Ruger Firearms needs no introduction, though many might not realize that back in 1938, Bill Ruger designed a light machine gun for military use when he was a college student at the University of North Carolina. The military didn’t accept that design, though.
However, Ruger’s next design did make a splash when Alexander Sturm saw it. It was the Ruger Standard Pistol, which resembled the Japanese Nambu and the German Luger. Ruger needed the capital to proceed and Sturm had it. They partnered up and became Sturm, Ruger & Co.
How has the Ruger Standard Pistol influenced the designs of today? We’re here to give you a piece of the puzzle!
The MK III Competition Target Model
The Standard begat the MK I, which begat the MK II, which begat the MK III. And here we are!
The particular MK III that we’re taking a look at today is the Competition Target Model. It’s essentially a souped-up MK III with some cool features that make it tons of fun at the range!
The Ruger MK III was made from 2004 until 2016, when it was replaced by the MK IV. So the MK III is only available on the secondary market. Because of this, prices vary, but they seem to sell in the $400-500-ish price range, depending on the condition. The good news is that there are a massive number of them floating around.
Technical Specs
As the title implies, this is a target pistol, and they are not kidding. Weight is 45 ounces. Yes, we can carry it around and even use it for hunting. However, it’s not a lightweight pistol, obviously. And for target shooting, we really don’t care because we’re mostly stationary.
The heavy barrel is largely responsible for its heavy weight, but the steel frame plays a role as well. The pistol has an overall length of 11.12 inches. I should mention the barrel length here: It is 6.88 inches. It’s a bull barrel and this particular one is slab-sided. Height is 5.5 inches, with a Width of 1.82 inches.
As we can see, this is a sizeable pistol that has a bit of weight to it. Again, not a terrible thing for a target pistol. That weight goes a long way in dampening the recoil, to the point where it’s nearly non-existent.
Other Notable Mentions
Sights
Ruger’s MK III Competition Target Model comes standard with black, adjustable sights. Some folks may like black sights, but they make it nigh on impossible to see them in low light, especially if the target is dark or black (if the target is white, we’re good to go). This particular pistol belongs to a friend, and he replaced the black sights with fiber optic ones, and they are very easy to pick up in low light. It’s a vast improvement, and a smart one.
Grips
The grips are attractive hardwood, with a large thumb shelf on the left side. A Ruger medallion is embedded in the right side of the grip. Also, the grips are checkered, except on the left side where there is a shelf for the thumb; that section is highly polished. Below that, it’s checkered for a positive grip. These are some of the prettiest grips I’ve ever used. And aside from their aesthetics, they are also very comfortable. That thumb rest is really nice!
Fit and Finish
This MK III has Ruger’s stainless finish, which holds up superbly over time. It also looks attractive, being somewhat matte and not overly shiny. Overall fit and finish of the pistol are outstanding, as would be expected for such a classy piece. This, together with the distinctive grips, gives the pistol a striking appearance.
Action and Controls
The action is also very smooth. The bolt has ears, or tabs, on both sides that the shooter uses to cock the weapon. There is a bolt hold open for when the magazine is empty.
There is a loaded chamber indicator, which adds a bit to the overall safety aspect. A magazine disconnect prevents the pistol from being fired without a magazine in place.
The slide release is located on the left side of the receiver, just above the grip, where one would normally expect it to be located. It is easy to operate.
The safety lever is within easy reach of the thumb. It flicks down using the thumb, and up to set on safe. It’s not the easiest to use. However, it’s certainly not the hardest, either.
The magazine release is in the usual place, obviously. Because the grips are a bit thick, it takes a little effort to operate the magazine release. It’s far from impossible, but not as fast as it could be. Considering that this is chiefly a target pistol, it’s not that big of a deal, as speed likely won’t be of the essence.
Trigger
I didn’t have a gauge to measure the trigger pull, but I’d estimate it to be around three to four pounds—certainly not heavy. And the break is crisp, which contributes to accuracy. There is a slight amount of take-up before it breaks.
Accuracy
During our range session, we were hitting small, steel silhouettes with boring regularity from ranges in excess of 25 yards. To be honest, it was child’s play. My friend reports that two-inch groups at 25 yards are not unheard of with this pistol. Suffice it to say, it is extremely accurate. The fact that there is nearly zero recoil also means that accurate fire can be delivered quickly.
Fast, accurate fire is convenient on the target range. However, it would also lend itself to defensive purposes. Not that the .22LR would be our 1st choice to defend life and limb with, but we do live in some interesting times. There’s no telling what’s around the corner.
Capacity
The MK III’s magazine holds 10 rounds of .22LR. Each pistol shipped standard with two magazines in the case. The magazines are very light, being constructed of stamped steel with a tab on the side that can be pulled down, making it easy to load the magazine.
Field Stripping
If there is one complaint against the Ruger series of MK pistols, field stripping is the Achilles Heel. To put it bluntly, it is a miserable, inconvenient, complex process that is dreaded by most owners. This really is the only unpopular, unfortunate aspect of this series of pistols.
Eventually, Ruger took steps to correct this single shortcoming of their MK series of pistols. Finally, the MK IV pistol eliminated the miserable aspects of the takedown process. But that’s the subject of another article (stay tuned!).
Scope Base
The Ruger MK III comes with a scope base that can be mounted on the top of the receiver for even more accuracy. We did not take advantage of this, but it would be interesting to see how much the accuracy would be enhanced with a scope. Undoubtedly, it would be remarkable! Given the accuracy of this pistol with the iron sights, the advantage of a scope would take it to entirely new heights.
Reliability
This particular Ruger MK III exhibits 100% reliability, which is not at all unusual or surprising. The entire MK series has been historically reliable over the span of its existence.
Most of the ammunition used in this session was the CCI Mini Mag 40 grain copper plated solid round, which is among the highest quality ammunition available. Many would say it’s the yardstick to which all .22 ammo is compared.
Overall
The Ruger MK III (and indeed, the rest of the MK series) is well-built and very durable. They are a solid, dependable buy for firearms enthusiasts. These are pistols that can be passed on down to our children, they are that well-built. They are reliable and supremely accurate. Prices are moderate but well worth it.
Because these pistols are so popular, there are a lot in circulation, so they can definitely be found on the secondary market, for those models which have been discontinued. Have no fear, however. It appears that there will always be pistols from the MK series being produced (currently, the MK IV), given their popularity.
If you haven’t picked one up yet, it would be a good idea to check one out. Every collection should have at least one.
