I knew it wasn't a Government Model, just somewhat similar. You are probably right about the barrel length.
The Ruger Mark II Government Target Model
- Thread starter PALADIN85020
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Interesting, I didn't realize there was anything special about the Government Target Model. I have one I bought years ago, I thought it was a tad front heavy, but the price was right. It is very accurate and reliable with just about any ammo, but I kind of expect that from a Mark II.
I'm happy to learn it has added value:
I'm happy to learn it has added value:
357-RevolverGuy
Member
Very well written. I may be wrong but I believe the bull barrel also appeared on the somewhat rare 10" Mark II. I do not know if any of those were Goverment Target Model's though.
Both Clark and Volquartsen have made triggers for these. I found an original version of the VQ trigger for my Government model. I wanted the vintage look. The best combo also includes a Clark oversized hammer pin and bushing. I own 7? Ruger Mark or 22/45 pistols, and a few extra uppers. The longer barrel is also to counter muzzle rise. The 6 7/8 Competition slab side or 6 7/8 stainless fluted Hunter model are the pinnacle I believe. They just need the earlier roller burnished chamber.
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Interesting, I didn't realize there was anything special about the Government Target Model. I have one I bought years ago, I thought it was a tad front heavy, but the price was right. It is very accurate and reliable with just about any ammo, but I kind of expect that from a Mark II.
I'm happy to learn it has added value:
I have never seen that style of finger groove grips before.
The Ruger Mark II's have long been one of my favorite handguns . While I don't own the subject of this article the Government Target Model I do own a Competition Target Model and the KMK 678 two of my favorites.
A very well written , interesting and informative article . Good job .
A very well written , interesting and informative article . Good job .
They were sold by Charles Daly years ago and they are for the Standard/MK I model. I adapted them for the MK II by milling out the slot and recess for the slide stop with a dremel and hand tools.
You used to find all sorts of Charles Daly grips at gun shows, but I haven’t seen any in a long time. I think I have a few more sets for revolvers. If I remember correctly, they were made in the Philippines and sold in the 60s or 70s.
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Wee Hooker
Member
This is a 2+ year old thread but I just wanted to point out that this information is still excellent and helpful. It is also the most informative single source of info on the Govt model that I currently Googled' up.
Along with SW revolvers, I once collected Ruger MK series pistols and had "more than a few". Of all those I sold off, the MK II Government model was one that was routinely missed. Not only was it a very accurate pistol but it had beautiful and classic lines. ( The MK II in general being the best of all MK series pistols IMHO anyway.)
Well, I just stumbled onto a clean one at a fair price in a LGS this week. (98%, blued, 2 mags, no box, SN 210-278xx) Nice government models are a pretty rare find these days so it is coming home with me to fill that void. Thanks to @Paladin85020 for taking the time to put this together.
Along with SW revolvers, I once collected Ruger MK series pistols and had "more than a few". Of all those I sold off, the MK II Government model was one that was routinely missed. Not only was it a very accurate pistol but it had beautiful and classic lines. ( The MK II in general being the best of all MK series pistols IMHO anyway.)
Well, I just stumbled onto a clean one at a fair price in a LGS this week. (98%, blued, 2 mags, no box, SN 210-278xx) Nice government models are a pretty rare find these days so it is coming home with me to fill that void. Thanks to @Paladin85020 for taking the time to put this together.
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Congrats on finding another Government Model to replace the one you've sold. I've been on the lookout for one for years, but not willing to pay the GB level prices...so the Target MK IIs I now have (a blue, and a stainless 10"...and a 4" blue) will suffice. BTW, only petty person would complain about how old an informative thread is.
Relevant information Never gets Old if it can help even one person, then it's served it's purpose. We're all here on a forum we find of common interest whether S&W or other. This is the bond we share in this brotherhood, the sharing of information, knowledge and experiences...
.455_Hunter
Member
Apologies to the M41 crowd, but I see no real need to own a full-size .22 autoloader other than the MKII platform. However, my enthusiasm is zero for the MKI, III and IV variants.
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A good friend of mine bought one when they came out, as we were participating in NRA Bullseye Pistol matches in our Club. As it says on the attached article, it was marked "US" and it came with a target that had been shot with the pistol. He sold it for $500 about 10-15 years ago after shooting many thousands of rounds through it, in the original box with all the papers, including the test target. To this day, he regrets selling it.
Attachments
Just curious, but what is the appeal of the MkII over the I, III, and IV? I have a Stainless MkII Govt. model with a 225-84xxx s/n range that I bought back in about 2002. My kids all learned to shoot with it, and it’s still a regular on range trips. My kids all still love to shoot it, though I only see them a few times a year, being spread out over a few states. We must have put over 10K rounds through it at this point, and it’s only had a few hiccups. Mainly FTE’s which I think was due to poor ammo.
Please don't forget to add a reference to "The Ruger Letter", where Bill Ruger betrayed his customers:
After a spate of high profile shootings and incidences with the Ruger Mini 14 rifle, along with a number of unsavory associations the Mini 14 had gained with militias and extremist movements during the late 1970s and early 1980s, William B. Ruger expressed a highly unpopular position (amongst firearms owners, users and enthusiasts) by stating his personal views on the "sporting" nature of certain firearms.
In his letter to members of the House and Senate on 30 March 1989, Mr. Ruger stated in that which has come to be known as "The Ruger Letter":
The best way to address the firepower concern is therefore not to try to outlaw or license many millions of older and perfectly legitimate firearms (which would be a licensing effort of staggering proportions) but to prohibit the possession of high capacity magazines. By a simple, complete, and unequivocal ban on large capacity magazines, all the difficulty of defining "assault rifles" and "semi-automatic rifles" is eliminated. The large capacity magazine itself, separate or attached to the firearm, becomes the prohibited item. A single amendment to Federal firearms laws could prohibit their possession or sale and would effectively implement these objectives.
In addition to the furor amongst hunters, sportsmen and shooters caused by "The Ruger Letter", Mr. Ruger made additional comments during an interview with NBCs Tom Brokaw that angered 2nd Amendment proponents even further, by saying that "no honest man needs more than 10 rounds in any gun…" and "I never meant for simple civilians to have my 20 and 30 round magazines…"
Ol' Billeh is long gone, but his legacy of banning magazines continues unabated.
After a spate of high profile shootings and incidences with the Ruger Mini 14 rifle, along with a number of unsavory associations the Mini 14 had gained with militias and extremist movements during the late 1970s and early 1980s, William B. Ruger expressed a highly unpopular position (amongst firearms owners, users and enthusiasts) by stating his personal views on the "sporting" nature of certain firearms.
In his letter to members of the House and Senate on 30 March 1989, Mr. Ruger stated in that which has come to be known as "The Ruger Letter":
The best way to address the firepower concern is therefore not to try to outlaw or license many millions of older and perfectly legitimate firearms (which would be a licensing effort of staggering proportions) but to prohibit the possession of high capacity magazines. By a simple, complete, and unequivocal ban on large capacity magazines, all the difficulty of defining "assault rifles" and "semi-automatic rifles" is eliminated. The large capacity magazine itself, separate or attached to the firearm, becomes the prohibited item. A single amendment to Federal firearms laws could prohibit their possession or sale and would effectively implement these objectives.
In addition to the furor amongst hunters, sportsmen and shooters caused by "The Ruger Letter", Mr. Ruger made additional comments during an interview with NBCs Tom Brokaw that angered 2nd Amendment proponents even further, by saying that "no honest man needs more than 10 rounds in any gun…" and "I never meant for simple civilians to have my 20 and 30 round magazines…"
Ol' Billeh is long gone, but his legacy of banning magazines continues unabated.
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I, too, have a Stainless MkII Competition Target model but with a 218-26161 serial number. I got in 1994, and at the same time purchased a Volquartsen Trigger Kits. For some reason, I never installed it. I may have misplaced it, because I actually found it in a box of unrelated stuff a couple of years ago. Still haven’t installed it, but probably should do so. Do any of you folks use this kit?
Larry
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Patrick L
Member
Nice work!
I don't have a government target, I just have a 5 1/2" bull barrel. I agree I think the Mk II's were the best. I also agree that the trigger reset was the only thing I really had to complain about. I solved the problem by installing a Clark trigger and drilling and tapping a set screw into the front top of the trigger guard which limited.How far the trigger came forward.
I don't have a government target, I just have a 5 1/2" bull barrel. I agree I think the Mk II's were the best. I also agree that the trigger reset was the only thing I really had to complain about. I solved the problem by installing a Clark trigger and drilling and tapping a set screw into the front top of the trigger guard which limited.How far the trigger came forward.
A very good article. I like the fact that the point of reference is that the author came to appreciate the Ruger from the standpoint of formal marksmanship training and competition. Some of the replies, which lack this important perspective, are quite telling, in particular regarding the sad state of marksmanship that exists today. The reference one respondent makes to the "Ruger Letter" is totally pointless to the original topic.
The Mark 2 locked the bolt open after the last round while the Mark 1 didn’t.The Mark 3 has a magazine release like a 45 but it also won’t fire without a magazine in it.That feature causes a rather ****** and creepy trigger which the VQ kit is supposed to fix. I thought the VQ kit just gave me a very light and creepy trigger in my Mark 3. I’ve since replaced it with an early 50s standard and an early Mark1 target with a trigger job and target grips. I shoot the early standard the best out of the rugers I’ve had (and my pre 18!). I think it’s the fine sights,nice balance and fairly decent trigger that do it for me.
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Hairtrigger
Member
STORMINORMAN
Member
Co-Inky-Dink, or not...?
After reading this thread twice I went to the range yesterday and shot my SS MKII Target for the 1st time in months: with the Vortex Venom (on a picatinny right grip panel mount) it continues to amaze me with its excellent performance and accuracy using both the HP & Solid Points from Aguila!
Cheers!
After reading this thread twice I went to the range yesterday and shot my SS MKII Target for the 1st time in months: with the Vortex Venom (on a picatinny right grip panel mount) it continues to amaze me with its excellent performance and accuracy using both the HP & Solid Points from Aguila!
Cheers!
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