Buckmark vs Mark IV

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  • xcoastie

    Member
    May 10, 2013
    31
    Mk III 22/45

    I have a Mk III 22/45, which I chose for its grip angle. My pistol is very accurate and consistent. I concur that it's seriously annoying to disassemble and reassemble. Supposedly, the mainspring housing becomes easier to remove and insert over time, but I haven't disassembled mine enough times to see if that's true.

    The Mk IV was redesigned to alleviate the disassembly/reassembly problems for which the Mk I, Mk II, and Mk III were well known.
     

    RoanWrangler

    Member
    Dec 29, 2020
    4
    Old Buckmark - New Mark IV

    I own an older Buckmark and the newer Ruger Mark IV. Older Buckmarks and Ruger Marks (pre IV) are maintenance pains. The Mark IV is a dream to takedown and maintain. Also, very reliable and accurate. Takedown of my old Buckmark is a bit involved. Very accurate, but cannot go 100 rounds without cleaning. With front and rear adjustable sights, one always seems to get knocked about.
     

    XJ.Cherokee

    Member
    Jan 5, 2021
    70
    Harford county
    I own an older Buckmark and the newer Ruger Mark IV. Older Buckmarks and Ruger Marks (pre IV) are maintenance pains. The Mark IV is a dream to takedown and maintain. Also, very reliable and accurate. Takedown of my old Buckmark is a bit involved. Very accurate, but cannot go 100 rounds without cleaning. With front and rear adjustable sights, one always seems to get knocked about.

    Yikes, 100 rounds, really? That's like half a steel match, which is my main motivation for this
     

    ArmedInMd

    Active Member
    Jun 9, 2008
    243
    I don't have any experience with the Buckmark but have a 22/45 lite and have been happy with it. I try to clean it about every 500rounds and it seems to do well. Up to now I have primarily used golden bullets but will be switching it up.
     

    jmiller320

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 7, 2008
    1,892
    Havre de Grace
    I have a MK1 and a Buckmark. When I bought the Buckmark I wanted the one with the wood grips. The screw hole edge was very sharp and didn't feel right when I griped it. It felt like the hole was biting my thumb. I bought the plastic grip model. Both are great shooters.
     

    Kmic14

    Slimy Member
    Apr 17, 2020
    112
    Baltimore City
    I have a Ruger Mark IV 22/45 with the bull barrel and it's loads of fun to shoot. Super accurate, and a breeze to disassemble which is good because it needs to be cleaned pretty frequently.
     

    alucard0822

    For great Justice
    Oct 29, 2007
    17,643
    PA
    Have both. The Buckmark is awesome out of the box, flip the stock trigger return spring and it's a light crisp 2# trigger. The Buckmark bolt opens the action wide on both sides to clear, clean or eject. The grip is comfortable, control layout is nice 1911-ish. Have to take out screws to take it apart, but rarely have to do that. The Ruger MK4 design is awesome, takedown is simple, it's well built, and accurate. The factory trigger isn't great, really needs an upgrade, I did the VQ on mine and love it. It will run dirty, but being the receiver is far more enclosed than the buckmark, it gets dirtier and needs to be taken down more. The MK4 has an ambi safety, but i'm not huge on the standard grip shape/angle, the 22/45 is much better IMO, but it's polymer compared to the Buckmark's or MK4's metal frame. The 22/45 lite is awesome, and the poly frame makes sense for that.
     

    Rangeman

    Active Member
    Mar 1, 2011
    349
    Montgomery Co.
    I have both. MK III and MK IV Ruger with VQ upgrade, and the Buckmark with spring flip. I like shooting the Buckmark better, but enjoy both.
    The MK IV is so easy to take apart for cleaning, and that's a big plus! The Buckmark feels better in my hand. I only take it apart so many rounds for complete cleaning (including recoil assembly to clean firing-pin) and must admit the MK IV can get me a little spoiled :)
     

    XJ.Cherokee

    Member
    Jan 5, 2021
    70
    Harford county
    Anyone use the SR22? How does it compare?

    https://thegearhunt.com/ruger-sr22-reviewed/

    I have an SR22. Great little gun, it's a lot of fun. Especially suppressed. Excellent for cheap training since the controls are similar to most full size pistols. Not picky about ammo like a lot of 22 pistols can be. Great for teaching someone how to shoot a pistol.

    That said, it's not the most accurate thing I've ever shot, and I'll agree with the poster above, it's not in the same class as the MK IV.
     

    ArmedInMd

    Active Member
    Jun 9, 2008
    243
    I've not been too happy with my experiences with the SR22. I would like to try out the TX22 but like others have said I don't think they are in the same class as the 22/45 or Buckmark.
     

    ArmedInMd

    Active Member
    Jun 9, 2008
    243
    The SR22 was always very picky with ammo. Then it had issues with extracting, sent it back to Ruger they replaced the extractor. It went back a second time and I can't remember for what. When it came back it wasn't quite as picky. Now that I use the CherryBalmz rimfire lube it has been running well with all ammo types. I did not experience the same issues with my 22/45, not to say others don't have the exact opposite experience.
     

    XJ.Cherokee

    Member
    Jan 5, 2021
    70
    Harford county
    The SR22 was always very picky with ammo. Then it had issues with extracting, sent it back to Ruger they replaced the extractor. It went back a second time and I can't remember for what. When it came back it wasn't quite as picky. Now that I use the CherryBalmz rimfire lube it has been running well with all ammo types. I did not experience the same issues with my 22/45, not to say others don't have the exact opposite experience.

    I've never had that issue with anything but federal bulk packs. Every 22 is gonna dislike some flavors of ammo, but I personally have found this one to be not terribly picky.
     

    ArmedInMd

    Active Member
    Jun 9, 2008
    243
    I've never had that issue with anything but federal bulk packs. Every 22 is gonna dislike some flavors of ammo, but I personally have found this one to be not terribly picky.

    Before the two trips to Ruger the only ammo you could run through it was CCI Mini mags. Now it is much more accepting but I've not tried thunderbolt.
     

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