Ruger mark IV Competition new model
- Thread starter rmist
- Start date
I have one, bought it used. It was upgraded; the Volquartsen accurizing kit, bedding gel pad, extractor, firing pin, and extended bolt release. I rebuilt the mags with the Volq. follower button and heavier magazine spring, following some online posts about button track polishing, feed lip spacing, de-burring, and such. If you clean the bolt face and chamber every 150-200 rounds, and make sure the mag followers move freely up and down with no binding (which can happen when they are dirty), it's very reliable cycling, with 10 rounds in the mag. I have not tried different ammo...I use CCI standard...a case I bought back in 2015, so I can't comment on other ammo. I do know that CCI mini-mags don't work well...perhaps a bit too hot with the factory recoil spring. I remove the grips and flush the receiver with electrical contact cleaner (when the trigger starts to feel gritty), followed by compressed air to dry...that's about it. My trigger isn't Bullseye legal (2#) with the Volq. kit, unless I use the Ruger factory plunger spring. So it's about 1.5#. The upgraded trigger is much better than factory, but still has a long-ish roll, and not nearly as good (or adjustable) as my Match Guns MG2 EVO, but that's an unfair comparison since they are very different in design (and price). Even with the Ruger slab barrel, most of the weight is in the receiver, as opposed distributing more weight towards the muzzle (as in the EVO). With the weight distribution, trigger, and limited trigger adjustability, I find it to be a bit more "jumpy" (shooting one-handed), but that's because I'm comparing it to the EVO. It's easy to mount an optic on the rail, which IIRC you have to buy separately now for about $15. Some folks don't like the grip angle...it's in between Euro-style and the 22/45. I don't mind it with plain (slab) grips. The factory sights are okay, but you can't replace the rear sight leaf if you want something different. There are some other aftermarket options available for metallic sights. Off of a bench with a rest, and CCI standard, it will easily fire an NRA B-6 x-ring-sized group at 50 yards, so I consider it to be plenty accurate. Since I bought the EVO, I no longer shoot it. My Dad uses it for plate shoots, and he likes it a lot, with a Burris Fastfire III reflex sight installed.
TonyinKY
Silver $$ Contributor
I sold my 3 to get the 4. I gave more money than I wanted to on the difference but it’s the BEST money I ever spent. There’s just no comparison on the ease of cleaning between the two.
I bought a set of flat grips for it since I carry it quite a bit in the woods.
It runs all types ammo flawlessly when clean but when it gets extremely extremely dirty it can be finicky on which ammo it will still run 100%.
I don’t consider myself a great pistol shot unless I have this one in my hands and then it does the job.
I think anyone would be quite pleased with this pistol if accuracy is your goal.
I bought a set of flat grips for it since I carry it quite a bit in the woods.
It runs all types ammo flawlessly when clean but when it gets extremely extremely dirty it can be finicky on which ammo it will still run 100%.
I don’t consider myself a great pistol shot unless I have this one in my hands and then it does the job.
I think anyone would be quite pleased with this pistol if accuracy is your goal.
I have two MK IV pistols. The first one is the 5 1/2" bull barrel 22/45 target model I bought in 2018. As soon as the shop owner showed me how easily it stripped down I asked him to get the paperwork. The only mods I have done are to smooth the sear and hammer notch, install the VQ recoil rod and spring set (the standard spring works best for me), and I replaced the grips with custom Zebrawood grips from furnitureyourway.com on eBay. The grips are thicker than the factory grips and the gun feels closer to a 1911. I also installed the gold trigger from my 22/45 Lite with a custom overtravel stop. It shoots like a dream, keeping all its shots well within a 6" target at 25yd. Not bad for a near 70 year old man. When I shoot it I only put about 50 rounds through it, Eley or Lapua ammo. The gun and mags stay clean.
My other MK IV is the 22/45 Lite that I use for Steel Challenge matches. It is an extensively modded full blown race gun, including a Striplin thumb rest, Tandemkross Pro Compensator and their flat trigger, etc, etc. I don't even want to think about how much I have in this thing, much less the hours tuning the system (gun, mags, etc). I use it in competition firing an average of 215 shots each tournament. It is ultra reliable, and not once has it ever hiccupped in the two years I have been competing with it, and I shoot it hard and fast. My favorite ammo is the cheap Aguila copper clad high-velocity 40gr loads, or any other good/cheap ammo. When I field strip it the next day after a match the pistol is FILTHY, but never lets me down. I have lost count of the thousands of rounds I have put through this thing. It takes a licking and keeps on ticking.
A big thing I like about the Ruger MK 4 pistols is that they have the biggest aftermarket for just about anything you may want to do with it. Also, the You Tube videos about modding the pistols, including the magazines, are endless.
Cons? I guess like anything else a rare lemon may get through, but Ruger is fantastic about taking care of their customers. Never had any issues with the multitude of Ruger guns I have owned in half a century.
Have I talked you into getting one?
Ed
My other MK IV is the 22/45 Lite that I use for Steel Challenge matches. It is an extensively modded full blown race gun, including a Striplin thumb rest, Tandemkross Pro Compensator and their flat trigger, etc, etc. I don't even want to think about how much I have in this thing, much less the hours tuning the system (gun, mags, etc). I use it in competition firing an average of 215 shots each tournament. It is ultra reliable, and not once has it ever hiccupped in the two years I have been competing with it, and I shoot it hard and fast. My favorite ammo is the cheap Aguila copper clad high-velocity 40gr loads, or any other good/cheap ammo. When I field strip it the next day after a match the pistol is FILTHY, but never lets me down. I have lost count of the thousands of rounds I have put through this thing. It takes a licking and keeps on ticking.
A big thing I like about the Ruger MK 4 pistols is that they have the biggest aftermarket for just about anything you may want to do with it. Also, the You Tube videos about modding the pistols, including the magazines, are endless.
Cons? I guess like anything else a rare lemon may get through, but Ruger is fantastic about taking care of their customers. Never had any issues with the multitude of Ruger guns I have owned in half a century.
Have I talked you into getting one?
Ed
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I've owned more expensive pistols but always go back to the Ruger MK series. I currently own MK I, II,III and IV varieties. If your asking about the MK IV vs the earlier models, I can say that most people really like the things they did. Beyond the simplistic breakdown, the ability to interchange uppers without fitting is a nice feature. Also nice is the deletion of the LCI and addition to the mag ejector. Lastly, the changes they made to the safety and bolt release are more 1911 style now. Drawbacks over the earlier series are: 1) Price as compared to earlier models and 2) Cost/complexity to upgrade the trigger to target/competition standards 3) deletion of the included picatinny rail which must now be purchased separately. FWIW, I own a MK IV Hunter and Target version. Both are really nice. I'd buy a Competition model in a heart beat too if i found the right price on one. Meanwhile I do keep and shoot a MK II and MK III Competition. The nice thing about the competition is that you get the longer 6.8" barrel and extended sight radius while keeping the balance of the 5.5" target. hth
The only con I can think of is that the MK IV Competition models tend to be scarce on gunshop shelves. (Even on Gunbroker). Seems Ruger tended to focus production on the most popular models like the Hunter, Target and 22/45 models based on what i see. That said, I do tend to see quite a few MK II/MK III Competitions on the used market. I would not hesitate to recommend one of these either. Since the MK IV's came out, you can find some great deals on those earlier models. I rescued this MK III Competition for $300 some 5 years back. It was a bit dirty and neglected and it sat in the shop for 5 mos before I made an offer on it. Took it home, cleaned it up and threw in $50 worth of old stock parts I had laying around. She shoots as good as any Ruger I've ever owned.
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I asked a LGS owner about a mk IV competion and he told me he hasn't had one come in for 2 1/2 yrs. I did find a lightly used mk IV hunter and went with that. I put in the Volquartsen trigger kit which is a big improvement over the factory trigger. I haven't found any cons yet but I've only had it a couple months.
If you buy a used one you will want to check the serial # to see if it was a recall gun. All MK IV's manufactured before a certain date were recalled. If you go to Ruger's website it gives the info on how to tell if a recalled mk IV had been sent back to the factory and modified by them. It had something to do with the safety.
If you buy a used one you will want to check the serial # to see if it was a recall gun. All MK IV's manufactured before a certain date were recalled. If you go to Ruger's website it gives the info on how to tell if a recalled mk IV had been sent back to the factory and modified by them. It had something to do with the safety.
searcher
Gold $$ Contributor
I too have the Mk1, 2, 3 AND 4 pistols, all heavy barreled models and the 3 & 7 slab sided. I know I will never need another .22, as these things just keep going. I quit shooting my Mk 1 much, as I used to shoot it about 1,500 rounds per month for years - and a part or two would need replacing every 5,000 - 7,500 rounds or so. Ruger finally quit offering many of the replacement parts for that pistol, though a few can be used which are shared with the MKII. Now I use the MK 2 or 3 mostly. Most recently, the bolt pin broke, and I used the shank of a hardened drill bit for replacement. I suggest, for whichever model you own, that if you shoot it a lot or plan on keeping it till you croak - get replacement parts now which are relatively inexpensive and available, particularly the firing pin spring carrier and all the small springs, bolt pin, firing pin, etc.
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