RUGER MARK 4 TARGET PISTOL - AN OPINION

[6GUNSONLY]

I bought a MK 4 tactical a few months ago, took the scope base and rail off, and I'm pretty happy with it so far as a fairly lightweight utility/plinker .22. Kinda thinking of it as a bug-out bag gun. The trigger on mine is tolerable if not great, but I may put a Volquartsen in it, too.

 

[Bullet Bob]

Ruger announced the Mk II .22 auto in early 1982. In June of that year the the Ruger Collector's Association (hereafter called the RCA) offered the RCA Mark Target with the RCA seal engraved on top of the receiver by Ray Viramontez for $297.50. 801 were produced; a person could have the seal inlaid with 24 karat gold for an additional $75.00, and 166 of the 801 made were so embellished.

They came in a reproduction of the pine "salt cod" box the very first Ruger .22 automatics were shipped in, as well as a cardboard box with the RCA logo instead of the Ruger eagle. The pine box also had a red RCA seal stamped on the corner of the bottom.

In September 1982 the RCA offered elephant ivory grips with an intertwined RCA logo to members for $200.00.

The information above is from Chad Hiddleston's excellent book Encyclopedia of Ruger Semiautomatic Rimfire Pistols 1949-1992, page 206.

I bought this pistol 3 & 1/2 years ago because I had purchased a used Mk II Standard model a couple of months before after not owning one for decades, and had so much fun I wanted a target model to shoot also. This one was marketed by Collectors Firearms for not much more than the same model and era gun without the RCA connections, and I fully intended to shoot it.

But it's so nice I don't want to mess it up; I especially don't to wear off the gold in the seal, or the RCA grip logo. It's only worth a very small fraction of what a Registered Magnum or 1880's Colt SAA brings, but it just seems too nice to mess up. Guess I'll keep on thinking.

I didn't get the original grips, assuming that this one wasn't shipped directly with the ivory grips. I don't belong to the RCA and don't know how that worked.

It's fun to guess, I bet the pistol came from an estate, and original grips were chucked out with a lot of other ephemera that we gun nuts accumulate. I know I have two closets full of stuff that my son will give the old heave-ho to. I could sell it myself, but I'm sooo lazy.
________________________________________________

Edited from my above post of 09/2021. Bought another Mk II Target for shooting, so this one can rest quietly, waiting for my son to sell it for ten dollars.

 

[Stewboy]

I've been eyeing a Ruger IV for a while now--so glad to see this thread. I've narrowed it down to the threaded bull barrel target, but can't decide between stainless and blue. If they were the same price, I'd go stainless I think. Any strong opinions one way or the other?

 

[diyj98]

I've been eyeing a Ruger IV for a while now--so glad to see this thread. I've narrowed it down to the threaded bull barrel target, but can't decide between stainless and blue. If they were the same price, I'd go stainless I think. Any strong opinions one way or the other?

Stainless will hold up better cosmetically, but I'd say go with whichever one you like the looks of best.

 

[chief38]

I much prefer blued guns myself. While the stainless might take a bit more abuse and be easier to bring back, the blue version is in my opinion easier to shoot outdoors - less reflection. In the case of the Mark 4, I also like the fact that the blued version is about 6 ounces lighter than the stainless version. That is huge for female shooters!

While I do own stainless guns they are all "carry guns" of one sort or another. I've also got several Nickeled guns but the vast majority of my collection is blued steel.

 

[Stewboy]

I much prefer blued guns myself. While the stainless might take a bit more abuse and be easier to bring back, the blue version is in my opinion easier to shoot outdoors - less reflection. In the case of the Mark 4, I also like the fact that the blued version is about 6 ounces lighter than the stainless version. That is huge for female shooters!

While I do own stainless guns they are all "carry guns" of one sort or another. I've also got several Nickeled guns but the vast majority of my collection is blued steel.

Thanks for mentioning the weight issue. It looks like the frame on the Ruger IV blue is aluminum, which I'd forgotten about. The wife finds the 41 a bit of a handful.

 

[chief38]

Thanks for mentioning the weight issue. It looks like the frame on the Ruger IV blue is aluminum, which I'd forgotten about. The wife finds the 41 a bit of a handful.

That made a huge difference to my friend who is a small frame short woman. Quite honestly, I too prefer slightly lighter target pistols. When I bought my Sport/Field barrel for my M41 I was a very happy camper! The 5.5” bull bbl. Was a bit heavier than I cared for. Now I shoot my M41 better than ever

 

[Imissedagain]

Bought my first 22 auto, when I turned 21 in '68, while in the USAF and shooting a Win 52D with the smallbore team.
The Rugers had terrible triggers so I bought a High Standard.

Over the years I never found a Ruger with a decent trigger.
Some years ago the family wanted a full size 22 Auto as we just had some Bobcats.
Ordered a MKIV stainless and the trigger was acceptable.
Have only fired a few boxes with it, modified a 10/22 mount for the DDP, RMR and scopes and put it away.
No need for a trigger upgrade, at the time, so it just sat in the safe for a few years.

Took it out this week, for bi-annual check/oil etc, and noticed that the trigger is really nice.
The Mrs liked it as well.
Will put the RMR or DDP on the MKIV for her.

I'll put the 2x scope or a 3-9x on the 9422 so she can learn to use glass.
Fixed power can be tricky so she'll practice with both before some range time soon.

I loaded some really light loads as she wants to try the 3.5" 460 with irons.
She's shot the Colt GM/45 and her Ruger Sec6 snub over the years.
The K22M was not her favorite with the long barrel and irons.

When I was out of town or country doing marine electronics/computer installs, the Sec6 with six rounds of snakeshot and big Dogs was the home security system.

 

[oink]

I also have a stainless MKIV Target with most of a Volquartsen kit. It did need the kit. The factory rigger was pretty bad as in too heavy. It's a fantastic shooter now.

I also bought a complete Ruger blue factory target upper from Volquartsen for very cheap. I guess they bought a bunch of Ruger pistols for the lowers for their custom guns and so had a bunch of uppers to get rid of. Worked for me. So now I have one upper set up with an optic and one set up with irons. It's all stainless with the one upper and a pinto with the other. Great fun!

You don't need a picture. It looks like a MKIV Target. There is a picture already here somewhere.