A while back this thread was posted...

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=639388

Ruger MKIII 5.5 bull barrel for $199.99.

I want to get one of these for the wifey, ok, for me too, they are just plain fun to shoot, but have no idea of the going price. I checked a local gunshop and he only had one in the case, a used MKI stickered at $425, so I left. I checked MKIII.org, but didn't really see any prices. From the thread I linked the last poster mentioned that his local shop has these for $200 all the time, so if I find one should I expect it to be in that range, or is that probably a buddy deal? Any place I should look for bargains? From what I've seen of gun shows it'll be a fluke if I find one at a decent price there, who knows. Dont think St. Louis has any stores like Academy that sell pistols, but not really sure. Is a local gunshop the best bet?

I havn't bought a firearm since 97, and that was in Tx, so if there are any Missouri folks that can help point me in the right direction it would be appreciated. Not sure about trying to buy online and then finding a FFL for transfer and whatnot. Figure the added expense of shipping and transferr would kill any savings.

Thanks.

something like this?

Close.

From the reading I've been doing, most recommend the bull barrel for a bit better balance and heft. Seen alot of talk from folks who have a slim barrel and wish they had gotten the bull barrel. I'd prefer a MKII or MKIII for the mag release position. I've been taking the wife to the local range and renting a MKI for her to start with, if I purchase one I want it to be a bit heavier and have controls in a position thats relativily normal so she can move up to a larger handgun with no real learning curve. I also like that the MKIII can be had with a pictini rail, who knows, at some point I may throw a scope on it and see just how small a group I can put downrange.

The link I posted looks like a screaming deal to me, but I admit I dont know enough at this point to tell what a screaming deal actually is, so thats the help I'm looking for.

If the MKI in the pics is one you are trying to get rid of for a screaming deal, then I may be interested, but truthfully its not really what I'm looking for. Hope that makes sense.

If the MKI in the pics is one you are trying to get rid of for a screaming deal, then I may be interested, but truthfully its not really what I'm looking for. Hope that makes sense.

He only wants $40,000. :flipoff2:

He only wants $40,000. :flipoff2:



Ouch.

I recently purchased the 22/45 version with the bull barrel for approx. $250 new.

I recently purchased the 22/45 version with the bull barrel for approx. $250 new.

Can you quantify that a bit?

Shop?
Internet?
Buddy deal?
On sale?
Regular price?

I like the idea of the 22/45 since I have a 1911, matching grip angles would be nice, but I'm not thrilled at the thought of a poly lower with molded grips that take a bunch of mods to change. Could probably live with it, lots of good reviews and the bad ones seem to be the old fogies who dont like change. Guess I fall into the latter catagory since I like pistols to be made of steel.

Gun was purchased at a local shop.
List price in Ruger catalog was $307. The price shown in the dealers book was approx. $225. I paid dealer price plus 10%. I'm not sure if the dealer prices are the same for all shops. The shop I bought it at was the largest in the state.

I already had a stainless MKIII target model with the slab sided barrel and target grips. Great shooting gun, but expensive for a 22.

The 45/22 is a nice gun. Like you stated, I would have prefered a steel lower. The light weight makes it a lot to shoot. This is the first poly gun I've owned. We'll see how it holds up.

$285 (that 199 price was lower then my cost)

http://www.lipseys.com/eImages/News-MKIII512.jpg

$250

http://www.lipseys.com/eImages/p512mkiii.gif

You interested in a Walther P22?

Thanks for elaborating a bit for me.

I'm hoping I can get one of these for about the $200 mark, or at least close. Renting gets expensive at $12 a trip.

I had never shot a 22 pistol before renting one for the wife. The one they gave us had the rear sight way out of wack, it was visibly offset in the frame. I shot a 3 round set just to see where it hit, and never having shot one before managed a 1" group at 15 yds about 6" right of the center mass. Quick bang or two with a leatherman and the sight was right on, easily repeatable 1" groups at 15 yds offhand. I was impressed for a range gun which most likely gets abused (reason the sight was off in the first place) and never cleaned. Perfect pistol to teach the missus proper sight picture, grip, safty, etc.

Cant wait to get one of my own.

(that 199 price was lower then my cost)



You interested in a Walther P22?

Dunno, never shot a Walther. From the reading I've done I've heard mixed reviews on the Walther. Evidently the early versions had issues with long term reliability, supposedly fixed with later versions. Are they on par accuracy wise? Have as many options in the aftermarket for tuning? Just trying to think down the line here, once I've got the lil lady past the beginner stage I'm going to want to have this pistol to play with and not just a paper weight. Not really interested in the whole tactical thing, just enjoy punching holes in paper, so the evil look of the Walther doesn't hold any great appeal to sway the decision. Dont think the local range has any of the Walther 22's to try out, kinda leary of dropping dime on a weapon I cant handle and test fire first. Some fit me, some dont. The M9 took me alot of practice to shoot expert with, the newer sig didn't take any practice at all, I dont want to repeat the M9 experience, hated shooting that damn thing.

Just out of curiosity, is the only difference between the 250 and 289 versions the rail? Looks like the 250 version is already tapped for mounting, is the rail on its own that expensive? Since I dont plan on actually using a rail it can wait as long as its already tapped. Am I right in thinking that after shipping and FFL transfer its looking about $300+?

200$ is below my cost for even the non target models.
Great guns, really great. Consider 230 a very good deal.

The 250 on is a polymer frame.
My prices always include shipping to your FFL.

If you go to shotgun news.com and search by your zip code you should be able to find someone to do the transfer for 15-25$

Sorry, at first glance didnt notice that the lower pic was the 22/45 version, shoulda picked up on the grip angle. Still leary about plastic, I'm going to head to the range/shop this week and see if they have one I can play with. While I'm there I'll see what they charge for FFL.

How does the Walther compare price wise? If its considerable cheaper it may be worth it as a plinker.

Just so you know, I'm 99% certain that the $199.99 deal was for the 22/45 5.5 inch bull barrel. Sportsmans Warehouse had the ad but very few actual weapons to sell. Their regular price is $259.99. I think Impact Guns is the same price or cheaper - local for me, but might involve a transfer fee and shipping for others.

RD

I can understand being leary about the plastic. However, if they can make larger caliber handguns with plastic, I don't think there will be a problem with a 22.

Do yourself a favor and research 22 ammo before you buy much. While the 10 bucks you spend on a brick of ammo isn't much to lose, the irritation at the range from "failure to fires" makes the trip less enjoyable. With in the group I shoot with, everyone stays away from Remington Thunderbolts. You can count on six or eight duds in every brick.

I personally don't have any experence with the Walther, but can't imagine any of the lesser costing 22 autos being better that the Ruger. The basic design of the gun is goes back to the 50's, so you know the problems have been worked out. An added bonus for anyone who can't leave well enough alone is the aftermarket support for the Ruger. Lots of parts for those of us who like to tinker.

My $0.02.
Matt

Do yourself a favor and research 22 ammo before you buy much. While the 10 bucks you spend on a brick of ammo isn't much to lose, the irritation at the range from "failure to fires" makes the trip less enjoyable. With in the group I shoot with, everyone stays away from Remington Thunderbolts. You can count on six or eight duds in every brick.


I don't spend much more than that on the ammo I shoot for the local competitions and I have never had a failure to fire. I pay about $13 for 350 rounds of federal automatch, cheapest ammo that I have found to be very reliable in a semi-auto. I shoot it out of a 10/22 and a mkII. here's a pic of the mkII I shoot.

those little ruger .22 handguns are fun...im gonna pick one up soon. they are at my local gunshop for between 200 and 250 depending on the barrel from the looks of things.

Hey Scotts are those grips aluminum? Pretty cool lookin, dont think I've ever seen any like that before.

Just so you know, I'm 99% certain that the $199.99 deal was for the 22/45 5.5 inch bull barrel. Sportsmans Warehouse had the ad but very few actual weapons to sell. Their regular price is $259.99. I think Impact Guns is the same price or cheaper - local for me, but might involve a transfer fee and shipping for others.

RD


This is correct. Somebody got one for Christmas.:D BTW, gun show prices this past weekend ranged from $300-$315 for the same gun. Metal lowers were more expensive.

Hey Scotts are those grips aluminum?

Grips appear to be from Tactical Solutions (http://www.tacticalsol.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=6&idproduct=701). Lots of cool parts available for these pistols.

Hey Scotts are those grips aluminum? Pretty cool lookin, dont think I've ever seen any like that before.


Grips appear to be from Tactical Solutions (http://www.tacticalsol.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=6&idproduct=701). Lots of cool parts available for these pistols.


they are hogue extreme aluminum grips, TS also sells them under their own name. they make aluminum grips for all kinds of other pistols aswell. I have a set of black ones on my 1911, I love them. they are just the ticket for comp shooting where wood checkering is going to wear out in a year or so but the aluminum checkering will stay sharp for a LOT longer.

notice anything else strange about the setup?

-Scott

The barrel doesn't look like any factory Ruger barrel I've seen before. I'd like the sharpness of the checkering on the aluminum grips, but I really like the look of wood with my stainless slab side. I also recommend UltraDot's MatchDot scope. The four different sized dots come in handy when you shoot at different ranges.

standard barrel that a buddy fluted (same guy that made the gips) and the receiver is actually cut for the scope rings so there is no rail, the rings mount right to the gun.

-Scott

Very pimp.


Did some calling around today to local shops, looks like the MKIII is going for around $280-300, with the MKII/45 going for $275 or so. The shop I go to to use the range charges $30 for non members FFL, so add that to internet prices and its a wash. Guy here at work has one he wants to get rid of, stainless MKII 6 7/8 slab side barrel, some kind of optics, dont have alot of details but I'm thinking of seeing what he wants for it. Think the long barrel may make things a bit awkward for the missus, dunno. If I go that route I'll definatly take her to shoot it before buying. Otherwise I'll probably end up with the MKIII and call it good. Local shop doesn't have any of the MKII/45's to play with, so still unsure about goin that route, kinda leary of buying a gun I cant at least hold in my hand to check out ya know. Will still do some more looking around, guy that has the stainless one for sale wont be back at work till february (TDY) and her B-day isn't till May, so no rush, just using the time to shop around.

I own 2 of those 22/45 pistols with the poly lower. Got them in 2002 for $199. I see them for about $250 here & there so thats a pretty good price.
I have over 25,000 rounds through just 1 of them and its never failed to load, chamber, fire when I pull the trigger on me at all ever.

actually, the one I pictured is a MKi made in 1951 witht eh silhouette heavy bbl, LOOKS like the skinny bbl, but is larger and about twice as heavy. has a match chamber, which is a bit tighter than the standard chamber they put in them nowadays. factory checkered wood grips, and factory micro click adj rear sight allows adj for windage and elev...
look around and try to find one of these for $250...last one I saw on gunbroker brought $475, they are just very hard to find the silhouette heavy bbl. there is no slide lock open on teh MKI, but the mags are easy to come by for around $15-18 bucks. I have fired this one and put 10 rds inside the 10 ring at 30 yds, then capped a few meadowlarks who were dumb enuff to land near the target...very smooth, very accurate.

may not sell it, but, I always listen to offers.

Well I finally got to compare the 22/45 and MKIII side by side, had to head up to the Cabela's at the north side of town to do it since no one else had both in stock. 22/45 is out of the running, just didn't like the way it felt in my hand, and this comes from a 1911 owner. The grip just felt a bit thin, and I guess I'm not the plastic pistol type. The MKIII512 they had was in stainless which I wont spend the money for, blued is just fine, and it had a perfect balance. One question, on the stainless model they had there, the paragraph that ruger engraves in the barrel was on the bottom instead of the left side of the barrel, is this a new thing or just on the stainless models? Hope its across the board since all that engraving on the side of the barrel ruins the look of an otherwise good looking gun.

The local shop said they can get me the MKIII 512 for $280-300, so I'm probably going that route since FFL transfer is $30 there and would kill the deal getting it online. I'll do a bit more looking around for cheaper FFL's, but over the counter sounds pretty easy.

actually, the one I pictured is a MKi made in 1951 witht eh silhouette heavy bbl, LOOKS like the skinny bbl, but is larger and about twice as heavy. has a match chamber, which is a bit tighter than the standard chamber they put in them nowadays. factory checkered wood grips, and factory micro click adj rear sight allows adj for windage and elev...
look around and try to find one of these for $250...last one I saw on gunbroker brought $475, they are just very hard to find the silhouette heavy bbl. there is no slide lock open on teh MKI, but the mags are easy to come by for around $15-18 bucks. I have fired this one and put 10 rds inside the 10 ring at 30 yds, then capped a few meadowlarks who were dumb enuff to land near the target...very smooth, very accurate.

may not sell it, but, I always listen to offers.


Definatly NOT what I am looking for. I dont need some rare collectable pistol, just looking for something to plink with. Its also way past my price range and doesn't have the features I am looking for. Now, if you wanted to send it my way for $200 like the sale that started this thread then I may consider it, but even then I think I'd probably pay a bit more to get exactly what I want insted of something that marginally fits the bill.