Ruger MkII Target with heavy barrel

[Checkman]

I own a few Ruger handguns and I've always liked the look of the Ruger .22LR pistol with the heavy 5.5" bull barrel. Actually I've always been partial to the bull barrel configuration in general (regardless of the make and model). However ,even when firearms inventories were fat, the bull barrel Ruger 22 wasn't very common. At least not wherever I happened to find myself. So yesterday I stopped in at a local gun-shop that I have been going to for the past eighteen years. It's one of those eccentric places that only locals and truly dedicated gun folks know about. It's a rather ramshackle set of buildings that have been cobbled together over the years. The signage states that autobody and engine work is done there (also one can buy retreads), but not a mention about gun sales. However if one enters the shop, walks pass the tattooed and bearded gentlemen working on cars, and continues to the door labeled "welcome" one will find a small, but well stocked gun-shop. I walked in a few minutes after they opened and found this Ruger Mk II Target for sale. The price was $375 out the door. Serial number dates it to 1992. I asked how many others folks were looking at it and was advised I was the first customer of the day and the Ruger had been sitting on the shelf for a whopping twenty minutes. I bought it right there and then. It was a sign and who am I to ignore fate?

 

[elm_creek_smith]

I bought one of those years back and put thousands of rounds through it. I still kick myself for selling it.

Sent from my SM-A516V using Tapatalk

 

[Mule Packer]

Congrats on your new purchase. I've had mine for many years and consider it one of the most accurate handguns that I own. Again, congratulations.

 

[misswired]

That's a nice one. Really enjoy the handful or so in the collective. Being really popular in these parts it's impossible to know how many have been passed over. You are really going to enjoy that fine shooter. Being as it is your first Ruger MK series, field strip it and you'll have a winter long project keeping you busy trying to reassemble

 

[Kid Shileen]

I have one in stainless. Thousands of rounds through it with thousands to come. Great find. Your gonna like it.

 

[4barrel]

I have a couple set up for testing different ammo.

 

[mrchick]

I bought one of those new in the early 90’s and still fire it regularly. It’s accurate and fun to use. Nice find!

 

[mikeruns]

I love that gun and sold mine because I have a 4-3/4”” standard MII that is very accurate for my purpose of cans and gophers and teaching new shooters ��

 

[bigmtnman]

Great pick up on that one. That is my answer to "If you could only have one .22 pistol...."
BULL BARREL -- Oh yeah, I like some bull barrel also. Mine is a whole lot of bull

When I first bought this one, I mounted a 3X9 riflescope on it to test ammo. I found out it had no real ammo preference. At 25 yds all ammo was a dime size group ! It's accuracy was the same as my best .22 rifles. I did my own trigger job, and installed a "trigger stop". Oh yeah, I also decided it needed some custom grips.

 

[pittpa]

Great pick up on that one. That is my answer to "If you could only have one .22 pistol...."
BULL BARREL -- Oh yeah, I like some bull barrel also. Mine is a whole lot of bull

The only tapered barrel Mark ll that I'd like to won. I passed up one a year or two ago for $400. Kicking myself.

 

[pittpa]

I own a few Ruger handguns and I've always liked the look of the Ruger .22LR pistol with the heavy 5.5" bull barrel. Actually I've always been partial to the bull barrel configuration in general (regardless of the make and model). However ,even when firearms inventories were fat, the bull barrel Ruger 22 wasn't very common. At least not wherever I happened to find myself. So yesterday I stopped in at a local gun-shop that I have been going to for the past eighteen years. It's one of those eccentric places that only locals and truly dedicated gun folks know about. It's a rather ramshackle set of buildings that have been cobbled together over the years. The signage states that autobody and engine work is done there (also one can buy retreads), but not a mention about gun sales. However if one enters the shop, walks pass the tattooed and bearded gentlemen working on cars, and continues to the door labeled "welcome" one will find a small, but well stocked gun-shop. I walked in a few minutes after they opened and found this Ruger Mk II Target for sale. The price was $375 out the door. Serial number dates it to 1992. I asked how many others folks were looking at it and was advised I was the first customer of the day and the Ruger had been sitting on the shelf for a whopping twenty minutes. I bought it right there and then. It was a sign and who am I to ignore fate?

Bought a blue one one used in 1989, the second gun I owned, less then 6 months after I started shooting. I was invited to join a Bullseye team, but had no appropriate pistol. My friend found if for me, I think for $150. I put an Aimpoint 1000 on it, got a $25 trigger job (2.5#) and was good to go. I shot about 3x/week, reduced practice targets to 80% normal size.
In the 1991 season, I averaged 285.
After I found a newer stainless Gov't model, I sold it to a lady at my club, a very avid shooter.

 

[GypsmJim]

I have a Std., a Mark 1,2,3 and 4. They kinda grow on you.

My Mark 4 is a 5 1/2" bull and my Mark II is a 4" bull. The balance of the 4" is the best.

 

[stansdds]

I have a Mk II Gov't Target, which was the 6 7/8" bull barrel. Very accurate, nice trigger, but very heavy for a 22 LR. Even heavier with a scope using a clamp mount.

 

[walkinghorse]

Bought mine back in the 80's. Stock except for rubber grips that wrap around the front. I added those to make the grip more sticky. Shoots better than me!

 

[rockquarry]

I've had the (MK II ?) Gov't model for more than thirty years along with a MKI 5.5" bull barrel gun that I bought new in 1976. I shoot Bullseye style only and can see no difference in accuracy at 25 yards. It seems the longer barreled Gov't model should be easier to shoot well since it is so muzzle heavy but I have not found that to be the case.

Regardless, the Rugers are only slightly behind my '50s Model 41 S&W from an accuracy perspective.

 

[Arm]

You will really enjoy that pistol, looks well taken care of, will last you a lifetime. I bought mine long time ago, can't for certain tell you how many rounds went down range through that barrel.... never a problem..except when cleaning time comes...LOL

 

[huntsman22]

If you could only have one .22 pistol....BULL BARREL

if only one, it ain't a ruger....

 

[LEO918]

My Ruger MKII is still my favorite .22.

 

[JohnHL]

I purchased a BNIB Ruger KMK678 (Stainless MK II Target Model with a 6 7/8" tapered barrel) back in '87.

I still have it, box, dox, and all.

What a great pistol.

Not long after I got mine, my shooting buddy purchased a BNIB Ruger MK678G (Blued MK II Government Target Model with a 6 7/8" bull barrel).

A few of years ago, my old buddy got sick and needed money.
He "sold" me all of his remaining "gun stuff" (including the Ruger Gov't Model and a 1st Edition S&W M29 "Classic Hunter", both w/box and dox, plus a bunch of ammo, reloading equipment, and miscellaneous gun gear), with the mutual understanding that it would still be all available to him when he recovered.

He never did.

I still haven't shot his old Ruger or Smith, but I recall them being the equals to my Stainless Ruger and my M629 in our informal shooting competitions.

As an aside, I also purchased the M629 from him w/box and dox ( he was finicky that way) back in '87 when he decided to buy one of them new-fangled Model 659 Semi-Autos.

Funny thing about the Ruger Gov't Model, unlike the the Stainless Target pistol, the GM shipped with a Factory Test Target, attesting to its accuracy.

More than twenty years after he acquired the GM, my buddy was looking at the test target and discovered something he had not noticed before.

The included test target was serial numbered to a different GM!

I wonder who got his target?

Great guns, great memories.

Congrats to you, Checkman on your new Bull Barrel acquisition.

John

 

[k22fan]

To the O.P., Checkman, you bought a great gun. The MK series has legions of followers here. My 5 1/2" bull barrel is a MK I. I've never felt the need to buy any more modern than my MK II. Don't be intimidated by all the members writing that reassembly is a P.I. the A. Granted it's not push button and replace barrel like a S&W 41, High Standard or others, but once you get used to reassembling Rugers it's a snap. While I like other brands of .22 autos I do not think any are as popular as the MK series.

By the way, Mule Packer posted a picture of my favorite MK series grips. Buy a second left hand set, store both halves that have thumb rests and install the side from the left hand set that does not have a thumb rest.