Ruger MK3 extractor spring question for Bullseye
Moderators: Bullseye, Moderators
Ruger MK3 extractor spring question for Bullseye
Bullseye, I've had my Ruger MK3 for a couple of months now. I've read most of the archive Ruger Mark 3 threads here and have done some modifications based on what I have learned here. In one post, you mentioned that when replacing the OEM Mark 3 extractor with the VQ extractor, to not use the packaged extractor spring because it is intended for the 10/22 and is too strong for use in the Mark 3. In the interest of furthering my education on how these guns work, why does a 10/22 require a stronger extractor spring and what kind of problems would using a 10/22 spring in a Mark 3 cause? Thanks.
The spring for a 10/22 is stiffer and slightly longer. The bolt for the rifle is different and has a longer plunger recess. I've never tried it but if one were to install the 10/22 spring by accident in the Mark II/III bolt, they may not be able to retract the plunger far enough to remove the hook again because the plunger will not move backwards far enough to release the hook. The rifle has a longer barrel and therefore generates higher back pressure, the stronger spring is designed to function with the faster speeds and stronger pressures.
R,
Bullseye
R,
Bullseye
Bullseye, thanks for the reply and furthering my education on these guns. From day one, my Mark3 has been a stovepiping/FTE SOB. Three of us bought new Ruger Mark3's to shoot in an indoor .22 league. While the other 2 Rugers will digest anything without a problem, only mine has had the stovepiping/FTE problems. Very early on before I found this forum, members in the club suggested that the extractor could be the problem. I ordered an extractor (from a manufacture other than VQ as I had not heard of them at that stage) but same construction as a VQ unit. While labled as fitting both the 10/22 and Mark2, nowhere in the instructions did it state to use the spring in 10/22 service only. So thinking the spring was meant to be installed with the extractor, I installed it as well. As you stated, it was a very tight fit but it finally went in. Actually, the extractor helped in my stovepiping/FTE problem along with some other things I have learned from this forum, but it is not 100%. Currently it will now feed standard velocity target .22 loads reliably (which is OK as that is what I shoot in league). It will however stovepipe/FTE pretty regular with any high velocity .22 which is what I like to practice with because of price. The above scenario probably points to a cureable problem but before I go there, I will remove the aftermarket extractor spring and reinstall the OEM spring when I put in the VQ extractor I have on order. I'll report back with how it digest both SV and HV .22 rounds. Thanks for the info. 
Just an update to my original post. The Volquartsen extractor came and I installed it today. I matched it up to the OEM extractor and it matched the profile perfectly. Something the other brand extractor that I had installed did not do. That one, I had to do some stoning on it before it would match/function correctly. Anyway, I removed the aftermarket 10/22 extractor plunger spring and put the OEM Ruger spring as well as the Volquartsen extractor in. Took it down to the range today and put about 250 rounds of high velocity Federal bulk .22 thru it. WaaHoo! 
No more stovepiping/FTE with the HV ammo like I was having previously. My buddy brought his S&W 422 and it looks like my stovepiping/FTE gremlin jumped ship and invaded his gun. I'll leave that for another post. 
No more stovepiping/FTE with the HV ammo like I was having previously. My buddy brought his S&W 422 and it looks like my stovepiping/FTE gremlin jumped ship and invaded his gun. I'll leave that for another post.