22/45 durability

[Hertervillian]

As a laid up worry wart (new hip) I have questions.

Is the plastic grip frame a source of concern on my MKIII? The top wobbles a bit. Everything looks fine. Do these hold up well?

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Well first wishing you a speedy recovery on that hip recovery! I know how it is to be laid up.....JAN 23 had a total knee replacement, and JUL 23 had surgery to remove cancer. Listen to the Docs and PTs and do your home exercises!

As for the MKIII 22/45 mine has a zillion rounds through it and is going strong....however, I have never had a "wobble" between the lower and upper. How does it "wobble"? Is the lower and upper mated correctly?

 

[OMCHamlin]

Well first wishing you a speedy recovery on that hip recovery! I know how it is to be laid up.....JAN 23 had a total knee replacement, and JUL 23 had surgery to remove cancer. Listen to the Docs and PTs and do your home exercises!

As for the MKIII 22/45 mine has a zillion rounds through it and is going strong....however, I have never had a "wobble" between the lower and upper. How does it "wobble"? Is the lower and upper mated correctly?

I've noted some slight wobble in some, and none in others. That's just Ruger. They seem to shoot fine regardless.

 

[Dan in MI]

Some people make a shim out of a pop/soda can to remove the wobble. Not required, but some can't live with it.

 

[contender]

I wouldn't worry about it. As noted above,, it's likely a small amount of wobble due to how the top mates to the lower. I have a bull bbl MKI from the 1970's,,, it wobbles,, and is still very accurate.

 

[Hertervillian]

This too is a bull barrel. It's not sloppy, I could not see any flaws in the notch cut in the frame.

I'll get over it I guess. I've had a bunch of time for cleaning and inspection. Hoping next week is range therapy, walking to 25 yard berm to start, increasing till it's the 400yard berm.

 

[contender]

"I could not see any flaws in the notch cut in the frame."

You won't see any flaws in the frame or the receiver. It's just very minor dimensional differences occasionally that give us the little wobble or whatever. I saw a guy once use a piece of paper over the tab, then assemble his receiver to where the paper tightened the two mating points.

 

[Mobuck]

^^^ I agree with Contender on this. The amount of misfit isn't noticeable. A very thin 'shim' is all that's required but the slight 'wiggle' won't affect use, accuracy, or safety of the pistol. I 'bedded' the pocket of one FrankenRuger 22/45 but this is VERY TRICKY and could result in a solidly assembled(no disassembly again EVER) pistol. The thinnest piece of foil you can find may be just enough.
As far as the durability, possibly no one really knows as no one has beat one to death. My trapline beater 22/45 has seen nearly every sort of abuse and never misses a beat. I got it second hand after the original owner's dog chewed the heck out of the lower grip--just makes for some interesting 'stippling' and basis for some wildly made up stories about using it to stave off an attack by ravenous coyotes.

 

[Dave Schwaab]

I have a 1998 (Mark II vintage) 22/45. I can take it apart and put it together without tools because of how loose the barrel fits to the frame. It is still very accurate and one of my absolute favorite shooters.

It would have to get really bad before I would try the shim idea, but, if it became necessary, I would do that and keep on shooting.

 

[Highstandardguy]

That's one of the beauties of Bill's design, the barrel and sights are locked in a death grip. The only way I can think a loose upper it likely to affect you is if it's loose enough to affect the hammer/firing pin geometry. Having said that, a loose upper drives me nuts. Shim it.

 

[Laserbait]

I have a Mk II 22/45 blued 4" bull barrel. Currently on a Mk III lower. It's been reliable and fantastic with both Mk II and III lowers. I had to use some emery cloth and sand down the front lug of the Mk III lower for it to fit correctly, and it's super tight.

It's easily in my top 10 of guns I won't ever sell.

 

[jakes10mm]

Mk IV 22/45 here and no complaints. I picked up a used Mk III afterwards and question why I spent the money. The grip angle and simple take-down on the Mk IV's is beyond compare. That said, minimal slop in my 22/45 and very accurate.

 

[wproct]

A little slop is no biggie. A thin metal shim or just a layer of electrician's tape takes care of that nicely.

 

[yugorifle]

No worries at all.

 

[Rock185]

I've never experienced, or even heard of, a problem with the plastic frames.

 

[Kevin]

I've got a 22/45 (But a Mark IV, not Mark III) admittedly I don't shoot it very much. But have taken it apart a couple times. It's a tight fit, no wobble.

I've heard of people having a loose fit on an AR15 if they have different brands of lower and uppers. They might have a wobble and still have an accurate rifle.

The shim sounds like a good idea if it's an issue.

 

[bykerhd]

My Gen 2 22/45 Mark II Target frame to upper fit has become pretty sloppy.
But, it still shoots and functions just fine and I don't believe I'll change a thing.

 

[AzShooter1]

I've got a 22/45 frame with a Volquartsen top end on it and it has over 100K rounds so far without failure. The Mark IV frame is well worth the money.

 

[Hertervillian]

I've got a 22/45 frame with a Volquartsen top end on it and it has over 100K rounds so far without failure. The Mark IV frame is well worth the money.

Good to hear.