MKIII and 22/45 lite compatibility

[mark16610]

Hi, I'm new to this forum but not to my MKII :wink:

My question is wife getting into shooting and she wants her own .22 .She finds my MKII standard a bit heavy, however I let her try a friends 22/45 lite and the weight was good, but the 1911 style grip was not. She really prefers the Luger style grip (I do too).

I don't have access to a MKIII , so what I'm wondering if the upper from a 22/45 lite will drop onto a lower from a MKIII ?

If this will work then I will go out and buy both, switch the tops, and then she has the perfect Ruger lite with luger grip, and I can sell the 22/45 lower with a standard upper.

Any info would help. Thanks.

 

[SGW Gunsmith]

I was basically in the same position you find yourself in now. My wife did not like the "LITE" versions. She also didn't like my early RST4 Standard model either.



This is what she finally decided upon and it came directly out of my counter display.



After the "green" C/T laser was added, there was no turning back.

 

[9x19]

There are minor differences in the receiver to frame fit on the steel receivers (not sure on the LITE). You can "fit" them together, but they are not a direct swap out of the box.

More info here:

http://www.guntalk-online.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=25116#25116

 

[Bullseye57]

The Lite Receiver may fit on the lower metal frame, but the upper receivers of the 22/45 model pistols (including the lite version) have the front lug well peened at the factory to fit the receiver snugly onto the Zytel plastic frame. This usually means that a 22/45 receiver won't always fit onto the metal frame due to the crushed front lug well. Some 22/45 receivers will directly fit onto a metal frame, but this is on a case-by-case basis.

My bride also has small hands and often has trouble managing wide girth pistol grips. She does find the original 22/45 MKIII, 1911 style frame (with the built-in solid grip panels) fits her hand size very well. Overall pistol weight was another factor for her too. The solution was to fit the 22/45 lower with a 4.5inch upper slab sided barrel, which lightened up the overall weight much to her delight. The set-up I have for her is exactly like this one~

Another option is to take a look at some of the upper receivers Tactical Solutions offers. These lightweight aftermarket upper receivers don't have the peened front lug well, like the Ruger factory uppers do, and these may also work for your wife. http://www.tacticalsol.com/2245-and-mk-series-upgrades/

Hope this helps.

R,
Bullseye

 

[mark16610]

I didn't know about that peened lug well. Very interesting. Looking online no shops around my area have both, but perhaps a phone call will dig something up that's not online and I can go and take a look in person as it seems there is no definitive answer.

If I go the tac-sol custom route then I know I'll just end up keeping it for myself, so If the swap works then great, if not then maybe we look at something else like that other Ruger above.

Great info, thanks guys.

 

[Mobuck]

Just look for a thin profile (standard) barrel MKII or III. Takes a lot of the forward weight off. My perception is a 6 7/8" standard barrel feels about the same as a 4" bull barrel. The 4 1/2" standard is almost like it's not there.

 

[REP1954]

In my opinion this would be a much better purchase than a Pac-Lite barrel. Much cheaper and better quality.

http://www.ruger-parts.net/factory-ruger-lite-barrel-model-3903-unfired-on-sale-159/

 

[DUNTOV]

The Lite Receiver may fit on the lower metal frame, but the upper receivers of the 22/45 model pistols (including the lite version) have the front lug well peened at the factory to fit the receiver snugly onto the Zytel plastic frame. This usually means that a 22/45 receiver won't always fit onto the metal frame due to the crushed front lug well. Some 22/45 receivers will directly fit onto a metal frame, but this is on a case-by-case basis.

My bride also has small hands and often has trouble managing wide girth pistol grips. She does find the original 22/45 MKIII, 1911 style frame (with the built-in solid grip panels) fits her hand size very well. Overall pistol weight was another factor for her too. The solution was to fit the 22/45 lower with a 4.5inch upper slab sided barrel, which lightened up the overall weight much to her delight. The set-up I have for her is exactly like this one~

Another option is to take a look at some of the upper receivers Tactical Solutions offers. These lightweight aftermarket upper receivers don't have the peened front lug well, like the Ruger factory uppers do, and these may also work for your wife. http://www.tacticalsol.com/2245-and-mk-series-upgrades/

Hope this helps.

R,
Bullseye

The model 3903 Ruger LITE I received did not have the lug pocket peened, fits all frames

 

[SGW Gunsmith]

This is how steel uppers are fit to the Zytel lowers at the Ruger assembly area, except for the first year run of 22/45 pistols.



To clear up some errant information posted above, steel upper and steel lowers are easily swapped between one another. Even when doing Mark I uppers to Mark III lowers. Now, before somebody gets tipped over, with that news, the switching may require some internal parts changes also, but we're discussing uppers to lowers here and the steel ones can be swapped easily without too much trouble. Where issue usually come up is when the Zytel lower gets involved.