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Very well written. I may be wrong but I believe the bull barrel also appeared on the somewhat rare 10" Mark II. I do not know if any of those were Goverment Target Model's though.
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Old 10-08-2021, 01:18 AM
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Someone, I think Clark made an after factory trigger for it. I installed one in a Mk I about 1984 or so.
Both Clark and Volquartsen have made triggers for these. I found an original version of the VQ trigger for my Government model. I wanted the vintage look. The best combo also includes a Clark oversized hammer pin and bushing. I own 7? Ruger Mark or 22/45 pistols, and a few extra uppers. The longer barrel is also to counter muzzle rise. The 6 7/8 Competition slab side or 6 7/8 stainless fluted Hunter model are the pinnacle I believe. They just need the earlier roller burnished chamber.

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Old 10-08-2021, 01:21 AM
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Interesting, I didn't realize there was anything special about the Government Target Model. I have one I bought years ago, I thought it was a tad front heavy, but the price was right. It is very accurate and reliable with just about any ammo, but I kind of expect that from a Mark II.

I'm happy to learn it has added value:



I have never seen that style of finger groove grips before.
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Old 10-08-2021, 10:12 PM
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The Ruger Mark II's have long been one of my favorite handguns . While I don't own the subject of this article the Government Target Model I do own a Competition Target Model and the KMK 678 two of my favorites.
A very well written , interesting and informative article . Good job .
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Old 10-09-2021, 04:36 AM
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I have never seen that style of finger groove grips before.
They were sold by Charles Daly years ago and they are for the Standard/MK I model. I adapted them for the MK II by milling out the slot and recess for the slide stop with a dremel and hand tools.

You used to find all sorts of Charles Daly grips at gun shows, but I haven’t seen any in a long time. I think I have a few more sets for revolvers. If I remember correctly, they were made in the Philippines and sold in the 60s or 70s.
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Old 03-22-2024, 04:33 PM
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This is a 2+ year old thread but I just wanted to point out that this information is still excellent and helpful. It is also the most informative single source of info on the Govt model that I currently Googled' up.
Along with SW revolvers, I once collected Ruger MK series pistols and had "more than a few". Of all those I sold off, the MK II Government model was one that was routinely missed. Not only was it a very accurate pistol but it had beautiful and classic lines. ( The MK II in general being the best of all MK series pistols IMHO anyway.)
Well, I just stumbled onto a clean one at a fair price in a LGS this week. (98%, blued, 2 mags, no box, SN 210-278xx) Nice government models are a pretty rare find these days so it is coming home with me to fill that void. Thanks to @Paladin85020 for taking the time to put this together.
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  #29  
Old 03-25-2024, 11:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Wee Hooker View Post
This is a 2+ year old thread but I just wanted to point out that this information is still excellent and helpful. It is also the most informative single source of info on the Govt model that I currently Googled' up.
Along with SW revolvers, I once collected Ruger MK series pistols and had "more than a few". Of all those I sold off, the MK II Government model was one that was routinely missed. Not only was it a very accurate pistol but it had beautiful and classic lines. ( The MK II in general being the best of all MK series pistols IMHO anyway.)
Well, I just stumbled onto a clean one at a fair price in a LGS this week. (98%, blued, 2 mags, no box, SN 210-278xx) Nice government models are a pretty rare find these days so it is coming home with me to fill that void. Thanks to @Paladin85020 for taking the time to put this together.
Congrats on finding another Government Model to replace the one you've sold. I've been on the lookout for one for years, but not willing to pay the GB level prices...so the Target MK IIs I now have (a blue, and a stainless 10"...and a 4" blue) will suffice. BTW, only petty person would complain about how old an informative thread is.
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Old 03-25-2024, 01:13 PM
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Relevant information Never gets Old if it can help even one person, then it's served it's purpose. We're all here on a forum we find of common interest whether S&W or other. This is the bond we share in this brotherhood, the sharing of information, knowledge and experiences...
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Old 03-25-2024, 01:21 PM
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Apologies to the M41 crowd, but I see no real need to own a full-size .22 autoloader other than the MKII platform. However, my enthusiasm is zero for the MKI, III and IV variants.
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Old 03-25-2024, 03:02 PM
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A good friend of mine bought one when they came out, as we were participating in NRA Bullseye Pistol matches in our Club. As it says on the attached article, it was marked "US" and it came with a target that had been shot with the pistol. He sold it for $500 about 10-15 years ago after shooting many thousands of rounds through it, in the original box with all the papers, including the test target. To this day, he regrets selling it.
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Old 03-25-2024, 03:44 PM
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Just curious, but what is the appeal of the MkII over the I, III, and IV? I have a Stainless MkII Govt. model with a 225-84xxx s/n range that I bought back in about 2002. My kids all learned to shoot with it, and it’s still a regular on range trips. My kids all still love to shoot it, though I only see them a few times a year, being spread out over a few states. We must have put over 10K rounds through it at this point, and it’s only had a few hiccups. Mainly FTE’s which I think was due to poor ammo.
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Old 03-25-2024, 04:05 PM
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Please don't forget to add a reference to "The Ruger Letter", where Bill Ruger betrayed his customers:

After a spate of high profile shootings and incidences with the Ruger Mini 14 rifle, along with a number of unsavory associations the Mini 14 had gained with militias and extremist movements during the late 1970s and early 1980s, William B. Ruger expressed a highly unpopular position (amongst firearms owners, users and enthusiasts) by stating his personal views on the "sporting" nature of certain firearms.

In his letter to members of the House and Senate on 30 March 1989, Mr. Ruger stated in that which has come to be known as "The Ruger Letter":

The best way to address the firepower concern is therefore not to try to outlaw or license many millions of older and perfectly legitimate firearms (which would be a licensing effort of staggering proportions) but to prohibit the possession of high capacity magazines. By a simple, complete, and unequivocal ban on large capacity magazines, all the difficulty of defining "assault rifles" and "semi-automatic rifles" is eliminated. The large capacity magazine itself, separate or attached to the firearm, becomes the prohibited item. A single amendment to Federal firearms laws could prohibit their possession or sale and would effectively implement these objectives.
In addition to the furor amongst hunters, sportsmen and shooters caused by "The Ruger Letter", Mr. Ruger made additional comments during an interview with NBCs Tom Brokaw that angered 2nd Amendment proponents even further, by saying that "no honest man needs more than 10 rounds in any gun…" and "I never meant for simple civilians to have my 20 and 30 round magazines…"

Ol' Billeh is long gone, but his legacy of banning magazines continues unabated.

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  #35  
Old 03-25-2024, 04:22 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tlawler View Post
Just curious, but what is the appeal of the MkII over the I, III, and IV? I have a Stainless MkII Govt. model with a 225-84xxx s/n range that I bought back in about 2002. My kids all learned to shoot with it, and it’s still a regular on range trips. My kids all still love to shoot it, though I only see them a few times a year, being spread out over a few states. We must have put over 10K rounds through it at this point, and it’s only had a few hiccups. Mainly FTE’s which I think was due to poor ammo.
I, too, have a Stainless MkII Competition Target model but with a 218-26161 serial number. I got in 1994, and at the same time purchased a Volquartsen Trigger Kits. For some reason, I never installed it. I may have misplaced it, because I actually found it in a box of unrelated stuff a couple of years ago. Still haven’t installed it, but probably should do so. Do any of you folks use this kit?
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  #36  
Old 03-25-2024, 04:24 PM
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Nice work!

I don't have a government target, I just have a 5 1/2" bull barrel. I agree I think the Mk II's were the best. I also agree that the trigger reset was the only thing I really had to complain about. I solved the problem by installing a Clark trigger and drilling and tapping a set screw into the front top of the trigger guard which limited.How far the trigger came forward.
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Old 03-25-2024, 04:30 PM
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A very good article. I like the fact that the point of reference is that the author came to appreciate the Ruger from the standpoint of formal marksmanship training and competition. Some of the replies, which lack this important perspective, are quite telling, in particular regarding the sad state of marksmanship that exists today. The reference one respondent makes to the "Ruger Letter" is totally pointless to the original topic.
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  #38  
Old 03-25-2024, 04:32 PM
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The Mark 2 locked the bolt open after the last round while the Mark 1 didn’t.The Mark 3 has a magazine release like a 45 but it also won’t fire without a magazine in it.That feature causes a rather ****** and creepy trigger which the VQ kit is supposed to fix. I thought the VQ kit just gave me a very light and creepy trigger in my Mark 3. I’ve since replaced it with an early 50s standard and an early Mark1 target with a trigger job and target grips. I shoot the early standard the best out of the rugers I’ve had (and my pre 18!). I think it’s the fine sights,nice balance and fairly decent trigger that do it for me.

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Old 03-25-2024, 07:34 PM
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Just had my Great Eight out today!
Sorry, I do not shoot well enough to do this fine handgun justice
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  #40  
Old Yesterday, 12:29 PM
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Co-Inky-Dink, or not...?

After reading this thread twice I went to the range yesterday and shot my SS MKII Target for the 1st time in months: with the Vortex Venom (on a picatinny right grip panel mount) it continues to amaze me with its excellent performance and accuracy using both the HP & Solid Points from Aguila!

Cheers!
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Old Yesterday, 02:41 PM
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I bought a new MK I bull barrel gun about fifty years ago and a Gov't. Model Mark II about thirty-five years ago. Both guns have been fired extensively using mostly CCI SV ammo. Both pistols are 100% straight-out-of-the-box. I shoot Bullseye style at 25 yds. (sometimes 50).

Each gun is quite accurate and I can see virtually no accuracy difference in the two. Fatigue sets in a little earlier with the Gov't. because of the longer and heavier barrel, but that may not affect other shooters in the same way it does me.
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Old Yesterday, 07:44 PM
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I got my MKII in a trade in 1995. Serial says 1986. It always shoots better than I can. I hand it to other, usually younger, shooters at the range, and they all shoot 1" or so groups at 25 yards. Any 22LR ammo I've bought for the past nearly 40 years seems to shoot the same in it. I've shot Mk III's and IV's, and they are not the same.
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  #43  
Old Yesterday, 10:03 PM
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I have One It's a 210 Series Non Military I purchased New when they first Came Out Still have the Box & Test Target as well it's minty I shot it some but it hasn't saw much use lately, Nice Gun But Compared to My 1980 S&W 41 The Trigger pull on the Ruger could use improvement
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Old Today, 12:48 AM
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When I was stationed in VA I wanted a MK-I. I didn't care how they shot, and as I've posted elsewhere, I'm not impressed with the name. Add a few years and I finely could afford one. Mine has the 6 7/8" barrel and I'm really pleased with its ability to put rounds down range and into the target in a nice neat hole. In my book they are the best looking of the Rugar MK's
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