Ruger Mark IV...WOW!

[lhump1961]

I have a Ruger Mark I that has been in the family for 50 yrs and have fond memories of shooting it as a kid. Great pistol but we all know the ugly mess of disassembly and cleaning of the Mark series of pistols! For this reason I never considered another and instead have shot Buckmarks and Smith 22's. I currently have a nice Talo 22a that is accurate and reliable but I find the grip a bit too fat and the slide clumsy to operate around the rear sight. It takes down OK with the recoil spring being a bit finicky but not bad. Like it but don't love it. Kept eyeing the Rugers over the years but held back...until now!

The new Mk IV is a marvel of engineering. They kept all the good, improved the operating levers and mag removal, eliminated the unnecessary witness hole and absolutely nailed the disassembly process! You can literally field strip this gun in under 5 seconds and reassemble just as easy. I bought the stainless target model and am thrilled. The lower is one piece of stainless vs. two formed pieces as it was before. Performed flawlessly at the range. The ONLY thing I find is that the trigger is a bit heavy at 5lbs but breaks clean and will probably loose a pound with use. I also ordered a high vis front sight for my old eyes don't like black on black!

 

[Kenelz]

Thanks for that! I have an old MKII Gvmt Target that I still break out occasionally for Bullseye competition. I don't have any problems with the field stripping, I've done it so many times, I don't think about it.

I will be looking to pick up a MKIV. The trigger sounds heavy, that can be fixed.

 

[G.T. Smith]

I bought a MKIII target a couple of months ago. I never had any problem tearing it down. Just a couple of things to know and it's easy. It got a lot easier after changing the hammer bushing and eliminating the mag safety. I really like the looks of that MKIV though.
Peace,
Gordon

 

[gman51]

I have thought about getting the Ruger IV. But then again I realize I already have five 22lr handguns. No doubt my favorite is the MK II.
I think I am going to wait about 6 months to see how the gun performs and if any hickups need to be taken care of by Ruger.

 

[Brian in Oregon]

Handled one at the local gun shop over the weekend. Very nice bit of engineering. Ruger may capture back some sales that were going to the Browning Buckmark, and might cut into S&W Victory sales as well.

I'm hoping they will make a 22/45 style lower for it, but made from metal, not plastic. Will probably pick one up then, especially if it has a threaded muzzle.

 

[OLDSTER]

Nice MKIV . It should prove to be a winner for Ruger as it addresses years of "take-down" complaints from the faithful. I, however, agree with other posts in that once I learned to field strip and re-assemble years ago, I've never had an issue

 

[TAC]

5 lb trigger? I'm sure we'll see something come out of Volquartsen soon, to resolve that. But we shouldn't have to spend additional money to make a firearm right, the way it should have been, out of the box.

But it finally looks like we have an affordable high quality .22 pistol, with no plastic! Nice!

 

[lhump1961]

Thanks for that! I have an old MKII Gvmt Target that I still break out occasionally for Bullseye competition. I don't have any problems with the field stripping, I've done it so many times, I don't think about it.

I will be looking to pick up a MKIV. The trigger sounds heavy, that can be fixed.

The MkII is considered by some to be the better of the first 3 generations. I don't see the MKIV out-shooting the MKII but IMO provides some very nice user friendly changes. You'll like it.

 

[lhump1961]

5 lb trigger? I'm sure we'll see something come out of Volquartsen soon, to resolve that. But we shouldn't have to spend additional money to make a firearm right, the way it should have been, out of the box.

But it finally looks like we have an affordable high quality .22 pistol, with no plastic! Nice!

Yeah, 5lbs is heavy for this gun but triggers can vary a bit and I may have gotten a heavier example. Like I said it does break clean, though. One thing I didn't mention in my original post is how smooth the finishing is. The only place you can find any kind of an edge is the bolt ears. Very nice to handle.

 

[S&WIowegan]

What was the street price for your new Mark IV? The MSRP is pricey.

 

[lhump1961]

As it is new and not readily available yet the street prices I've seen run about $475 to $525 for the stainless target...about $100 less for the blue due to the alloy frame. Hunter models run well over $600. I paid $519 + tax in a local store. Could have saved a few bucks online but would have to wait...transfer fees and shipping add up to more than tax so brings the price a little closer. The prices may come down a bit in the coming year but I didn't feel like waiting.

I like to support local business so I was OK with paying a little more to keep them around...very nice guys who run a good store. Plus I walk out with the gun!

For those who want a MKIII I would be willing to wager those models will be available for less in the near future and still a great gun!

 

[Fishslayer]

Much buzz about the MKIV here behind the tofu curtain. We'll never see 'em though as long as the "not too unsafe" roster of allowed handguns requires microstamping.

Glad I have no real problem with my MKIIIs.

 

[steamloco76]

I looked at a couple MKIV variants at my LGS last week. The takedown is super simple and the pistols are extremely well finished. I did not like the squared profile of the stock grip panels or the right side safety due to my big hands, though both are easily changed. The MKIV will be a huge hit.

Hoping to see a few MKII models I've been wanting to show up as trade-ins at my LGS! I've had my MKII and III's apart enough times that the process isn't too painful. I made my MKIII much more MKII like with a TandemKross hammer bushing to eliminate the dumb magazine disconnect. Best $10 I ever spent on a pistol!

 

[RobertJ.]

Thanks for the heads-up on the new Ruger.

I learned to shoot with a 6" Standard, in fact it was that gun that showed me that long range shots were actually pretty easy. Shooting from a bench, I could clear a row of pop cans at 100 yards. This was when I was 11 or 12, and it impressed the heck out of my friends!

It didn't hurt that I read Elmer Keith!

I have a MK. II now, but I rarely shoot it, because then I'd have to clean it.

It's taken back seat to my K-22 anyway!

 

[pharmer]

I paid $519 + tax in a local store.

That's exactly $200 less than at last weeks' Orlando gunshow. After one of my MKII's quit I might need to buy one. Joe

 

[lhump1961]

That's exactly $200 less than at last weeks' Orlando gunshow. After one of my MKII's quit I might need to buy one. Joe

If you're waiting for your MKII to quit then you'll never have one...

 

[Rock185]

LGS had the Target and Hunter models the other day. I believe they were $549.00 and 649.00 + tax. Owner field stripped the Target Model for me. Gotta say, I was impressed by the one piece machined frame, clean machine work and finish both inside and out. I've owned a few of the Ruger .22s, a MKI, MKIIs, standard barrels, heavy barrels, a 22/45,etc. The MKIVs are not inexpensive, but IMHO really do appear to be a cut,or two or three, above the previous versions justifying the price. I've not been tempted to buy another Ruger .22 pistol in years, but these things are beauties. The clean machine work and finish remind me of the SIG P210 or S&W Performance Center pistols,etc.

 

[Jim1392]

I've read on another forum that there were several people reporting the receiver screws were backing out. Also the screws where they are tapped for a scope on the barrel coming loose. They called Ruger and were told to put red Loctite on them. This was only on the Target model so far. Let us know how yours are after shooting them. I guess this should make Victory owners feel better after spending a lot less money.

 

[lhump1961]

LGS had the Target and Hunter models the other day. I believe they were $549.00 and 649.00 + tax. Owner field stripped the Target Model for me. Gotta say, I was impressed by the one piece machined frame, clean machine work and finish both inside and out. I've owned a few of the Ruger .22s, a MKI, MKIIs, standard barrels, heavy barrels, a 22/45,etc. The MKIVs are not inexpensive, but IMHO really do appear to be a cut,or two or three, above the previous versions justifying the price. I've not been tempted to buy another Ruger .22 pistol in years, but these things are beauties. The clean machine work and finish remind me of the SIG P210 or S&W Performance Center pistols,etc.

They are finished well. The only place you can find an edge is on the ears of the bolt. The rest is "melted".

 

[gdogs]

I guess I'm the only one that doesn't like the looks of them? They took a nice clean looking little pistol and muddied it up. I think they had it right with the MKI, but can also see some merit in the MKII upgrades. Past that, I lost all interest in them. That said, I'm sure it's a quality gun that shoots better than most of its competition.