MK III or 22/45?

[NorCal55]

Hello All,

I just found this forum a few days ago and love it, great advice and tons of information.

I have a quick question. I will be purchasing my first firearm in the next week or so and have narrowed my decision down to the Ruger Mark III or the 22/45 model.

Can anyone give me any guidance on which would be better and why. I will just be using it for target shooting and plinking.

I guess the actual question is if I learn and practice on the MK III and purchase more pistols down the road is there more of a learning curve or should I go with the 1911 style on the Ruger 22/45 to learn with.

Thanks!
Jason

[HighLander51]

The controls on the Ruger 22/45 are nowhere near the same as a 1911, but rather provide the same function, slide release and thumb safety.

Grips and mags are different between the MK III and 22/45. Both are excellent rimfire pistols, whatever you think feels best.

[Merc1138]

Get both in your hands, pick the one that has the better balance/feel.

The controls of the 22/45 are similar, but not really the same. Close to the same spot, same function, but they don't operate identically. Plus the grip is a hell of a lot thinner than a 1911.

[whipkiller]

Isn't the grip angle of the 22/45 supposed to mimic the 1911 grip angle? (Maybe that's what OP is talking about)

Mark III grip angle leans much more forward, yes?

[TATER313]

On my 22/45 the grips are permanent, no replacing them. I removed the mag disconnect safety and polished the trigger, the gun shoots great. I have the 4" bull barrel.

[Jester3]

Both are great reliable handguns. Call around to your local ranges and see if you can rent them, only way to really feel them out. Got a Mark III for the wife after renting a few, she found this most comfortable shooting and pulling back the slide. Challenging to disassemble and clean, gets easier the more times it comes apart.
Where you located? I'm in Sacramento area, if you are near, we could meet up at a range and I'd be glad to let you run her. Got an HSC yet? You'll need one when you buy.
Good luck.

[HighLander51]

Challenging to disassemble and clean, gets easier the more times it comes apart.
.

No need to struggle, just get the Speed Strip 2 piece pin

http://majesticarms.com/id10.html

[Merc1138]

Isn't the grip angle of the 22/45 supposed to mimic the 1911 grip angle? (Maybe that's what OP is talking about)

Mark III grip angle leans much more forward, yes?

Yes, the grip angle, but the grip is so thin by comparison it's still not like a 1911.

[Chaos47]

As others have noted the 22/45's controls are not really like the 1911's at all, really sharing only sort of the same position. In fact the MK3 and MK322/45's controls are almost the same except when it comes to the slide lock. It is mostly the angle that is different between the two. Which in my opinion isnt even that different. Though if you like Lugers and Glocks you will be more at home with the MK3 if you like 1911 and such then you may feel more at home with the 22/45.

The biggest difference is obvious. Polymer frame vs metal and subsequently weight and balance. For me the MK series feels better than the 22/45 because of weight and balance and secondary for grip angle. But many people like the 22/45 over the MK's.

Magazines: While they do take different magazines 90% of the magazine parts are interchangeable. The base plate is the only different part between them. And will not allow either to be inserted into the other. (I wonder if anyone will ever chop up their 22/45 frame to allow for MK magazines to fit..)

Grips: There is now a 22/45 with interchangeable grips from the factory. The Mk2 22/45 and non interchangeable MK3 22/45 can be modified. They use 1911 grips or MK3 22/45 grips.

MK3 grips will fit on an MK2. MK2 grips will fit on an MK3 with modification. MK1 grips there are 2 types for the two different frames A54 and A100 screw placement is different so they only work with the correct type. Late MK1 grips will fit on a MK2 with modification.

(Not my photos! Used to show grip angles and control placement)




All in all either are good to get more trigger time in with. While their controls or grips may not be exactly like other guns, the trigger time still translates to other firearms. Build on solid fundamentals and learn specifics of other systems down the road.

IMO the difficulty to disassemble them is way overblown. Sure they are quirky but every firearm has its tricks you have to know. The speed strip kit in my opinion is a waste of money and could cause issues down the road with other aftermarket parts.

[NorCal55]

Thanks everyone for all of the info! I was able to go into a sportsmans warehouse today and checked out both. The MK3 felt a lot better to me so that's the direction I'm going. The guys at SW were helpfull with that being said any suggestions on where to pick on up at in the greater Sac area? I live in Fair oaks and work in Roseville.

Thanks again everyone for the advice :-)
Jason

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

[postal]

hold and point both of them.... but the 22/45 usually points better for most people. Dont get a LONG barrel in either case. 5.5inch or less- is better balance in the hand.

I have a 22/45, my brother just got a mkIII. I really like the 22/45 a lot better. But I do love 1911's.... and yes, the grip angle is the same as a 1911.

Both are really good pistols. Suitable for your purpose. Just whichever is more comfortable...

(and the 22/45 is a bit cheaper)

[Chaos47]

Dont get a long barrel? Thats totally an opinion. One that a lot of people don't share as there are some crazy long barrel ones out there that are 10 inches plus..

I love my MKI 678T (6 7/8th inch heavy taper barrel, target) I think it points great and is not nose heavy in my opinion. I like it a whole lot better then my GF MK3 22/45 5.5 Bull.

But like you said you have to find the one that is comfortable and points for you..

[postal]

Dont get a long barrel? Thats totally an opinion. One that a lot of people don't share as there are some crazy long barrel ones out there that are 10 inches plus..

I love my MKI 678T (6 7/8th inch heavy taper barrel, target) I think it points great and is not nose heavy in my opinion. I like it a whole lot better then my GF MK3 22/45 5.5 Bull.

But like you said you have to find the one that is comfortable and points for you..

Well... I did buy a 6 7/8 'slabside' 22/45... it is front heavy.

Since my brother bought a bull barrel mkIII at 5.5" and it balances so much better than mine, I had mine cut down to 5.5".

Even comparing the balance point of my 22/45 at 5.5" and my actual 1911... my 1911 has a balance point still slightly closer to the grip.... though it's close.....

So yeah... imo, longer than 5.5" barrel is VERY nose heavy. Though it would depend on barrel taper as well. (you claim 'heavy taper target'.... mine was a "slabside"... IE- full straight bull barrel with the sides cut out... bro's.. is a straight round full bull barrel no taper at 5.5"... a lot of steel missing in mine that his has... being a full bull.... and your's... well, honestly, I dunno what the heck a 'heavy taper target' is... though I can guess you're referring to one that thins down to a pea shooter at the end... as it's not a 'bull' or 'slabside'. which again... you dont have much steel out there compared to my 6 7/8... or bro's 5.5 full bull....

I cut mine to 5.5" and touched up the barrel cut with a cold blue treatment. I'm much happier with it now.

[Chaos47]

It's like the taper on the "standard" but it is a much heavier taper.
This was the heavy barrel "Target" model of the day before they started making the bull barrels we know today. Target models had heavier tapers (later introducing Bull barrels), adjustable sights and a slightly tuned trigger making it an MKI where the "standard" had lighter taper barrels and fixed sights.

For example:

Compared to the taper on the standard 6

Compared to the 678 Slabside


Some gifs I made (of course the scale between the original photos is a little off)





For some reason (guess they stopped producing it) the MK3 version of the 678 has been removed from their listings.
But I found it on the wayback machine:

http://web.archive.org/web/20110108014200/http://ruger.com/products/markIIITarget/models.html

MKIII512 10101 Alloy Steel Blued Bull 5.50" 9.75" 42.00 oz.
MKIII678 10106 Alloy Steel Blued Tapered 6.88" 11.12" 42.00 oz.

As you can see if Rugers numbers are to be trusted it is actually the same weight as the 5.5 Bull barrel.

And the 678 Slab side is only 3 oz heavier than those at 45.00oz

http://www.ruger.com/products/markIIICompetition/models.html

KMKIII678GC 10112 Checkered Brown Laminate with Thumbrest 6.88" 11.12" 45.00 oz.

Though yours is a 22/45 so its probably a lot lighter then that, which could be part of the reason you felt it was front heavy as the polymer frame did not balance it out.

But yea, there are plenty of models out there for everyone to find the one that works for them.

[SmallShark]

the Mark iii Hunter is probably the most beautiful pistol ever