Your experience with the Ruger Mark II Semi-auto .22 handgun?

[PBSmith]

Looking for comments about its accuracy, dependability, any quirks.

I'm interested in the taper barrel models, both target version with tapered barrel and adjustable sights, as well as the four-inch, fixed sight model.

Look forward to your comments. Thanks.

[Thumbcocker]

I had a Mark 2 target with the 6 7/8" barrel that taught me to shoot handguns. I killed a truckload of squirrels with it in the late 70's through the 80's.

On a good day I could hit a penny within 3 shots at 20 yards. I traded it in in a 51/2" stainless model that was a good gun but that old 6 7/8 shot like a rifle. I still miss it. I traded the 5 1/2" on a k22 and it shoots as well as the old gun did but I still miss it.

I put a lot of shells through it and it was very reliable with Remington gold hollow points and CCI mini mags.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[JimB..]

Fabulous gun, very reliable and plenty accurate for plinking and a bit more. Only common complaint is about the disassembly and reassembly, it takes some practice but isn’t hard.

The bull barrel looks better IMO, but I like the balance of the longer tapered barrel.

Mag release is in the heel which you may find unusual or inconvenient. It was relocated in the mkiii and mk iv.

[oldhenry]

I have one in the 5 1/4" heavy taper. I couldn't be happier. Apparently I was one of the few that liked that length/heavy taper as it was discontinued.

It is more accurate than I & is stone reliable (if kept reasonably clean). The trigger & sights are not quite as good as my High Standard Supermatic (7.5 fluted bbl.), but I haven't found anything that measures up to the HS in trigger/sight department. On the other hand the Ruger is far more reliable & forgiving of different brands & differing quality of ammo than the HS (it'll feed anything).

I did install a Volquartson (spelling?) trigger recently & that put the trigger very close to the HS.

I had one of the original $37.50 models & Like a fool I traded it for something (can't remember for what now). It was the 4" (slightly over 4") light taper bbl.. It was a great gun.

My son in law has a MK II with the 6 7/8" heavy taper bbl. & it has been very reliable. He tips over the IHMSA RF pigs @ 50 yds. off-hand with boring regularity.

IMHO you can't go wrong with a MK II in any bbl. length tapered or bull.

Hope this helps.

[ButchC]

I have a Mark 2 22/45 with the 5.5 inch bull barrel and my old man has a 6 7/8 inch tapered original config Mk2. I have found both to be extremely reliable with a good quality ammo and very accurate as well. I feed mine a lot of bulk .22 these days and while it shoots reliably, accuracy suffers a little, these guns will show you the difference in bulk vs quality .22 ammo.

Quirks? Takedown is a real experience. I shot a few bullseye matches for a couple years at my club and the general feedback I got was keep adding oil and shooting. Once things get gummed up too bad to function, then you can worry about taking it down for a cleaning.

If you're looking at shooting "match" and bulk ammo, and trying to wring the most accuracy from both, I'd look for adjustable sights over fixed.

[Scrounge]

Looking for comments about its accuracy, dependability, any quirks.

I'm interested in the taper barrel models, both target version with tapered barrel and adjustable sights, as well as the four-inch, fixed sight model.

Look forward to your comments. Thanks.

I have the fixed sight model, have had it, on and off, since the late 70's. I shot my concealed carry qualification class with it, and have used it for plinking. Keep it clean, it won't jam. I've not found a .22LR cartridge that it won't feed, either. YMMV.

[1006]

I must have had a lemon.

Mine was the Slab Side Target Mark II, the highest priced of the models sold in the MKII days. It would not feed and run. I sent it to Ruger. They tightened the fit between the upper and lower halves. The gun improved, but would still only shoot CCI Mini Mags without jamming, and it shot those at 99% reliably. I was using it for steel plate shooting competition; there were lots of guys with similar issues, but gun remained popular due to the endless hope of improvement through after market modifications. I eventually added some Volquartsen action parts to mine, which greatly improved the trigger.

I sold it after a five year battle, bought 2 Beretta Neos’-a gun at the cheap end of the spectrum, and never had an issue with it feeding or firing.

I view the MKII as the Harley Davidson of 22’s—lots of mods available.

[dswancutt]

I bought a 5.5" heavy barrel new in 1988 or so. I think it was the second handgun I purchased after turning 21. My experience mimics everyone else. More accurate than I am, shoots just about everything that I ran through it, even when the gun is dirty. Putting it back together can be tricky, but not impossible. I switched the front sight out for a fiber optic. I bought a finish challenged one a few years back with the intention of setting it up for a RMR sight so I would have to drill and tap mine. It shoots just as good as the first one.

[Burnt Fingers]

Mark II pistols are junk, absolute garbage. Send them to me for proper disposal.

I've got eight different MK II pistols, still looking for a reasonable priced Great Eight. Everything from a 4" tapered to a 10" bull.

The one I shoot the most??? It's a MK III 22/45 RP model. 5.5" bull barrel. I like the frame mounted mag drop. It's pretty tricked out too.

I've never had a problem with any of the Mark pistols. Mine range from good to outstanding accuracy.

[El Greco]

I had two of them. I only have one now. Accurate like a rifle at short distances. The first one that I don’t have in my possession, the ejector was broken in half but it never stopped performing flawlessly. I didn’t know about the Brocken ejector until I was comparing it with the second one. It is one of most favorite handguns.

[Drm50]

The Ruger series of semi auto 22 pistols are hard to beat, especially for the money. I couldn’t tell you how many I have owned. I’ve never had one with problems. Out of the box they won’t compete with a full blown target gun like S&W 41 or other competition grade pistols. They don’t cost near as much either. For average plinker you can’t do better. I like them better than next competitors the Buck Mark series and new generation S&W Victory.

[Tatume]

My Ruger Mk II and Mk IV are both almost as accurate as my S&W Model 41, and are more reliable than the Model 41. The Rugers will hold their own, and most definitely will compete with high-end target pistols in NRA Precision Pistol competition.

[TNsailorman]

I have had a MK II 22/45 for years now and it is a very reliable pistol. Accurate enough for my abilities too. I don't think I have ever had a failure to fire or a jam with it and I have fired hundreds of rounds thru it. I like Ruger guns but they can be a hit or miss on accuracy and reliability but Ruger will make them good if you simply contact them. Anybody can make a bad rifle/pistol now and then but it's what they do about it that counts with me. The only thing I don't like about my little 22/45 is the takedown and it is challenging to say the least. But Ruger has taken care of that with their new easy takedown models. my experience, james

[Tatume]

Take-down and reassembly of the Mk II is easy if you know how. There are some good YouTube demonstrations.

[Moleman-]

I bought one of the slab sided SS competition target models some time in the early-mid 90's. It's one of the guns that will be among the last that I'd ever let go should the need ever arise. If you can hold them steady and can see they'll shoot better than you thought possible out of a handgun. The only thing mine won't feed well are bullets that have some sort of shoulder in the profile. RN stuff feeds great as long as they don't have a pronounced shoulder right before the driving surface. Some guys have issues with lining up the hammer strut when putting the gun back together, but as long as you watch the strut and make sure you keep it towards the center it's a non issue. There is an aftermarket part that will guide the hammer strut and make assembly easier if you're one of the people that has issues with them.

[TNsailorman]

I know how, having owned several from an old Government 1st model to now. I know many knowledgeable gun people who will challenge your statement of "easy". Doable yes, easy no. Bill Ruger was a great gun designer but he just had to do things different from the norm. Just a little quirk of his. If the takedown was easy, Ruger would not have changed the design under pressure from both buyers and competition. Try taking one down with arthritic hands and you finding yourself wishing Bill had just copied the Browning or S&W 41 style takedown. james

[nhithaca]

My father bought an early red eagle 4" fixed sight gun in the early '50s and used it to shoot running jack rabbits in front of the beagle. We were not allowed to use shotguns (but could use 22 rifles) as it would not be sporting or "fair" to the rabbits. Unfortunately, he traded it for a later version (still the early gun) that was not as accurate as the original. Later, he bought my brother a 6" fixed sight gun (Mk II) and I bought a blued Mk II 5.5" bull barrel. Over 10,000 rounds through my gun with no issues. I did install the full Volquartson kit in my gun and the trigger is really quite good. Also drilled and tapped it to fit the factory Ruger type ring base which fits right down in behind the rear sight. Looks normal.

[nhithaca]

And, I have to add that I would never buy the Mk III with that weird swinging cartridge indicator; talk about the Hillary Hole. That thing looks like a swinging gate on a chainlink fence!

[arlon]

I've had a stainless target model for a long time. Little pain to deep clean until you get used to it. I've had a bunch of other 22 target pistols pass through my hands over the years but I still have that Ruger. Never had any issues with it at all. Plenty accurate and consumes most anything I load it with. Also have an original red logo Standard model (early 1951) that has seen a jillion rounds through it. I did finally have to replace the extractor on it a few years ago.

[jonp]

Had the heavy barrel and it was more accurate than I was. I finally got tired of standing on my head trying to get it back together and sold it. I preferred my Single Six which wasn't as accurate but still have to carry anyways. When Ruger came out with the easier to disassemble one I got the Mark IV. Had it a year or so and still haven't shot it and with my eyes getting worse I am looking for a small micro

[frkelly74]

I really like mine, It has never caused a problem and I can take it apart and put it back together and it still works. I took it to the CPL class and they all looked at me like I was an old crazy guy. But I hit all the targets while they were all learning to run brand, un broken in, new 9mm whiz guns . I was pretty happy and as far as I am concerned there is not a gun that is more fun to shoot.

[Tatume]

Here's a video showing how to disassemble and reassemble the Mk II pistol. The portion of the procedure that hangs people up is described beginning at time 4:32. This isn't the best demonstration, it's just the first one I found.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh5eylgiNcI

[35remington]

The records I can find indicate the MK 2 was introduced in 1982. I bought a blued and stainless 5.5 inch heavy barrel pair in around 1990. The stainless got a red dot and the blued remained stock.

Good guns that are decent out of the box, reliable for a 22, and very acceptably accurate. Open the mainspring latch with a loop of twine or fishing line to avoid marring it. Once you learn to let the “dingus dangle” as a reassembly tip you will find they are not hard to take down and put back together.

Since the “upper” is a driven friction fit on the frame I find no good reason to separate it from the grip frame frequently as loosening of the fit could eventually occur depending upon how often you did it.... which means don’t do it often.

Most of what needs cleaning frequently can be accomplished by removing the bolt and spring and going after the interior with a toothbrush and solvent, leaving the grip frame attached.

[Gofaaast]

My MKll slab side is just as accurate as the person behind it. It needs a trigger upgrade to be any better. I had a SS MKll 5.5 bull a friend loaned me years ago for the summer that stove-piped an empty one time out of a few thousand rounds. It was deadly accurate as well and the reason I bought the one I have now. It barely gets shot unless something close on or around the farm needs dispatched or my kids want to shoot it. It’s the only ruger I own and the only ruger I desire to own.

[Cosmic_Charlie]

Those MK II are ubiquitous like an 870 or a Marlin 30 - 30. If you get an accurate one it is worth up grading the stock trigger. I had a couple of 2245s that were good pistols and accurate.

[Bigslug]

Fantastic guns!

The key to disassembly/reassembly is understanding what the parts do - - specifically, that the little dangly thing inside the frame is the hammer strut, and it needs to come to rest on top of the mainspring cap that lives inside the assembly you're installing in the back of the grip. Once you grasp that, figuring out the angle at which to hold things is easy.

The only negative I've ever seen is that NASA will never adopt them because you need gravity to put them back together.:lol:

The MKI didn't have a last round hold open. You can manually lock them open by engaging the safety while holding the bolt back.

The 22/45 was introduced as part of the MKII platform, but added a thumb button mag release and the grip angle of a 1911.

The MKIII added a magazine disconnect and a rather obnoxious loaded chamber indicator. It also added a thumb button mag release to the original contour, metal framed Luger/Nambu grip angle.

The MKIV's claim to fame is simplified disassembly. I believe the loaded chamber indicator is gone, but the mag disconnect safety is still there.

[dverna]

One Mk II and two MK III's....very good gun for the money. You cannot go wrong.

[contender1]

As you can see, by the MANY positive posts about the MKII Ruger semi's as well as the Mark series in general, you can't go wrong with one. Yes, the very rare, occasional "bad" one can escape,, as it will do in ANY manufactured item. But Bill's design is solid, and dependable. Ingenious in design, capable of being built with less expense than competitors, caused Bill to be able to build a large company.
Of the 4 main MK series guns, many people prefer the MKII over the I, or III. The MKIV is still new enough that it hasn't developed the full reputation as the other ones yet. But it's proving itself daily.

The original gun was just a "Standard Auto." Not even a Mark series. the Standard model was a 4", tapered barrel, fixed sighted gun. later, when the target models arrived, they were given the Mark designation. But the 4" & 6" fixed sighted guns were still called "Standard" models.
A redesign in the early 1980's allowed the model to be improved a bit, and was named the MKII. It lasted until 2004, when the MKIII was introduced. And as noted, the main differences were the addition of the loaded chamber indicator, and the mag disconnect safety feature.
The MKIV is an improvement over the MKIII in one big way to most, with it being the easy take down & re-assembly.

But the MKII is still regarded by many as THE main Ruger .22 semi to own.
The (2) models you inquired about are different, in that the big difference is the adjustable sights & barrel lengths.
Both are excellent, but I'd give the edge to the adjustable sight models because you can refine your accuracy with whatever ammo you choose.

[tja6435]

I have 6 7/8” Govt Target model and a 10”, both bone stock. The 6 7/8” has taught more people than I can recall how to shoot a handgun. The 6 7/8” was the first gun my wife ever shot in 2006, she now claims it as hers as it is easy to shoot it accurately.

I bought the 6 7/8” pistol brand new in 2000 for $350. That gun wouldn’t run much more than 400 rounds before it would have constant failure to fires. Once it was broken down and cleaned, it was good for another 400 rounds or so. At some point I ordered a new firing pin and every spring for it from Ruger and replaced them all. That gun will now run 3+ bricks of ammo with zero problems.

[dtknowles]

I have two and think they are great for all the reasons others have stated.

Tim

[Capt.Red.44]

IMHO, the ruger Mark II is one of the absolute best training firearms ever made. I own three of them all heavy target models. And one thats mostly Valquartzen now. The Ar or 10/22 of the pistol world for modification potential. I have taught many freinds and family members how to shoot accurately with them. Only drawback is dissassembly, but once you learn the tilt trick its very simple. Check out Utube for a wonderful video for cleaning and reassembly.

[kaiser]

I've owned a half dozen .22LR Ruger semi-autos of most all of the various models, but prefer the Mark II over all others because:
1) it does not have a magazine "disconnect" (a safety feature looking for a careless shooter IMO)
2) hold open feature that gives you visual firing confirmation
3) better balance with the standard grip and barrel configuration
4) 6" or better length barrel for optimum sighting radius that helps "my" accuracy
The worse design feature of all, but the Mark IV, is the "take down" of the firearm for cleaning. While Bill Ruger was a genius of many firearms designs; his "take down" design was not; thus, this design could be improved upon by other innovators. Such an innovator is a fellow who designed a small "stut" that keeps the "dangly" piece from getting wedged during reassembly. I've seen more Ruger MK I, II, and III's brought in to have a gunsmith reassemble them than for any other reason or brand; usually by a user who had been in the service where every firearm was disassembled on a regular basis. (BTW, the Mk IV came out after Bill Ruger's death.)
I personally believe the Ruger Standard to be one of the best functioning and accurate .22 pistols ever made and still own two. One in a 6" standard and the other in a 6 7/8" Target model.

[AZ Pete]

I have had Ruger MK and Standards since first buying a used Standard in 1968. Reliable as an anvil, and very accurate, with the right ammo. Learn the proper reassembly procedure and enjoy.

[LeonardC]

6 7/8" Government for me. Love shooting the thing. I have to look up how to get it back together, but it's not that big of deal.

There is a "fix" from HammerStrutSupport. I haven't tried it, nor do I know any one that has, but it looks like a quick way to get rid of an "Now how does that go together?" moment.

[rbuck351]

I have 3 MK I targets. one is a 5.5" and a MK II std 6". They all function flawless. The first was a used MK I that I got from a guy that was shooting on a navy pistol team. His father was a home gunsmith and had doctored the trigger and added a trigger stop. The trigger is as good as anything I have shot and it is very accurate. All are very accurate and will feed and shoot any ammo that is not damaged or defective. I recently bought the MK I T 5.5 at a gun show. The guy had taken it apart and couldn't get it back together so I bought it cheap, took it home and put it together.
I prefer the MK I over the II III or IV mostly because of the mag button being on the right side of the mag. My MK II does not hold open after the last shot. I find reassembly to be easy on them and I have done trigger jobs on several and found that to be fairly easy as well.
Anyway, in accuracy they will stand up well against anything within 2 or 3 times there cost with a trigger job and they are about as reliable as you can get. No, they are not in the same class as a Hammerli or Walthers true target pistol but they will shoot better than anyone I have ever shot with.

[FLINTNFIRE]

I have owned 7-8 of the Ruger mkll pistols , first was 6 7/8 barrel tapered target model what a tack driver it was then I went the 5.5 bull barrel it was good also , have owned the mkll 22/45 never warmed up to it , and the slab sided stainless which I really do not care for bright and shiny , Now its a pair of 6 7/8 bull barrels and 1 of the same length tapered .

Great guns and have shot them a lot , had one I bought at a pawn shop had a lead ring in chamber and some of the small parts and extractor had to be replaced , figured someone was shooting longs or shorts till it quit and sold it , a few parts from Ruger and a good cleaning and it was fine .

All of my experiences with them have been good , reliable and accurate , have had buckmarks and they would not run as long between cleanings with dirty cheap ammo , and I liked the buckmarks also , just like any blowback design they get dirty from residue so clean accordingly , the heel release for mag is not a issue to me , do like the last round hold open , now the sights could be a little finer and I do not care for the hook on the front , I like finer sights , but I do realize that they may be more prone to damage .

[45DUDE]

I bought a new MK 1 a year before the MK11's came out. I shoot the bull barrel MK 11 better off hand when target shooting.

[Walks]

Had a MKII Target since they came out in 1982.
Shot 200-300rds a week for the first 2 years I owned it. Only change I made was a set of Pachmayrs without the backstrap. Accurate as the day is long. Wife even likes it.
Cleaning is easy, reassembly is simple.
Just READ the Manual the 1st 100 times you do it.

[Minerat]

I have an 84 vantage MKII that has been shot and taken apart do much that the barrel now separates from the frame when ever you take it apart to clean. It also rattles around on the frame when being use but still shoots as good as I can make it. I decided to keep shooting it till it quits hitting what I aim at and then contact Ruger for repair.

I just got a MKI target with ""Made in the 200th year of liberty" stamped on the top of the barrel of $125. Looks like new but was shot. A MKIII slab side 22/45 and a MKIV stainless hunter with 6" barrel. I likes them all.

[PNW_Steve]

Fabulous gun, very reliable and plenty accurate for plinking and a bit more. Only common complaint is about the disassembly and reassembly, it takes some practice but isn’t hard.

The bull barrel looks better IMO, but I like the balance of the longer tapered barrel.

Mag release is in the heel which you may find unusual or inconvenient. It was relocated in the mkiii and mk iv.

i LOVE my MKII. It is one of my "forever" guns. I will be keeping it forever :)

Disassembly can be quite challenging but reassembling was not a problem. All I needed was a cardboard box, a credit card and a gunsmith....:veryconfu

[HATCH]

I learned to shoot on a Mk1 taper barrel that is as old as I am.
Shot straight and yes if you shot cheap ammo and didn't clean it regularly it would occasionally jam up but that was only after several hundred rounds.

I own 3 Ruger Mk style 22 pistols.

(1) Mk 3 - 22/45 - started out as a 6 inch fluted stainless - its now a 6 inch integrated suppressed
(2) Mk 2 - 22/45 - 4 inch blue bull
(3) MK 2 - with mk3 22/45 lower - 6 inch blue bull

I was given the 6 inch receiver so I located a bolt and grip frame.
All the MK3 lowers have had the mag disconnect removed.
The suppressed has one of the quick takedowns installed. You can remove the bolt without taking the grip frame off of it.
Just remove a allen head bolt and it slides right out.

[Daekar]

I have a MKIII Hunter which is a mixed bag. The sights don't work for me, and it's not uncommon for me to get hit with tiny fragments of... something... when shooting it. It's unnerving. Seems to be accurate, as long as it doesn't jam. Jamming is ammo dependant regardless of how clean it is.

Would be improved by a red dot or scope.

[dvnv]

I have a 4" taper barrel with fixed sights and much prefer my friends bull barrel with adjustable sights for accuracy. I highly recommend adding the Volquartsen trigger.
Great shooting guns.

[Tatume]

I learned to shoot on a Mk1 taper barrel that is as old as I am.
Shot straight and yes if you shot cheap ammo and didn't clean it regularly it would occasionally jam up but that was only after several hundred rounds.

I own 3 Ruger Mk style 22 pistols.

(1) Mk 3 - 22/45 - started out as a 6 inch fluted stainless - its now a 6 inch integrated suppressed
(2) Mk 2 - 22/45 - 4 inch blue bull
(3) MK 2 - with mk3 22/45 lower - 6 inch blue bull

I was given the 6 inch receiver so I located a bolt and grip frame.
All the MK3 lowers have had the mag disconnect removed.
The suppressed has one of the quick takedowns installed. You can remove the bolt without taking the grip frame off of it.
Just remove a allen head bolt and it slides right out.

Tell Ruger it's spitting in your face. They may take it back and repair it. Mention it is a safety concern, as it could injure an eye, even when wearing glasses if they don't have side shields.

[Fishman]

I learned to shoot handgun with my Dad's Mk 1 6 7/8" taper barrel standard model. When I became an adult the first handgun I bought was the Mk2 version of that, lightly used for the princely sum of $125 in 1993. Recently I traded a stainless heavy barrel Mk3 with a leupold 2x on top to my Dad for that original Mk1 because I really wanted it, and he couldn't shoot it well any more. He would have given it to me, and in fact has given me plenty, but everyone needs a semi-auto .22 pistol they can shoot.

I just shot targets with the Mk1, but with the Mk2, I shot a pile of rabbits and a few squirrels with CCI minimags, as well as one unlucky quail that fell to a quick shot using a CCI shot load. Yes those #12 pellets can kill at under 10 yards, and although they don't cycle the action, a quick pull of the bolt and you are reloaded.

Honestly, I've never disassembled any of these pistols, and I've shot them a lot. Flush out the action with a cleaner, scrub and dry, then oil. Maybe I've been lucky but that's all they've ever needed.

If you don't have one, you should get one.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Looking for comments about its accuracy, dependability, any quirks.

I'm interested in the taper barrel models, both target version with tapered barrel and adjustable sights, as well as the four-inch, fixed sight model.

Look forward to your comments. Thanks.

I used a MK II with 6-7/8" taper Target barrel when I shot in a Pistol League in the 1990s (I also used a Ruger P89 for the CF div).
I bought the MK II second hand, but it reportedly had less than a Brick shot through it. The gun was very tight and was difficult to disassemble and reassemble. After the first season of League was over, the gun became worn enough to be easy to dissassemble and reassemble, but wasn't noticeably loose when using it. I used that gun for five years of league shooting, and was in one of the top 3 placings both of the last two years. I loved that gun, it was just a joy to shoot and maintain. The last year of League, they paid cash prizes and I won enough to order a New MK II Government with slab side barrel. I then sold the other MK II. Long story short, I should have kept it :( I miss that worn gun, as the new one is tight like the previous one was when I got it. sadly, I don't shoot 22 much now that the League became defunct, so that gun is still "too" tight.

[rockrat]

I have a MKI 6 7/8". I have put untold thousands of rounds thru it. Think I have cleaned it twice in the 45 years I have owned it, not because it was causing problems, but just because I figured it needed cleaning. Still runs like a champ.
Simple to take apart and put back together.

[1I-Jack]

I've got a Mk II I've owned since '87. Love it. Taught my kids to shoot with it. Even after all the abuse that the kids put it through it's still as accurate as when new. Bought a Mk III SS Hunter years later and just about ruined a mag during disassembly. LCI was nothing but a crud trap. Got rid of the LCI and mag safety after the first two months which improved the disassembly and cleaning but I still prefer the Mk II.

[gwpercle]

Mine was purchased about 15 years ago , second hand . Standard MKII stainless 4" bbl , fixed sights .
It was sent by original owner , to Clark Custom Guns where they did a sweet Target Trigger job , Reliability package and tuned the 4 magazines ... They custom mounted a Millet SP-1 Red Dot sight ... the result was the little ruger turned into a TACK driver ... My S&W model 41 is so jealous ... it wishes it could shoot such tiny groups . I don't know what them boys do to triggers ... but if I ever come into a few extra bucks ... I'm sending the Model 41 to Clark Custom for a trigger job and red dot sight mount .
I had stopped shooting handguns because my aging and failing eyes couldn't see open irons any longer ... the Ruger MKII , trigger job and Red Dot sight made me a contender on the target range again . I have nothing but good things to say about the MKII ... Five Stars !
Gary
I owned a MKI Target for decades so assembly was never a problem for me .

[gwpercle]

I used a MK II with 6-7/8" taper Target barrel when I shot in a Pistol League in the 1990s (I also used a Ruger P89 for the CF div).
I bought the MK II second hand, but it reportedly had less than a Brick shot through it. The gun was very tight and was difficult to disassemble and reassemble. After the first season of League was over, the gun became worn enough to be easy to dissassemble and reassemble, but wasn't noticeably loose when using it. I used that gun for five years of league shooting, and was in one of the top 3 placings both of the last two years. I loved that gun, it was just a joy to shoot and maintain. The last year of League, they paid cash prizes and I won enough to order a New MK II Government with slab side barrel. I then sold the other MK II. Long story short, I should have kept it :( I miss that worn gun, as the new one is tight like the previous one was when I got it. sadly, I don't shoot 22 much now that the League became defunct, so that gun is still "too" tight.

Advice from my Dad ..." Don't ever sell a gun you like ... you will usually regret it ."
My old man gave out some pretty good advice ... and I learned to listen to him .
Gary

[jason280]

I have several, including a Standard 4" tapered, a couple Gov't Model 6 7/8" MKII's, and a bull 4" 22/45. I've never cared much for the "newer" MK III's and such, to me the pinnacle was the Mark II.

[Rodfac]

I bought my first Standard back in '66, $37.50 as I recall, in Colorado Springs. It stayed with me for several years and I gave it to a cousin when I shipped out for my first tour in Vietnam. He liked it as much as I, and still has it.

I didn't replace it till 2015, when I won one in a GB auction. It's the NRA Commemorative Mkll, with the 4-5/8" bbl. It's every bit as accurate as my M41 Smith when fed Mini-Mags, or Federal Auto-Match, (offhand, with me doing the shooting) but will do just fine with about any .22 brand you can name.

It came with a set of imitation ivory stocks that were a bit gaudy for my tastes so I replaced them with a set of Hogues. I've not taken it down for cleaning as yet (~400 rounds through it now), and have had no feeding or jamming issues. I do hose it out with break cleaner once in awhile, and also run a .22 caliber bore snake though it. This effectively keeps the .22 grease/powder residue crud from building up.

Wish it had adj. sights, but the ones on it are easily drifted/filed to fit your favorite load. Too, the trigger isn't much to write home about, but in truth, I shoot it offhand, as well as my M41 Smith...go figure? Also gotta say, it's the hands down plinking favorite with my wife and some non-shooter type friends. Here's the gun and the holster I built for it. For field use, I stuff a cpl of extra mags in my pocket. Rod

https://i.postimg.cc/qvJX8PGp/Ruger_22_Stndrd.jpg (https://postimg.cc/mtnH46qn)

[higgins]

Another vote for the Volquartsen trigger and sear. You will not regret it, and if you're like me you'll be surprised how much better you can hit with it.

[usedtobeyoung]

I got mine in the 80's. It was stupid accurate, and utterly reliable.

[downzero]

Another vote for the Volquartsen trigger and sear. You will not regret it, and if you're like me you'll be surprised how much better you can hit with it.

Just put that same trigger and sear in my MkIII 22/45, and it's incredible.