Mark II vs Mark III ???

[ERASER]

I was at a small gunshop last weekend, and saw 3 Ruger Mark II pistols. There was a blued, bare-bones model (supposedly a display model with some wear on the finish--and no manual, so I question the "new-but-a-display item" description)---$195, a stainless model with black grips and, as I recall, a rather long, heavy barrel----$385. The last one was stainless steel, with a long, slab-sided barrel, scope rings and laminated grips with the thumb rest----$475. Each came with one magazine.

I was thinking of picking up a nice .22 for my girlfriend's 13 year old to plink with and these pistols looked attractive to me (well, the stainless ones anyway!)so I came home and checked the Ruger website to see if the gunshop's prices were reasonable. They have Mark III pistols, but no references to the Mark II version (or what the differences are between the two versions).

So, my questions are:

1.) What are the significant differences between the Mark II's and the Mark III's?

2.) What is a reasonable price for these pistols?

3.) What is your opinion of these pistols? Comparable alternatives??

Thanks, in advance, for your time and consideration!!

[JTB]

Originally posted by ERASER
I was at a small gunshop last weekend, and saw 3 Ruger Mark II pistols. There was a blued, bare-bones model (supposedly a display model with some wear on the finish--and no manual, so I question the "new-but-a-display item" description)---$195, a stainless model with black grips and, as I recall, a rather long, heavy barrel----$385. The last one was stainless steel, with a long, slab-sided barrel, scope rings and laminated grips with the thumb rest----$475. Each came with one magazine.

I was thinking of picking up a nice .22 for my girlfriend's 13 year old to plink with and these pistols looked attractive to me (well, the stainless ones anyway!)so I came home and checked the Ruger website to see if the gunshop's prices were reasonable. They have Mark III pistols, but no references to the Mark II version (or what the differences are between the two versions).

So, my questions are:

1.) What are the significant differences between the Mark II's and the Mark III's?

2.) What is a reasonable price for these pistols?

3.) What is your opinion of these pistols? Comparable alternatives??

Thanks, in advance, for your time and consideration!!
mark III has magezine disconnects and loaded chamber Indicators
The blue ones sound right the SS might be a little high but not be raped.
They are good to great guns.

[ERASER]

Thanks for the prompt reply and the great info!!!

I think I might be better-off looking for a Mark III, since it has the loaded-chamber indicator and mag. disconnect.......better safety features for the youngster.

Thanks again!

[JTB]

How big a 13 year old? If you can swing it go for the Hunter model. Fluted barrel high vis sights and a better trigger then most Ruger 22.

[DJ Niner]

Originally posted by ERASER
Thanks for the prompt reply and the great info!!!

I think I might be better-off looking for a Mark III, since it has the loaded-chamber indicator and mag. disconnect.......better safety features for the youngster.

Thanks again! Please forgive my intrusive opinion, but it's better to teach the youngster why and how to properly check a chamber, than to depend on one or more mechanical devices (which may not be there on other models/weapons) to keep himself and those around him, safe. It's FAR better for him to learn that safety is an attitude and a set of procedures that will work with ANY gun in ANY situation, and not a button or lever that he can set and forget, or a mag disconnect that works behind the scenes to magically keep him from doing something dangerous. This breeds complacency, which should NEVER be encouraged when handling a weapon.

(Jumps off soapbox)

And now, back to your regularly scheduled thread.


I think the blued one had a decent price, but the stainless models sounded a bit high, especially now that the newer MK-IIIs are around in good supply. Shorter and lighter is usually better for new shooters, especially kids; lighter is easier to hold steady for long shooting sessions, and shorter means a steadier looking sight picture (long barrels accentuate sight "wiggle"). Blued also means he'll have to help keep it clean, lest it rust or show etched fingerprints in the finish. Good habits start young!

[mouser]

+1 on the blued model - the price is decent, and it's a great gun to learn on (no matter how long you've been shooting :) ).

[ERASER]

Originally posted by JTB
How big a 13 year old? If you can swing it go for the Hunter model. Fluted barrel high vis sights and a better trigger then most Ruger 22.

He's 5'7" and about 160! I like the looks of that fluted barrel and high vis sights!! Is that front sight sturdy enough to take a bump or two?

Thanks again for the insight!

[ERASER]

Originally posted by DJ Niner
Please forgive my intrusive opinion, but it's better to teach the youngster why and how to properly check a chamber, than to depend on one or more mechanical devices (which may not be there on other models/weapons) to keep himself and those around him, safe. It's FAR better for him to learn that safety is an attitude and a set of procedures that will work with ANY gun in ANY situation, and not a button or lever that he can set and forget, or a mag disconnect that works behind the scenes to magically keep him from doing something dangerous. This breeds complacency, which should NEVER be encouraged when handling a weapon.

(Jumps off soapbox)

And now, back to your regularly scheduled thread.


I think the blued one had a decent price, but the stainless models sounded a bit high, especially now that the newer MK-IIIs are around in good supply. Shorter and lighter is usually better for new shooters, especially kids; lighter is easier to hold steady for long shooting sessions, and shorter means a steadier looking sight picture (long barrels accentuate sight "wiggle"). Blued also means he'll have to help keep it clean, lest it rust or show etched fingerprints in the finish. Good habits start young!



Please don't apologize for commenting....afterall, I asked for it! I came here because I wanted knowledgeable opinions. I thank you for your thoughtful and well-reasoned opinion. What you posted makes a lot of sense.

[noway]

I'll personally wait and look for a Mk11. Much better imho and costs are only raising on them. Some even say they are easier to take aprt than the MkIII.


fwiw: I bought my slabside SS for right at $460 with tax and shipping. Never looked back it was a good price. My other SS model was bought at $320.00 new and sold it for $350,oo used jusr recently. The buyer had no problems paying 350.00 dollars for it either. The MkII is nolonger offered by ruger and hence alot of people still want them so the prices remain high and availability low.


here's mine, Both are Mk2s.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d200/kenfelix/22LR/678gc.jpg

and the model I just sold.


http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d200/kenfelix/ruger512.jpg

btw: the scope/ring and slabside starts to weigh more than a brick if you planning on hunting with it. The extra weigh can help on recoil and but the std round bull bbl would be my #1 pick if I had todo it over again. Too bad they don't have a std bull barrel model in 6 7/8" w/scope rings :sad:

[JTB]

Originally posted by ERASER
He's 5'7" and about 160! I like the looks of that fluted barrel and high vis sights!! Is that front sight sturdy enough to take a bump or two?

Thanks again for the insight!
Yes the Hi vis is sturdy enough plus they give you six inserts red and green and three sizes each. The only problem is using gun scrubber but the insert is removable..
To answer the assembly issue I own both the the Mark III is slighty more diffcult to reassemby.

[DJ Niner]

Originally posted by noway
...
The MkII is nolonger offered by ruger and hence alot of people still want them so the prices remain high and availability low. I hadn't considered the "I don't like the MK-III design so I'll buy a MK-II" aspect; with that in mind, perhaps the prices for the SS guns weren't really out of line.

[noway]

I vouch that if I find another SS M2 I will buy it as an investment. Sooner or later you can sell it and they are easy to sell cause alot of people are looking for them.


I got mind and sold it and wish I had kept it a little longer, when ruger delisted the Mk2 from it's catalog :sad:, it drove the prices up.

[Catbird]

I have a MKII and a MKIII. I prefer the MKIII primarily because of the magazine release button as opposed to the MKII's heel release. I don't mind the MKIII's loaded chamber indicator - to me, it's a non-issue. Just for fun, I removed my MKIII's magazine disconnector, although it didn't really bother me because it doesn't affect trigger pull or anything else for that matter. Some people feel that the MKIII is MUCH harder to field strip and reassemble than the MKIIs - I don't find that there's that much difference.

The out-of-the-box trigger is pretty nice - crisp and 3lbs. 11 ozs. I have a Volquartsen target sear on order which, when I install it, will bring the trigger pull down to approx. 2 lbs.

Here's my short-barreled 22/45 MKIII HUNTER:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/Catbird1/DSCN0740-1.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y115/Catbird1/DSCN0736-1.jpg

[ERASER]

Well, yesterday I went and bought the Mark II Government Target Model in stainless steel with the 6 7/8" bull barrel. I just finished disassembling, cleaning and reassembling the pistol. It's a very solid feeling hunk of steel. I hope to get to the range next weekend and try her out!


p.s.: I told my girlfriend that I HAD to buy it because:

1.) Shooting my PPK for more than a box or two of ammo causes minor bruising and soreness in the web of her hand. The heavy Ruger with the larger grip and the .22 LR round was really for HER comfort.

2.) Her son's name is Mark. Son = Mark I, Pistol = Mark II. It was fate!!!

3.) Buying .22LR ammo is bound to be cheaper than buying the firing range's .380 at $15 a box, so she can shoot MORE!

So far, she's said that she really likes it but that I didn't need to spend the money on a pistol for her to shoot. Heck, she doesn't know it but I plan on doing a lot of the shooting!!

The bottom line....thanks to you guys I have a VERY nice pistol which will go to Mark I when the proper time comes. I'm sure he will come to appreciate it a lot.

Thanks again guys.

[DJ Niner]

:animlol: :rofl:

I enjoyed the "explanation!"


Great gun, I predict you're ALL gonna love it!

[El_Ron1]

Originally posted by ERASER
Well, yesterday I went and bought the Mark II Government Target Model in stainless steel with the 6 7/8" bull barrel. I just finished disassembling, cleaning and reassembling the pistol. It's a very solid feeling hunk of steel. I hope to get to the range next weekend and try her out!


p.s.: I told my girlfriend that I HAD to buy it because:

1.) Shooting my PPK for more than a box or two of ammo causes minor bruising and soreness in the web of her hand. The heavy Ruger with the larger grip and the .22 LR round was really for HER comfort.

2.) Her son's name is Mark. Son = Mark I, Pistol = Mark II. It was fate!!!

3.) Buying .22LR ammo is bound to be cheaper than buying the firing range's .380 at $15 a box, so she can shoot MORE!

So far, she's said that she really likes it but that I didn't need to spend the money on a pistol for her to shoot. Heck, she doesn't know it but I plan on doing a lot of the shooting!!

The bottom line....thanks to you guys I have a VERY nice pistol which will go to Mark I when the proper time comes. I'm sure he will come to appreciate it a lot.

Thanks again guys. Good move. You could always buy him a Mark I and use the MarkII yourself. Or get a Standard and fight over it.:thumbsup: :supergrin:

[ERASER]

Well........I have a friend with a mint-condition Colt Woodsman....the one with the heavy, block-like barrel. He's looking to sell it. He's asking $400. It might just be too good to pass up!

[Blitzer]

Originally posted by ERASER
Thanks for the prompt reply and the great info!!!

I think I might be better-off looking for a Mark III, since it has the loaded-chamber indicator and mag. disconnect.......better safety features for the youngster.

Thanks again!

I.M.O.

After years of being around machinery I have found that training is the ultimate safety, not more complicated machines.

:thumbsup: ;)

....Fearful men, particularly those who are afraid of guns, can never be
victorious no matter how much 'training' they've received."

"Those that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." Ben Franklin, (1759)

[USMC03Grunt]

I know this is kind of old information and maybe ruger has fixed this problem by now but a couple years ago, there were problems with the loaded chamber indicator on the Mk-III. Seems one shooter found that a sharp blow on the indicator could fire a round without having ever pulld the trigger. He managed to get 3 out of 5 rounds to go of by hitting the indicator with a mallet and had the pictures of the brass on several web sites. It would also make sense that this is possible since I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that the indicator rests on the rim of the .22 rimfire cartridge in the chamber. :shocked: In any event, I've got a Mk-II and I haven't seen the need of swapping it off for a newer Mk-III with the extra lawyer-approved safety gadgets.

[Imshootin]

Great choice. One of my three Ruger 22's is the same model and it is a very nice firearm, indeed. You mentioned in the original post that all three firearms came with one magazine. It's a moot point now but one thing I didn't see anyone else touch on is that both of my MKII's came with 2 magazines. All current Rugers come with 2 magazines as far as I know. If it was new and didn't come with 2 magazines, I'd go visit the seller and ask him where your second magazine is. Sorry I didn't find this post before you purchased.



[QUOTE]Originally posted by ERASER
[B]Well, yesterday I went and bought the Mark II Government Target Model in stainless steel with the 6 7/8" bull barrel. I just finished disassembling, cleaning and reassembling the pistol. It's a very solid feeling hunk of steel. I hope to get to the range next weekend and try her out!

[ERASER]

I'm sorry....I meant to say that they each came with one extra magazine. Thanks for catching the error and being concerned that I might have been "short-changed"!


Originally posted by Imshootin
Great choice. One of my three Ruger 22's is the same model and it is a very nice firearm, indeed. You mentioned in the original post that all three firearms came with one magazine. It's a moot point now but one thing I didn't see anyone else touch on is that both of my MKII's came with 2 magazines. All current Rugers come with 2 magazines as far as I know. If it was new and didn't come with 2 magazines, I'd go visit the seller and ask him where your second magazine is. Sorry I didn't find this post before you purchased.



[QUOTE]Originally posted by ERASER
[B]Well, yesterday I went and bought the Mark II Government Target Model in stainless steel with the 6 7/8" bull barrel. I just finished disassembling, cleaning and reassembling the pistol. It's a very solid feeling hunk of steel. I hope to get to the range next weekend and try her out!