Ruger .22 Mark III :: Weapons.com

HISTORY

My Mark III is the grandchild of the primary Ruger pistol in 1949, which was closely influenced by Colt’s 1911-style pistols. (Picture: Ben Philippi/Weapons.com)

William (Invoice) Ruger and Alexander Sturm got down to design and construct the right .22 rimfire pistol again in 1949 in Southport, Connecticut. Invoice Ruger preferred the appears of the Luger pistol, the Japanese Nambu pistol, and the Colt Woodsman. He additionally researched expired patent data for designs he may use to affect the feel and appear of the Ruger Mark I pistol.

Sturm and Ruger realized their design would attraction to hundreds of ex-servicemen house from World Battle II. Additionally they knew the pistol needed to be cheap and top quality. The pistol obtained excessive marks when reviewed by American Rifleman magazine that 12 months, and Ruger’s firearms future was assured. The later Mark III is the topic of my evaluate as we speak.

MY RUGER

Ruger .22/45 Mark III Target Model pistol — The Mark III’s heavier barrel helps with stability and pointability. (Picture: Ben Philippi/Weapons.com)

This pistol matches my grip properly and has the unmistakably good grip angle of the sooner designs. The Mark III’s grip resembles the Colt 1911 and seems like a fragile model of that gun. At a bit over 2 kilos, it’s lighter however has a stable really feel in my hand. It factors naturally, and I can really feel the safe texture of the 1911 checkering in opposition to my palm. The bull barrel’s weight aids on this pointability, steadying my intention.

Hearth controls are copied from the 1911, too. Each the slide launch and the journal launch are on the left facet and straightforward to achieve with my proper thumb. They aren’t reversible, making this a right-hander’s gun, just like the Colt 1911.

SIGHTS

Though the pistol comes with a pleasant micro-adjustable rear sight and blade entrance sight, my previous eyes aren’t what they as soon as have been. No downside – Ruger contains an add-on optical sight rail that I take advantage of to mount my TruGlo Tru-Brite Reflex sight.

Weighing just a few ounces, it initiatives a pink or inexperienced reticle on its 1.25-inch display. It gives a selection of 4 built-in reticles and 5 gentle intensities. Now, I can see!

MAGAZINE & AMMO

The manufacturing unit 10-round metal magazines for this pistol are top quality and straightforward to load. Pull down on the loading button on the left facet to make loading straightforward. The journal is the guts of a semi-auto pistol. It should perform, and it does. Most of my capturing is finished for slow-fire accuracy, however I can rapid-fire and not using a jam.

Ruger .22/45 Mark III Target Model pistol magazine — No jams right here – I can rapid-fire my Ruger with no hangups utilizing the manufacturing unit 10-round magazines. (Picture: Ben Philippi/Weapons.com)

Some .22-caliber semi-auto pistols could be delicate to the ammo of their food plan – not so with my gun. It can shoot standard-velocity and high-velocity .22 LR ammo reliably. CCI Quiet .22 LR ammo fired however didn’t cycle the bolt as a consequence of its low velocity of 750 fps , however that is to be anticipated.

RANGE TIME

Capturing the Mark III Goal Mannequin is a dream. Its set off is crisp, and there’s no felt recoil with standard-velocity ammo. Accuracy is kind of good. At the moment, my targets are soda cans, 2-liter soda bottles, metal plates, and a paper goal.

The water bottles are simply punctured and leak. Transferring to soda cans, they explode properly. Now my favourite: the 2-liter soda bottles. As soon as shot, they bathe soda, and one explodes! Good for the flowers at Space 51.

Heavy metal plates don’t transfer when hit with .22 rimfire, however you possibly can see good grouping. The paper goal additionally reveals good grouping.

‘CAN’ WE KEEP IT QUIET IN HERE?

In contrast to fashionable Mark III Rugers, my pistol didn’t include a threaded muzzle. My native gunsmith minimize my muzzle again a bit and made a flush-fitting muzzle cap that’s almost invisible. My can is the Tactical Options Cascade mannequin that provides 3 ounces to the gun when put in. It’s lower than an inch in diameter, 5 inches lengthy, and invisible whereas sighting.

Tactical Solutions Cascade .22 LR suppressor — The Tactical Options Cascade suppressor brings down the noise stage of the .22 to simply the press of the firing pin. (Picture: Ben Philippi/Weapons.com)

Utilizing standard-velocity ammo, the sound of the gun is decreased to the mechanical click on of the firing pin! This helps in breaking a clear shot and not using a flinch. Though the Cascade is discontinued, Tactical Options of Boise, Idaho, manufactures a greater, newer mannequin as we speak.

Discover that the purpose of intention is considerably completely different with the suppressor added, however this pistol is sighted to be dead-on with the can hooked up. The “milk bottle” formed metal goal at lengthy vary could be hit with two of 4 pictures – spectacular for a 5-inch barrel. Ruger is aware of how you can construct them!