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

Dwight45 · Post by **Dwight45** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 10:36 pm

Well guys, I've picked up my new MkIII Standard Target model (with the tapered barrel), and I'm going to take it apart for the first time this weekend, to clean the packing guck out of it. And I have a scheme for doing it without panic or frustration.

I'll do step one first, and remove the mainspring housing. Then, before proceding to step two, I'll reassemble the mainspring housing. Then I'll repeat that twice more. Only after I've detached and reattached the mainspring housing three times, will I procede to step two and remove the bolt. And after I've removed and reattached the bolt three times, I'll procede to step three, and so forth.

I know this may sound like an unnecessary bother, but I think it sure beats taking everything apart, and then getting irate because I'm not able to get all those pieces on the table back together. I'll use the instruction manual as well as Bullseye's great directions on this site. And I'll keep you posted about how this works for me. I may well be groveling in mortification.

Post by **Bullseye** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 10:39 pm

That sounds like a reasonable plan. Rather than take the whole thing apart attack it one step at a time. Be sure to flip the pistol upside down and tilt it rearwards, when closing the mainspring housing and you should be fine.

Congrats on the new pistol.

R,
Bullseye

Dwight45 · Post by **Dwight45** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 11:27 pm

Will do Bullseye.

bearandoldman · Post by **bearandoldman** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 11:32 pm

Dwight45 wrote:Will do Bullseye.

Pointing the barrel up at between 30 to 45 degrees off vertical while holding the trigger back is the secret to having no problems, always works on my Mark Ii 22/45's, if I don't it will cause a problem.

greener · Post by **greener** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 8:42 am

Sounds like you've approached the mystery of Ruger field strip the right way.

Enjoy your first, and many, range trips.

Dwight45 · Post by **Dwight45** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:53 am

Thanks guys, I'll heed your advice.

California isn't a gun-friendly state, but there's a nice indoor range nearby that I'll visit this winter, and a couple nice outdoor ranges nearby, in the hills, that I'll visit in the spring.

OpsMgr · Post by **OpsMgr** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 6:57 pm

You will fall in love with your new pistola Dwight45. Enjoy and make peace with the fact that you now have the "Sickness"!

Dwight45 · Post by **Dwight45** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:11 pm

OK OpsMgr, I'll take two asprin and buy another pistol.

Post by **Bullseye** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:17 am

Better yet, buy two pistols and take an asprin.

R,
Bullseye

bearandoldman · Post by **bearandoldman** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:20 am

Better yet, just forget the aspirins and buy all kinds of guns and ammo. It works for me.

tradrick · Post by **tradrick** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:39 am

I ran into a fellow at the range yesterday. That claimed to have had nearly 50,000 rds. through his MK111. And said he's never taken it apart and gave it a proper cleaning. He went on to say he's always been intimidated by disassembly. I asked if he ever saw it done he said no. So I field stripped my pistol real quick to give him a lesson. I'm no Bullseye by no means. But I do fieldstrip mine for cleaning.
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.And it clearly can shoot way better than me. I got about a 1'' group @ 25 yds. using my UltraDot. Next project will be VQ sear and thinking the Marvel trigger for its adjustability. Here she is.

Post by **Bullseye** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:38 am

That is a very nice looking Mark II with the TacSol barrel on it. Are those Ultima grips too? Have you gotten a chance to go out and shoot it yet?

I know what you mean about helping others. My range times usually consist of me shooting for 1/3rd of the time and helping others for the other 2/3rds of my session. It's gotten so bad that now I usually bring a long a armorer's kit box along with my pistol box.

R,
Bullseye

Dwight45 · Post by **Dwight45** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 6:03 pm

Well, it's time for a little groveling. I've done what Ruger instructs: slid the saftey into the off position, removed the magazine, pulled out the mainspring housing latch with a paper clip, and hit the bolt-stop pin with a dowel and mallet. It just destroyed the dowel. Then I tried a drift punch and ball-peen hammer, with a piece of leather thick enought to protect the gun's finish, but thin enough so as not to absorb too much striking force. The pin won't budge, so I can't get that receiver out. Maybe I'd better call Ruger tomorrow?

tradrick · Post by **tradrick** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 6:44 pm

Thanks Bullseye.I got the grips at handgungrips.com.I did take it to the range yesterday.I got about a 1'' group @ 25 yds with my UltraDot.And I'm not very steady or smooth so the pistol is probably capable of much more.
Dwight45,after you placed the safety in the off position did you pull the trigger to be sure the hammer has fallen.Ruger states that the hammer must be uncocked before pistol can be disassembled.Hope this helps Tradrick

Dwight45 · Post by **Dwight45** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:17 pm

Yes, I did pull the trigger first.