TTAG told you it was coming. It’s heeeeerrreee! And not a decade or two too soon! The totally awesome Ruger Mark I, II and III .22 LR pistols were a nightmare to clean. The Arizona gunmaker finally figured out that the perfect handgun for beginners shouldn’t be the firearms equivalent of Rubik’s Cube (with parts prone to spronging-off into nearby black holes). What’s missing now? A threaded barrel for a suppressor. Which will get here eventually. Meanwhile, here’s the Ruger presser:
Nashville, TN -(Ammoland.com)- Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. (NYSE: RGR) is excited to announce the latest development in the Mark Series line of pistols – the Ruger Mark IV.
Ruger has long set the standard for reliable, affordable and accurate .22 LR handguns, beginning with the introduction of the Standard Pistol in 1949. Since then, the Standard Pistol has undergone a series of enhancements with the development of the Mark I, Mark II and then the Mark III in 2005.
While the heavily redesigned Mark IV maintains the same classic outward appearance as the Mark III, it incorporates a significant improvement customers will love – a simple, one-button takedown for quick and easy field-stripping. A recessed button in the back of the frame allows the upper receiver to tilt up and off of the grip frame without the use of tools. The bolt simply slides out of the receiver and the barrel can be properly cleaned from chamber to muzzle.
“We are thrilled to be introducing what we consider to be a monumental improvement to this iconic pistol that has been with Ruger from the start,” said Ruger President and COO Chris Killoy. “This one-button takedown alleviates the headache that our Mark III owners are all too familiar with and we anticipate the Mark IV pistols being some of the cleanest rimfires at the range,” Killoy concluded.
Other significant improvements include a one-piece grip frame that is precision CNC-machined from a solid piece of stainless steel or aluminum; an ambidextrous manual safety and a redesigned bolt stop for more ergonomic operation. The magazine drops free on release for faster reloads and a redesigned magazine disconnect safety prevents discharge when the magazine has been removed. Internal improvements include changes to the hammer, sear, bolt and firing pin for smoother, more reliable feeding.
Specific features vary by model, but the legendary, one-piece barreled receiver and internal cylindrical bolt construction remain the same. The robust design ensures permanent sight-to-barrel alignment and higher accuracy potential than conventional moving-slide designs. The Mark IV is compatible with a variety of Mark III aftermarket accessories including sights, scope bases and magazines. The American-made Mark IV pistol ships with two 10-round magazines.
For more information on the Ruger Mark IV or to learn more about the extensive line of award-winning Ruger firearms, visit www.Ruger.com or www.Facebook.com/Ruger. To find accessories for the Mark IV and other Ruger firearms, visit ShopRuger.com or your local independent retailer of Ruger firearms.
About Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.:
Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. is one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of rugged, reliable firearms for the commercial sporting market. The only full-line manufacturer of American-made firearms, Ruger offers consumers over 400 variations of more than 30 product lines. For more than 60 years, Ruger has been a model of corporate and community responsibility. Our motto, “Arms Makers for Responsible Citizens,” echoes the importance of these principles as we work hard to deliver quality and innovative firearms.
For more information, visit: www.Ruger.com
Now, if someone comes up with an integrally suppressed quick change upper for it, I’m sold.
As the upper is the serialized part, you may as well just buy an entire new integrally-suppressed pistol; the paperwork will be the same (and the small difference in cost is totally justified by having two complete firearms, vs one).
Someone ought to consider making an 80 pct. upper for that puppy…
Only about 50 years too late. They already make a fine handgun being the SR22 that feeds everything I throw at it, weighs less, is accurate and modern.
Ruger still makes the Mark series because it was the first gun the company produced. It’s still a decent target .22 pistol.
But I agree the SR22 is better.
I would not say that the SR22 is better in as much that it a different, modern design. I live in NC where the SR22 is now made.The long barrel Mark Series is more accurate than the SR22 & you can put optics on them, which you can not on the SR22. I own both, and each have their own niche. As an aside, I do not see why people have such a hard time with DA/RA on the Mk’s.
the reason that so many complain about the difficulty of reassembly of the ruger MKII and III is failing to read the book and following the instructions, and being afraid of using a big bad rubber hammer to assist in aligning the brute.
and you have to hold your mouth just right when pushing that little thing-a-ma-jig lever up into the receiver.
just patiently waiting for my dealer to get one of these in for me.
I have never used a hammer, just bump it with my hand–besides, the Mark Series really do not disassembled for normal cleaning anyhow
The Ruger Mk series are excellent entry level guns for bullseye competition which is still alive and well in the Northeast although the average shooter is getting long in the tooth. The SR22 doesn’t quite fill that niche. Seriously considering this as my next bullseye gun to supplement my Buckmark.
My Dad bought one about a little over a year ago, his first personal pistol at age 78 (then). It came with a really stiff trigger compared to the rental one we had tried before. It makes accuracy a challenge and he hasn’t shot it much. I’m wondering if this is normal out of the box, and it just needs more break in, or are the triggers usually fairly light and crisp when new?
Mine was very light & crisp right out of the box, a Mk III Hunter–absolutely dead accurate–can hit beverage cans filled with water DEAD CENTER 99.9% of the time from 25 yards
What do you throw at it? The cheap stuff gives mine FTE’s 30% of the time.
I throw everything at the SR22. Thunderbolts, white box Winchester whatever. I have even mixed the ammo in the mags to show others it can handle it. I know many people with them and they run where the Mark series fail as well as Walther and cheapies like Jennings etc don’t feed the cheap stuff at all. The light rail underneath is perfect for the handicapped wife to use as defense as well. I know someone will get all bent over that but its what she is capable of so beat that drum elsewhere.
I’m sure this will fit a niche like some say with competitors (after modifying it) and those stuck on old but want the new twists.
I got mine to teach my daughters, the wife has used it to teach newbies a couple times. As far as your wife goes, use what works, it’s better than a sharp stick.
This is the reason I like the SR22 more: it’s more capable for a defensive use. It’s reliability is very high, it’s got a rail that can use a laser/light, it’s relatively small and can be concealed carried (try CC’ing a Ruger Mk) and there are aftermarket mag extensions that make it a 15+1 pistol.
15+1 is the highest capacity .22LR I’ve ever heard of.
I feed mine ANYTHING and it works with fail, Rem TB’s and all.
I have (and appreciate) both, but no comparison here, really.
The SR22 is small, light, short sight radius for plinking fun.
The Mark III feels like a full size gun, has good weight (stainless bull barrel), long sight radius, scope mount, etc for bullseye shooting.
This is the main reason I don’t use my Mark III anymore, it’s just way too much work to crack it open.
EABCO has a two-piece bolt stop kit for them… If you’re willing to spend another $44 or $54 (gets rid of the mag disconnect, also) for the kit, where the bolt stop unscrews out the top so the bolt comes out easily… Kinda pricey, but it works.
Thanks for the heads up, looks like I found my Dad’s Christmas present this year. He hates to shoot his suppressed MK III 22/45 lite because it’s a pain to clean compared to a modern pistol design.
OK, I’ll take it off your hands–I do not see what people complain about servicing these guns–I think that people have been brainwashed that is hard, when it is not!
Nice updates, however, there goes the value of my Mark III.
Mag safety. LAME
Since I teach others how to shoot, on my own dime, I find the mag disconnect very handy. Also use even when I shoot alone and go to set up new targets. Very useful feature if used.
Why? This is not meant as a combat weapon.
The only .22 I want Ruger, is a 3 inch LCR with exposed hammer. You already make that in a .38, why can’t you do it for a .22?
I want that too!
They are in fact working on just that model, but do not know when it will be released.
O
M
Gun
and Ambi-Safety.
“Shut up and Take My MONEY!”
Wanted a 22/45 Lite as a suppressor host, but no ambi killed the deal. Bought a PPQ 22 instead.
I’m hoping to catch a I, II or III on the market used because of this. That said maybe not with 22 the price it is these days.
You can get a new Mk3 on sale several places Now that this has announced.
How about some links?
Factoring in inflation, 22’s do not cost more than they did in the 1960’s–do the math
This gun will appeal to the typically non-mechanical person who doesn’t want to learn how to do anything. People complain about the difficulty of taking both the Ruger Marks apart as well as the 1911. With a little concentration and practice, it is not hard. The same people who don’t want to learn how to take a gun apart are the same people who drive automatic transmission cars because it’s hard to learn how to drive a manual. I wouldn’t allow my daughters to get a drivers permit until they could drive a manual and one shouldn’t be allowed to shoot a firearm until they learn how to take them apart and put them back together.
I like my Mark III, my 1911 and manual transmissions.
Less than 4%* of new cars have manual transmissions. Ruger is trying to make a gun for the 96%.
* http://www.edmunds.com/fuel-economy/five-myths-about-stick-shifts.html
And yes, I drive a stick.
* In America.
Most importantly, stick shift is WAY more fun on a sports car. I didn’t buy it for a grocery getter.
Thank you. My Mark II has been taken apart and reassembled countless times. Its not difficult once you understand how to do it. I understand if you’re lazy or below average intelligence you would want this new Mark IV over the older ones due to the takedown. But seriously, the Mark II is easier to take down and reassemble WITHOUT BREAKING SOMETHING than an SR-22 with its goofy plastic tabs and whatnot. It was my very first firearm and I will never give it up.
And yes, I own a manual transmission too.
“….if you’re lazy or below average intelligence….”
Stop stalkin’ meh!!!!!!
Or perhaps some of us might just enjoy a quicker and easier take-down process. It’s not wrong (nor is it lazy) to use your time effectively. Then again that doesn’t allow you near as much leeway to judge an entire random cohort of people…
Cuz the 1911 “idiot scratch” term doesn’t insult a whole class of people? Don’t get me wrong, people have every right to get themselves whatever easy gun they like for whatever reason they want. But it gets a little overdone to hear how hard it is to field strip and reassemble a Mark I, II, or III. If one can’t do it or doesn’t want to do it and instead wants to complain about it, I think my comment was perfectly appropriate.
God forbid a gun be engineered to be taken apart easier.
The comparison to transmissions is inapt. There are real benefits to a manual transmission. What benefits are there to having a handgun that is harder to take apart, other than so that people can place themselves in a silly elitist club?
It’s not about “easy” or “hard”. It’s about necessary or not.
Learning how to drive a manual gives you certain benefits. Not everyone actually cares about benefits, and not all cars are designed to make good use of them, so not learning to drive manual is not necessarily “lazy” – if you don’t need it, it’s just smart use of your time.
The mechanical and disassembly complexity of Mark III, though, is completely unnecessary, as evidenced by other designs (and, indeed, Mark IV) being much simple without compromising anything. So there’s absolutely no downside here.
Necessary or not? I suspect taking a Mark apart is almost never necessary. My son-in-law took his apart shortly after he got it 20 years ago just to see if he could and decided he would not do it again. He hasn’t done anything other than cleaning the barrel and other parts that don’t need disassembly and he has had no issues of any kind. I know people who have never taken their guns apart for decades and never had any issues.
I agree. It took me a while to figure out how to reassemble my Mark 1 that I bough in the early 80s, but after I did it one time I was all set. It’s just not as hard as everyone says. I would Rather have Ruger put extra money and engineering into a match grade trigger. Also, I hate ambidextrous safeties, so the new Mark is not for me.
My Mk III Hunter has a target trigger from the factory & it is perfect–I like ambi safeties, but the Mk IV right side safety is designed to be removed if you do not want it–I do not think that the Mark series is hard to work on at all either-so with the Mk IV you can have your cake & eat it too
See I never thought it was too hard to breakdown, but this is far easier.
Though I can’t really say how many times I bothered to break them down.
I usually just blast my guns with CLP, let, it sit, blow it out with compressed air, then lightly reapply CLP. Works great for my MKs.
I’ll definitely buy one, but I’ll wait until after the second recall. Other POTG can do the beta testing.
Does that mean your MK III slab-side with Volquartsen package is up for grabs?……
Nobody grabs my gun. My grandmother grabbed my gun. Once.
Extra points if you get the movie reference.
Ralph, the closest I can recall is: “My father touched me like that once… to this day he has to wear orthopedic shirts.” Colonel Flagg, M*A*S*H
Can you blame her for wanting an .88 Magnum?
“Extra points if you get the movie reference.”
Joe Piscapo, ‘Johnny Dangerously’…
‘Never buy Rev A’
Is just as applicable to firearms as it is to computers.
My question is simple: is it accurate? My first “gun” was a single shot, CO2 powered Crossman, with adjustable power settings, adjustable target sights, .22, rifled barrel, and quite accurate out to 25 yards. My second .22 pistol was an unfortunate experience with the “Sig” Mosquito (not knowing until recently that it was really a GSG); although mine ran well, it was hardly accurate.
That’s funny, my Sig Mosquito is plenty accurate – it just doesn’t run well.
Have heard that the Mosquito is fine, so long as you’re feeding it the good stuff- CCI Stingers.
That’s depressing. The only way to get a cheap plinker to run is to buy ammo that costs as much as 9mm?
Accurate? ‘Gun Blast’ just ran a 1/4″ 25 yard with one type of ammo, same as my MKIII will do with several types of ammo. And you had a Sig Mosquito that ran?–most have been the only one they ever made.
I’d still like to get a Mk III target. I like the looks of the Mk III better as well.
I find it funny that after years of gun owners saying that they love everything about the Mark pistols except the take down, years mind you, that Ruger can only come up with a better process after the S&W Victory comes along. For some inscrutable reason, this really pisses me off.
Still not enough IMHO — serial # on the upper of the Mk IV, barrel can be swapped on the Victory.
The Scrap & Worthless Victory is already having problems, along with two other rifles they produce. Also, a major change like this takes years to to produce the final product of the Mk IV. Just coincidental timing. Besides, the older MK’s are not hard to work on! Would not trade my Mk III Hunter for a basket full of S&W’s.
I bought the Victory (couldn’t pass it up for $300 at a local store) because I have a pro series 686+ Smith revolver that has been flawless (and much better made than the Ruger sp101 I own). I liked the Ruger mark 4 also but the model I would have bought was priced more than $200 above what I paid for the Victory. The takedown screw issue is no big deal and its stock sights are wonderful.
The Victory or Mark 4 are both great guns. If I see a good deal I may purchase a Ruger also. Ruger’s customer service can’t be beat.
Anyone else notice the other big improvement…? NO MORE STUPID LOADED CHAMBER INDICATOR!!!
This, and the no-magazine trigger disconnect were a complete step backwards between the Mk II and Mk III models.
Damn! That means no California sales. (I just checked–there is only one Ruger pistol left on the roster. Everything else is a revolver.)
It wasn’t coming here anyway. No microstamping. We will not see a new model of semi handgun in California for the foreseeable future.
“Damn! That means no California sales.”
Buy a used one off your out-of-state daughter, you know, the one she doesn’t want any more…
*cough*
I drive a manual & maintain a FZ-09, so I am not mechanically inept. It takes me 3 times longer to clean the Mark III as it does to clean a Glock/M&P/CZ. So it sits in the safe. When 22lr is plentiful again I will probably sell it and get the S&W Victory instead.
At any given time I can go out & buy all the 22LR I want at favorable, even cheap prices. Do not want a Scrap & Worthless Victory at any price.
“The totally awesome Ruger Mark I, II and III .22 LR pistols were a nightmare to clean.”
Nightmare? Really? That’s a pretty strong word.
As I’ve been told many, MANY times, I am not a genius, and yet I figured out how to reassemble the MK-I/II pistols all by myself, many years ago. Since then, many others have also done so, and many more have facilitated easy reassembly by others by making videos and posting them online. For any person who takes the time and makes an effort to understand the pistol’s basic mechanical properties, it REALLY is not that difficult.
In fact, over the last decade or so, I’ve used the reassembly of a Ruger MK-? pistol as one of my quick internal basic judgement tests for the relative skill, perseverance and talent of other newly-met “gun people”, in person and online. Seriously, folks, if you can’t handle this basic reassembly task (tear-down and actual cleaning were never the real problems, based on my observations of others) after some video or brief personal instruction, maybe you should be shooting something simpler, like a longbow.
Having said that, I’m still happy to see the MK-IV and it’s improvements, as long as it still shoots well with common modern .22 ammo, whenever this mythical ammo can be found at a reasonable price. Even the mechanically disinclined deserve a chance to enjoy shooting, and the MK-IV should help introduce some new shooters to the fold.
I agree, the Mark Series were NOT hard to work on or even that time consuming. At any given time I can go out & buy all the 22LR I want at favorable, even cheap prices.
The MkI, MkII and MkIII were hardly difficult to disassemble and clean.
They’re simpler than a great many other guns to detail strip and clean. The Colt Woodsman is more complicated to detail strip, and the S&W Model 41 is a real challenge. The Beretta M9/Model 92/Model 96 is a spring&detent bomb, waiting to go off as you strip the slide.
By comparison, the MkI/II/III is pud-easy. It doesn’t launch parts across the room, there’s no little detents and pins that get launched into orbit if you’re not ready to contain them.
Want a real challenge in a handgun? Take apart a Colt E/I/etc double-action revolver with timing problems. Oh, there’s very few parts, but the relationship of those few parts, especially the rebound lever to the hand, bolt, etc – is very complicated.
Want to appreciate the MkI/II/III? Then detail strip a Beretta M92. After you do that, you’ll appreciate the MkI/II/III as paragons of simplicity.
Before: The Mark III is the best 22 pistol you can buy. Great for beginners. Choose it.
Now: The dreadful problem has been fixed. The Mark IV is great. Buy it.
Smart. Very AR-like in takedown. Surprised they didn’t think of this sooner.
Compared to the simplicity of a High Standard 22, the ruger is a swiss watch. Regardless as to whether it is possible for the common man to disassemble a MK I-III, anything that makes routine maintenance easier will result in maintenance being done more frequently, resulting is more reliable guns, and a better overall perception of Ruger’s products. Sounds like progress to me…
At last, in 2016, Ruger finally makes…
A Smith & Wesson 22a-1.
arizona gunmaker? arent they out of tennessee?
Well, I’ll tell ya. A decade or two late is right. Not sure I’m ready to trade in the old Mk II Slabside though. The thing shoots dimes. And i don’t really ‘need’ a quick TD, as I don’t plan to use it in combat lol. Not saying this isn’t cool/easier, but I’m in a spending freeze and this aint gonna break it. Ahh well. Looks cool though. Someone else can have all the fun this time I guess.
A number of newbies we know have preferred the Browning Buck Mark. The reasons given usually concern grip feel, trigger, and ease of cleaning. We own two Buck Marks and a Mk III 22/45–and in that order of preference.
Looking forward to the Mk IV 22/45. Even more so looking forward to a big increase in 22lr availability.
I’ll probably get one for the simple reason that I have a Mk1, Mk2, and Mk3…..
Mark 1V is just a new type mark 111 with all it’s issues. Yes I made the mistake of purchasing the new hunter model. As of tonight it is on it’s way back to Ruger for the second time. After 150 rounds it started to come apart.Loose ejector, front pin walked out. Will not shoot any brand of HP ammo without jamming. 50-50 with round nose. Ruger sent it back with residue loctite in the receiver and a new rivit in the ejector that looks like it was put in with a ball peen hammer. Took it to the range today. Still jams with any brand ammo I tried. Again call RUGER and again it’s on it’s way back. The one button take down is nothing but a gimmick . I’ll sell it when it gets back of course with the paper work from ruger that says everything is just fine. I’ll continue to enjoy my mark 1’s and 2′ and enjoy getting my hands alittle dirty cleaning them. Oh yea my granddaughters can bread down and assem my marks……..
My mark 4 hunter is just a mark 111 with some lipstick and long eyelashes to make it look good. Mine is now back at the factory for the second time for repairs, who know what I’ll get back this time…..
I’ll take my mark 1 and 11’s any day of the week. The only issue with taking them apart and cleaning is brought on by the person doing the work. Both my first grand kids (girls) can do it and when the third is old enough she’ll learn too.
Would not trade my Mk III Hunter for anything–nails dime size objects from 25 yards, not feet–like you said, not at all hard to work on–some people just should touch tools
As of December 17 check the ammo finder web sites. Unlimited amounts of .22 as low as 5.8 cents per round.
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