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    Product Test

    Ruger MK IV .22 Long Rifle

    Both the Hunter (top) and Target models of the Mk IV were tested in a Ransom Rest with the ammunition shown.
    Both the Hunter (top) and Target models of the Mk IV were tested in a Ransom Rest with the ammunition shown.
    I was in junior high when Ruger introduced its first .22 semiautomatic pistol in 1952. In the USAF I learned about doing trigger jobs on them and shot one for awhile in bullseye. I learned, painfully, how to reassemble the pistol after cleaning. This is really straightforward, once you learn that the hammer must be in the fired position to re-insert the takedown latch. Since then, the Ruger has gone through several iterations: the Mark II in 1982, Mark III in 2005 and now the Mark IV.

    The first thing to notice about the new Ruger Mark IV is that the mainspring housing/takedown latch is missing from the back of the grip. Looking closely, there are lots of other differences. The overall appearance is faithful to the original “Luger-ish” look that was so attractive to this “kid,” but now it locks open when the last round is fired, now it has an ambidextrous safety, a bolt release you can reach, a magazine release where it’s supposed to be behind the trigger and a magazine that departs with authority when the release button is  pushed.

    Gone is the California-mandated, widely cursed, loaded chamber indicator, but the magazine safety is still present. (Rumor has it that a gunsmith can remove it when he does the trigger job that most shooters will want.) The two test pistols  sent for this review had trigger pulls of 5.8 and 5.9 pounds. They were nicely crisp, but my trigger finger protested loudly when the pressure went far beyond the point where the pistols should have fired. It took a mental gear shift to avoid jerking the trigger.

    The Hunter model shot this .19-inch, five-shot group.
    The Hunter model shot this .19-inch, five-shot group.
    At first it seems like taking down the pistol is a simple thing, and you can’t help but wonder why it took 63 years. On the other hand, Ruger has two of the most ubiquitous firearms in America: The 10/22 rifle and the .22 pistol. It is hard to mess with success. Success might not be a strong enough word for Mr. Ruger’s first pistol, when considering the longevity of the model. “Millions” is not an overstatement. It is also fitting that new serial numbers begin with his initials, WBR. This is a special serial number and the conventional system will return by the time this is printed.

    There are no takedown tricks or secret incantations needed: remove magazine, unload the pistol, put the safety on, press takedown button, tip barrel up, remove. There is a shotgun-type hinge, so the barrel and receiver just lift off. The part that caused so much trouble in earlier models is called the “bolt stop pin,” but now it is movable, so all you have to do is make sure it is pointed in the right direction and just press the two parts together until it clicks.

    Some .22s are sensitive to ammunition choices and don’t always like standard velocity loads. During testing, standard velocity ammunition fed and functioned perfectly. Two examples were tried: the Target model in blue with an aluminum frame and steel 5.5-inch bull barrel and the Hunter model in stainless with a 6.88-inch stainless, fluted barrel.

    Rear sights are adjustable for windage and elevation. The Target model has a black Patridge sight and traditional rear leaf. The Hunter model has a fiber optic front, but the rear leaf has a shallow V with a white line in the middle. Both models are drilled and tapped for a scope base.

    Accuracy testing was done using a Ransom rest, and ammunition was chosen to cover a wide range of available load types, from match, standard velocity, high and hyper-velocity loadings. The results are in the accompanying table. For information, visit www.ruger.com.



    Wolfe Publishing Group