New to Me Ruger Mark II

Ole Joe Clark

Ole Joe Clark

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Saw this Mark II the other day while we were out rambling. Went back today and traded my blue Mark I for this Mark II. It was very dirty with shooting junk and what looked like a coke had been spilled on it.

It cleaned up really good and I was able to do a function test between showers and it worked flawlessly.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

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Very nice. I've had a MKII target model for 30 years. Mine is so old Ruger doesn't have the mfg. date on their website.

If you want some real fun put a red dot on it. You will probably have to have Ruger put the rail on as they're old enough that they weren't already drilled and tapped for a rail. Call Ruger and they will send you a shipping ticket. They didn't charge me for shipping, just gunsmith time and a rail. I think it was less than $50. Red dot allows you to shoot 1" at 25 yards, 2" at 50. Maybe you can do that without a dot, but I can't. ;)
 
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The last ruger mkII I purchased used was leaded up so bad it was probably never cleaned. After a GI cleaning it shoots fine.
 
The Mark II is a good gun. The Mark II government target or the slab side, will shoot with any of them except for the very top of the line .22. Also, another poster was correct; they will shoot 1 inch groups at 25yds. I can't shoot that well, but the gun is accurate enough to do so. You went from 9 shot to 10 shot, for the most part; that helps when shooting bowling pins!!! Yours is very nice, and lots of aftermarket stuff is available.
 
Not being a Ruger fan and not owning one gives me the unbiased opinion that the best of the Ruger .22's is the current production model. FINALLY a great take-down method, accurate and along with a Volquartsen trigger kit (a must in my opinion) it makes for a pretty descent .22 Auto at about $500 bucks.
 
LostintheOzone; Red dot allows you to shoot 1" at 25 yards said:
I can't either, might not be able to do it with a DOT, I'm kinda old, (some would say really old) and shaky. Without a doubt all my firearms can shoot better than I can hold.

Already have a couple of extra mags, and maybe I will get to the range tomorrow to really try it out.

Have a blessed day,

Leon
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chief38 said:
Not being a Ruger fan and not owning one gives me the unbiased opinion that the best of the Ruger .22's is the current production model. FINALLY a great take-down method, accurate and along with a Volquartsen trigger kit (a must in my opinion) it makes for a pretty descent .22 Auto at about $500 bucks.
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Being the owner of three MKII's, a MKIII and MKIV, I may not be unbiased but I do have first hand experience. The MKIV certainly allows users to shave a few seconds off of field stripping, but the pre-MKIV's are just not that difficult, no more so than a 1911 and we don't typically hear folks complain about those.

One consequence of the "great take-down method" of the MKIV are the reports of the upper popping off the lower during shooting sessions. I've actually seen this at our range and is likely always shooter caused due to incorrect gun handling, but that issue was never a problem with pre-MKIV's. There are also a number of bolt-stop breakages with the MKIV, something seldom heard of with the pre-MKIV's.

Time will tell if Ruger has all the kinks worked out of the MKIV yet or not. In this world of fast food and self checkout, faster and simpler is not always better.
 
Racer X said:
They also make rails that mount to the rear sight dovetail. Head on over to RimfireCentral. They have a whole Ruger rimfire auto pistol section.
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I considered that.

My solution to have it drilled and tapped for a rail leaves the rear sight in place but some may not care about that. Both good upgrades.
:cool:
 
A friend I shoot with has both a 22/45 and MKIV Hunter. I've shot both of them. I wouldn't give you a dime for the 22/45 but the Hunter is a very nice pistol. With a dot he shoots it better than I can shoot my MKII. That doesn't mean the gun shoots better however just means he can shoot better.

Two shooters.
Clays on a berm at 50 yards is a good game. Set 10 up and alternate shooting at each one after a miss. If one person misses the other person gets a crack at it. If that person breaks it he gets the first crack at the next clay. The guy with the most broken clays wins. Hint. Most of us will need a dot. ;)

Another Hint. Not all MK's like all ammo. Mine pukes on Aquilla. Both of our MK's run great on CCI std vel ammo. My friend likes Fiocchi. Someone told him it was made by CCI but I don't know.
 
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mikey52 said:
The Mark II is a good gun. The Mark II government target or the slab side, will shoot with any of them except for the very top of the line .22. Also, another poster was correct; they will shoot 1 inch groups at 25yds. I can't shoot that well, but the gun is accurate enough to do so. You went from 9 shot to 10 shot, for the most part; that helps when shooting bowling pins!!! Yours is very nice, and lots of aftermarket stuff is available.
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I like both my Mk I T678 and my Mk II T512, just not quite as much as either of my Model 17s.

IMG_9588_zpsdmcomwsn.jpg


The "new" Mk I frames use the same magazine as the MK II. The "old" Mk I frames can use the new Mk I and MK II magazines as well, you just have to take the magazine apart and re-assemble it with the button on the other side. So Mk I or Mk II gets you 10 round capacity regardless of age.

3EF6C669-2E54-4D4F-90AC-F96FA297B021_zpsdabdbuy8.jpg


Accuracy wise, I'm not so sure you need to get really high end to improve on the Ruger. I have a pair of High Standard Victors, both purchased within the last year, one for $500 (a middle production ML series) and the other (a more collectible early production) for $800. With either pistol I'll shoot about 15 points higher in a bullseye match than I will with my Mk I or Mk II.

Comparing my Rugers, I shoot the T678 better than the Mk II T512. They have the same Volquartzen hammer, sear and trigger accuracy kits, the difference is that I find the T678 balances and holds better.

Similarly, with the added weight of the mount and Ultradot sight, I don't see any advantage with the dot sight and my scores are the same with either pistol.
 
Hi Ole Joe Clark,

That's a great looking Mark II Stainless Target Model, congratulations!

I managed to talk one of my long time friends out of a Mark II Stainless Target Model a couple of years ago. It was new in the box and even had the factory shipping carton as well as the box with all contents.

Ruger Mark II Stainless Target 5 1/2", Shipped 1986.

IMG-1135.jpg

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OP, I have that same exact MkII. I bought it new and don't remember where I bought it or how much I paid for it. It's been shot a BUNCH and, aside from some really cheap ammo I tried when I first got it, never a problem. My youngest daughter loved shooting it, so I gave it to her a couple years ago for Christmas and she was so happy, she was speechless and cried a river. They are great guns and will last pretty much forever. Good luck and I hope you enjoy yours as much as I and my daughter enjoy mine, now hers.
 
The 5-1/2" bull barrel is one of the more desirable MkIIs. Stainless is more the better to me.
As said previously, takedown isn't like trying to split an atom. Just a series of steps you need to follow. There is a company selling a part to keep the strut where it needs to be. IIRC they have an ad in the American Rifleman.
I like the MkIV's looks the least. Not as sleek.
I have MkII Govt. And a blue bull 5.5" and a MKIII Competition Target SS I just about stole from Gander before they went down.
The only issue I've ever had was my 5.5" bulls ejector is loose, causing jams. I have a Tactical Solutions ejector to replace the original, which are bit of a female dog trying to hold in tight and peen the river.
I hope you enjoy your Ruger Joe. They are a fine firearm and will give a lifetime or 2 or 3 service.
BTW I have my eye on another one but have been resisting the urge.
 
PALADIN85020 said:
I'm among those who think that the Ruger MkII was the best of the lot of their .22 handguns. This Gov't Model is among the the most accurate of my handguns, reliable, and has everything you need and nothing you don't in a semiauto .22.

John

RUGER_MKII_GOVT-captioned_zps4jzdhiaw.jpg
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I had a problem with it yesterday at the range......... not nearly as accurate as yours.
Wouldn't hit hardly anything I shot at. :-( I took no photos, and destroyed the evidence.
I'm sure my shaking hands had nothing to do with it, or my recent birthday, 76. :-)
Otherwise it worked flawlessly every time I pulled the trigger.

By the way, I had the same problem with the rest of the firearms I shot.

Have a blessed day,

Leon
 
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I have a MkII since many years and it is solid gun that has been trouble free in around five thousand rounds. It is a comfortable pistol, i.e. I like the ergonomics and balance, as well as the wide trigger shoe.

 
I love my Mk.II :D
I put all the Volquartzen parts in it with no regrets!
And fiber optic sights.
And recently put a Tandemkross rail on it.
(but still haven't used it with a red dot - soon!!!)

As has been said: it's heavy.
But it is oozing with AWESOMENESS!
 

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I love my MKI Target, 6 7/8" taper barrel, good balance, wonderful accuracy, and with a quick button side swap I can use the 10 round magazines.
That being said, I like the looks and feel of the MK4 hunter and also need a 22/45 so I may end up with something new.
 
Those Ruger Marks are great pistols. I taught the NRA enhanced
license class for a couple of years, Part of the class was to shoot
a hundred rounds at a 9" paper plate at various distances, and from
different positions. Then they would count the holes in their plates
and that number would be part of their class grade. During that time
only 2 students hit the plate all one hundred times. Both of them
used Ruger Marks.
 
My first target 22 was an AMT copy of the MKII. When the MKII Government guns came out I traded a Colt King Cobra for it cuz they were supposed to be a limited run...not.


Traded the MKII for something I dont remember.


A few years ago another early MKIIG popped up and I bought it. Put the Volquartsen goodies in it. Ended up tradin it for a NMBHFT in 44spl.
Year or so ago I found another MKII in 5.5". Still have that one.


When I had that first one years ago 20oz pop bottles were still glass. A buddy and I used to shoot them from a bench at 200yds. If you didnt get a solid hit, they wouldnt break. Once dialed in we were probably 95% successful.
 
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