MK III - which barrel?

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Zorba

Zorba

Bearcat
Joined
Oct 2, 2013
Messages
91
I'm Jonesing for a MK III - have rented one at my LGS, and find it to be a really sweet gun.

However, from a practical sense, what are the differences between the barrels aside from aesthetics? I like the looks of the "standard", Luger/Nambu-like, barrel - but would consider a different style if there's a good reason to do so.

Please advise this NOOB...

Thanx!

-Zorba
 
Well. I believe, and I am not an expert, so if anyone knows different please correct me. Anyhow, I've been told that the thicker bull barrels are stiffer and don't suffer accuracy issues because of barrel harmonics. There's also the issue of weight distribution. A thicker barrel will have more weight out front. This will help balance the pistol better.

I guess you've shot the different styles? It is a great gun by the way. I don't think you will go wrong with whichever barrel you choose.

ps. I too like the looks of the standar luger looking barrel.

Pps. Hey welcome to the forum by the way!
 
What are you going to do with it? I'm not convinced that a bull barrel is terribly important in damping harmonics in a short pistol, but it does alter the balance and dampen hand tremor. If you are going to do most of your shooting on the range, that's the style. If your gun will spend a lot of time in a holster, you don't need the extra weight.
 
I've had several Rugers including 4 3/4" skinny, 4.5(?)" slabside bull, 5.5" bull, and 6 7/8" skinny. Of all those, the one I much prefer is the 5.5" bull. Long enough for a good sight radius, heavy enough to be stable, and not unbalanced or ungainly. Each shooter has opinions and preferences and these are mine.
 
Thanx for the replies - and the welcome. It'll mainly be for punching paper and plinking. The one that I've shot was a fluted barrel. I'm thinking the 6 inch "standard", but am willing to be talked into another variant. The fluted barrel I shot was deadly accurate at 25 yards, and I'm not exactly the world's best shot with a handgun.
 
I prefer the bull/target barrel myself... but in reality with 22lr I doubt there is really any difference between it and the tapered or fluted ones or even much difference in accuracy if you put a red dot or scope on it....

so, I would choose the one you like the looks of best.
 
ive had three mkI II III, all in the 5.5" bull barrel, has the perfect balance and imo probably shoots faster than the skinny barrel versions. if I was to buy another it would likely be the 5.5 though the slab side barrel might have similar good fast shooting qualities. slow fired from a rest theres probably no difference in accuracy between any model.
 
It's all about balance and feel.
.22 pistol barrels are too short for harmonics to have a real impact on accuracy.
I love the 4-5/8" 'standard' tapered barrel. That little gun sits in my hand like nothing else. Perfect balance for me.
And you're right, the Luger look is pretty cool, especially in blue with white grips
 
I own a Luger, and wouldn't mind a Nambu - but the MK III is a sweetheart I can shoot all day long for pennies. As I understand it, the MK I,II,III were originally patterned after the Nambu.
 
Here's my Mark II commemorative model.
MarkII-1.jpg
 
Just be aware of one real issue with the MKIII, it is a pain in the rear to take down and put back together. A few folks here don't seem to have any problem with this... but I for one do... even after doing it 3 or 4 times... I still have to do it with the book right there and read the instructions very slowly..

now with all that said I still love my MKIII and here is a little secret... you will realistically may have to take it apart and clean it after something like 5,000 rounds. Before that, just keep putting a little lube in the bolt area.
 
Blume: I've read that lotsa places. Makes me curious as to what the problem is. Not sure I want to find out!

PO2: Purdy gun! Like the grips.
 
The two problems with taking the MKIII down are first it is a little complicated... the second is that you are supposed point the pistol barrel down, with an empty magazine in it and pull the trigger to allow the internal hammer to fall in the right place to pull the grip spring thingy out and do the opposite, point it up and pull the trigger with an empty magazine in (trigger won't pull hammer won't move with out a magazine in the pistol). Oh and I maybe backwards on the pointing part... it may be up for removing and down for putting back).... At least on my MKIII this don't work.. you have to use a thin tool to reach in and push the hammer to the right position. On taking apart you can usually get the hammer to wiggle to the right place but on putting back you have to push it to the exact right place.

But like I said, you really don't need to do any of this very often unless you are just in the mood for a real challenge... good lube and half way decent ammo and you are good to go for thousands of rounds.
 
Choose according to your own preferences. There ain't a lick of difference between them, other than the length and weight.
 
You are asking for opinions, and here is mine. I have owned and shot many Ruger semi-auto 22's, and my favorite of all the standard production models is the 5.5 inch bull bbl model. Short enough to be handy, but enough weight up front to help steady the pistol for target/plinking use etc. I don't think there is measurable difference in potential accuracy between the different bbl lengths, it's just a matter of balance and sight radius differences.
 
I shot, in competition, both the MK I and MK II Targets models in the 6 7/8 length. I now have a MK III Target 6 7/8 and a 22/45 Bull. I honestly see no difference in the accuracy. The Bull sits in the hand a bit more 'comfortably' but that is only my opinion. My suggestion to you is to try out the various models and see what one YOU like the best.
 
Lots of info and opinions for sure! Keep 'em coming. The only Mk III I've shot had the (stainless) fluted barrel. SA-WEET!
 
As per another thread, bought a 6" STD. Waiting for it to get out of "jail"!
 
PO2Hammer said:
Here's my Mark II commemorative model.
MarkII-1.jpg
Click to expand...

I just picked up this same model 2 days ago and took it to the range last night for the first time. I loved the feel of it and always wanted the same style due to the look which I prefer over other longer or thicker barrels. I don't care for the grips but it was the best that I could find for the price ($350). I think it was never fired as there isn't a mark inside or out, and was thickly coated inside with thick oil or grease.
I took it apart and cleaned it after the range and found it difficult to put back together until I watched a Youtube video that made it easy actually. The only hard part after watching the video was that everything is still so tight that it wasn't easy to push the rod back into the hole. I took it out and put it back in a few times and used a couple of drops of oil on it and it seemed easier after a few tries, so I imagine it'll only get better the more I dismantle it and put it back together.
It's a pleasure to shoot for sure...
 
I bought a MK III 22/45 and I wouldn't let the "complicated" take down scare you away. But I would say that you should replace the hammer bushing to get rid of the magazine disconnect ($12) before you even fire the gun. It will make take down less complicated along with fixing a couple of other nagging issues.
 
Get a nice used MKII
I don't like the MKIII's at all
Once again fixin what ain't broke :roll:
 
750k2 said:
Get a nice used MKII
I don't like the MKIII's at all
Once again fixin what ain't broke :roll:
Click to expand...

I agree .... MK III's have a LCI (loaded chamber indicator) which some folks agree causes Failures to feed and eject and a mag-disconnect, which makes dis-assembly and assembly a pain and the mags hang up upon release. BUT, you can do mods that releave all those problems, it's like buying a MK III and then going retro to a MK II.
 
For years I preferred the tapered bbls over the bull bbls.Be aware that there are stainless Mk3 available.4 3/4 and 6 inch models.I've been shooting the LITE since it came out.
 
Still bone stock other than the Altamont grips. Plan on installing "the bushing" at the very least, the magazine disconnect doesn't bother me, but its elimination improves the trigger feel by all accounts. I'm probably the odd guy out in that I actually like the LCI, although if it gives me an unreasonable amount of grief, I'll do away with it. 450 rds so far, will run another 200 through it then attempt its first cleaning. I bought a "Pistol Pal" tool which is supposed to help - I'll be annoyed if I end up breaking a nail...

Ruger.jpg


I would like to put a fiber optic or other high vis front sight on it, any recommendations?
 
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