I got a Ruger Mark III 22/45 (Hey Bluice)
 

I decided to get a .22 Ruger as my first auto loading pistol. I was reading one of Bluice's threads and I took Tulsamal's advice on getting a small pistol first. The economic advantage of .22LR shooting is just undeniable.

http://www.oneshotonline.com/store/images/P512MKIII.gif

The pros are the barrel is nice and heavy, so there is basically really little recoil perceived with this gun, it's also very accurate, I'm learning to steady my aim and surprising myself as to what it can do when concentrating. I have yet to dial in the windage and elevation but from the factory it seems to be dead on at 7 yards. (ROFL) I ran down to Wal Mart and bought two boxes of Federal .22LR for 15 bucks a piece. That's a 550 count box mind you. I put about 250 rounds through the thing before it just started getting too hot at the range. It was Wednesday at 3PM heh, I was the only one at the pistol range in full blazing sun.

I'm not Jeff Quinn, so I'm not going to tell you that the trigger pull was crisp and all that, but from a layman's perspective the gun functioned mechanically quite well. I didn't have any misfires, jams, and everything fed nicely.

The cons are a few too, I don't like the polymer frame of the 22/45, the grips are modled after a 1911, but the grips are much much thinner than a 1911 for sure. So if I were to recommend a Mark III, I would get the regular Mark III not the 22/45, I'm already looking to do a grip mod on the thing. Also it's clearly evident that Ruger like other firearm manufacturers seem to be bending under the weight of California type safety regulations. The amount of safety interlocks and mechanisms on this thing are numerous. If you can find a Mark II they don't have all of these safety "features".

Field stripping is also a nightmare for the un-initiated. I decided to do this before going to the range to just familiarize myself on the gun and oh boy what a mistake that was. Although now I can say I really know my in's and outs of the disassemble/reassembly process. Lets just say the use of rubber mallets was mentioned here and there.

Loading the magazines can really tear your thumbs up, there is a metal button that you must hold down to get all ten rounds in the magazine, after doing this about 10~15 times, your thumbs get raw. Fortunately I found a solution:

http://i732.photobucket.com/albums/w..._1999Small.jpg

It's called the ultimate cliploader, you just drop 50 cartridges into the hopper, shake it a bit to orient the cartridges the right way, then insert the magazine into the loader, boom all 10 rounds drop in like that. Everyone who says they bought this, also says their ammo budget shot up right after this purchase lol. I bought mine for 17 bucks

The gun itself was just a tad under 300 bucks. So it's not a big ticket item. The real nice part is that for 15~20 dollars worth of ammo you can basically spend a day at the range practicing which is something that would be impossible if you're talking center fire ammo prices and recoil.

Bluice rather than running out and springing for a Glock 29, I'd get a .22 first. You'll get a lot more time at the range, and you won't have spent a whole lot either. Just my 2�.

Re: I got a Ruger Mark III 22/45 (Hey Bluice)
 

The Mark II also lends itself to being a very reliable suppressed platform. Add an IR laser and the possibilities are endless. Bwahahahahahahahahahaha! Bx3

Re: I got a Ruger Mark III 22/45 (Hey Bluice)
 

Nice can there heh.

IR Laser?! Do you wear nighvision goggles to see the aimpoint?

The whole world of suppressors, tax stamps, and all the like are still unknown to me.

Re: I got a Ruger Mark III 22/45 (Hey Bluice)
 

I picked up some PVS-14s a few years back. A friend of mine once told me that if you have the basic gun needs taken care of (rifle, pistol, shotgun), get some night vision.

He related a story to me of when he was on his ranch in Tx and some yahoos were shooting down near his pond one night. He went down to investigate with a pair of gen II Russian NV and a firearm. When he called out (from a distance) for the pair to get off his property, they hid behind a tree. When he told them that he saw them behind the tree, they went behind some rocks. When he told them that he could still see them in the rocks and he was going to start shooting, they left. All of this took place in the dark of night. They knew that he had a tactical advantage over them even though they outnumbered him. That is the advantage of NV. I have been flying with NV for over sixteen years now and can't believe that I waited so long to get a personal one.

They have since come in handy on several occasions.

The suppressor was a promise fulfilled to myself after my helicopter broke down just outside a predominantly Serbian village in Bosnia. My Lt. and I only had our two Berettas and about 30 rds a piece. The village folks were not too happy with us as it was only a few months after the air war over Serbia. A large crowd started to gather on the edge of the field where we had landed. I looked at my M9 and figured WTF am I going to do with piece of crap? Too underpowered to make a difference in a fire fight and too loud to evade. Luckily we were supporting a SF team at the time and they ended up coming to our rescue. The first thing I did when I got back to the states was to purchase a suppressed .22 that is in the picture. I can hit an abandoned washing machine behind my house at just over 200 yards about 7 out of 10 times and all you hear is clack (bolt chambering a fresh round) and dong as the round hits home. Good shit! :yes: Bx3

Re: I got a Ruger Mark III 22/45 (Hey Bluice)
 

Damn man that's wolly as hell. There was a guy on this forum a while back who asked about the spectral frequency of night goggles. Now not having any experience with that type of equipment, I would hazard a guess that they would see an IR laser, or laser diode in the upper 850~900 nm range like a big old beam of light. That is if they are unfiltered. I watch the laser designators that they use in Iraq, and I'm sure they are IR because who wants a big old red or green laser beaming across the valley they want to place ordinance on. Crazy shit man.

Re: I got a Ruger Mark III 22/45 (Hey Bluice)
 

Re: I got a Ruger Mark III 22/45 (Hey Bluice)
 

You are correct. That particular laser on my pistol is running at 850nm. It can project a crisp beam out past 800yds which is of course much farther than a pistol requires but since it can also be mounted on a rifle it is a nice capability to have. Red and green lasers have their place but unlike an IR laser (unless your target also has NV) they are kind of like tracers in that they point both ways. Bx3

Re: I got a Ruger Mark III 22/45 (Hey Bluice)
 

:thinkey:, Dave, I am going to the gun club in a matter of days and will try to fire a twenty-two.....:bear_w00t:

Re: I got a Ruger Mark III 22/45 (Hey Bluice)
 

I also just purchased a Mark II ( used ) for $200 with bull barrel. I have not shot it just yet but a couple of my co workers have one in 22/45 and standard mark II. The feel of the 22/45 is nice but this one was used and under the radar. Great feeling gun but man if you take it apart to clean I hope you have patience. I did not get a owners manual with it but bought one off *bay and it helped. I tryed for over an hour to get back together the first time. When they say to tilt back to get a lever inside to seat in correctly they were not kidding. Once you get it it is not to bad. The one I bought came with a scope rail ( no scope ) but I am going back to factory sights or maybe a night sight. This one came a bit scratched up so I was thinking about a camo covering. I also looked @ the walter p22 but I'm not into poly guns just yet. I like the idea of getting 550 count box's of shells ( wally world ) for about 15.00 bucks. There 9 mm was 57.00 for a box @ 250. good luck with your purchase I'm sure you'll like it alot ..Kb

Re: I got a Ruger Mark III 22/45 (Hey Bluice)
 

Bx3, Where did you get that rail for your ruger? I have a tacsol barrel on mine but sadly no rail. I need a ir laser also.



I love my mark 3, good gun.

Re: I got a Ruger Mark III 22/45 (Hey Bluice)
 

http://www.rimfiresports.com/merchan...egory_Code=VC2

The rail is a Weigand which is made to mount on the top of the Ruger MK II/III which is important because you want the concave underside to conform to the barrel. I modified it and then drilled/tapped the barrel in a friends machine shop (pain in the butt).

The IR laser may be more difficult to procure. Just like with some body armor, while they are not illegal for civilians to own, manufacturers of mil spec IR units generally do not sell to the general public (unlike their visible laser units). I got mine through official channels and even then it was difficult. There are often IR units available from places like e-bay, gun broker and other internet locations but buyer be ware as many of the units are cheap imports. There are even some folks who have made their own. The problem with getting a unit that is not mil spec is that they usually do not hold a good zero and are not water resistant/proof. Bx3