Well I’ve recently acquired the want of a semi auto 22lr pistol.
Long story short I’ve researched Ruger mark series, buck marks and the victory. Pretty much have decided on a Ruger! Bad time to be wanting anything being it seems like limited stock in most places.

Anyway…. Point of my blabbing. I have found local, a used mark 2 and a used mark 4 22/45 lite. Nice fellow has both and is asking same price for either one. Hmmm, which to get? I have read all the horror stories on the field stripping of anything prior to a mark 4. May be a pain but heck it can be done huh?
Going tomorrow evening to look at them both.

Does the Mark 2 have a bull barrel or the standard barrel ?

My guess is that most of us would likely shoot the Mark 2 a wee bit more accurately due to the weight of the gun.

I took a Ruger 22/45 and put a Tactical Solutions super lite weight barrel on it to make a very light carry pistol in .22lr. It is at 17oz so that part was a success but it is so light for it's size that my ability to hold steady sight pictures is not so hot. I have another Mark 2 in a 6.75 bull barrel competition model that is super accurate for me. I think the weight between my two shooters is telling.

My suggestion.....if you want a light carry shooter get the 22/45 lite. If you are after more finite accuracy, get the Mark2, hopefully with a bull barrel. Good luck

ruger 22/45 mark 4 lite: newer, lighter, easier.

This Mark 2 has the skinny tapered barrel. 22/45 lite has the threaded barrel which is cool

I have examples of all 4 of the Ruger. Get the 22/45. Down the road if you come across other uppers and aftermarket parts you can swap them as your mood fits. Ruger mk4 pistol owners tend to do this.

I’d buy whichever fits your hand and holds the best. Older Rugers are indeed a PITA to take down, so I only did a few times just “for fun”. The rest of the time mine got snaked or carefully cleaned with a rod and the gunk hosed out with spray cleaner.

The Lite probably is d&t for a red dot, which is a great idea.

Why not both....? lol

I like my MK II's, but they never get shot while my MK IV 22/45 LITE and Volquartsen Black Mamba ( Ruger MK IV frame ) get shot a lot...

I'd go MK IV and never look back.

Watch a u tube video on the Mark 2. Everything is hard if you don’t know how. Hasbeen

D Dial: I also am in the Ruger MK "heavy barrel" camp!
I own a BUNCH of Ruger MK pistols and the ones I prefer to shoot and use afield for small game and Varmints are the heavy barrel models.
Been owning and shooting Ruger MK's for MANY decades now and have, as yet, not needed to "field strip" any of them.
Like Hasbeen1945 (damn IS he older than I - me being born in 1947?) has relayed the answer IS on You-Tube.
Best of luck which ever you choose.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Although I enjoy my 1911s, I’ve always preferred the feel of my MK grips more than the few 22/45s I’ve owned (and since parted with). They ALL shot better than I can. Weight preference is also a factor. My favorites are mkii’s with a bull barrel. The grip, weight, balance, and a hint of better accuracy over non-bull variations happen to work best for me. It’s all about personal preference though.

As for the take down issues - I watched a how to YouTube video many years ago. I took mine apart several times while watching the video. Then later took it down several more times while watching tv. After that, it was committed to memory and takes all of 30 seconds to disassemble or assemble.

It seems to very from gun to gun, but occasionally during the very first takedown, the barrel is froze/stuck and requires some coercion to break free from the frame. After that, they come apart with ease.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt.../stainless-target-ruger-mk-3-22lr#UNREAD

Here is a MK3 SS

I’m leaning towards the mark iv but time will tell after I check em both out.

Yeah, the MarkII is very easy to work on. Especially in the field. NO tools required. Why guys bash this system is beyond me, but it seems guys sitting behind the desk or working from home is more and more common these days. They were not taught to work on cars as a kid either, nor do they want to take the initiative to work on their own guns. To each their own. I timed it once and it took me 3 minutes to strip and clean and assemble my MKII pistol. I have had many and some are tighter than others. I clean my guns after every use and they are very easy to strip and clean and put back together. The guys griping, do not have any mechanical ability at all, probably live in mommas basement too, but I'm sure they are damn good with computers.. I was in the gun library at Cabela's the other day and an older gentleman was spewing bull schidt about how hard it is to work on a Ruger MKII. He was trying his damndest to sell a Mk4 to another gentleman. I had to step out of the library before they asked how I was doing and I said something. The stupidity I hear sometimes is overwhelming...

I have both and am a Mark III heavy barrel fan and I have or have had all the generations. My oldest one from the early 2000s right after Mark IIIs came out, is a stainless 5.5" heavy barrel. I would guess it easily has 30,000 rounds through and I love it. The Mark IV is OK but for me the controls are always in the way.

I have experience with the first three generations. Take down isn’t bad once you figure it out. Can be done pretty quick as others have said. Of those two I’d choose the MKII. For me the “lite” is just that and not my favorite. That’s not to say I don’t like them, I do and shoot one often. Just picking between the two.

Curious, what don’t you like about the SW Victory?

I have 6 of these things. I shoot the heavy barrels best, skinny barrels not so good. Field stripping isnt bad, I learned after I tore one down to reblue.

MKIIs are bringing decent money, my lgs easily gets 500ish for used stainless ones. The MKII would be the better investment.

I have a MKIII 22/45 lite. I got rid of the mag disconnect (not sure if the iv has this). I shoot it more than all of my others. Got a Burris FFII on it, a lot of fun. I think you would enjoy it more.

As far as being threaded, of course if you plan on getting a can, but a lot of folks put a compensator on them also.

The victory was an option but I couldn’t find one local anywhere to even handle and check out.

I met with the fellow last night. I ended up buying the 22/45 lite. It’s in like new condition, came with the box and everything you’d get if you purchased it new. Man they are very light feeling in your hand and the grip feels comfortable.
I’ll post pics of it tonight. Paid $340 which I thought was fair price.

The mk2 was is in fair condition with weak blueing in places.
Could have got it at a much lower price

Sounds like you did good.

Should have gotten both! You got the 22/45 for a very fair price.

yep. I'd be waking up to two "new to me" Ruger 22s this am. I'll be about every standard, mki, mkii...I can find as long as they are under 300 and in good condition.


I held a Victory and couldnt stand the grip. felt like the whole gun would squeeze out of my hand.

Browning has a bunch of cool buckmark lites out now. They look good.

We use my father's Mk2 stainless bull for pistol classes. Hate to think how many rounds through it, but it's the most popular gun among newbies. I took it down once, but only b/c thought I should. Not because it was begging for a takedown.

Wasn't rocket science, if not Smith 41 simple. Anyway, the exercise taught me that...........well there's really no need to take one down. Ever. You can do whatever needs doing with q-tips and kroil.

MK2 trigger is way better than Mk3 or 4. I'd take the Mk2 seven days a week and twice on Sunday, versus any Mk3 or 4.

Here’s my 22lr arsenal!
I’m happy with my choice of the 22/45 but now I’m debating on if I should had purchased the mk2 also…..lol

Don’t let the takedown of a Mark II throw throw you off buying one. They are very easy to assemble once you know the steps.

If it’s in the price bracket you’re saying it is

BUY IT

if you decide to pass I’d be happy to buy it myself.

I have owned several MKIIs over the years. When I bought my fist one in 1983 I read the manual provided as to how you go about field stripping it. I followed the book to the letter. The problem in doing that is they tell you to leave the safety on. You can't do that because the hammer has to be in the fallen position in order for it to be field stripped, you have to pull the trigger. It also has to be in that position when you put it back together. This part takes a little fiddling but it's not hard at all after you get the hang of it, as many have said.

I remember losing a safety detent spring/plunger when I did my first one