Looking for 22 pistol advice,

First topic message reminder :

hi everybody.

i'm looking to shoot my first 2700 match within the next month or so and i need a solution for 22. i have a stock ruger mark 3 22/45 with adjustable sights that i've been using to practice but i'm looking for a more accurate solution. Ideally i'd get a nelson conversion but the lead time on those is pretty long, might barely make it to me in time for perry. 

Should i wait on the nelson conversion and keep using my ruger mark 3?
Should i buy a new ruger mark 3 competition model?
Are there some other, better options? 


I'm looking to stay within $600 for right now so buying a SW 41 or pardini or hammerli is out. 

thanks

Shoot the Ruger it is fine. Shoot 2700's with it and in no time you will know if you are ready to progress. Do not even think about buying a new gun until you are shooting 750/900 or better. 

+1 on the trigger job.

One with average mechanical skill can do a good trigger job on a Mark IV and need few strong-words - not the case with Mark III or II.
Ruger 22/45 Mark IV is available "Lite" and not so light.  For one with strength issues, the Mark IV 22/45 Lite is ideal - and ready for red-dot sight.

I echo others:  find a way to enhance the trigger on Mark III and remove the worst junk, and it will do very well - that assumes that the weight is not too much.  - do note if you get tired in a match - could be a sign for a need for a lighter pistol.  - - - yes, ideally heavy is better, but that all goes out the window if one can not control the pistol in the latter part of match.

Do write back and tell us all about your experience.    Mac

I have a VQ trigger in my Mark III and my 22/45 Lite.  I said a lot of bad words installing them till I figured out they had left out a step on their video.  Found a great video and got both installed.  They are great but I had to put the orginal trigger spring back in as I was getting 1lb 10oz the orginal spring gave me 2lb 10oz.  My 22/45 likes to jam the bullet aginst the top of the chamber putting a deep smiley face in the bullet.  Did the mag tune up but that didn't help.  Don

It's hard to beat a Ruger with a trigger job for under $600. Browning Buckmark or S&W Victory maybe. I have no experience with the Victory, but the reports are promising.

Had my hands today on the new Mk IV Hunter. 599.00 would have took it out the door. It is actually smaller than every picture I have seen of this pistol would have led me to believe. I was not impressed with the notch rear sight either. However I can see that with a dot and set of grips this would be a very nice pistol to own. Now I just need to convince myself that the fluted barrel and wood grips is worth 170.00 more then the black target model. I can see that the easy take down is a great feature. I have a Mk I that I don't believe I have broke down this century because they are such a PIA. I think the MK IV is well worth checking out for a starter pistol.

Len

SteveT wrote:It's hard to beat a Ruger with a trigger job for under $600. Browning Buckmark or S&W Victory maybe. I have no experience with the Victory, but the reports are promising.

The Victory is a great pistol but the trigger is terrible.  There is only one place making a replacement but from reports I read on another board that post a lot on the gun I don't think it is much of a improvement.  VQ said the were going to have one but it hasn't happened yet.

I have the Victory and the TandemKross trigger. Bought it for 150$ less than a Ruger MkIII Target and in the store the Victory felt much better in my hand than the Ruger.
The Ruger MkIV Competition and Hunter hit the local store recently. Held them and liked them. Takedown was incredibly straight forward. Not convinced I'd spend 400$ more than my Victory for one though.
The trigger has been a bit of a pain. TandemKross redesigned it and sent me a replacement though. I still have to take the time to install it.
So far I like it, but would really like to have target grips for it. The Volquartsen ones pictured above seem to sell out all the time, and I'm not sure how they would feel. Don't feel adventurous enough to risk the money until I get to hold the pistol with the grips on.
Can't compare it to anything else because it's the only firearm I've ever owned.

(All prices in Canadian, and more expensive than what would be paid in the USA)

Use what you have, the pistol won't be holding you back and Rugers tend to eat a variety of ammo flawlessly.  Some trigger work or replacement trigger components and you will be set but the stock isnt bad with some polishing and stoning.  

(I upgraded to the 1911-Nelson to be more like my .45, just about a spitting image of it though i am not sure if my scores improved when i switched...)

My Rugar 22/45 has a VQ trigger and shoots better than I can. If I was you I would stay with your Rugar until you can shoot better than it can.

Stick with your Ruger but suggest getting a trigger job by competent gunsmith who has done them (it's basically a buffing job and the amount of work apparently varies between guns). If your vision is good, stick with irons and save towards your dream gun, whatever that may be while you hone your skills.

An under-appreciated gun is the Russian Izy 35; it is accurate, it comes with a adjustable trigger, a scope mount, and a robust grip. There is a guy on youtube shooting his at small plates at 150 yards. While these guns are Russian, hence finish, grip, and other aspects are tank-like and anti-svelte, but they work. The Fienwerkbau A93 is based on this pistol. I saw one on Gunbroker for mid-$400s; it had problems with ammo but the symptoms made me think the trigger was not correctly adjusted (if sear is adjusted with too light pressure, pistol will double or go full auto; exciting and gets you immediate attention). A drawback is part availability. Just a thought. dipnet