Ruger Mk History-Going Backwards!

[theo98]

Ted I hope you had a Dixie with it. Sausage Chicken Gumbo sounds great!

I did...and It Was!!!

Hope everyone had a Blessed Thanksgiving!!!

Ted

[theo98]

Well, had a little regression this first quarter of 2020...from a Red Eagle Type II Collectable to a MkII KMK-678...see Post # 2!

Now, back to my quest...a Ruger 1950 period "Hinged Box" and "Owners Manual"!

Ted

[theo98]

Ruger 22/45 Target Heavy Taper KP-514

Maybe not a collectable, but finally got my 5 1/4" Target Heavy Taper in a Ruger 22/45 KP-514! The Zytel lower is very solid, with the original owner sending it off to get the front\back grip areas stippled for a non-slip hold. Spent 3-4 hrs of careful detailed action cleaning. It's a 1994 and the interior showed every bit of grim, dirt and rimfire fouling grit for every one of those "26" years of use! Exterior is perfect and overall, it cleaned up Very Nicely. Once cleaned and lubed, the Ruger Target trigger has zero-creep, breaks at a very crisp 2.5# and has minimal PT and OT...Very Nice! After cleaning the bore, the rifling Suddenly Appeared...imagine that!!

I've always associated Ruger's first polymer 22/45 lower with the regular tapered KP-4/6 and the Bull Barrel KP-512 uppers. Does anyone know if this KP-514 upper is equally prevalent, or is it like the MkI and MkII 514's, a rare and endangered species?!?

Even with the VQ drop-in parts I have, believe will leave well-enough alone! When range opens back up, I'll check it's accuracy and possibly have it for a field side carry!!

Ted

[Mohavesam]

Congrats on the "perfect woods-walking pistol" Ruger was ahead of its game when they produced this gun.
Not truly "rare", but it is lower in production numbers than similar models, but somehow the 5.25 taper is more better to some of us. Hence, buy 'em where you find 'em.
And they can be found for a workingman's budget still. Magazines are available, and I recommend several if you don't already have a few.

I'm a big fan and own a couple today. I use a slip-on grip for my hands and no, I'm not concerned about stripping a machine that works perfectly and dependably. This is the 21st century after all.

Great gun. I approve!

[theo98]

Congrats on the "perfect woods-walking pistol" Ruger was ahead of its game when they produced this gun.
Not truly "rare", but it is lower in production numbers than similar models, but somehow the 5.25 taper is more better to some of us. Hence, buy 'em where you find 'em.
And they can be found for a workingman's budget still. Magazines are available, and I recommend several if you don't already have a few.

I'm a big fan and own a couple today. I use a slip-on grip for my hands and no, I'm not concerned about stripping a machine that works perfectly and dependably. This is the 21st century after all.

Great gun. I approve!

Thanks Mohavesam!

Well, my first Ruger 5.25 heavy taper is in the hands of someone who needed it more than me...my youngest son!! He moved his family away from subdivision suburbia to a nice 10 acre spread. Has a picture-perfect cypress swamp, an acre crawfish pond, a flowing tributary river (called a bayou here) and about 7 acres of landscaped lawn to cut! He had no rimfire side arm so what's a dad to do...he'd eventually get it anyway (maybe in 20-30 yrs), but now he/we have a place to teach those grandsons Gun Safety!!!

Ted

[theo98]

Been searching this past 12 months for a birth-year Ruger Standard. I've come across a few, but very poor conditions and excessive asking $$$ drove me away. This "in great overall condition" 1953 4.75" was being offered without the rear dovetail sight, thus believe it kept bidders away. Picked up a rear sight for cheap, then won the Standard bid for under 2 Franklins! It needed a little TLC, but overall the crisp 2.5# pull, easy bolt racking, trouble free feeding and dead accuracy @ 50 yds (w\CCI Mini Mags) means my wait seems to have paid off!

Now when asked my age at the hunting camp, I''ll state, "just as old as she...just check the SN"!!

Ted

[flattop44]

Congrads on your persistence and success. That is a great looking pistol.
Bill

[theo98]

Congrads on your persistence and success. That is a great looking pistol.
Bill

Thanks Bill...also shoots as good as it looks!

Appreciate the T514 info...still in the works!!

Ted

[theo98]

Appreciate the T514 info...still in the works!!

Ted

"In the works" COMPLETE...Well, believe I'm done, for now!

Ted

[theo98]

Although I really didn't need another Standard, it was too tempting to turn down a New MkIV 4 3/4" Standard for $35!!!

A Volquartsen upper clearance made me do it! Since I already have the Hunter (SS lower) and the 22/45 Lite (polymer lower), and the MkIV platform allows just a 2 second upper swap-out, I now have a 4 3/4" Standard to shoot (newest version of my 1950 Red Eagle)!

Ted