The Ruger Standard was actually a sort of hybrid design. Bill Ruger took the general form factor of the P08 Luger and the action of the Japanese 8 mm Nambu and put them together to make the Standard/MkI.
I still remember back in 1963 when dad bought a standard Ruger, just like the one you showed. I was just a kid, and we had a lot of fun with that one, he never left home without it, many primitive camping trips, shooting sessions/hunting trips. I don't shoot it much anymore, but still take it out now and then to bring back some of the old memories. The second magazine that he bought and never used is still in the box, priced at $4.25, not sure if he picked it up at the same time. Some day one of my kids will take possession.
My dad is 98 years old, and still goes shooting with me all the time. Last week when we got back to his house from a range trip he goes " Mark, I want you to have this" and he gave me the Ruger standard .22 pistol he bought new in 1969 ! I learned to shoot with that gun and the fixed sights are dead on. It has a "10-" serial # and a 4 3/4 " ? Barrel and its like new condition aa my dad always maintained his equipment. I will always keep this and my son will have it one day. Thanks for the video !
Blackie Thomas is the genuine article and a treasure. I've had my Ruger Mark ii for 30 years and it outperforms most modern semi-auto .22 cal pistols. I agree with Blackie. This pistol is a great utility kit gun.
I’ve got a new model Mark IV Standard with 4” taper barrel. Despite the fixed sights it is ridiculously accurate. It does indeed look a lot like a Luger. I put a set of wood grips on it and it looks like one even more now. Great gun. Thanks Blackie!
I had my MkII tapered barrel for 45 years. It took a whole summer of cutting grass to by mine second hand but it is deadly accurate up to 40 yards with Mini Mags. It has the same pointing feel as a 1911 and it really helped when I started shooting competition with my 1911 and my Belgium made Browning high power.
I’ve had several Mk 2 with bull barrel. Both shot very well and also accurate. Fired many thousands of rounds with no problems. One was set up for National Gallery Course. Thank You for this Video !! H.
I am the original owner of a Ruger mk1 from 1978! Probably my favorite sidearm I’ve ever owned! As I remember the cost was about $85.00. You are spot on describing it as “what you put on your belt when going into the woods”! Not that you were out hunting with it, (though you certainly could use it for that purpose), but more so you felt secure and protected… just ask all the water moccasins and copperheads I introduced it to! Accurate, reliable, and just plain fun to shoot! God Bless! Great video
Blackie , Great Video and Outstanding Information Thanks. I had the Mk 1 Standard back in middle 80s , I lost it a house fire in 1991 great pistol , shot straight . I now have a Mk 2 HB great pistol also. My other kit gun is a Ruger Single Six .22 in SS . I carried them as pack gun in the woods and fishing and on the trap line. Thanks for sharing your time and knowledge and passing on the craft , I understand about shooting like a Old Man being 61 years old. You Are The Master Woodsman and Buschcrafter. Tim L.
I’ve got the tapered barrel MKII that I bought brand new back in 1984. It has served me well and still looks and shoots just like it did in 84. And it’s seen some country, boy howdy. Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas… I take it every time I’m out squirrel hunting.
I have had a mk2 2245 and inherited my grandfather's mk2 this year. Both pistols shoot wonderfully and are incredibly accurate. The 2245 also works really well with a supressor
I had a mark2 bull barrel for a long time . got tired of the figity break down of that pistol and traded on a walther p22 . when ruger came out with the mark4 i traded the the p22 for a 4inch standard , and heave been very happy with it .
Hey Blackie its appreciated to see this video. I have that exact same pistol bought back in 1980 love it n no joke its very accurate. It ll go down to the son n grandkids of the family. 👍
I still have my Dad's Mark I he bought in 1964 brand new for the princely sum of $37.50 - Ruger based the MarkI off the Japanese Nambu, not he Luger and I think you confused the P08 Luger with the P38, Luger always had a push button mag release, the P38 had the heel release. If you own one of these up to the Mark IV RUclips is the place to learn to disassemble and reassemble them. Great guns.
I have the Ruger mark IV standard and the target model, they both are very accurate and a great performer it is a very fun and reliable gun to carry. and now they are easy to clean with the way they come apart. and being a .22 caliber you can carry a lot of ammo with you. overall a great handgun.
I have a mark 2 target bull barrel for almost 40 years. I shoot .22 bullseye competition locally in my area with this gun which has had some modifications using Volquartsen parts. It shoots way better than I can and it has never failed me as long as I use its preferred ammo.
I have a Mk 3 with a bull barrel. It is extremely accurate. I own several Ruger pistols. a GP 100 with 5 inch barrel, 2 LCP, 1 LC9. Even have a UMREX ruger pellet rifle. Shoots 1200 fps. Accurate right out of the box. So you could say I’m a fan of their pistols.
I hate to break it to you but your air rifle is not pushing 1200 fps nor do you want it to. The 1200 advertised is with incredibly light weight alloy pellets and even those might not be at 1200. As to why you don't want that it's super sonic. Pellets do not fly well at supersonic and will often destabilize in flight. Your Umarex probably pushed more like 800fps if it's a 22
@@nealgrey6485 the gp100 is a very heavy gun, a 357 so you can shoot 38 or 357 from it, but if you want to carry something with more capacity I’d recommend something with a double stack magazine. My Glock 9mm holds 16 rounds. My canik 9mm holds 18. They are no heavier than my GP100. If you want light, get an LC9.
@@bowlofrice8 I can’t measure the speed of the pellets but I can tell you it’s extremely accurate and very powerful. It is advertised as 1200fps. As far as being supersonic, every gun made shoots faster than that.
I love the Ruger mk.1 and mk.2 standard 4" ,and also the bull barrel target model.Ive had several over the years.I still have a standard 4" ,a target 6" ,and a stainless 6"Hunter with the fluted barrel.Just great , beautiful guns.🏆🏆
My first semiauto was the Browning Challenger tapered barrel field gun. I later traded it for the Medalist bull barrel with under barrel dovetail block that received 3 different counterweights. I love that gun, but for kit carry, I wish that I'd kept the Challenger. I've since added several Ruger & Colt models & love them all.
Hey blackie great video i have a bunch of different pistols and had everything at one time currently my favorite is the 22 mag ruger lcr with 1 inch barrel its tiny i keep 3 rounds fed 22 the crimped casing birdshot 3 22mag and the rest shorts loaded at all times the mk is one of the best theres something to say about the diversity of rounds you can use in a beehive wheel gun 👍
I had a standard blued Mk I from about 1980. I sold it in the 1990's and bought a stainless steel Mk II bull barrel target model just like the one you are showcasing. I loved the original but the stainless Mk II with those target sights and heavy barrel is unbelievably accurate and easy to shoot well. I'd never sell it.
Excellent Video ! I don't know if anyone mentioned this, but variations of the Ruger .22lr were used by some special warfare units in Vietnam. In the 90s it's rumoured that the Navy purchased a number of the pistol Blackie is demonstrating, one version with an integral silencer, the with a detachable silencer. The "new" version offered by Ruger has an easier breakdown, and ambidextrous safeties. Being left handed, that interests me.
I have 2 of those pistols. A mk1 with a 6 inch barrel and a mk2 standard. Both guns are excellent. Thanks for the video! Btw a military style flap top 1911 holster fits the standard like it was made for it!😊
Mine started out a Mark II Gov't Target Model w/ 6 7/8" bull barrel. I replaced the barrel with a Pac Lite from Tactical Solutions, the trigger was replaced with a Jim Clark, and the grips are beautiful walnut target, the brand escapes right now. I mounted a C- More red dot, 2 moa dot. I kept the original barrel. I will gift that barrel to another at some point. CCI standard velocity is all I run through it now. :) My kit gun is S&W 329PD most commonly loaded with 44Spec. ammo. Take care Blackie 🙂
I have the 4" mk 3 with the tapered barrel. I got it to use as a kit gun. I love it. I also have a single six with the 22 mag cylinder and it is also a great gun. I had them for years and I still don't know witch one I like better!
My first handgun ,as a civilian, was a Ruger Mk1 with a 4 inch barrel..rabbits hopped away in fear when they saw me..lol.. I now have 2, 22/45 Rugers with bull barrels..love them. I have the Rough rider also. 4 and 6 inch barrels with 22 mag cylinders when needed.
Love the Ruger Mk design. Great pistols. Seems kind of big for a kit gun for me. I use a Ruger sr22 for my kit/ fishin gun. Tiny, light and reliable. You can stick it in your back pocket.
Like the Ruger 22s . The first gun I bought was a Standard . Always wanted a long taper barrel with fix sights . A friend of mine was shot in the head with the bull barrel like you show . It cracked is skull and the bullet skirted around his skull . He has a metal plate to show for it . He was dang lucky the bullet didn't hit at a more obtuse angle . 👍👍👍👍👍
I had a standard with the six inch tapered barrel.Really nice.I have several now but not the 6" .I need to get one .love them.I hope your friend is ok.
My first pistol was a Ruger Mark ? with a 6 5/8" target barrel. I bought it for $40. I sold it a long time ago for some good reason I'm sure. I now have a Ruger Mk IV 22/45 Bull barrel. Good shooter and it feels like home.
I have that ruger with the threaded barrel. My snake gun is a bond arms 410. I've never had a kit gun but my EDC is usually either a 357 or a 380 depending on the social situation.
Oh yeah SWEET pistols!!! I owned a Mark II, then Ruger came out with their Mark IV 22/45 (finally, easy disassembling)! My first hand experience was back in the 1970s firing integrally-suppressed pistols. Today I have a Ruger Mark 4 22/45 with a 6" Volquartsen LLV competition upper and it will be suppressed!!!
When I was about 10 or so I shot NRA small bore 22 rifle shoots. My instructor had a Ruger MKII in Stainless with a bull barrel. I shot that pistol well. Fast forward 20 years I ordered an SKS to my local FFL. I look down in the used gun case and there is a new looking Ruger MKIII Hunter with the deep fluted 7" bull barrel. It was cheap. I said "give me that one too." I asked why it was so cheap the sales man said everyone wants the MK4 now because it comes apart easier. That's why I got a good deal on this one. That instructor has past on years ago but I still remember shooting his Ruger. Mine Shoots the same way that one did, extremely well.
I've got Grandpa's MKI bought in the early to mid 50's & I've been shooting it since then, but very rarely. It's a dandy tho. The original box & hand written receipt came with it. I doubt gramps ever shot it, but my old man plugged a few beer cans with it before he passed, but he nor my son ever cared much for shooting. The next generation are all about shooting & hunting & are eagerly waiting for me to hand the old relic over, but it's not theirs' yet!
Great review of a great line of pistols. I've had a S&W kit gun and prefer the Ruger MK series pistols. Also enjoy the single action .22 revolvers from Heritage and Ruger. Thanks for sharing.
Got my MK II 5.5' bull barrel in stainless back in 1986. Still got it and it is my woods gun. Heavy for sure, accurate and more fun than a box of kittens....
I bought mine back in the mid 80's. Ruger MKII but with the tapered 6 7/8's target barrel,blued. Its in my Ruger .22lr Kit with my 10/22 rifle with a Hogue stock and Clerke bull barrel. Leopold 4x scope and sling. Tack driver's!! 🎯
I have had my Mark 1 target model for decades. Bought new. It is one of the most accurate guns I have ever owned and I would never sell it at any price.
I would love a mark series but the h&r guns from the 40s 50s and early 60s are very well made despite being a pull pin type a 9 shot 22 revolver was pretty advanced for the time from older guns I've seen
I greatly appreciate the history and theory of use from a woodsman perspective you provide on items like this, because I did not grow up with this information. I have a question though, is there any reason other than familiarity with the weapon and nostalgia to carry a kit gun like this or the Rough Rider today? I am looking to get a kit gun and am weighing my options.
category. Bought a 10 1/2" bull barrel stainless when a local company was closing shop for a ridiculously low price....I thought I was going to cut it down ....but the long barrel is so rare I just never did it.
I just came across this video. I bought a mk ll when they came out. It has a tapered barrel and it is one of the most accurate pistols I ever shot. I suppose it will be passed down to my daughter's or grandson when I'm gone.
Only had one - the 4" Standard model, or Mk. 1. The mark 1's had a 9 shot mag, not 10. I've got 2 mags,need to find out if the Mk 2 10 shot mags will work in her! Bought it new, my old Bullseye pistol coach dropped a steel Clark trigger in it, I hung barrel weights on that skinny barrel and shot Bullseye with it! 😄
I have a Colt Woodsman that's as old as I am. It taught me a lot about shooting as a boy. Most particular it taught me what slide bite was and I've never forgotten that lesson. Beautiful firearm. Fantastic shooter. I still use it for the kit gun role. Great video once again.
Blackie never disregard the humble 22lr has potential as you say I found firing shot shells from it the rifling in barrel spreads out too much a bit of playing around with your range should find that sweet spot but can you split a playing card lol 😂 🇬🇧👍🇮🇹🐾🦊
When I first learned how to shoot a handgun it was on a Ruger Mk II or Mk III. You don't need to fuss much with them. Pretty much point and shoot. I've owned 4 Rugers, I can't complain about them. In fact, I am thinking about getting a 10/22.
I had the standard red eagle .stole yrs ago I never. Bought a new one we couldn't hunt with the. So I bought a single 6 I loved it Thought they looked like a nambu too
Currently own a ruger MK1 pencil barrel, MK3 bull barrel target, LCP, LC9, SR22, and 4 single action Blackhawks 2 being convertible.. when I go in the field, my fathers old MK1 is still my first choice.. it has NEVER let me down! The SR22 is lighter, but less accurate
Blackie, you're probably right about people gravitating to the "Standard", when it was introduced, because of the similarity between the "Ruger" name and the "Luger" name, but the fact of the matter is, Ruger designed it after the WWII Japanese sidearm called the Nambu. If you Google some images you will see that the Standard mimics the Nambu much more closely that it does the Luger. I remember from my youth that, as popular as the Standard became, Ruger was still able to keep a fair number of folks using the Single Six as a kit gun, particularly in the combo 22LR and 22WMR. I have a stainless North American Arms 22WMR loaded with shotshells that stays in my tackle box, for the very reason that you pointed out. I recently bought a 1969 model of the Ruger Standard and haven't shot it yet, but I've owned a Target MKII like the one you show, since they started makin' 'em and with the right ammo (Ruger's are picky about what you feed 'em, just like every other 22LR out there) I have shot rested 10 shot groups at 14 yards in my basement that were a single 1/4 " hole. (Eley Target and the discontinued PMC Target).
Partially correct...Bill Ruger acquired 2 Nambu pistols and used these as a base line for his design. But as he further developed the Standard, it took more of a form (aesthetically) of the Luger. He and Alex Sturm recognized this and knew people would by the Luger look-a-like. That's when they formed their company. They admitted that they used the Luger imagery to sell the guns. Most people had never heard of a Nambu, and therefore it wouldn't evoke the same awe as the Luger. In fact, the Nambu were known to be extremally "finicky and unreliable in the field." That's why they didn't command the respect and awe that the Luger did.
@@JohnChandler2006 I stand by what I said. The design mimics the Nambu more than the Toggle action of the Luger and, other than the change in the grip's angle and thickness, it looks nothing like the Luger with its toggle bolt actuator clearly visible along with a decidedly square sided boxy frame/receiver and the large opening on top of the frame that accommodates all the moving parts of the slide and bolt. Contrast that to the clean tubular shape of the Nambu's receiver, the side ejection port and the rear cocking tabs and simple blow back action, all of which is shared by the Ruger. We'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. I still think the similarity between the two names played a bigger part the public's acceptance that a Ruger was "just ike" a Luger only cheaper.
I bought my first Ruger Standard for $29.95 new in the box. It was 1960-something. I owned a dozen of them over the years and found that about half of them would not group on a paper plate at 10 yards. I know it was not me because half of them shot very well! Others were very ammo picky. The chancy nature of the Rugers drove me toward the bigger bore S&W revolvers that were always available, usually cheap used, and always accurate, for use as my kit guns. As a bullet caster and reloader I could shoot the .38 spl as cheap as .22.
Not sure of YOUR issue. But I had a pellet gun, that had same shape and such.... had a weird high shooting issue... kept adding metal to sights... couldn't get a good group on target... then I figured it out... barrel was slightly warped. No idea how it happened. Relevance? Bull barrel is probably a ',fix' for many rugers that might easily get minor warping? Don't really know, but hopefully something to consider for your issue.
I have the same history with the Ruger Mk I &ll. It’s rare for them to jam. Lugers were terrible about jamming. I have a Luger .22 LR. And the MKll Target pistol with a scope on it .
When I turned 21, I didn't run out and get drunk. I ran to the local Army/Navy store and bought a 6" tapered barrel Ruger Mk II. I have put around 10K rounds through it. Still hits what I shoot at. Still kinda shit to take apart.
I too had a .22 "kit" gun, a 4" Taurus revolver . I latter picked up a Ruger SP101 .22 lr to replace aged Taurus . I still have those two revolvers but I now have a Ruger SR22 , much lighter than the revolvers . I just carry it with "snake" load in chamber backed up with 10rds of HP's in the magazine.
I inherited a Mk-3. I do carry when walking land. I don’t know about other models, but this sucker isn’t fun to clean. It has to be upside down with safety on or off and trigger depressed to release something( I always get confused because the manual is wrong 😂). I do like it though, because this one’s profile literally looks just like a Luger and the ergonomics are the most natural to point on target that I’ve found. And, mine is picky- it only wants to feed certain ammo. I probably need to take it to a smith. My brother was rough with stuff. 🤷♂️. 😂yet, I still like it. Thanks Blackie
I have 2 Ruger MK lV Target pistols, a stainless for my daughter and a blued for myself, very accurate and incredibly easy to field strip and clean. Well worth the investment, we have a good time together shooting them.
A dear friend gave me his Mark II with a tapered barrel when he reached the age of no longer needing a gun in his house. He was 99 yrs. old. He was an engineer in his younger days. He said that he received the gun from the Ruger family as a gift for some consulting work that he had done for them. I have not confirmed that, but my friend was an honorable man, so I believe his story.
Try contacting Ruger. There may be something in the archives. His contact with them. That sort of thing. I believe it might be worth the effort. A little detective work might pay off, and be fun at the same time.jmho😳
@@ahayseed654 I have thought about checking with Ruger, but that would feel like I did not believe what my friend told me. But perhaps the confirmation would be rewarding.
I love my Mark 3 A little difficult to clean very accurate thinking of getting the new one the mark 4. Hard to find a sheath for it any ideas of where to get a sheath
I read somewhere that Mr Ruger’s thinking in designing this gun was to combine the Luger and the Japanese Nambu.
The Ruger Standard was actually a sort of hybrid design. Bill Ruger took the general form factor of the P08 Luger and the action of the Japanese 8 mm Nambu and put them together to make the Standard/MkI.
I still remember back in 1963 when dad bought a standard Ruger, just like the one you showed. I was just a kid, and we had a lot of fun with that one, he never left home without it, many primitive camping trips, shooting sessions/hunting trips. I don't shoot it much anymore, but still take it out now and then to bring back some of the old memories. The second magazine that he bought and never used is still in the box, priced at $4.25, not sure if he picked it up at the same time. Some day one of my kids will take possession.
My dad is 98 years old, and still goes shooting with me all the time. Last week when we got back to his house from a range trip he goes " Mark, I want you to have this" and he gave me the Ruger standard .22 pistol he bought new in 1969 ! I learned to shoot with that gun and the fixed sights are dead on. It has a "10-" serial # and a 4 3/4 " ? Barrel and its like new condition aa my dad always maintained his equipment. I will always keep this and my son will have it one day.
Thanks for the video !
Blackie Thomas is the genuine article and a treasure. I've had my Ruger Mark ii for 30 years and it outperforms most modern semi-auto .22 cal pistols. I agree with Blackie. This pistol is a great utility kit gun.
I’ve got a new model Mark IV Standard with 4” taper barrel. Despite the fixed sights it is ridiculously accurate. It does indeed look a lot like a Luger. I put a set of wood grips on it and it looks like one even more now. Great gun. Thanks Blackie!
I had my MkII tapered barrel for 45 years. It took a whole summer of cutting grass to by mine second hand but it is deadly accurate up to 40 yards with Mini Mags. It has the same pointing feel as a 1911 and it really helped when I started shooting competition with my 1911 and my Belgium made Browning high power.
I’ve had several Mk 2 with bull barrel. Both shot very well and also accurate. Fired many thousands of rounds with no problems. One was set up for National Gallery Course. Thank You for this Video !! H.
I am the original owner of a Ruger mk1 from 1978! Probably my favorite sidearm I’ve ever owned! As I remember the cost was about $85.00. You are spot on describing it as “what you put on your belt when going into the woods”! Not that you were out hunting with it, (though you certainly could use it for that purpose), but more so you felt secure and protected… just ask all the water moccasins and copperheads I introduced it to! Accurate, reliable, and just plain fun to shoot! God Bless! Great video
Blackie , Great Video and Outstanding Information Thanks. I had the Mk 1 Standard back in middle 80s , I lost it a house fire in 1991 great pistol , shot straight . I now have a Mk 2 HB great pistol also. My other kit gun is a Ruger Single Six .22 in SS . I carried them as pack gun in the woods and fishing and on the trap line. Thanks for sharing your time and knowledge and passing on the craft , I understand about shooting like a Old Man being 61 years old. You Are The Master Woodsman and Buschcrafter. Tim L.
The Ruger MK II has been a favorite of mine for many years. It had proven to be accurate, reliable and rugged.
Agreed, love those guns!🏆
I’ve got the tapered barrel MKII that I bought brand new back in 1984. It has served me well and still looks and shoots just like it did in 84. And it’s seen some country, boy howdy. Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas… I take it every time I’m out squirrel hunting.
I have had a mk2 2245 and inherited my grandfather's mk2 this year. Both pistols shoot wonderfully and are incredibly accurate. The 2245 also works really well with a supressor
I had a mark2 bull barrel for a long time . got tired of the figity break down of that pistol and traded on a walther p22 . when ruger came out with the mark4 i traded the the p22 for a 4inch standard , and heave been very happy with it .
Hey Blackie its appreciated to see this video. I have that exact same pistol bought back in 1980 love it n no joke its very accurate. It ll go down to the son n grandkids of the family. 👍
Still have my old MK 1 (50+). It came with a 9 shot mag. Finally found a couple 10 shot mags a few years ago.
I still have my Dad's Mark I he bought in 1964 brand new for the princely sum of $37.50 - Ruger based the MarkI off the Japanese Nambu, not he Luger and I think you confused the P08 Luger with the P38, Luger always had a push button mag release, the P38 had the heel release. If you own one of these up to the Mark IV RUclips is the place to learn to disassemble and reassemble them. Great guns.
My brother bought one around '1965 and it was about $40.00 it was a great gun.
$37.50 in 1964 is about $373.00 today. Mark 4 is about $450. Meaning it's still $100 too much😂
I have a mark 1 with standard barrel I bought in 1972. Just passed it on to my son last year. Still highly accurate and totally reliable.
If you read this blackie Thomas, it made my day meeting you at the knott county KY, 3-16-24 gun n knife show, , I'm Ronnie cox
I have the Ruger mark IV standard and the target model, they both are very accurate and a great performer it is a very fun and reliable gun to carry. and now they are easy to clean with the way they come apart. and being a .22 caliber you can carry a lot of ammo with you. overall a great handgun.
The first gun, that I ever bought was a Ruger Standard Pistol. I loved it.
I have a mark 2 target bull barrel for almost 40 years. I shoot .22 bullseye competition locally in my area with this gun which has had some modifications using Volquartsen parts. It shoots way better than I can and it has never failed me as long as I use its preferred ammo.
I have a Mk 3 with a bull barrel. It is extremely accurate. I own several Ruger pistols. a GP 100 with 5 inch barrel, 2 LCP, 1 LC9. Even have a UMREX ruger pellet rifle. Shoots 1200 fps. Accurate right out of the box. So you could say I’m a fan of their pistols.
I hate to break it to you but your air rifle is not pushing 1200 fps nor do you want it to. The 1200 advertised is with incredibly light weight alloy pellets and even those might not be at 1200. As to why you don't want that it's super sonic. Pellets do not fly well at supersonic and will often destabilize in flight. Your Umarex probably pushed more like 800fps if it's a 22
Which do you prefer. I want a little protection when I go solo camping in our national Forests.
@@nealgrey6485 the gp100 is a very heavy gun, a 357 so you can shoot 38 or 357 from it, but if you want to carry something with more capacity I’d recommend something with a double stack magazine. My Glock 9mm holds 16 rounds. My canik 9mm holds 18. They are no heavier than my GP100. If you want light, get an LC9.
@@bowlofrice8 I can’t measure the speed of the pellets but I can tell you it’s extremely accurate and very powerful. It is advertised as 1200fps. As far as being supersonic, every gun made shoots faster than that.
I love the Ruger mk.1 and mk.2 standard 4" ,and also the bull barrel target model.Ive had several over the years.I still have a standard 4" ,a target 6" ,and a stainless 6"Hunter with the fluted barrel.Just great , beautiful guns.🏆🏆
My dad had 2 guns like that . They were the best shooting handguns he had. Thank you Sir.
I bought a MKII Bull Barrel brand new back in the '80s. By far the most accurate pistol I've ever owned. Still one of my prize pew-pews in the safe.
My first semiauto was the Browning Challenger tapered barrel field gun. I later traded it for the Medalist bull barrel with under barrel dovetail block that received 3 different counterweights. I love that gun, but for kit carry, I wish that I'd kept the Challenger. I've since added several Ruger & Colt models & love them all.
Hey blackie great video i have a bunch of different pistols and had everything at one time currently my favorite is the 22 mag ruger lcr with 1 inch barrel its tiny i keep 3 rounds fed 22 the crimped casing birdshot 3 22mag and the rest shorts loaded at all times the mk is one of the best theres something to say about the diversity of rounds you can use in a beehive wheel gun 👍
I had a standard blued Mk I from about 1980. I sold it in the 1990's and bought a stainless steel Mk II bull barrel target model just like the one you are showcasing. I loved the original but the stainless Mk II with those target sights and heavy barrel is unbelievably accurate and easy to shoot well. I'd never sell it.
Excellent Video ! I don't know if anyone mentioned this, but variations of the Ruger .22lr were used by some special warfare units in Vietnam. In the 90s it's rumoured that the Navy purchased a number of the pistol Blackie is demonstrating, one version with an integral silencer, the with a detachable silencer. The "new" version offered by Ruger has an easier breakdown, and ambidextrous safeties. Being left handed, that interests me.
I have 2 of those pistols. A mk1 with a 6 inch barrel and a mk2 standard. Both guns are excellent. Thanks for the video!
Btw a military style flap top 1911 holster fits the standard like it was made for it!😊
Mine started out a Mark II Gov't Target Model w/ 6 7/8" bull barrel. I replaced the barrel with a Pac Lite from Tactical Solutions, the trigger was replaced with a Jim Clark, and the grips are beautiful walnut target, the brand escapes right now. I mounted a C- More red dot, 2 moa dot.
I kept the original barrel. I will gift that barrel to another at some point. CCI standard velocity is all I run through it now. :) My kit gun is S&W 329PD most commonly loaded with 44Spec. ammo.
Take care Blackie 🙂
Good stuff Blackie. I also appreciate the comments. Good bunch of folks.
I’ve got the new style with the 1911 grip profile and love it.
I have the 4" mk 3 with the tapered barrel. I got it to use as a kit gun. I love it. I also have a single six with the 22 mag cylinder and it is also a great gun. I had them for years and I still don't know witch one I like better!
My first handgun ,as a civilian, was a Ruger Mk1 with a 4 inch barrel..rabbits hopped away in fear when they saw me..lol.. I now have 2, 22/45 Rugers with bull barrels..love them. I have the Rough rider also. 4 and 6 inch barrels with 22 mag cylinders when needed.
Excellent video, sir.
Love the Ruger Mk design. Great pistols. Seems kind of big for a kit gun for me. I use a Ruger sr22 for my kit/ fishin gun. Tiny, light and reliable. You can stick it in your back pocket.
Thanks Blackie, you taught me something today.
Got my first Ruger target pistol in the mid 80s great reliable fun pistol have had a few since all great guns for trapping
I've always wanted to get one of the Ruger MKll, still might get one. I have the Ruger Single-Six.
Thanks for the review. 👍
Good video. I have one with the tapered barrel that is a MK II. I was just shooting it yesterday. So easy to shoot. Will really make you look good.
Like the Ruger 22s . The first gun I bought was a Standard . Always wanted a long taper barrel with fix sights . A friend of mine was shot in the head with the bull barrel like you show . It cracked is skull and the bullet skirted around his skull . He has a metal plate to show for it . He was dang lucky the bullet didn't hit at a more obtuse angle . 👍👍👍👍👍
I had a standard with the six inch tapered barrel.Really nice.I have several now but not the 6" .I need to get one .love them.I hope your friend is ok.
Thanks again for a great video! Love fat barrel Rugers! The skinny bbl. ones not so much. Thanks again, my friend!
That’s some mighty good shooting! Very cool pistol! Great demo👍👍
My first pistol was a Ruger Mark ? with a 6 5/8" target barrel. I bought it for $40. I sold it a long time ago for some good reason I'm sure. I now have a Ruger Mk IV 22/45 Bull barrel. Good shooter and it feels like home.
I have that ruger with the threaded barrel. My snake gun is a bond arms 410. I've never had a kit gun but my EDC is usually either a 357 or a 380 depending on the social situation.
When I wanted a 22pistol I looked for a Mark I but couldn’t find one. I finally got a Browning Buck Mark, which I am very happy with.
I still have my Mark 1, 6" taper. I put a ton of ammo through it. In 1981 a friend and I saw it in a gun shop in Central Squair NY, works like new.
Oh yeah SWEET pistols!!!
I owned a Mark II, then Ruger came out with their Mark IV 22/45 (finally, easy disassembling)!
My first hand experience was back in the 1970s firing integrally-suppressed pistols.
Today I have a Ruger Mark 4 22/45 with a 6" Volquartsen LLV competition upper and it will be suppressed!!!
I have a MKll, tapered barrel, standard stainless. LOVE IT.
When I was about 10 or so I shot NRA small bore 22 rifle shoots. My instructor had a Ruger MKII in Stainless with a bull barrel. I shot that pistol well. Fast forward 20 years I ordered an SKS to my local FFL. I look down in the used gun case and there is a new looking Ruger MKIII Hunter with the deep fluted 7" bull barrel. It was cheap. I said "give me that one too." I asked why it was so cheap the sales man said everyone wants the MK4 now because it comes apart easier. That's why I got a good deal on this one. That instructor has past on years ago but I still remember shooting his Ruger. Mine Shoots the same way that one did, extremely well.
I've got Grandpa's MKI bought in the early to mid 50's & I've been shooting it since then, but very rarely. It's a dandy tho. The original box & hand written receipt came with it. I doubt gramps ever shot it, but my old man plugged a few beer cans with it before he passed, but he nor my son ever cared much for shooting. The next generation are all about shooting & hunting & are eagerly waiting for me to hand the old relic over, but it's not theirs' yet!
Great review of a great line of pistols. I've had a S&W kit gun and prefer the Ruger MK series pistols. Also enjoy the single action .22 revolvers from Heritage and Ruger. Thanks for sharing.
Got my MK II 5.5' bull barrel in stainless back in 1986. Still got it and it is my woods gun. Heavy for sure, accurate and more fun than a box of kittens....
Got h&r 22 /22win and a ruger mark2 s.s6 inch love them both
I bought mine back in the mid 80's. Ruger MKII but with the tapered 6 7/8's target barrel,blued. Its in my Ruger .22lr Kit with my 10/22 rifle with a Hogue stock and Clerke bull barrel. Leopold 4x scope and sling. Tack driver's!! 🎯
I have had my Mark 1 target model for decades. Bought new. It is one of the most accurate guns I have ever owned and I would never sell it at any price.
I would love a mark series but the h&r guns from the 40s 50s and early 60s are very well made despite being a pull pin type a 9 shot 22 revolver was pretty advanced for the time from older guns I've seen
I greatly appreciate the history and theory of use from a woodsman perspective you provide on items like this, because I did not grow up with this information. I have a question though, is there any reason other than familiarity with the weapon and nostalgia to carry a kit gun like this or the Rough Rider today? I am looking to get a kit gun and am weighing my options.
I have a couple of mark twos.they serve not only as one of my kit guns. But also serve as my teaching guns and target pistols
Ruger Mk2 - standard barrel profile was my first pistol
Nice work! I got my mk 2 about 30 years ago, my finest 22 love it!👍👍🔫🤠🇺🇸
category. Bought a 10 1/2" bull barrel stainless when a local company was closing shop for a ridiculously low price....I thought I was going to cut it down ....but the long barrel is so rare I just never did it.
I just came across this video. I bought a mk ll when they came out. It has a tapered barrel and it is one of the most accurate pistols I ever shot. I suppose it will be passed down to my daughter's or grandson when I'm gone.
Only had one - the 4" Standard model, or Mk. 1. The mark 1's had a 9 shot mag, not 10. I've got 2 mags,need to find out if the Mk 2 10 shot mags will work in her! Bought it new, my old Bullseye pistol coach dropped a steel Clark trigger in it, I hung barrel weights on that skinny barrel and shot Bullseye with it! 😄
I have a Colt Woodsman that's as old as I am. It taught me a lot about shooting as a boy. Most particular it taught me what slide bite was and I've never forgotten that lesson. Beautiful firearm. Fantastic shooter. I still use it for the kit gun role. Great video once again.
Great gun I have had all the models. Love them.
Had a Mk 2 bull barrel in stainless that I shot bullseye with. Loved it.
Blackie never disregard the humble 22lr has potential as you say I found firing shot shells from it the rifling in barrel spreads out too much a bit of playing around with your range should find that sweet spot but can you split a playing card lol 😂 🇬🇧👍🇮🇹🐾🦊
Great pistols, I have a MK 1, 11, and 111. Accurate and dependable.
When I first learned how to shoot a handgun it was on a Ruger Mk II or Mk III. You don't need to fuss much with them. Pretty much point and shoot. I've owned 4 Rugers, I can't complain about them. In fact, I am thinking about getting a 10/22.
I had the standard red eagle .stole yrs ago I never. Bought a new one we couldn't hunt with the. So I bought a single 6 I loved it
Thought they looked like a nambu too
Currently own a ruger MK1 pencil barrel, MK3 bull barrel target, LCP, LC9, SR22, and 4 single action Blackhawks 2 being convertible.. when I go in the field, my fathers old MK1 is still my first choice.. it has NEVER let me down! The SR22 is lighter, but less accurate
Blackie, you're probably right about people gravitating to the "Standard", when it was introduced, because of the similarity between the "Ruger" name and the "Luger" name, but the fact of the matter is, Ruger designed it after the WWII Japanese sidearm called the Nambu. If you Google some images you will see that the Standard mimics the Nambu much more closely that it does the Luger. I remember from my youth that, as popular as the Standard became, Ruger was still able to keep a fair number of folks using the Single Six as a kit gun, particularly in the combo 22LR and 22WMR. I have a stainless North American Arms 22WMR loaded with shotshells that stays in my tackle box, for the very reason that you pointed out. I recently bought a 1969 model of the Ruger Standard and haven't shot it yet, but I've owned a Target MKII like the one you show, since they started makin' 'em and with the right ammo (Ruger's are picky about what you feed 'em, just like every other 22LR out there) I have shot rested 10 shot groups at 14 yards in my basement that were a single 1/4 " hole. (Eley Target and the discontinued PMC Target).
Partially correct...Bill Ruger acquired 2 Nambu pistols and used these as a base line for his design. But as he further developed the Standard, it took more of a form (aesthetically) of the Luger. He and Alex Sturm recognized this and knew people would by the Luger look-a-like. That's when they formed their company. They admitted that they used the Luger imagery to sell the guns. Most people had never heard of a Nambu, and therefore it wouldn't evoke the same awe as the Luger. In fact, the Nambu were known to be extremally "finicky and unreliable in the field." That's why they didn't command the respect and awe that the Luger did.
@@JohnChandler2006 I stand by what I said. The design mimics the Nambu more than the Toggle action of the Luger and, other than the change in the grip's angle and thickness, it looks nothing like the Luger with its toggle bolt actuator clearly visible along with a decidedly square sided boxy frame/receiver and the large opening on top of the frame that accommodates all the moving parts of the slide and bolt. Contrast that to the clean tubular shape of the Nambu's receiver, the side ejection port and the rear cocking tabs and simple blow back action, all of which is shared by the Ruger. We'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. I still think the similarity between the two names played a bigger part the public's acceptance that a Ruger was "just ike" a Luger only cheaper.
My Ruger was the Standard (Mk1)! Why more accurate than me! Great video
Right on
I have the Mark iv, it is simply a great little weapon, also have a silencer for it, when shooting subsonic ammo, virtually no sound at all..........
I bought my first Ruger Standard for $29.95 new in the box. It was 1960-something. I owned a dozen of them over the years and found that about half of them would not group on a paper plate at 10 yards. I know it was not me because half of them shot very well! Others were very ammo picky.
The chancy nature of the Rugers drove me toward the bigger bore S&W revolvers that were always available, usually cheap used, and always accurate, for use as my kit guns. As a bullet caster and reloader I could shoot the .38 spl as cheap as .22.
Not sure of YOUR issue. But I had a pellet gun, that had same shape and such.... had a weird high shooting issue... kept adding metal to sights... couldn't get a good group on target... then I figured it out... barrel was slightly warped. No idea how it happened.
Relevance? Bull barrel is probably a ',fix' for many rugers that might easily get minor warping? Don't really know, but hopefully something to consider for your issue.
That is my choice, mostly when I go out fishing.
Ruger Old Army in the woods, mostly. 👌🤠👍
I have the same history with the Ruger Mk I &ll. It’s rare for them to jam. Lugers were terrible about jamming. I have a Luger .22 LR. And the MKll Target pistol with a scope on it .
When I turned 21, I didn't run out and get drunk. I ran to the local Army/Navy store and bought a 6" tapered barrel Ruger Mk II. I have put around 10K rounds through it. Still hits what I shoot at. Still kinda shit to take apart.
I too had a .22 "kit" gun, a 4" Taurus revolver . I latter picked up a Ruger SP101 .22 lr to replace aged Taurus . I still have those two revolvers but I now have a Ruger SR22 , much lighter than the revolvers . I just carry it with "snake" load in chamber backed up with 10rds of HP's in the magazine.
Love my Ruger Mk III would like the Huntsman model
I inherited a Mk-3. I do carry when walking land. I don’t know about other models, but this sucker isn’t fun to clean. It has to be upside down with safety on or off and trigger depressed to release something( I always get confused because the manual is wrong 😂). I do like it though, because this one’s profile literally looks just like a Luger and the ergonomics are the most natural to point on target that I’ve found. And, mine is picky- it only wants to feed certain ammo. I probably need to take it to a smith. My brother was rough with stuff. 🤷♂️. 😂yet, I still like it. Thanks Blackie
Excellent video. Anyone who hunts, has at least one Ruger 22LR. My high school graduation gift from y grandmother was a Ruger Single Six. It cost $49.
Bought a new mkll target in 1990. Still going strong.
they are great woods guns
My 40 some year old 22/45 is dead on accurate and reliable. Absolutely my favorite .22 piatol.
Great video! I have a Mark III with a red dot. Very accurate, I am able to shoot expert level in my NRA bullseye league. I love that gun!
My dad had a Ruger similar to that one. I believe it had a narrower barrel. Late sixties I think.
I like my amphibian! Blackie thanks for another informative video Sir. Well done.
It's amazing how good a channel you can have just by getting on here and saying a bunch of true stuff
Those are wonderful pistols. Except putting them back together after cleaning. I love my new single six.
I have 2 Ruger MK lV Target pistols, a stainless for my daughter and a blued for myself, very accurate and incredibly easy to field strip and clean. Well worth the investment, we have a good time together shooting them.
My Ruger mark two doesn’t have a heel release on the clip. It’s up to we’re your left thumb is. The reason is. My mark too. It is a 22/45
I have a ruger wrangler as a (kit) gun but im looking at a mark 4 for a fun semi auto
A dear friend gave me his Mark II with a tapered barrel when he reached the age of no longer needing a gun in his house. He was 99 yrs. old. He was an engineer in his younger days. He said that he received the gun from the Ruger family as a gift for some consulting work that he had done for them. I have not confirmed that, but my friend was an honorable man, so I believe his story.
Try contacting Ruger. There may be something in the archives. His contact with them. That sort of thing. I believe it might be worth the effort. A little detective work might pay off, and be fun at the same time.jmho😳
@@ahayseed654 I have thought about checking with Ruger, but that would feel like I did not believe what my friend told me. But perhaps the confirmation would be rewarding.
I love my Mark 3 A little difficult to clean very accurate thinking of getting the new one the mark 4. Hard to find a sheath for it any ideas of where to get a sheath
I have all four of the Ruger mark series.
Good video, thanks for sharing.
Very nice I had one just like it