First firearm experience - Ruger 22/45 Mk III

[Ktzero3]

I purchased a new Ruger 22/45 MK III as my first firearm from Reed's in Santa Clara. I bought the gun before the shooting but the shop was still rather busy due to holiday season. This being my first gun purchase, Reed's approach to customer service was rather interesting. Their policy seemed to focus on 1-on-1 interactions. Even if they had a line of people waiting, each salesperson would only deal with one customer at a time and not multi-task even when that customer simply wants to check out 20 different guns or is filling out paperwork. Is this standard?

I picked up the gun yesterday and rented a lane to to try it out.

In my first few shots I experienced jam after jam using Winchester SuperX 40gr RN loaded with a Ultimate Clip Loader. The slide would not close all the way and it would get stuck on the round. After racking the slide to eject the round it would be very clearly dented in the brass midsection from the bolt. I swapped to CCI Standard Velocity and had the same results. I decided that the problem was the UCL and hand loaded the magazines. It seemed to alleviate the problem.

Or maybe it was just the first few rounds.

Prior to firing the gun I attempted to pull the bolt back and it was VERY stiff. There was a lot of resistance in the middle of the bolt pullback action which smoothed out somewhat after many bolt pull-backs. The slide release button is also incredibly hard to press. It's impossible to pull the button down to release the bolt. I've had multiple grown men attempt this to no avail. You MUST pull the bolt back, then press the button down to rack a round, and even then it's moderately difficult and somewhat painful for the thumb. Sometimes I have to hold the gun with my left hand and use my left thumb for the slide release while using my right hand to hold the bolt back. Is this normal? Is there a cure?

I was able to fire all 100 rounds of the hand loaded CCI SV without issue, and then swapped back to the Winchester SuperX using the UCL and had no issues either. I finished off with 50 rounds of Remington Thunderbolt, once again flawless.

The other possibility is that I didn't fully insert the magazine into the receiver. I discovered that the magazines didn't seat well only after I left the range and played with the gun more at home.

Speaking of playing with the gun more at home... I field stripped and cleaned the 22/45 last night and it took me ~4 hours. I got snagged up on forgetting to insert/remove the magazine a few times, but for the most part it took so long because the parts were on so tight. I didn't have a rubber/plastic hammer and had to make do with a metal hammer and wood.

I had to use a wooden dowel to hammer out the bolt stop and I had to use a block of wood to hammer out the barrel. I used a plastic jag with a piece of flannel cloth to clean the bore and the plastic jag broke within the barrel... so I had to use another wooden dowel (read: chopstick) to hammer that out too. Ugh. I actually had to use the chopstick to hammer the bolt stop back in, but the barrel went back in OK without hammering.

I'm not sure what the hell I would've done had I not had wooden chopsticks and boards lying around. I don't think having a rubber/plastic mallet would've helped me get the plastic jag and bolt stop in/out of the gun.

I think that I could get used to the magazine insertion/removal for disassembly/reassembly, but I ordered a modified bushing anyway so changing the magazine at the range won't be as painful. Hopefully my experience will help someone out in the future.

DEATH TO PLASTIC JAGS!

[SGVsportshooting]

I heard ruger does not need to be stripped at all.

[fullspeed1]

Get a replacement hammer bushing, and get rid of that Mag disconnect. It makes the Ruger way more enjoyable

[CGT80]

I have the Mk III hunter. Sometimes it takes a minute or so to put it together and sometimes it takes 20 minutes. Mine is stock. I don't take it apart more than a couple times per year. They are tight and slightly rough at first. Some use and tear down/reassembly will help. Others have deburred/polished the inside parts of their gun. Upgrading my trigger is on my to do list. Mine has at least a couple thousand rounds through it, and it works just fine with the cheap bulk ammo. That is why I bought it, well other than for it's great looks.

I originally wanted a polymer 22 to match my XD pistol. I learned that the Ruger was a slam dunk for reliability and the polymer, or center fire look a likes, were not always as reliable with bulk ammo.

I used a rubber mallet on my gun before, but now I can take it apart with only a tool to open the lever on the back of the grip. Give yours some TLC and some use and see how it goes.

[atto]

The slide release button is also incredibly hard to press. It's impossible to pull the button down to release the bolt. I've had multiple grown men attempt this to no avail. You MUST pull the bolt back, then press the button down to rack a round, and even then it's moderately difficult and somewhat painful for the thumb. Sometimes I have to hold the gun with my left hand and use my left thumb for the slide release while using my right hand to hold the bolt back. Is this normal? Is there a cure?

My 22/45 was like that for the first ~750 rounds. I don't know exactly when the problem was "cured" but last time I went to the range I loaded a mag (with the bolt already locked open) and then used my thumb to press the slide release down and the bolt/slide flew forward.

I think these guns are, as you mentioned, built really "tight" and just need to be broken in.

Edit: I always hand load my mags with bulk Federal/Winchester ammo (bricks) and haven't had a FTE.

[Don the savage]

My 22/45 was brutal to field strip. Removing the mag disconnect is a huge improvement. Also it needs to be fired. Unlike most rugers the tolerances are pretty tight so it needs to be shot after 500 rounds or so it will function better. Also .22s are notoriously ammo dependent. Some will eat anything others are finicky.