Lets talk magazines for the MK pistols
- Thread starter Dregg
- Start date
lipofsky
Single-Sixer
MK-II's will not work n a MK-III due to mag safety issue. A MK-III will work in a MK-II. sorry do not know about MK-I mags, I think the button is reversed but I am not sure.
contender
Ruger Guru
In the beginning, the Standard Auto & MKI mags had the follower button on the right side. The frame was marked A-54. When the stamping machine wore out (that made the frames,) it was redesigned a bit, and became the A-100 frame. One of the changes was that the mag follower button was moved to the left side. In the frame, the rounded space had been reversed as well.
To use a later MKI mag in an earlier one, all you did was swap the follower button to the other side. This was by design & to make sure things were efficient for gun owners.
When the MKII came out, there weren't any changes to the dimensions of the later MKI mags, but now the MKII mags could carry 10 rounds. And, you could use MKII mags in all MKI's & Standards, IF you swapped the button for the A-54 frames. Again, good thinking on the part of Ruger engineers.
Next, along came the 22/45, and the introduction of the side mag release button. As such, the angle of the mag was changed, the base pad was changed, AND the addition of a notch & slot to lock in the mag to the release button. This was because the design engineers wanted to replicate a 1911 type gun. None of the 22/45 mags will work in the Standard or MKI's or MKII's.
The MKIII came in with the same mag release as the 22/45, and as such, the MKIII mags have a notch & slot. While I've seen & heard of MKIII mags working in MKII's, MKI's I DO NOT RECOMMEND it as there is the possibility of jamming a mag in the magazine well.
Does this clear it up?
To use a later MKI mag in an earlier one, all you did was swap the follower button to the other side. This was by design & to make sure things were efficient for gun owners.
When the MKII came out, there weren't any changes to the dimensions of the later MKI mags, but now the MKII mags could carry 10 rounds. And, you could use MKII mags in all MKI's & Standards, IF you swapped the button for the A-54 frames. Again, good thinking on the part of Ruger engineers.
Next, along came the 22/45, and the introduction of the side mag release button. As such, the angle of the mag was changed, the base pad was changed, AND the addition of a notch & slot to lock in the mag to the release button. This was because the design engineers wanted to replicate a 1911 type gun. None of the 22/45 mags will work in the Standard or MKI's or MKII's.
The MKIII came in with the same mag release as the 22/45, and as such, the MKIII mags have a notch & slot. While I've seen & heard of MKIII mags working in MKII's, MKI's I DO NOT RECOMMEND it as there is the possibility of jamming a mag in the magazine well.
Does this clear it up?
Busterswoodshop
Hunter
I have used MKI magazines in a MKII and vise versa with no problems.
The MKIII magazines work in the MKII but the magazine catch gets hung up when removing the magazine.
I am sure if you filed the magazine catch off the MKIII magazine will work fine in the MKII.
The MKII will work in the MKIII but will not stay in place because it has no magazine catch.
If you hold it in place it will work just fine.
I took all three guns out just the other day and tried all the magazines in all the guns and that is what I came up with.
The MKIII magazines work in the MKII but the magazine catch gets hung up when removing the magazine.
I am sure if you filed the magazine catch off the MKIII magazine will work fine in the MKII.
The MKII will work in the MKIII but will not stay in place because it has no magazine catch.
If you hold it in place it will work just fine.
I took all three guns out just the other day and tried all the magazines in all the guns and that is what I came up with.
SGW Gunsmith
Blackhawk
Actually, the A54 designation is the "catalogue" number, early frames were never marked A54. Magazines for the A54 grip frames will ONLY work in those styles of grip frame because the right side of the magazine body, only, has the slot for the follower button. Later magazines were made with follower button slots on both sides of the magazine body for the A100 grip frames (which were marked as such) so those magazines could also be used in the earlier A54 pistols.
Just to see if it would work, I've used a Mark III magazine in a Ruger RST4 with an A54 grip frame. Just moved the follower button over to the right side of that magazine body. It will work, but as long as the proper magazines are available, there's not much of a point in messing with it.
Just to see if it would work, I've used a Mark III magazine in a Ruger RST4 with an A54 grip frame. Just moved the follower button over to the right side of that magazine body. It will work, but as long as the proper magazines are available, there's not much of a point in messing with it.
edlmann
Blackhawk
Just a couple of points to add:
1. Mark II 22/45 mags will work in Mark III 22/45 pistols if the trigger is modified or replaced with an aftermarket trigger. For some odd reason, Mark II 22/45 mags were a bit cheaper for a while.
2. The bodies of the Mark III and Mark III 22/45 mags are the same - only the floor plates differ. I suppose you could swap back and forth, but I lack that sort of patience.
1. Mark II 22/45 mags will work in Mark III 22/45 pistols if the trigger is modified or replaced with an aftermarket trigger. For some odd reason, Mark II 22/45 mags were a bit cheaper for a while.
2. The bodies of the Mark III and Mark III 22/45 mags are the same - only the floor plates differ. I suppose you could swap back and forth, but I lack that sort of patience.
