Ruger Standard (and Mk1/2/3) disassembly is easy

[John Browning]

I heard the horror stories forever...the Ruger Mark series is great except disassembly is a nightmare.

Lies.

All lies.

I was looking for a GSG 1911CA locally, but just couldn't find one. As luck would have it, I found a 1966 Standard at Cabelas and picked it up instead. Boy, was that the right move. It is my favorite .22 plinker at the moment, dethroning my Smith 4in 617 and Buckmark 5.5 Field. It balances great, it is super accurate, the trigger is nice and it feels like a real gun. No Zamak/Zinc/Pot Metal to be found.

Anyway, don't believe the lies about the disassembly struggles. I've only had it a week and I can take it apart and put it back together in no more than a minute. The Mark series is a fantastic pistol. I really am digging this Standard and see no reason to upgrade to a Mk1, MkII, MkIII or MkIV.

[SkyHawk]

Wow, what steal on that pistol especially if you had 20% off GCs on you. I need to get back up to Reno before I blow all my gift cards.

I never had a problem breaking down my MkIIIs either, but I gotta say that my MkIV is sweet with that push button takedown. Night and day difference.

[John Browning]

Wow, what steal on that pistol especially if you had 20% off GCs on you. I need to get back up to Reno before I blow all my gift cards.

I never had a problem breaking down my MkIIIs either, but I gotta say that my MkIV is sweet with that push button takedown. Night and day difference.

I'm all into it for $220 after tax, registration, etc. Cabela's had it for awhile and gave me a good deal on it. Very happy customer.

[Garv]

I heard the horror stories forever...the Ruger Mark series is great except disassembly is a nightmare.

Lies.

All lies.

Anyway, don't believe the lies about the disassembly struggles. I've only had it a week and I can take it apart and put it back together in no more than a minute.

You are absolutely right, taking it apart is not difficult!

Putting it back together is a different story.

I am going to presume you have never done a brand new one.

Lining things up and forcing the rod back up can be a PITB.
(No pun intended).

My Mark III is just getting easier after about 4 or 5 tries.

Owned:
Standard taper
Mark II taper & 10" Bull
Mark III 6" taper

Mark IV when I move to a free state.

Congrats.

[John Browning]

You are absolutely right, taking it apart is not difficult!

Putting it back together is a different story.

I am going to presume you have never done a brand new one.

Lining things up and forcing the rod back up can be a PITB.
(No pun intended).

My Mark III is just getting easier after about 4 or 5 tries.

Owned:
Standard taper
Mark II taper & 10" Bull
Mark III 6" taper

Mark IV when I move to a free state.

Congrats.

I don't see any difficulty in putting it back together as long as you understand what's going on inside with the hammer and hammer strut. This one is just about new. It isn't a Glock, but if you've ever disassembled and put together an Auto-5, a Colt Lightning, any revolver ever made, or any other of a dozen guns that I own that are more difficult, you can do a Mk1.

Don't believe the lies people! The Mk owners are just trying to keep things a secret.

[Chaos47]

That is a great price for one in CA!
Congrats! I love my MKI 678

[Don the savage]

Once you take all the Kalifornia garbage off a mk3 it goes together pretty easy also.

[Fishwishin]

Hmmm, I'd be interested in knowing the trick. I can never get mine back together until I've spent so much trying that by the time I do get it together it can be considered an accidental success.

[357magnum]

I have owned 5 different models of the Ruger .22 auto pistols, and have never had a problem with disassembly or assembly.
They are one of the best .22 pistols you can own.

[Cody]

Anytime you have to use a mallet to disassemble a firearm it's not good. The Rugers are great guns and can be tack drivers but they could have been designed better from the start. Too bad it took this many years for them to rectify the issue and now Californians can't even take advantage of it.

[RawHP]

Hmmm, I'd be interested in knowing the trick. I can never get mine back together until I've spent so much trying that by the time I do get it together it can be considered an accidental success.

The only real trick is inserting the bolt stop while the muzzle is pointing down and the hammer is forward (you have to pull the trigger to let the hammer move forward), then rotating so the muzzle is pointing up, so the hammer strut drops so it aligns with the pocket in the mainspring housing while you're closing it.

[John Browning]

Anytime you have to use a mallet to disassemble a firearm it's not good. The Rugers are great guns and can be tack drivers but they could have been designed better from the start. Too bad it took this many years for them to rectify the issue and now Californians can't even take advantage of it.

You don't need a mallet.

The only real trick is inserting the bolt stop while the muzzle is pointing down and the hammer is forward (you have to pull the trigger to let the hammer move forward), then rotating so the muzzle is pointing up, so the hammer strut drops so it aligns with the pocket in the mainspring housing while you're closing it.

This is the trick. Hammer has to be in cocked position when you're pulling out the bolt. Hammer has to be in fired position once bolt is put back in. Once mainspring pin is back in with muzzle down and hammer down, rotate handgun muzzle up and hammer strut will fit into mainspring housing. Close up. Done.

[MyOdessa]

Anytime you have to use a mallet to disassemble a firearm it's not good. The Rugers are great guns and can be tack drivers but they could have been designed better from the start. Too bad it took this many years for them to rectify the issue and now Californians can't even take advantage of it.

Just have to ask - How do you use mallet to disassemble Ruger.

I have been shooting Rugers since early 1980's and never had an issue taking them apart and putting them back together.

But, I am always willing to learn a new trick.

[Dano3467]

They are very simple to strip & assemble, after first try.

Just don't force anything & you'll be fine.

[Cody]

Just have to ask - How do you use mallet to disassemble Ruger.

I have been shooting Rugers since early 1980's and never had an issue taking them apart and putting them back together.

But, I am always willing to learn a new trick.

You don't need a mallet.

Yes sometimes you actually do.
I've owned several and EVERY one of them were so tight that it required a mallet to remove the upper from the lower.
Just like in this instructional disassembly video FROM RUGER FIREARMS.



and another video example (they are all over Youtube).