Ruger MKIII Hunter

[TheDeltaForce]

I was originally eying up the same pistol as yourself, the MKIII Hunter with fluted barrel.

TALO makes a blued model with these incredible target grips that I highly recommend. (Altamont makes them).




I myself fell in love with the MKIII 5.5 Target model. I replaced the loaded indicated piece with a S.S. filler, have a Volquartsen sear in it, and Clark bushing and Clark target trigger. Rosewood target grips are from Altamont.

Me like.




- The Delta Force

[BlueDog333]

I have both the 5.5 inch, blue, bull-barrel target and the stainless steel, competition, "slab side". The SS gun comes apart like it should. For the blued gun, I have to use a 1/4" brass pin punch and hammer to drive out the bolt stop pin. And really wack the back of it with a 2 pound dead blow hammer to get the receiver off the frame.

I had to do somthing similar, I just used a hammer with one plastic and one rubber end to tap the bolt stop pin out with, no punch necessary. I used the rubber end and it comes out no problem. Now that it's thankfully broken in I don't need any tools to help to take it down. I only have the Davidsons fluted barrel Hunter model though not a target model.

[TheDeltaForce]

I had to do somthing similar, I just used a hammer with one plastic and one rubber end to tap the bolt stop pin out with, no punch necessary. I used the rubber end and it comes out no problem. Now that it's thankfully broken in I don't need any tools to help to take it down. I only have the Davidsons fluted barrel Hunter model though not a target model.

I have about 900 rounds thru mine now, and it is finally breaking in enough that I don't need to whack the back with a wooden mallet, it just comes apart with some applied pressure. I'm glad; there is just something wrong with having to whack a pistol with a mallet to get it apart!!!! 9-10 times of take-downs seems to have done the job thankfully.

- The Delta Force

[rogervzv]

I have about 900 rounds thru mine now, and it is finally breaking in enough that I don't need to whack the back with a wooden mallet, it just comes apart with some applied pressure. I'm glad; there is just something wrong with having to whack a pistol with a mallet to get it apart!!!! 9-10 times of take-downs seems to have done the job thankfully.

- The Delta Force

That was about my experience. After about ten take-downs, my Mark IIIs no longer require the mallet and can be disassembled with no tool other than a screwdriver to pry the mainspring out of the grip. My Marks are actually among the easiest pistols to strip and clean.

[ZNiner]

It's been over two weeks since I ordered and paid for my MKIII Hunter. I called the shop yesterday to see if it came in yet and it seems like the supply has dried up on these guys. Not sure when I will be able to start the DROS on my gun.

[scfrogmansc]

I just picked mine up on 3/13/2012, today 03/15/2012 i have already put 1200 round through it, tried all kinds of ammo with no problem, I am running a red dot sight and a 4x scope too! I LOVE THIS GUN!!!!!!!!!

[proclone1]

My Mark III Hunter is one of my very favorite firearms. Truly a work of industrial art. It will eat any kind of .22 ammunition and never jam, and it is accurate besides.

I'm also in the market for a .22 semi-auto pistol. Is there a single Ruger mkIII or Browning BuckMark model that is both great out-of-the-box (fewest jams & long-lasting) that also balances with ease of tinkering & being able to replace/upgrade parts? I imagine the plain MkIII would probably fit that goal, but is there a model designation just above the base model that one would want to spring the extra $$ for because of special capability?

I'm a total newbie to .22lr pistols, but looking to buy just 1 for (in order of preference):
A) fun plinking & cheap trigger-training time
B) Out of the Box reliability & durability
C) Ability to customize & tinker with at a later time
D) not break the bank!

It's obvious that I need to do more researching about the various models and in particular, what people new-to-.22 pistols soon realize that they want to tinker & upgrade with, and had they known what they wanted to do before they would have gotten model Y instead of model X.

[littlejake]

Thanks for letting me know. I'll stop releasing the bolt with just the bolt catch, but mine can't (not won't) release the bolt just by pulling back on it, I have to use the bolt catch also...

A MKIII with a magazine with rounds in it should release the bolt stop upon pulling back the bolt. (Does not work with an empty mag.) The only model that doesn't is the 22/45. If your MKIII isn't a 22/45 and it does not release the bolt stop when pulled back with either no mag in the well and/or a mag with rounds in it in the well, then there is something wrong. BTW -- if you check this at home; please use dummy rounds not live rounds. There is a modification for the 22/45 to permit "slingshot" release of the bolt stop.

I'm also in the market for a .22 semi-auto pistol. Is there a single Ruger mkIII or Browning BuckMark model that is both great out-of-the-box (fewest jams & long-lasting) that also balances with ease of tinkering & being able to replace/upgrade parts? I imagine the plain MkIII would probably fit that goal, but is there a model designation just above the base model that one would want to spring the extra $$ for because of special capability?

I'm a total newbie to .22lr pistols, but looking to buy just 1 for (in order of preference):
A) fun plinking & cheap trigger-training time
B) Out of the Box reliability & durability
C) Ability to customize & tinker with at a later time
D) not break the bank!

It's obvious that I need to do more researching about the various models and in particular, what people new-to-.22 pistols soon realize that they want to tinker & upgrade with, and had they known what they wanted to do before they would have gotten model Y instead of model X.

Ruger MK pistols probably have more aftermarket options and accessories. Buckmark is a fine .22 -- I'd look at both.

[BlueDog333]

A MKIII with a magazine with rounds in it should release the bolt stop upon pulling back the bolt. (Does not work with an empty mag.) The only model that doesn't is the 22/45. If your MKIII isn't a 22/45 and it does not release the bolt stop when pulled back with either no mag in the well and/or a mag with rounds in it in the well, then there is something wrong. BTW -- if you check this at home; please use dummy rounds not live rounds. There is a modification for the 22/45 to permit "slingshot" release of the bolt stop.

I do have the 22/45. I didn't know that the regular MKIIIs did that without a modification, I'll have to research that slingshot information. Is it a drop in part or somthing else? It isn't that high on my list of priorities though, I want an extended magazine release and better trigger first.

[ck66]

I do have the 22/45. I didn't know that the regular MKIIIs did that without a modification, I'll have to research that slingshot information. Is it a drop in part or somthing else? It isn't that high on my list of priorities though, I want an extended magazine release and better trigger first.

Get rid of the annoying magazine disconnect feature and your mags will drop free (actually fly out) like an empty mag should. Field stripping will be simpler with the elimination of the insert magazine/remove magazine steps.
The biggest improvement to trigger pull would be the Volquartsen sear. An adjustable trigger like a VQ or Clark Custom would be the next major enhancement after the sear. You could even drill n tap your stock trigger to get most of the benefits of the VQ or Clark. http://www.guntalk-online.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12

If you aren't already there.. http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums...play.php?f=208 search for slingshot mod and sam lam bushing

Also http://www.guntalk-online.com/service.html . The troubleshooting link is really handy, until you you learn how everything works.

[Les K]

I love my Mark 3! I posted these photos over in the gallery, but in case you didn't get a chance to look, here they are again. This shows you what you can do to your Mark 3 when you get yours to take it to the next level.

This Mark 3 has been recently buffed to a mirror polish with the green stainless polishing compound on a buffing wheel, followed by the red jewelers rouge. The inside of the flutes were polished with a Dremel and a bullet shaped buffer.

There is a Volquartsen accurizing kit installed, the mag disconnect has been removed, a "Sam's Bushing" installed, the LCI has been disabled but I never got around to installing a filler piece. There is a Majestic Arms speed strip kit installed to aid in a quick and easy basic barrel cleaning, the Volquartsen bolt assist which I modified by drilling through and tapping the bolt so that it doesn't loosen up. There are Altamount smooth rosewood target grips and finally an Aimpoint H1 on a dedicated Aimpoint mount. Next upgrades are the bolt tune up kit and possibly the titanium disconnecter.

This thing cost me a small fortune, but it has become my favorite thing to shoot! More fun and cost a lot less per round than it's big brother sitting next to it. I cannot recommend the Mark 3 highly enough and it's a great gun to tinker around with. It is super reliable and accurate.

I hope these pics post OK, I'm trying a different way of attaching them this time.

[ZNiner]

My handgun still hasn't come in yet. I went ahead and ordered some Altamont target grips.

I had a question for you guys who installed the accurizing kits and bushings. Did you guys order the kits for the MKII so that you could disable the loaded chamber indicator or did you buy the MKIII kits and use an aftermarket bushing that disabled the LCI? Did you guys buy a Volq sear for the MKII or MKIII?

I'm a little fuzzy about that and want to be sure before placing my order.

**Edit**

Shot out an email to place an order for Sam's bushing. Now the question is do I need to buy an accurizing kit/sear/aftermarket parts for a MKII or MKIII?

[leego]

There are several ways to go. You can go with the VQ Mk II accurizing kit with the MK II hammer bushing. Or, you can go with the VQ MK III Accurizing Kit with the Sam or Clark Mk III hammer bushing.
I learned the hard way. I have a VQ Mk II hammer bushing if someone needs one.

[ZNiner]

There are several ways to go. You can go with the VQ Mk II accurizing kit with the MK II hammer bushing. Or, you can go with the VQ MK III Accurizing Kit with the Sam or Clark Mk III hammer bushing.
I learned the hard way. I have a VQ Mk II hammer bushing if someone needs one.

So I just mailed out the $11 for the Sam hammer bushing. The MKIII Accurizing kit will still allow me to disable the LCI and use a filler?

I just noticed how I originally posted that I was going to keep the handgun in stock condition...lol

[weekend_plinker]

Just so you can run threw bricks of 22 quicker look at one of these.
McFadden Ultimate Clip Loader

http://www.mcfaden.com/cliploader.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65jHazxWXCA