I've got all of the earlier Ruger .22 pistols, but no Mark IV (yet). In my opinion, the perfect ones were the Mark IIs. No more difficult to disassemble/reassemble than the earlier Standards and Mark Is, yet the fact that the bolt locked back after the last shot in the magazine made it perfect - everything you needed and nothing that you didn't.

The Mark IIIs were a witch with a capital "B." There was no earthly need for a magazine disconnect, because it unduly complicated the disassembly and reassembly procedure. Even grade school children are taught that proper unloading of a semiauto means removing the magazine first, and then emptying the chamber. If you do not understand that, you have no business handling a semiauto pistol, mag safety or not. The loaded chamber indicator just added another complication and manufacturing expense. I see Ruger dispensed with it on the Mark IV. If you really want to know if the chamber is loaded, just pull the bolt back a bit and LOOK. The addition of a side-mounted mag release on the Mark III was not required on a sporting or target firearm - no need for quick magazine changes unless you were being attacked by a herd of angry jackrabbits.

The Mark IIIs were designed by a committee composed largely or exclusively of nervous-Nelly company lawyers. I think Ruger finally realized that mistake and sought to correct it.

The Mark IVs are probably a mechanical improvement over the IIIs, but the gun looks like a cross between an antique break-action Smith and a modern pistol. The svelt lines of the original pistol were regretfully really disturbed. My sense of esthetics is also offended.

Just the opinions of a grumpy old man, I suppose.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -