Newbies to Ruger Semi-automatic 22 LR Pistols.

Coop · Mar 3, 2013

I have seen a lot of posts here by new members who have had trouble disassembling/reassembling their "new to them" Ruger 22 LR Semi-automatic pistols.

I remember buying my first 22 LR Ruger Semi-automatic pistol in 1995. It is a bull barrel Mark II Govt target model, and probably has over 20,000 rounds thru it. I remember upon its aquisition reading the instruction manual from cover to cover, and then taking it down to its principle elements, (not total teardown), and cleaning the pistol before even firing it. It took several tries to get the hammer spur to seat properly upon reassembly. Lesson learned. Read the manual.

I wonder how many newbies do not take the time to "read the directions", and get them into serious trouble.

contender · Mar 3, 2013

A whole bunch of them fail to RTFM!
I will readily admit that if you aren't familair with gun parts & terminology, it can be frustrating the first few times you do a reassembly of a MK series 22. But, if you take the time to truly study the manuel, INCLUDING the parts diagram, it can be done by most who are willing to accept knowledge.

CajunBass · Mar 4, 2013

One other thing I have noticed, in addition to not really reading the directions (guilty of that myself as well) is a reluctance to hit the thing with something. People seem to think giving the gun a wack with a rubber hammer will damage something. It won't. Personally I used a big plastic screwdriver handle that seems to work just fine.

Folks, these things are TIGHT when they're new. It takes time to wear the parts in to where you don't need a little help to break them down. Don't be afraid to give it a WACK. These things are tight when they're new, but will loosen up with use. I used to have an old standard from 1959 or so that literally fell apart when the mainspring was pulled.

However there is one place in the book that I don't think is clear. At least it wasn't for me at first. During reassembly, the directions tell you to insert the magazine, point the gun down, pull the trigger and allow the hammer to fall forward. Maybe not be an exact quote, but that's the gist of it. Well, I've never seen a hammer fall anywhere. They have to be pushed. Take a pencil, a screwdriver, something like that, and push the hammer forward, and suddenly things work a lot better.

It's not really hard to do it you really understand how it works. At first I didn't know how far forward the hammer had to go, so I didn't know it wasn't in the proper position. Until I accepted the fact that I had to "wack" the mainspring with a screwdriver handle to get it back into place I fought with that thing over an over.

blume357 · Mar 4, 2013

The problem with reading the manual is that the instructions are not that easy to follow.... compare the instructions for a MKII with that of say a P95.... The MKIII are even worse because of the mag disconnect issue.... and of course Ruger has to point out that the magazine has to be empty and point the pistol in a safe directions as you pull the trigger while the barrel is either pointed up or down..... to make the hammer fall in the right spot.. which 95% of the time it won't so why even try it that way...... Great pistols... but they sure are a pain to break down... then I learned a secret a while back... you really don't need to clean them... just lube them.

CajunBass · Mar 4, 2013

blume357 said:
... then I learned a secret a while back... you really don't need to clean them... just lube them.

:lol: Ain't that the truth? That's all I did for years. I'd take the book and work my way through it once in a while, but I can't say I really KNEW how to. I'd spay them off with gunscrubber and put a drop or two of oil here and there and call it a day. Worked fine for years.

But last weekend while watching the Daytona 500, I sat down with the gun (MK III) and stripped it and reasembled it over and over until I really understood when and why you do this and that. It wasn't long before I realized it was really fairly simple, much simpler than the directions make it seem.

Now I go back to the gunscrubber and oil treatment. :mrgreen:

pwberndt · Mar 4, 2013

I'm new to the 22/45s in terms of strip & clean, I find the process is not intuitive or easy to remember. I do understand the whys and whats of the pistol & am not expecting it to be as easy as a revolver. I also own a Browning HP 9 and a LCP 380 which I can strip and clean without cracking the manual. Additionally I am able to strip & clean my brother-in-law's Beretta 380 & Baby Browning without a manual. I did not have to "practice" the procedure over & over to get it down.

I agree about not needing to strip it to clean it after every outing, yet I'm considering the Majestic Arms Speed Strip Kit so I don't have to pull out the manual every time I want to do a better job of cleaning.

If this wasn't such a great and fun shooter, I'd get rid of it. I might just be Old and Cranky!

fido4x · Mar 4, 2013

Well I agree that my 22/45 Lite was a PITA to put back together and yes, I did indeed RTFM and had it out in front of me during the breakdown and assembly. I have always had to push the hammer for this too. I have put nearly 3,000 rounds through this gun and have cleaned it after each shoot. It is getting a bit easier but the manual is still in front of me when I do. I have a FNP-45 that takes about 3 seconds to breakdown and another 5 to put it together. I can't do that with my Ruger.