Ruger Mark II Target

[CLASSIC12]

I just bought this, because you can’t just spend your life shooting AutoMags, Grizzlies, Anacondas and Dirty Harry’s gun

Serial number indicates production in 1990

Eyesore

Not a fan of this look, but I must admit the grip is quite good

Bought it for $ 350, very happy with it, wanted one for a long time.

 

[Fishinfool]

Congrats on a nice find. Great example of a classic .22 pistol. It fits in well with any big bore handgun as a "high water mark" gun. Shoot and enjoy it.

Pictured is my MKII Target, complete with ugly scope and mount. Silly accurate, and a proven game getter.

Larry

 

[Old_Cop]

Old school cool. Around here they are more than what you paid.

 

[silentflyer]

Nice addition to your collection!

 

[mrchick]

Nice gun at a nice price. I have the MKII Gov’t and they are great shooters. Have fun.

 

[LEO918]

The Ruger Mark II is the best of the lot. Mine would be one of the last ones to leave...

 

[Mule Packer]

I agree with what everyone else has said...great gun and plenty accurate! Congrats on your new acquisition!

 

[colt_saa]

Congratulations on your new Family member

I am another fan of the Ruger 22 and MK-II pistols

 

[BB57]

I like my Mk I 678T and my Mk II 512T *almost* as much as my Model 17 and 3rd Model Outdoorsman:

 

[Texas Star]

Mine is stainless, 5.5 inch bull barrel. And I bought the walnut grips.

I published an article on Ruger's .22 auto pistols in the Nov-Dec, 1980, American Handgunner. I know it's available Online, but not how to post a link. Those more knowledgeable have posted the link before and maybe will do that again.

I did a lot of research and that article has some info that I think many here would enjoy knowing and will not find elsewhere. I think the endurance of these guns when owned by shooting clubs in South Africa and in Europe will astound most readers. The magazine includes a large color photo of Ruger .22 No. 1 million. However, it isn't part of my article and may not show in an Online version of that story.

I was surprised to learn that one South African city armed its municipal water supply guards with Ruger .22's! But one correspondent from there thought that a .22 was a little light for shooting dassies/rock rabbits. He had, however, killed a puff adder with his. The puff adder (Bitis arietans) is a very dangerous viper, which probably accounts for the majority of snakebite deaths in Africa. That man had the rare MK I with 5.25 inch barrel. I've never seen one of those in person. I don't think they were ever made in stainless.

The blued MK I in my article went to my ex when we divorced. I got a kitchen table in return. Oddly, the Bianchi holster for that gun won't accept my present stainless MK II. The retaining strap won't quite close.

 

[bigggbbruce]

Mine is Stainless, 'cause keepin' it shiny is Painless..

 

[Texas Star]

Mine is Stainless, 'cause keepin' it shiny is Painless..

I think stainless is especially good on guns that you grip a lot on the bare steel, as with most autos.

 

[Arm]

Yea, the MK II is a great pistol, I'd never give mine up as long as I'm vertical.

 

[Wyo]

Here’s a link to the article. Very informative! https://americanhandgunner.com/1980issues/HND80.pdf

I have one exactly like the OP’s. Gotta lotta rounds through it but it still looks pretty much like new. It ‘s a hoot to shoot!

 

[Eric300]

Nice pistola! Congrats on the new acquisition. Truth be told, I enjoy shooting my .22 rimfire pistols over any of my other handguns. They are just plain fun to shoot.


Ruger MkIV 22/45 Lite

Browning Buckmark 5.5 Field

 

[Faulkner]

When I'm serious about taking out a critter with a .22 LR pistol my MKII Target is the one I usually grab. Probably the best of the MK series Ruger's in my opinion.

 

[Texas Star]

Here’s a link to the article. Very informative! https://americanhandgunner.com/1980issues/HND80.pdf

I have one exactly like the OP’s. Gotta lotta rounds through it but it still looks pretty much like new. It ‘s a hoot to shoot!

Thanks so much! That link is for the entire issue of the magazine. My article begins on page 46, and the One Millionth gun is just ahead of it, in full color. Ruger provided that color transparency and some of the art in my story.

Gosh, that takes me back a ways, although my writing career began with an item in, Sports Afield's Almanac section in about 1973. I haven't written professionally since 2011, but enjoy browsing those old stories. In all, I published around 5,000 articles in a variety of books, newspapers, and magazines. Getting a computer made the typing and mailing much easier.

 

[ruger 22]

Great find. The Mark1 and Mark11 are my very favorites of the Ruger 22's. I use my old Mark1 often and have never found a handgun that points so naturally. If it wasn't for my love affair with my 17-1's finish and machinery the Mark1 would still be my number one go to gun as it was for over 40 years. It is now very heavily worn and will be, along with my 17-1, the very last to go.

 

[Warren Sear]

I am still disgusted by the way Bill Ruger betrayed supporters of the Second Amendment who made him rich, but he did make an excellent .22 pistol. I have had four or five, including "target" versions, but this is my favorite, and the only one I kept. Purchased in the early '90s as I recall.

 

[D Brown]

Ruger Mark II's

I currently have two Ruger Mark II's. I've had a lot more in the past, and of course, have Mark III's and a Mark IV, but these two Mark II's are definitely my favorites.

Stainless Target 5 1/2" Barrel

Ruger Model 00149 Standard Auto 4" Barrel Blue (50th Anniversary Edition)