Probably most of you already know this but it's hot news to me so here goes.

I just read in the June issue of "Shooting Sports USA" that Ruger has a new 22 auto pistol, the Mk III.

A new, convenient to use magazine release button, a visible loaded-chamber indicator, an internal lock, magazine disconnect and re-contoured sights & ejection port.

Wonder when we'll actually see one.

Have heard...but haven't seen a picture. As my computer consistantly refused to load the plug-in at the start of the Ruger web-site, Can't go there and look.

Just wondeing how the chenged the basice platform...if it's avaialbe in steel as well as synthetic.

http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/News-04-16-


2004A.html
Â* STURM, RUGER INTRODUCES THE RUGER® MARK IIIâ„¢ PISTOLS Â*
Â* April 16, 2004 Â*
Â*
Â*
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc., (NYSE: RGR) the nation’s largest firearms manufacturer, is proud to announce the introduction of a new family of autoloading rimfire pistols – the Ruger® Mark III™ .22 caliber pistols.

The new Ruger Mark III pistols retain the familiar grip and overall shape of the Mark II pistols but feature many new engineering refinements. A newly-designed, convenient-to-use magazine release button is located on the left side of the frame, behind the trigger guard. The new Ruger Mark III pistols also feature the very first visible loaded chamber indicator for a .22 rimfire pistol (patent pending). These new features, combined with an unobtrusive internal lock, magazine disconnect, and re-contoured sights and ejection port, result in the most innovative .22 pistols ever offered.

“The Ruger Standard Pistol is the foundation upon which our Company was built,� said Sturm, Ruger President, Stephen L. Sanetti. “This pistol design began a history of innovation which has made Ruger rimfire pistols the leading choice among shooters for over half a century. Today, with the introduction of the Ruger Mark III pistols, our innovation continues.�

While the new Ruger Mark III is truly an innovative design, it still retains the key features that are the heart of the original Ruger Mark II and Ruger Standard pistols. Rather than using a separate moving slide, the bolt moves inside a rigid barrel-receiver assembly upon which the sights are mounted. This unique design ensures that the sights are unaffected by the blow-back action, for consistent accuracy. Recognized for their performance and value, Ruger Standard, Mark I and Mark II pistols have remained the first choice among shooters for over half a century.

“The Ruger Standard, Mark I and Mark II pistols offered simplicity, accuracy, and value that shooters of all skill levels recognize and appreciate,� said Sanetti. “We are proud to continue these traditions with the introduction of today’s new Ruger Mark III pistols, which have more features for even greater value.�

The first Ruger Mark III model is the MKIII512, which will be available in May 2004. This pistol has a 5 1/2 inch bull barrel, micro-adjustable rear sight and a blued steel receiver. The receiver is drilled to accept the new Weaver-style scope base adapter, included with each pistol.


Ruger MKIII512 Pistol
Model Number 10101
Catalog Number MKIII512
Grips Checkered black synthetic
Frame Steel
Finish Blued
Caliber .22 LR
Barrel Material Carbon steel
Barrel Length 5.5"
Rifling/Twist 6 Grove, 1:16" RH
Magazine Capacity 10 Rounds
Front Sights Fixed
Rear Sights Micro-adjustable
Overall Length 9 5/8�
Weight Unloaded 41 oz. (approximately)
Features Magazine disconnect, Loaded chamber indicator, Internal lock
Standard Accessories Plastic storage case, Instruction manual, Gun lock, Weaver-style scope base adapter, Two magazines
Suggested Retail Price $382.00

http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/images/News-MKIII512.jpg

There ya go boys!

Well it looks like my MK II is out of date now. Just like me. If they keep improving stuff pretty soon we gonna be using phasers and looking for alien animal tags.

All kidding aside except for the new mag release it does kinda look like my mark II. Wonder if there will be a lighter carry version coming along? That 41 oz makes for a hipload.

Thanks 44SandW.

My Ruger is one of the old ones, and while it's still working fine, was wondering about up-dating to a modern version. The heeled mag. release works just fine for me as I don't see this as a combat rapid-mag. change fighting pistol. Was just jealouse of the slide release of the MK II.

Looking at the picture, would assume the hole under the safety is where the lock is located...and perhaps that odd rectangle ahead of the slide markings incorporates the loaded chamber indicator (can't be on top as the scope mount would obstruct it...worse with a scope mounted).

Never too thrilled with a mag. safety on a trail pistol...but it only takes little while to whittle out a fake mag. from a stick in order to at least have a single shot.

I like the new mag release, but they can take the mag disconnect and stick it where the sun doesn't shine. What were they thinking...

They've always seemed like good guns (only shot one once or twice) but i still like the S&W model 41

Getting close to 40 years of shooting...just cleaning and one recoil spring replacement. S&W 41 is a nicer target gun, and much more nicely finished.... I just don't have the heart to take the prtty ones into the places the old Ruger has gone.
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ONCE was stuck with a pistol and no magazine...an unmodifided modern Browning HP...haven't a clue where the magazine went...I swear I packed it and it sure wasn't at home when I got back. Probably slipped overe the side while we were loading the boat. Had a knife...little scrounging came up with a likely looking chunk of wood (a door stop)...some whittling and it fit in and tripped the mag. safety lever.

Were fishing. Would occasionally tie into a good sized shark, and my buddies liked to limber them up a bit before taking them aboard. You learn to shoot left handed, so the ejection port is on the right where you have a few rounds cupped in your hand.

Capstick had a good story about 'tranquilizing' a shark with a couple shots from a .357 before hauling it on board, LOL. Great minds think alike!!!!! :)

I still go out with that guy once or twice a year (Gulf of Mexico...out into the deep blue). I left him an old 7.7jap as a "limbering up" rifle (he was facinated by the anti-aircarft extentions on the rear sight)...about once a year, we clean the rifle up, re-paint it, and I drop off a couple of boxes of ammo and pick up wahtever empty cases he saved.

The rifle use to have a bull length barrel, but he managed to fire it with the last 3" stuck in the water. The action held fine, and the case ejected as normal, but the bore had a nice ring in it. We lopped it off to 22", cut the stock, reattached the front sight, and it's a psuedo-carbine now. (22" becasue at his height, it's too long to hold straight down with his hand at his side, so he figures he's less likely to hole the hull.) Not much of a gun person, but he's a good navigator...and he complained that the shorter barrel would throw off his anit-aircraft settings.

I'll consider the Mk. III as a replacement for the old one...then again, the old one shows every sign of being good for another 30 years or so (which is longer than myself).

:mad:

DRAT! I thought it was gonna say somethin like MkIII 22 magnum semi-auto.

I still go out with that guy once or twice a year (Gulf of Mexico...out into the deep blue). I left him an old 7.7jap as a "limbering up" rifle (he was facinated by the anti-aircarft extentions on the rear sight)...about once a year, we clean the rifle up, re-paint it, and I drop off a couple of boxes of ammo and pick up wahtever empty cases he saved.

The rifle use to have a bull length barrel, but he managed to fire it with the last 3" stuck in the water. The action held fine, and the case ejected as normal, but the bore had a nice ring in it. We lopped it off to 22", cut the stock, reattached the front sight, and it's a psuedo-carbine now. (22" becasue at his height, it's too long to hold straight down with his hand at his side, so he figures he's less likely to hole the hull.) Not much of a gun person, but he's a good navigator...and he complained that the shorter barrel would throw off his anit-aircraft settings.

I'll consider the Mk. III as a replacement for the old one...then again, the old one shows every sign of being good for another 30 years or so (which is longer than myself).

I bought a 22/45 target model with the 8 inch barrel....then I mounted an EO Tech sight....and had the trigger worked....I love this gun...and everyone who shoots it asks me to take it away before they have to have one....the sight is a double blessing...it not only allows me to very rapidly get on target...it really improves my technique with my centerfire pistols.....the pistol is very accurate...capable of popping shotgun shells at 25 yards all afternoon long....so...now my son and daughter both have one....

They should have made an attempt to make it easier to take down for cleaning while they had it back on the drawing board.

I think you mean 'easier to put back together', LOL....

They ought to call it the 'Mark III PC' or just the 'Lawyer' model.
The so-called 'improvements' are primarily stick-ons, mandated by those States who distrust handguns in private hands...Mass., Maryland, Calif. etc. All of the add-ons are really un-necessary if one knows and practices proper and safe gun handling and storage. None make the guns more accurate or dependable.
I have two venerable Ruger Mark I's: A 1969 T512, and a 1976 '200th Year' T678. I've done light trigger work to them; and the older gun was drilled and tapped for an optical sight, during an experimental fit, now past. When the 'new' Mark II's came out in the early 80's, I was not inclined to trade the fine-shooting older guns in. I'm even less so now. Both of them are still worthy backups to my 'first line' target .22, a Hi-Standard Military Trophy from the Hamden works that is itself over a quarter-century old.
The Rugers are informal target and fun guns. A magazine disconnect, locking safety, button magazine release and (fergoshsakes) loaded chamber indicator are all un-necessary on such. And think what they add to the price of the 'new and improved' models!
Sorry. I don't buy them. I understand that Ruger has to face the fact that some States just wouldn't let them sell guns without gizmos; I recognize that good guns last a long time and companies have to come out with new models to generate new business, and I know that some people just HAVE to have the latest in tricked out, accessorized merchandise. But I'll stick to the tried and true old Mark I's for a while longer!

it may also come with a TEN POUND MINIMUM TRIGGER PULL to meet the requirement for sale in at least one eastern state. can't remember which state right now but i can go find out...

monty

this may be a dumb question, but what exactly is the magazine disconect that nobody wants? and when will we see these guns in stores?

Magazine disconnect means the gun isn't supposed to fire if the magazine is removed, and you still have a round in the chamber.

Lose magazine, have non-functional and expensive club. Make sense?

They ought to call it the 'Mark III PC' or just the 'Lawyer' model.
The so-called 'improvements' are primarily stick-ons, mandated by those States who distrust handguns in private hands...Mass., Maryland, Calif. etc. All of the add-ons are really un-necessary if one knows and practices proper and safe gun handling and storage. None make the guns more accurate or dependable.
I have two venerable Ruger Mark I's: A 1969 T512, and a 1976 '200th Year' T678. I've done light trigger work to them; and the older gun was drilled and tapped for an optical sight, during an experimental fit, now past. When the 'new' Mark II's came out in the early 80's, I was not inclined to trade the fine-shooting older guns in. I'm even less so now. Both of them are still worthy backups to my 'first line' target .22, a Hi-Standard Military Trophy from the Hamden works that is itself over a quarter-century old.
The Rugers are informal target and fun guns. A magazine disconnect, locking safety, button magazine release and (fergoshsakes) loaded chamber indicator are all un-necessary on such. And think what they add to the price of the 'new and improved' models!
Sorry. I don't buy them. I understand that Ruger has to face the fact that some States just wouldn't let them sell guns without gizmos; I recognize that good guns last a long time and companies have to come out with new models to generate new business, and I know that some people just HAVE to have the latest in tricked out, accessorized merchandise. But I'll stick to the tried and true old Mark I's for a while longer!

BRAVO, slabsides! Many companies are taking the same approach as Ruger with the MKII, that is add buttons, levers, excess safety equipment, more things to break or fail, etc. It still boggles my mind that some lever action rifles have push button safeties!?? Is the hammer not enough? Quality of several US gun manufacturers continues to decrease (Remington, Winchester, etc.). This is an unfortunate time where accountants (and apparently stock holders??) run the companies rather than gun makers and gun users. The good equipment is really great now (Sako, Leupold, Freedom Arms, H.S. Precision, Weatherby, Berger, L. E. Wilson, etc. to name a few) in performance/accuracy and quality. Too bad the industry does not focus on quality of product rather than quantity of product.

[QUOTE=slabsides]They ought to call it the 'Mark III PC' or just the 'Lawyer' model.

Here's another reason that Ruger may call it the Lawyer model:

http://www.markii.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=1689

Probably most of you already know this but it's hot news to me so here goes.

I just read in the June issue of "Shooting Sports USA" that Ruger has a new 22 auto pistol, the Mk III.

A new, convenient to use magazine release button, a visible loaded-chamber indicator, an internal lock, magazine disconnect and re-contoured sights & ejection port.

Wonder when we'll actually see one.

I have been reading up on these new models. If I remember correctly, the mark III will also be chambered in the new .17 Mach 2 rimfire. New round, New model? The magazine release does add a nice feature to the pistol, but that won't replace the look and feel of the nice slabside Mark II in my locker! If it can't be hit with the 10 rounds in the magazine it ain't gonna matter if I can change to a second mag. any faster!

As for the 10lb trigger.......that can be fixed the same as all the others.