Posted on 11/29/2008 4:13:03 PM PST by javachip
A Ruger 22/45 Mk III Target model followed me home from the gunshow last weekend and with all the posts about firearms lately, I thought a range report was in order.
The pistol is a .22 with a 5.5 inch barrel. The receiver is polymer with the grip angle, slide release, magazine release and safety located similar to a 1911. Ruger uses much of the same internals as their standard .22 pistol. They get around the different grip angle by running the magazine at a fore and aft angle across the grip. It feels a little strange the first few times seating the mag since it doesn’t slide in parallel to the grip.
I tried three types of ammo. Federal value pack from Walmart, PMC Scoremaster (no longer produced), and Wolf Match Target. I fired about 30 rounds of the Federal just to get familiar with the pistol and then fired three, five shot groups with each ammo from a rest at 25 yards to sight it in. The Federal had a number of stovepipe jams (empty case didn’t fully eject). No function issues with the PMC or Wolf.
With the Federal, two of the groups were incomplete because one round was off the paper. The one complete five-shot group measured 4.6” center-to-center. I doubt the other two would have been any smaller if I’d have been able to include the off target rounds.
The PMC groups measured 3.3”, 4.2” and 0.9” center-to-center.
The Wolf groups measured 3.1”, 2.1” and 3.8” center-to-center.
Shooting was indoors at the NRA Range.
Those relative results are consistent with my Ruger MkIII Hunter, Federal value pack ok, much better accuracy with the Wolf MT and Scoremaster, but the Hunter hasn’t had problems with stovepipes. That may go away with some break in time.
I’m out of practice and the aging eyes have trouble keeping the front sight focused, so no doubt with some more practice or a better marksman, those groups could tighten up a bit. I was firing from a support, resting my wrist on a piece of foam on top of the pistol box.
I don’t have a gauge, but would guess the trigger pull at 5-7 pounds. The trigger isn’t bad, but serious target shooters or competitors would want some work done. This one has a much heavier pull than the Hunter.
Ruger engineers are apparently entering a contest for most difficult pistol on the planet to field strip – put the magazine in, dry fire, take the magazine out, pull the bolt pin assy, put the magazine back in, pull the bolt, take the magazine back out, separate the barrel assy and frame…. It took several blows with a mallet to get the barrel assembly off. Tight fits are good, but this was ridiculous. Managed to draw blood from fingers on both hands getting it field stripped and back together.
All and all, I’m happy with the pistol. I’m considering joining a bullseye shooting league and would use the Hunter for that, but this one would be a decent backup.
I am afraid my 22 single six is not photo worthy. It looks like a rag doll from all the rounds put through it.
Nice pistol, good shooting. I always found the 45 grip to my liking.
I’ve got one of those in stainless-love it...
I haven't tried the 22/45 but the others including a very early standard model have always been accurate, in fact more so than the author's gun. Of course that may just be what he describes as aging eyes.
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Come on Guys, this is a gun porn thread, right?
That’s impressive.
I love the way the Rugers shoot but they're not easy to disassemble and clean.
Ya, me too. And I shot it! This was the ADI..Australian Defense Industries, ammo, available a few years ago surplus. It was cheap, I bought a bunch. Glad I did!
The rifle is stock. No mods. I got lucky!
Check out something like the EYEPAL or MERIT OPTICAL Attachment on the net. Simple plastic piece that has a small hole that fits on your safety glasses. Keeps the front sight i and target both in focus.
Helps us older shooters.
Ya think the FBI, NSA, CIA, Homeland Security, Postal Service LE will be monitoring this thread?
Matters not. My address and the rifles address are very different.
We’ve had a problem with Federal ammo stove-piping in my kids’ .22LR semi-auto rifles. Pretty much stick to Remington these days.
As far as the difficult to disassemble, my son’s Savage Model 64 is a major PITA. There is no “field striping” it. Requires a vise, wrench, allen wrench, and screwdrivers to do the job. A good cleaning takes more than an hour.
I love my Ruger MkIII 22/45, it’s fun to shoot and has saved me a fortune on ammo.
You will save a lot of time (and your thumbs) if you spend $25 on one of these (it looks weird, but works great).
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/GNS127-1.html
Thanks, good info!
You can find me shooting my Ruger 22/45 at the NRA range as well - either Monday or Friday when the doors open at 10 AM. (Not twice a week - depends on what else is going on here whether we go Monday AM or Friday AM.) Usually with my wife who shoots a Beretta .22 Neos.
My Ruger 22/45 is not too picky about ammunition. It generally is fed Wal*Mart 550 round “value packs” of Remington. My wife’s Neos, on the other hand, isn’t so tolerant.
You’ll like the 22/45.
Jack
I can field strip my daughter's Remington auto .22 in about 1 minute. Hell, I can field-strip my Russian Mosin-Nagant down to the firing pin in less than 15 seconds.
The Savage Model 64 is an o-k rifle and you can pick one up with a scope for about $100. Just be prepared to spend some time doing a thorough cleaning every 500-1000 rounds.
well, I only have about 3 to 5 to clean, but that is just me shooting. Kinda like sex, its messy, but worth it ! ;-)
I have Browning Buckmark that looks similiar. Nice accurate little plinking pistol.
How do you like your Mosin-Nagant? A local shop has some that appear to be unused for $80, but I’d like some feedback before getting one.
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