A New MkIII Owner's Strategy for a Trauma-Free Field Strip

Dwight45 · Post by **Dwight45** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 11:28 pm

Yes, the smith does have experience with Ruger 22s. He says mine may have some burrs that weren't removed at the factory.

When I called Ruger after they'd had the gun for six or seven weeks, I was told that the guns been selling like hotcakes since last September. I suppose they might have ramped up production, and the quality control may have suffered as a result.

bearandoldman · Post by **bearandoldman** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 6:11 am

Dwight45 wrote:Yes, the smith does have experience with Ruger 22s. He says mine may have some burrs that weren't removed at the factory.

When I called Ruger after they'd had the gun for six or seven weeks, I was told that the guns been selling like hotcakes since last September. I suppose they might have ramped up production, and the quality control may have suffered as a result.

You know Dwight, I have to agree with you. If that gun has problems yet, you will never really be happy shooting it, maybe its time for it to find a new home. Better that than suffer with it some more. I have gotten rid of a few things in my life that have caused me grief and never looked back.
You might try another smith also and get a different point of view, sometimes this will help.

Dwight45 · Post by **Dwight45** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:53 am

Thanks BOM.

Dwight45 · Post by **Dwight45** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 12:21 am

Sheesh, I wish you guys weren't always right. Looks like my smith isn't a Ruger expert after all. He put the thing together easily enough, which made me think he was, but when he tried to take it apart again... Well I've finally mastered this complicated kettle of cod. I've taken it apart and put it back together. And I've taken it shooting.

I can see why you guys love these guns. They're super accurate. And being a beginner, it's hard for me to see why you would want to modify them. The trigger feels so light and crisp as is. But I'm sure that with more experience I'll be as wonderfully jaded as you.

If I had it to do over again, would I buy a Ruger? I'm afraid not. The learning curve is too much frustration. And they take so long to clean. I"d buy a Browning or something and give up the wee bit of accuracy if I had to. But that's just me.

Thanks again for your kindness.

Georgezilla · Post by **Georgezilla** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 2:21 am

These pistols are a bit complicated to field strip for new firearms users. For me it wasn't too bad as I've always been somewhat mechanically minded. When I was a kid I always loved taking apart my mechanical and electronic toys and making better toys out of the parts -- This eventually resulted in scared parents, as I caught a few things ablaze by mistake

Good memories!

But in the end if you keep shooting you will take a lot away from the frustration of field stripping the Ruger. I sure did. After taking apart these pistols I learned so much about the fundamental operation of many inertia-fire weapons. If I only used a M-41 I might still be clueless about the actually function of inertia-fire weapons.

I actually find these Rugers faster to clean than a lot of other pistols. I field strip clean the Rugers in half the time I do with 1911s.

I am glad to hear you got it all figured out! I hope you enjoy your pistol more in the future than you have been in the past! Ever since I competed in my first match I have been of the opinion that firearms have feelings too, all be it mechanical feelings

Be nice to her and she will be nice to you.

bearandoldman · Post by **bearandoldman** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:34 am

Dwight45 wrote:Sheesh, I wish you guys weren't always right. Looks like my smith isn't a Ruger expert after all. He put the thing together easily enough, which made me think he was, but when he tried to take it apart again... Well I've finally mastered this complicated kettle of cod. I've taken it apart and put it back together. And I've taken it shooting.
Glad to hear that you stayed with it and solved your own problems, once you get the séance down and are not afraid of BREAKING the gun you are all right. My guns are MarkII 22/45's so there is a slight difference, I think one of the keys to reassembly is holding the barrel up properly in the last stages.
I am proud of you for sticking with it until the problem was solve, yes, it is light beating your head against a brick wall t times, BUT, it sure feels god when it quits hurting.
Definition of expert+ "ex" is a has been and "spurt"is just a drip under pressure, have a great day, and put this in you experience files.

Thanks again for your kindness.

Dwight45 · Post by **Dwight45** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 10:53 am

Thanks Guys. Yeah, the trickey part is how to position that pesky little hammer strut--before I push in the bolt-stop pin--and then how to position it after the pin is engaged but before I swing the mainspring assembly in place.

Anyhow, the gun is a joy to shoot. I ran a little experiment on our first date. Shooting with my elbows supported on the bench, I tried CCI Mini Mags, Winchester Power Points, and Federal Auto Match. The CCI and the Federal were making real tight groups. The Winchester spread out a bit more. But maybe that was me. I'll have to run some more trials.

By the time you guys are through with me, I'll be as mechanical as George, as expert as Bullseye, and as sneaky as BOM.

bearandoldman · Post by **bearandoldman** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 11:25 am

Good luck Dwight, you have to be sneaky to get this old, carrying a big gun helps a lot also. One of my help at the club,we us a lot of high school and locall college boys for help, said, damn that was a smart move, told him, you don't think I go this old being stupid do you?

Dwight45 · Post by **Dwight45** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 12:00 pm

Ha haaaaaaaaaaaa!

greener · Post by **greener** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 6:57 pm

Most of us have been through the fun of being a new Ruger owner. Some of us have had more fun than others. The Rugers are darned enjoyable to shoot and will do a fine job of making you look like an expert.

Enjoy.

Hakaman · Post by **Hakaman** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:08 pm

By the way I was at the range shooting my new upper on my MK11. A Tactical Solutions PacLite 8 1/2''. Absolutely love this outfit now.

Sweet looking setup there Tra, It sort of reminds me of my Mark lll Target w/MatchDot on it. It has got to be the most enjoyable gun to shoot. I beat up on a shoot-n-see prairie dog the other day. I put a good 100 rds into it at 30 ft w/o missing. With 22 ammo, there really isn't any worry about cost. I do feel a little bad about the P Dog though.

Haka

Dwight45 · Post by **Dwight45** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 10:02 pm

Greener, my Ruger did a fine job making me look like an idiot.

I kept thinking, "This gun must be out of spec. It couldn't be designed to work this way."

greener · Post by **greener** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 10:36 pm

Know how you feel. The first time I did one I had visions of a box of Ruger parts looking for a gunsmith and the language was so bad the dog left the room. After a little practice, it wasn't as bad as I initially thought.

Post by **Bullseye** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 6:27 am

Sheesh, I wish you guys weren't always right. Looks like my smith isn't a Ruger expert after all. He put the thing together easily enough, which made me think he was, but when he tried to take it apart again... Well I've finally mastered this complicated kettle of cod. I've taken it apart and put it back together. And I've taken it shooting.

I'm glad that you've got your pistol running again. Your situation was one that could have had a much different ending, frustration-wise, if you were just fortunate enough to have a 'Ruger' experienced smith personally walk you through the steps of dis/re assembly. I cannot begin to count the number of times I've done this at the range for folks.

Go enjoy that pistol.

R,
Bullseye

bearandoldman · Post by **bearandoldman** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 8:35 am

Dwight there are 2 definitions of expert
A a person who is extrmely knowledgable and cpable in his field.
B exhas been Spurt = drip inder pressure.
You are free to use whichever one fits the best.
Also it is also better if someone other than the expert tell you he is an expert.