Final update - FOLLOW UP ON A FRIENDS RUGER MARK 4 TARGET PISTOL

[chief38]

A little while ago I posted about the new Ruger Mark 4 Target pistol one of my friends purchased. I recommended the Mark 4 Ruger because of the new take down system, accuracy, feel, reliability and price of course. She could not go for a S&W M41 or similar - too pricey. The most frustrating thing I hate about Ruger's is their horrible triggers! She knew that going in but I explained to her that there are many after market kits and parts for that Ruger model and they are affordable. So for under $700 all in, she could get a pretty darn good target gun.

Out of the box her new Mark 4 had a 4.75 pound, creepy, gritty horrible trigger. Despite that, she did learn to shoot it quite well. How Ruger has the gaul to roll mark "target pistol" on it with that trigger is shocking and disturbing! If that's how they want to sell their standard plinker's, then so be it - but a roll marked "Target Pistol" should have a decent trigger IMHO. I have been instructing her for 8 months now as she knew nothing at all about guns before then. She has become a great shot and now wanted a decent trigger.

Last week she purchased a Volquartsen drop in trigger kit (which I just dropped in for her) and I have to say it impresses me quite a bit! For $150 bucks it takes one of the worst 22 target pistol triggers and makes it into a S&W M41 feeling trigger! No creep, light pull, and most importantly, crisp. I can't wait to see how she shoots it this Friday!

FINAL UPDATE (7/21/23):

The Ruger was shot today after installing the new Volquartsen trigger kit last week - WOW!!! The friend who owns it never shot better in the 8 months she's been shooting. Most of her shots were in the 10 ring with many in the X ring! I shot the gun as well and I actually shot what could be the best 10 shot group of my life! All in the X ring at 50 feet and the group was about the size of a Nickel. I was so overjoyed that the pistol with the new trigger kit shot so well, we left all the targets on the shelf at the Range lane- so no pic's. Seriously, I can't remember ever shooting a better group - even with my M41. Just we left the targets there.

Anyone who is a serious serious target shooter and owns the Ruger MK4 (or other versions) might want to seriously look into installing one. It is straight forward, no fitting and the tools required are nothing more than simple everyday needle nosed pliers, a tweezer and an Allen Key, that's about it. No creep, no slop and a 2.25 lb. pull weight. For just under $700 (pistol and trigger kit) she's got herself a hell of a target pistol!

 

[hardluk1]

She will have to learn to shoot it all over again now that it has a nice trigger pull ! ha

Nice buy and install for her .

 

[Jebus35745]

Will watch for the range report, have a MKIV Hunter. Trigger needs attention and would be a better shooter but not sure if the gun would be accurate enough. Larry

 

[gmiller0737]

I agree the Ruger Triggers are not good I have a MK2 Government Model Target & a early 80's S&W 41 took them both to the range a while back shot the S&W First then moved to the Ruger I thought the Rugers Safety was on that's how much different than the 41 it is,Thinking about a Volquartsen Sear not sure if My eye sight is good enough to install it may enlist My Son to assist.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Back in the 80's I had a 5" 41 that would shoot less than 4" groups with any ammo. My F-I-L owns 4 or 5 model 41's and told me the problem is they usually hit where they are aimed!

I later bought a 422, and hit Minute of Squirrel fine with it.

Ivan

 

[zeke]

Last week she purchased a Vulquartsen drop in trigger kit (which I just dropped in for her) and I have to say it impresses me quite a bit! For $150 bucks it takes one of the worst 22 target pistol triggers and makes it into a S&W M41 feeling trigger! No creep, light pull, and most importantly, crisp. I can't wait to see how she shoots it this Friday!

Thanks for the update! Do you think keeping the stock spring would keep the crisp pull, but still be 4 lbs? Thanks

 

[somorris]

Thanks for the report, Chief. I really like the MKIV from Ruger.

 

[chief38]

Thanks for the update! Do you think keeping the stock spring would keep the crisp pull, but still be 4 lbs? Thanks

The main improvement and most important part of the Volquartsen kit is the Sear. If you put in a Vol. sear and use a stock spring you will probably get a slightly heavier but crisp, creep free trigger. IMHO a "TARGET" pistol should have somewhere between 2.25 and 2.75 pull weight. The Vol. kit delivers just that at 2.25 lbs. While that is a fairly light trigger, it IS a TARGET only pistol. It won't be carried, won't be loaded when not on the Range and should be perfectly fine. While I would not want a 2.25lb. carry gun, for a target pistol I don't see an issue.

There is also an Apex trigger kit but I know nothing about those. I will see how she shoots with it soon. As someone above stated, she will need to learn how to use a true target trigger - lol.

 

[chief38]

So just out of sheer frustration regarding the Ruger trigger, I actually called their headquarters this morning. The representative on the phone told me that she was not privy to and was not allowed to comment on why Ruger triggers are so heavy, creepy and sloppy. She did say to me the #1 complaint she gets on a daily basis are regarding Ruger triggers and did mention that there are after market company's like Volquartsen that could improve it.

So that tells me this is simply a liability issue. I am not a lawyer but I would think anyone changing the Ruger factory trigger would take the liability off of Ruger for an accidental or negligent discharge. I also told the Ruger rep. that if you indeed want to sell all your target pistols with horrible triggers you should remove the roll marked "target model" on the barrel. She laughed.

After many many years of never owning but shooting plenty of friends Rugers, I have yet to find a Ruger 22 rimfire with a decent trigger - "Target model" marked or not.

 

[Speedo2]

You should inform your friend that if ever she needs (or wants) to send the pistol back to Ruger, they will not return it with the Volquardsen trigger group installed. They will return it with their OEM trigger and not return the VQ parts. More legal concerns on their part, I think. Anyways, if ever it gets returned to Ruger, you (or she) should first restore it to its original horrible trigger configuration. -S2

 

[chief38]

You should inform your friend that if ever she needs (or wants) to send the pistol back to Ruger, they will not return it with the Volquardsen trigger group installed. They will return it with their OEM trigger and not return the VQ parts. More legal concerns on their part, I think. Anyways, if ever it gets returned to Ruger, you (or she) should first restore it to its original horrible trigger configuration. -S2

Yes, I knew that - but thank you for the heads up anyway. Maybe someone else here can learn from your post as well. If it ever has to go back I would of course reinstall the original parts.

Being in the gun business today is nothing short of walking on eggshells. I thought about going into that industry a few times and since there is so much opportunity to make a nice profit it was hard to turn it down - but I did. No need to always live in fear of Bog Brother when running a business. Running any business itself is enough of a challenge these days.

 

[Borderboss]

My Ruger Mark 2 has a Volquartsen trigger job that Tom Volquartsen did for me back in the late-80s. I think their stuff is top notch. However, if cost allows it, I would recommend sending my gun to them and have them do the trigger job instead of their drop-in kit. Just my $0.02.

 

[zeke]

The main improvement and most important part of the Volquartsen kit is the Sear. If you put in a Vol. sear and use a stock spring you will probably get a slightly heavier but crisp, creep free trigger. IMHO a "TARGET" pistol should have somewhere between 2.25 and 2.75 pull weight. The Vol. kit delivers just that at 2.25 lbs. While that is a fairly light trigger, it IS a TARGET only pistol. It won't be carried, won't be loaded when not on the Range and should be perfectly fine. While I would not want a 2.25lb. carry gun, for a target pistol I don't see an issue.

There is also an Apex trigger kit but I know nothing about those. I will see how she shoots with it soon. As someone above stated, she will need to learn how to use a true target trigger - lol.

Thanks! One of the Mark IV's bought is the "taticool" version, which removed the rails from. Also have the target version, but both appear to use same trigger mechanism. Both have threaded barrels.

 

[6string]

I suggest to people who are serious (Bullseye) target shooters, especially if they have aspirations to compete in "2700" matches, that like the Ruger to just buy a Volquartson target pistol. It's higher quality "across the board" from the barrel to the smallest individual parts.

 

[chief38]

I suggest to people who are serious (Bullseye) target shooters, especially if they have aspirations to compete in "2700" matches, that like the Ruger to just buy a Volquartson target pistol. It's higher quality "across the board" from the barrel to the smallest individual parts.

I agree and I personally own some high end target pistols. That said, some just can't lay out the big bucks. That's where a Ruger MK4 with a $150 Volquartsen trigger kit shines. It's NO M41 and NO Volquartsen however it IS capable of very respectable groups and consistently accurate. For $700 bucks it's a decent target gun for someone only shooting for less than a year.

 

[DWalt]

I am no expert on Ruger .22 pistols, only owning one, an early 50s Standard Model. I don’t consider its trigger to be horrible in any way. A little heavy but a nice crisp let off. I assume the Volq trigger is a popular item, makes one wonder why Ruger hasn’t enhanced its factory trigger (perhaps as an extra cost option) after all the years it has been manufactured. When I bought mine, it was in nearly new condition. But the sights were ridiculously far off, even at close range. It took a lot of work to adjust them to a 50’ zero. I think that is why it looked unfired. The early owner probably couldn’t hit anything with it and retired it to the nightstand drawer.

 

[swsig]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...

http://smith-wessonforum.com/141757155-post5.html

 

[schutz5]

With regards to trigger pull weight,the Ruger MK 1 is superior right out of the box!

 

[6string]

I agree and I personally own some high end target pistols. That said, some just can't lay out the big bucks. That's where a Ruger MK4 with a $150 Volquartsen trigger kit shines. It's NO M41 and NO Volquartsen however it IS capable of very respectable groups and consistently accurate. For $700 bucks it's a decent target gun for someone only shooting for less than a year.

Yes, you're certainly right on this point!
However, I've seen folks, in the course of making upgrades, where the total cost of parts added to the price of an entry level firearm ends up exceeding the cost of a higher end model.
There's something else that I've observed having done some coaching, in particular with young junior shooters. When the budget of a program permits beginners access to high grade target level firearms, the rate of progress, not to mention the retention of recruits for continued match participation is much improved.
It is a common misconception that only expert level shooters benefit from high grade target arms.
Thankfully, you guided your friend with a reasonable compromise.
I've seen many potentially good shooters dissuaded because they started off with something awful, ie: Heritage .22, H&R break-top .22, etc.

 

[DWalt]

For about three years, I was shooting 50’ indoor .22 Bullseye Winter league with a Stoeger Luger. Range was in the basement of a local firehouse. The trigger on it was ideal, and despite having fixed sights, it was pretty much dead-on zeroed for 50’. I bought it at a gun show, ANIB for around $75. I was never top gun, mainly just shooting for fun as it was the only game in town. At that time, many of the other shooters used Ruger Mk Is. There was also a “match grade” .22 Stoeger Luger available that did have an adjustable rear sight. I don’t remember seeing one. I believe it also came with better quality checkered wood grips, instead of the very plain smooth flat wood slabs of the regular Stoeger.

In another town, I was shooting 50’ indoor using a Hi-Standard Olympic rapid fire pistol, .22 Short HV. My scores were better with it. I still own it, but I don’t shoot it much.