Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Ruger Mark IV, Do you prefer the regular IV or the 22/45?

I went looking at these yesterday. I found a bunch of 22/45's but nobody had the old style swept grip IV in stock locally. Which do you prefer and why? My old Walther P22 is on it's last leg and I'm in the market.

If you really liked the Walther a Ruger SR22 might be a good replacement. Or maybe a 22/45 LITE MK IV?

The .22/45 grip is much more filling in the hand, but there are less accessory options for the 22/45 than the Mk IV. If the std grip works for you, or if you want to do a lot of changes then go with the standard grip. If you like the feel of the 22/44 grip, there are some aftermarket options but not a whole lot. Of course if it works well for you as it comes out of the box there's that. I have a 22/45 that has been a great performer. I keep it mostly for others to shoot, I doubt I have picked it up in a few years. I'm more of a .22 revolver guy, but I always have a Ruger .22 on standby.

I prefer the grip angle of the 22/45. I have a Mark III 22/45 Lite with a few mods I love.

Used to think it's accuracy (with open sights) was only mediocre. While waiting for my suppressor's approval to come in, I bought a Weaver 2.5-8X scope, a box of CCI Suppressor ammo, and when I picked up the suppressor, I put the whole package together and shot a .83" 10 shot group at 25 yards first try. Decided it was plenty accurate after all.

TC1: I personally MUCH prefer the "regular" MK pistols over the 22/45 versions - owned and own many MK models of each style, and have forsaken even looking to buy anymore of the 22/45 versions.
Be sure and wait to find and handle a "regular" MK-IV before you buy a 22/45 style.
The 22/45 version just does not fit or feel as comfortable/steady in my hands as the "regular" version.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

For me, a recent purchase, I bought the 22/45. The regular mark four does not come onto target for me unless I take a moment and aim it. The 22/45 points true in my hand.

The only 22/45 they had in stock that day was the light weight with the gold anodized and ventilated barrel shroud. It is gaudy, and not my first pick for an attractive handgun, but is shoots pretty well and eats cheap Aguilla ammo well.

I prefer the regular MK grips. I guess I just got used to them over the years. I had a 22/45, but sold it since I already had several of the MK guns and just preferred that style.

I prefer the standard grip over the 45. It just hangs better for me. When I was still shooting handguns regularly, icouldnever make friends with the 1911 grip. Some of my old shooting buds just roll their eyes when I tell them I don't care for 1911's. On the other hand, for them the 1911 just pointed where they were looking.

I always suggested to customers to shake hands with different guns. In my mind, a forced grip can't compare with a natural grip.
Bfly

I like everything about my Mark IV.....

If weight is a concern the 22/45 even with the steel barrel is lighter than the regular grip.

I prefer the 22/45 grip angle, while I like the all steel construction of the regular Ruger MK4 grip frame.


What options were you looking for that the 22/45 did not have? This was the case when the MK4's first came out, don't believe it's still the case.

1911 grips fit the 22/45, though they have to be altered for the bolt release to move freely. That opens up a whole bunch of grip options.

22/45 MK4 with Hogue 1911 grips;



If possible, I would try to shoot or at least handle both and see which grip angle works for you.

Jerry

Hard to find those rare Hogue grips with the Pachmayr badging.

The regular Ruger grip angle fits me much better than the 22/45s.

22/45 for the win! The grip angle is way better for me. I just do not like the Mark IV grip angle. Ruins that platform for me. Grip is too important to ignore.

Just an FYI, in addition to angle/shape, I think the 22 45 has a polymer grip frame and the standard is generally metal. Just another piece in the puzzle.
Bfly

22/45 lite is what works for me.

Right
And one significant point to be made about that is, if you use it in extremely cold weather the non metallic frame is Far more comfortable to hold while shooting than a metal frame.

Same can be true of extreme heat & sun sometimes.

I don't have a MkIV, only a MkII Gov't Target Model which I like very well. My son has a fairly recent 22/45, I want to say a MkIV but am not sure. I think I like his 22/45 better a an all-around .22 pistol. As someone said earlier on this thread, you may want to look at an SR-22. I bought one about a year ago as an impulse purchase and have come to like it quite a bit.

The SR-22 looks nice but I need a threaded barrel and easy takedown. Plenty of stores around me stock the 22/45 but nobody has the regular mkIV in stock. I like the idea of the aluminum frame better but I shoot a 1911 really well so I think I'm just going to hit the easy button and buy a 22/45 and be done with it.

Thanks to everyone that posted.

Grip angle is too big of factor to ignore. Hence the 22/45 decision for me. It just points so well for me.

I have a Mark II with the standard grip and a Mark IV with the 22/45 grip. I like either grip fine. The 22/45 fills the hand better and points a little more naturally for me but they’re just plinking guns with obviously zilch for recoil so I don’t know that it really matters much. The standard grip is the better looking gun IMO.