Ruger Standard Auto .22

[Rick Leslie]

I saw my first Mark I back in 1972ish. My buddy's older brother had one and I argued that it was a 'Luger' not Ruger because I was 12 years old and knew everything about guns. Fast forward a few (many) more years and I picked up my own. I now have more than a few, some in boxes, some in the safe.

My wife and I have matched Target Models with left and right hand grips. (She's a lefty.)

I have one with a 2 inch barrel and red dot for the suppressor. Used to impress my kids by knocking squirrels out of the big oak tree while they were running.

Needless to say, the Mk I, II and III are my favorite rimfires of all time.

 

[jim juergens]

I had two of the Rugers, a Mark II and a Mark IV with the .45 angle frame, when S&W brought out the .22 Victory I sold both of the Rugers and I don't miss them. I still shout my model 41 once in a while but the Victory is my go to .22 semi-auto.

 

[Dave Haynes]

In N.CAL there were just no used Standards for sale at any price. Folks just were not selling. I think they were $37 new. Couldn't find one new either. The 4" standard is the best model in my opinion. They go for $350 + if you find one. There are plenty of videos showing how to take them apart , clean and put them back together. They have a nice heft to them, closer to the 41 than you think. Point beautifully, better than a Luger or Nambu. The construction reminds me of an AR for some reason. Use M16 teflon oil just like the rifle. I've owned several Colt Woodsman one was the good model with mag release like the 1911. and a H.S. H-D that was simply worn out . None shot as well as that Ruger. A Bob Chow 41 solved all those issues but that Standard had a great trigger for some reason and shot above it's pay grade. I absolutely recommend the extended mag release mod. The early mags can be switched from left to right button.

 

[Chesney]

Hi There,

I've owned a Ruger Standard Auto since the late 1970's.
Around 2000, I bought a MK II target with 5.5" Bull barrel.

I get amused when my Wife and I would go target shooting
and her S&W 41 is very finicky about its ammo (she uses
CCI Standard Velocity) and my Ruger just swallows everything.

Cheers!
Webb

The Huntsman is the economy model of the third series Woodsman, still would rather have one than a ruger std.... Around $400 here, depending.

Yeah, the coons were in traps. But..... I do manage to get smaller critters further out than in a trap....

Any wildlife left in your neighborhood ?

 

[Timber Wolf]

I have a quartet of Ruger MKII pistols and really like them all. A 4” standard, 5.5” Bull Barrel Target, 6” Target (My daughter’s favorite), and a 6” stainless Competition Target. All 100% reliable shooters. All came to me “pre-owned”. I bought the Bull Target first many years ago for $175 as I recall and it came with five mags.

The 6” Target was next from a Pawn Shop for $80, the finish was well worn but the gun was perfect otherwise. I picked up a Ruger factory scope mount and took it and the 6” to a local Gunsmith to have it drilled and tapped for the mount. His Landlord was a friend of mine and he asked the Gunsmith to take good care of me so he also polished and reblued it. Total charge $37.

Next, but many, many years later was the 4” from another Pawn Shop for a smooth $100. Then came the Competition Target from a private seller at a gun show, it was near NIB and $300-something dollars. I have not shot it much (yet). I can honestly say I have gotten more use and pleasure from the first three of these pistols than any I own, and on the cheap!

But just so my fellow S&W forum members don’t come after me with pitch forks, I also have, enjoy, and actually prefer my S&W 22A pistols. I have them in all the barrel lengths along with a 22S. They just fit me better and I shoot them well. I actually got my first 22A for my daughter but she prefers the Ruger and as it turned out I preferred the 22A.

 

[Dave Haynes]

Any wildlife left in your neighborhood ?

I live in town 60 miles N/O SF. In my back yard I have Deer, deer with fawns, if my fence is breached they are there every night. Raccoons every night, gray squirrels, skunks, Red Foxes, silver foxes, lots of turkeys, those horrible prehistoric opossums which I'd kill all of them if I could. The same doe raised two fawns back there 4 years in a row, the same Butcher Bird came back for 5 years in a row to the same persimmon tree and met his mate, raised their brood and left. With the yard closed the deer now spend days in the cypress and mesquite trees in the mini-forest out front. They sit up there in the shade all day. I do put a bucket of water out for the deer so they don't have to cross Hwy 12 to get to the creek. At the golf course the coyote pups yip for mom to come home and feed them every morning at around 4:30-5.. My back yard is about 70'X 30' with a 3 acre neighbor behind. There are a few cats, big ones and Bobcats in the mountains between Santa Rosa and Oakmont about 2-3 miles from here and there are a few bears in the area. Out at the Oakmont Golf Course the wild hogs tear up the course from time to time.

 

[dobegrant]

Great guns, I have the 4” mark II from the early eighties and it is was one my favorite pistols for just plinking, very accurate

 

[DWalt]

In N.CAL there were just no used Standards for sale at any price. Folks just were not selling. I think they were $37 new. Couldn't find one new either. The 4" standard is the best model in my opinion. They go for $350 + if you find one. There are plenty of videos showing how to take them apart , clean and put them back together. They have a nice heft to them, closer to the 41 than you think. Point beautifully, better than a Luger or Nambu. The construction reminds me of an AR for some reason. Use M16 teflon oil just like the rifle. I've owned several Colt Woodsman one was the good model with mag release like the 1911. and a H.S. H-D that was simply worn out . None shot as well as that Ruger. A Bob Chow 41 solved all those issues but that Standard had a great trigger for some reason and shot above it's pay grade. I absolutely recommend the extended mag release mod. The early mags can be switched from left to right button.

Bill Ruger’s inspiration for the Standard Model was the Nambu. Offhand, I can’t think of another .22 pistol of that design. Most are variations of the Woodsman.

 

[pharmer]

I put 170 rds of Aguila "Super Extra" 38 gr hp through this one this morning, 100% function. I don't know the rd count but maybe 3K/yr for almost 40 years adds up. I could live with this being my only .22 (perish the thought). Joe

 

[madmikeb]

The first gun I ever bought was a Standard Auto. It was 1976 had the 200th year of American Liberty stamping. I was 15 years old and I paid $65 brand new. Wish I still had it. Been tempted to pick up another one for nostalgic reasons but there are just too many Smiths out there!