Am looking at a heavy barrel target pistol by Ruger and have two questions:

1. Two candidates at a local gun shop are priced thus: $460 for a MkIII Competition with the 6-7/8" stainless slab sided barrel, and $400 for a MkII Competition with a 6"(?) stainless round bull barrel. Fair prices?

2. What is the advantage of a shorter (5.5") bull barrel, or shooting an older style MkII target with the tapered heavy barrel. Better balance, less muzzle heavy? Woud this be a personal preference thing?

I bought a MKIII with the 5.5"s.s. heavy barrel and composite grips,,nice balance,,shoots smooth,I like it a lot,,Paid $360,,new,out the door,,Clay

I probably can't answer some of your questions (price and which model is best). But I do have the Competition Target model with the slab sided barrel. I do informal target shooting and plinking with it and have it equipped with a quality "red dot" sight. It is a very accurate and reliable. The only ammo I shoot through it is the el-cheapo price-line bulk stuff that I get when on sale at Bass Pro or Wally World and I'm still very impressed with the accuracy of this handgun/sight combination. If one were to use proper target ammo it would probably take an exotic Olympic style handgun to out shoot it.

Matt, the long barrel doesn't feel too muzzle heavy? Does the thumbrest grip help?

Sputster,

I have a blued 5.5 slabsider new in the box unfired for $300.00 + 20 shipping to your FFL Dealer. MKII Ruger

I think either one would be good. Handle both if you can and see which feels better to you.

I have the 6-7/8 slab side in SS. It has a longer sight radius which may help accuracy if using open sights. With a red dot, there should be little difference. Balance may be similar as the 6-7/8 is longer, but has the sides milled off.

I slightly favor the Mark II as it doesn't have all of the laywer clap-trap.

I have been using the Winchester Dynapoints form Walley-World. They feed well, burn clean and the accuracy is good for bulk ammo.

Go to www.markII.org site and browse.

Oops, sorry, Blaser. I went back to the store yesterday and bought the 6-7/8" Competition Target model. Like it! I had to sit down and examine it and all of the doodads. Like the on/off key which will never be used. And the big chintzy padlock that came with it...that is supposed to go through the back of the bolt for storage? B@##$#*t, all of my Waffen go in the gun safe the same way, bolt closed and hammer down. You're right guys, they have been dodging the tort lawyers. Pretty nice pistol though. Not so thrilled with the trigger pull, but I will have to take it out and shoot it to be sure.

Rimfire Sports has a Volquartsen sear for about $19 that will drop the tirgger pull from 4-1/2 to about 2-1/2 Lbs. http://www.rimfiresports.com

Awesome, thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by A/C guy:
Rimfire Sports has a Volquartsen sear for about $19 that will drop the tirgger pull from 4-1/2 to about 2-1/2 Lbs. http://www.rimfiresports.com

I have been shooting the slab side comp model in Bullseye for a few years now and really like it. Advantage to the longer barrel is better sight picture if you shoot open sights. On mine I use an Ultra Dot (old eyes), an excellent competition red dot sight. For ammo I shoot CCI standard velocity, as do most of the chaps I shoot with. Trigger work is available and I have the Volquartzen goodies on mine. You will enjoy the gun. One tip, don't over clean...

I must be lucky. I just bought a 5 1/2" 22/45 stainless MKIII at a gunshow last weekend for $265 nib. I'm having a hard time waiting for time to get out to the range. I'm anxious to see how it does.

Wow. I really missed that thread. I didn't look at the dates. Color me embarrased.

Had one of the slab-sided models--best trigger I've ever felt on a .22 pistol. By the time I put Volquartsen grips and a Leupy 2x scope on it, I found it was too heavy to carry as a snake gun and plinker. So, ended up with a Rossi stainless .22 mag revolver which turned out to be not enough gun and now have a Ruger .357. No telling what I'll end up with next, but the Ruger slab-side was a first class shooter.

My Competetion Target Model.



And what it will do on a good day if I do my part. Bill T.

I just bought a slab side in stainless with the target grips. It has the best feel of any handgun I have ever used and I have had a few! I tried the Berreta, Browning, Smith & Wesson etc. but came back to the Ruger Target, Slab Side Stainless w/ the thumb rest grips. The trigger could use some work but I understand the kit that is available is easy to install and can turn it into a bulls eye comp. gun.

I can't wait to get home and try it out.

Mine is a Mark II 5.5 bull barrel. Got a base and rings from Ruger, tapped the slide and mounted a Burris EER 1.5-4. With match grade ammo it shoots nearly hole for hole from a rest. Can't beat that for the price. Rugged and reliable. Good balance with scope. I'm into mine with everything for $400. Have owned Colt Match Target, Browing Medalist and High Standard Victor. Like the Ruger best for price and performance with any ammo. Most other stuff was picky about ammo.

Big Cabin, I wonder how you did with your slabside MkIII. I have taken mine out shooting several times, mostly with PMC Pistol Match ammo, though I have run some Blazer 22LR and CCI subsonic HP's through it.

It performs pretty well to start with (not good enough to post pictures yet though), but the trigger pull is what really steams me. If I slip in my fundamentals shooting offhand, I will see my front sight actually dip before the trigger breaks, I'm squeezing the trigger that much.

I took out my old Ruger Mk II Standard from 23 years ago, and its trigger breaks lightly and cleanly. Just need to get the MkIII there.

I like that very bottom picture, billt. I clicked on it and was well-rewarded...