Revisiting the Ruger MK III.

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Wee Hooker

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So I've admittedly always been a sucker for a nice .22 handgun. I've also been an accumulator of the Ruger MK series target pistols over the years. Thinking back, I must have owned over two dozen of them at one time or another. These days, I keep a MK I, a pair of MK II's and four, MK IV's (including a 22/45 model.)
I really didn't miss having a MK III in the collection as I was never in love with the changes made to the MK II and was plenty well represented with Mk IV's.

Long story short, the shop I work in took in a very clean MK III Competition model last summer from an estate. As decent as it was, nobody seems to want a MK III anymore (once they see the MK IV with it's slick take down). After watching me pick up the pistol numerous times over six months, the owner told me I should take it home at cost. The last thing I really "needed" was another .22 pistol but .....
Once home, I got to rummaging through my Ruger parts bin and was pleasantly surprised to find that I had all kinds of aftermarket parts laying around from my collecting days. Volquartsen Trigger, Hammer, Sear & Sear spring, MK II bushing (to remove the disconnect) , LCI replacement, Extended Bolt Release and several extra sets of grips. I even had a set of Williams Fire sights that I had purchased cheap off THEbay some time back for another gun.

Anyway, here is the final product. The 2# trigger and bright sights make a HUGE difference in how it works for me. I'm kind of smitten with my $250 investment.




 
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Looks nicer than the 3 or 4 I've owned.
I liked the way my MKII shot, but didn't like the mag release on the bottom of the grips.
I now have one of each of the SS models, and really appreciate the easy takedown.
It's a good time for someone to buy an older model with complicated takedown if you're looking for a bargain. They aren't so difficult after you've done it a few times.

1.jpg
 
Interesting looking trigger on your MK III. What is it? I have a standard
4 3/4" blue MK II and I hate the trigger, the shape that is. It's too short
and pinches my finger between the tip and the guard. What's a good
replacement? I'm not concerned about a target quality pull, just a better
shape for comfortable shooting. Thanks for any advice.
 
I bought a Mk III years ago... sat in the safe and forgot about it.

Found it last month, so I started changing stuff I hated out. Key lock, LCI, and swapped in a Ruger stainless trigger for s***s and giggles.

5AdiJ5d.jpg


Wasn’t that hard to work on, and after taking it completely apart twice, I feel more confident with takedown. Is it simple? Hell no, but any person should be able to accomplish it.

If I was buying new, I’d likely go Mk IV. But having a Mk III or buying one for next to nothing... no desire to get rid of it.
 
That is indeed a nice looking pistol. Almost makes me consider looking around for some of those Mark III bargains. Almost.

Do you mean you have $250 total in that gun?
 
Thanks all. I thought I was all done with MK III's but I'm liking this one. Keep those MK III pics coming too! They do look sharp in their own way!

Couple specifics to the above posts.

The trigger, like most of the other add on parts are Volquartsen brand . It is flatter and wider than the original but also has pre and over travel adjustments. Coupled with their sear, the trigger now pulls at a crisp 2# 2 oz. Volquartsen was one of the first to make upgrades to the MK series pistols and in my experience, still the best ( bay far). They even make complete uppers, lowers and entire guns based on the MK III . Great products from great folks!

As for taking it apart, that's easy. Putting it together only slightly more difficult. The trick is to understand where the hammer and strut are (and where they need to be) during different stages of the process. Once you can visualize what's going on inside the gun, it becomes intuitive. For those who can't see it, there is always Gun Scrubber. You can run for 10K rounds through a MK II/III without tear down if you hose it down liberally and regularly with that stuff.

Yes, $250 total if you don't count the parts I already had laying around. Putting those forgotten parts to good use, was just icing on the cake! I even have the factory laminated thumb rest target grips left over that could be resold if I thought that too much. I'm not greedy though. Maybe save those for my next one :-)
 
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I have to agree about the jigsaw puzzle comment. I also agree a good internal spray down cleaning makes the complete tear down mostly uncalled for. Been there done that for around 10 years without a total take down and the MKII never missed a pop.
 
Very nice find, price, and good looking too! I still have my Mark II and it is ridiculously accurate.
 

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Muss Muggins said:
All I know is this. Don't take it apart . . .
Click to expand...

I've taken my MK II apart a few times, no big deal. I have filed
on the trigger a bit and drilled and tapped it for a small set
screw for a travel stop. But I still hate the looks and feel of the
cheap looking plated piece of aluminum. I rarely ever shoot the
gun because I hate the shape of the trigger and it pinches my
finger:mad: So, rather than throw the gun in a dumpster
somewhere I think I'll just buy a new trigger and take the thing
apart one more time:)
 
Mike0251 said:
Very nice find, price, and good looking too! I still have my Mark II and it is ridiculously accurate.
Click to expand...

Nice MK II Competition, Mike. I also have the MKII version of the Competition as well. Mine is also scoped and a favorite. Owning my MK II Comp was the main reason that this MK III Comp stayed at the shop as long as it did. I didn't think I "needed" two Competition models (but clearly I was wrong.) Hence me changing the grips and sights to make it a "different" purposed gun. Different enough to justify bringing it home anyway. :-)
 
My Ruger Mark II and III are my favorite handguns to shoot. I hunt rabbits and tree rats (squirrels) with them. And as for disassembly and reassembly for cleaning its not as difficult as some people make it sound.
The Ruger Standard later (Mark) is what started the company. I'm disappointed they don't use Sturm's name anymore on the new products. Mr. Sturm put up the money to start the company.

MK II MK III.jpg
 
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Never liked the earlier versions because of the take-down and the fact that they were not lefty friendly. I now have a mark-4 .22/45 lite and really like it. Not crazy about the sloppy trigger but love the take-down.
 
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