Ruger MK II question...

[NavyChief]

I've long heard the MK IIs were much to be preferred over either the Is or the the IIIs. But danged if I can remember why. I'm pretty sure I knew at one time... Can someone help me out?

BTW, I'm picking one up in stainless from a coworker later today, original box, papers, you-name-it - even the Ruger lock and keys - for $150. Did I do OK?

[Mr. Glock]

I'd buy Ruger MK 2s for $150 anytime. MK 2s tend to run forever with few issues, unlike the Mk3s.

[NavyChief]

OK, found this on, of all places, answers.yahoo.com...

The MK I had a 9 shot magazine and the safety doubled as a bolt hold-open device. You could pull the bolt back, and while holding it back, engage the safety and the bolt would stay in the rearward position.

The MK II offered a 10 round magazine and offered a separate bolt hold-open device that is located the left side of the frame, similar to many other centerfire pistols. This device holds the bolt open on when the magazine is empty (last shot). Note however that the Ruger instruction manual warns people NOT to merely depress the bolt hold open latch to let the bolt fly forward. The proper way to release the bolt on a fresh magazine is to pull the bolt rearward (about a quarter of an inch) and allow it to slide forward under spring pressure.

The MK III has a chamber loaded indicator, a safety lockout device and is drilled and tapped for mounting a scope base. Personally, I find the only thing I like about the so-called upgrades is the drilled and tapped top; I don't like lockout devices because it may lock you out when you need the gun the most. To prevent unauthorized use of a handgun, they should be stored in a locked container (safe) or employ the use of a trigger lock.

Does this about sum it up?

[dingode]

MKII to me is preferable because it has the bolt hold open feature. MKI doesn't and the MKIII is too lawyered up. By that I mean mag disconnect and loaded chamber indicator.

At $150 you got an AWESOME deal in my opinion.

[Stryker74]

I think you did quite fine at $150 Chief!

I have access to my father-in-laws MKI, and shot it a couple of weekends ago. It was a tack driver for sure - I was able to drop a couple of steel plates with rapid shots from about 8-10 yards out.

I like the MK line period, but I think the II's were the best in that line.

[Sevens]

Many folks with the Mark III love them and get good service from them. As I bought my Mark III before they introduced the Mark III, I end up being one of "them old timers who thinks all the new stuff is crap."

The loaded chamber indicator looks awful to those of us who ran these guns for YEARS before the Mark III was introduced. At it's roots, an LCI seems to me to promote HORRENDOUS gun handling. I genuinely, honestly believe this. And some folks who have had the displeasure of dealing with problematic Mark III pistols point to the LCI as one of the source of those problems. There is at least one (more?) aftermarket companies that make a filler for that awful thing -- which many owner simply yank out of the pistol right from the get-go. A loaded chamber indicator makes the pistol 50-state compliant.

The magazine disconnect safety is another idea that I have a problem with -- but it is not exactly the same problem that MOST people have. Many folks abhor the idea that in some kind of a close-quarters death duel, they will not be able to fire a pistol without the magazine. They also make the argument that more devices simply creates more pitfalls for problems. I don't argue with them, and somewhat agree. However, my biggest problem with the magazine safety here is that you cannot dry-fire this pistol or release the hammer/striker without a magazine in place. You literally cannot field strip this pistol without dry firing it -AND- with a magazine in place, and all of that makes me angry. I don't know about the Mark III so much as some other pistols (the S&W 22A comes to mind) but the magazine disconnect is sometime a real bear to ensure that you have defeated and properly seated the magazine. I simply LOATHE IT and the fact that it was added to the Mark II (to become the Mark III.)

The other big difference is indeed a button magazine release which so many folks love and/or demand on their guns. I don't get that much from it, really, because I don't run my Mark II like I would run a defensive pistol in a "tactical" kind of routine where I'm running around, popping multiple shots, dropping mags and loading on the fly and engaging targets. I use my KMK-512 (5 1/2" stainless bull barrel target gun) for shooting empty 12ga hull and slow fire group shooting. And since my weak hand naturally goes to the butt of the pistol to withdrawal the magazine... the heel release causes me no grief. But I certainly do understand how others demand the button release, especially if it's what they grew up on.

I believe the Mark II is the absolute -PINNACLE- of the design, and this pistol goes back to 1949. I have often said that I would absolutely, for certain pay MORE MONEY for a clean, used Mark II than I would ever consider spending on -ANY- Mark III. Frankly, I have zero desire to own a Mark III. And if I were shopping for a fine rimfire pistol, I would list them in some order similar to this, subject to change:

1. Ruger Mark II
2. Ruger Mark I
3. Browning Buck Mark
.
.
.
.
.
... Ruger Mark III.
S&W 22A
Ugly Beretta Neos
Piece of crap Sig Mosquito
Anything made by Chiappa <puke>

[Sevens]

I just re-read the OP.
$150 for a stainless Ruger Mark II ?!

I would pretty much buy that SIGHT UNSEEN just on principle. That is an extremely good price on yes -- the pinnacle of the design. The very best the pistol ever got was during the Mark II phase.

Smoking deal.
And if you have -any- problems with it, Ruger will stand behind it.
Go to Ruger's website with your serial number and find the born-on date for it when you get it.

[Javelin Man]

Many folks with the Mark III love them and get good service from them. As I bought my Mark III before they introduced the Mark III, I end up being one of "them old timers who thinks all the new stuff is crap."
. And if I were shopping for a fine rimfire pistol, I would list them in some order similar to this, subject to change:

1. Ruger Mark II
2. Ruger Mark I
3. Browning Buck Mark
.
.
.
.
.
... Ruger Mark III.
S&W 22A
Ugly Beretta Neos
Piece of crap Sig Mosquito
Anything made by Chiappa <puke>

I have those first three and they are in the correct order. I'd put my Sig Bug in front of the Neos but not much. They work but there are no good aesthetics about the Neos and the Mosquito is just a little too small for the way it looks and is built.

[TJW815]

I need to spend more time at that location!

[NavyChief]

'Tis in the safe... And yeah, I pretty much did buy it sight unseen (I really trust this this particular coworker). I even showed him a nearly identical one (without box, papers, lock, extra mag & original cute little Ruger padlock) on gunbroker right now that's up to $300 before we "closed the deal" and asked him, "You sure you're cool with $150?" He was.

[NavyChief]

I need to spend more time at that location!

Right place, right time... He swore we'd talked about it last week. I told him, "Uh, no - I promise I'd've remembered that." Anywho, this sort of makes up for the nice commemorative 10/22 that I missed by about an hour for $100 a couple years ago.

[Sevens]

I even showed him a nearly identical one (without box, papers, lock, extra mag & original cute little Ruger padlock) on gunbroker right now that's up to $300 before we "closed the deal" and asked him, "You sure you're cool with $150?" He was.

Gun karma is real, good on you.

Great pistol. Make sure you check the Ruger website to find out (about) when your pistol was made.

[dingode]

Lets see a picture of that bad boy! My MKII slab side is my favorite pistol.

[747tech]

I have the the MKIII and the mag disconnect can be removed. There is an inexpensive bushing that can be installed in its place. Have not done mine yet but I believe it helps trigger pull and permits the mag to drop free, if I am not mistaken.
Great guns but a real booger to take down.

[Tru-Heathen]

http://www.tandemkross.com/Gunsmither-M ... =AvantLink

Website for a Take down tool video, tool and steel Hammer Bushing (replaces mag disconnect safety (safely).