An Excellent First Handgun
Jul 16th, 2012 | By Ben W | Category: Guns & Ammo, Self Defense | Print This Article
There are countless contenders for such a title, and everyone will differ on their opinions and their reasoning for such an accolade. One such contender with few detractors is the Ruger MK .22 LR handgun, a stalwart in the Ruger line since 1949. It’s a largely unchanged gun since the original patent drawings made by Bill Ruger and Alexander Sturm, but it has challenged ideas and set standards since day one of its introduction.
The original MK I and the subsequent iterations have all had design cues taken from a German Luger design, but they retain their own unique feeling as well. After all, the Luger was made for dispatching human targets, and the Ruger was designed specifically for dispatching paper ones (among others). The Ruger MK I and its subsequent variants were made for target shooters, sportsmen of all types, families, fun seekers, and competition shooters. It was a gun designed for everything else that wasn’t covered under the second amendment or self-defense arguments. In its mission, it has been incredibly successful. Perhaps also, in an attempt to bring a little more beauty to this world, Bill Ruger has on occasion stated that he desired to make each firearm he produced a work of art with beautiful lines. With the MK I, whether it is the beauty derived from the Ruger reliability or the beauty that comes from enjoyment of shooting, the gun itself is pretty. It is perhaps one of the most classic designs still in production with few others coming close in design efficiency and looks. (It’s in good company with the Browning Hi-Power, the Winchester/Marlin lever action, the Smith Revolvers, and the Colt 1911 and variants.)
There was a period of time where Ruger firearms weren’t the prettiest produced, but that period was not under Bill Ruger’s watch, and Ruger always had the Ruger MK I and II to fall back on. It’s easy to recognize, feels good in the hand, and is a gun anyone would be proud to own.
But the true beauty of the Ruger MK series is that it’s nearly perfect in its reliability, accuracy, usability, fit and finish, and enjoyment level. It’s rare that such a gun can be found that is so balanced, interesting, and infinitely usable as the MK series .22LR handguns.
I have even seen range rental guns that have had well over 500,000 rounds put through them with few parts needing replacement and without suffering extensive damage or accuracy concerns.
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It is almost as if Ruger went through the tedious task of optimizing each part for the gun before it ever went into production. Well, there is some truth to that idea. During the development of the Ruger MK I, Bill Ruger and the tooling crew at his company decided that the best approach was to make each tooling setup specifically for a part and then run a full 2,500 units of that part through it, rather than producing one-offs, checking functionality, and then addressing concerns. After each part was optimized, he moved to the next tooling setup. Eventually they had made the full production run of 2,500 units of each part and were ready for assembling.
The guns didn’t take much to produce a reliable final product, and the original “Standard” (as the gun was called) appeared on the market for $37.50. The gun became the MK I (adopting the target model version of the “Standard” as its name) and eventually sold more than one million guns between its debut and 1981. In 1982, the Ruger MK II, which had several design changes (more than thirty total) but looked almost identical to the original MK I/Standard debuted at around $150. It was still a good price for a gun of such quality. The changes included the option for sights and barrel contours, additional safety mechanisms, a bolt stop to hold open upon last shot from the magazine, and a different trigger design. The gun was available in either blue or stainless steel, with a host of other options and the tried and true magazine design. The current gun is available with numerous other changes, made more in line with modern conveniences and convention. The MK III is a reasonably priced .22LR with an exceptional history; it is available for under $375; certainly a reasonable price for such a legendary and well-made gun.
The Ruger MK II was not only Bill Ruger’s first gun; it was also mine. For a freshman appearance, the Ruger .22LR handgun has enjoyed an exceptional showing. My personal first gun was excellent then, just as it is now, perfect in the areas of reliability, enjoyment, and usability, with high marks in accuracy, comfort, longevity, simplicity, and looks. I have shot personally 90,000 rounds through mine, and it looks virtually new with little play or wear and tear, but with a huge amount of memories and enjoyment. It has been in my possession for eighteen years and will probably last many generations in my family passed onto my children and then, hopefully to theirs. It is to me, a symbol of the American ingenuity, craftsmanship, and heritage than represents our founders, our ideologies and our attention to detail.
The Ruger MK series is a gun perhaps above reproach, by virtue of any number of reasons. As a first gun for anyone it makes sense, unless there is a more overt need present. If you are looking for something that can be a piece of history, your favorite gun, a fun and enjoyable firearm, and an inexpensive and serviceable one at that, look no further, because as far as balance goes, there is no other firearm with more of it than the Ruger MK I, II, or III. It is perhaps the quintessential first gun.
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Everyone has their own opinion. Mine is that the author of this article doesn’t know what he’s talking about. If you don’t want to have your weapon jam when you need it the most, don’t depend on a semi-auto that you keep loaded all the time because the magazine (clip) spring will weaken and jam the gun after the first shot or two. A self defense handgun must be a revolver which can be loaded and kept ready for years without fear of jamming. Second, if you use a .22 for self defense and are anything less proficient than a professional assassin, the .22 will probably do more to enrage your attacker than disable him/her. A .357 magnum is the optimal cartrige for self defense because it will get the job done without over-penetrating (going through the bad guy and hurting someone else). Remember, to save yourself you need to aim for the center of mass and shoot unitl your attacker stops moving.
Check your facts. A .22 LR into the ribcage will bounce around and teard thru the lungs, liver, pancreas, etc. You will be gutshot and I’m told by authorities that it hurts unbelieveably, and will bleed out quickly. A .22 will also pierce your skull, and bounce around giving you a lobotomy with a side of scrambled brains. If you suck and hit an arm, yes, you probably will enrage your attacker, but with all but the heaviest magnums, you will do the same, such as .380, 9mm, .32 etc. Any “wingshot” is poor aim.
Reading: “It was a gun designed for everything else that wasn’t covered under the second amendment or self-defense arguments.”
I disagree with this being a simple pistol.
I have one, it is reliable, accurate and lot’s of fun. But simple it is not. When I purchased my MK III I had been familiar with a variety of firearms for many years. Disassembling and reassembling this pistol can be extremely frustrating even for someone with experience, which could be a big reason for not recommending this as a first handgun.
Perhaps a revolver or a different model semi-auto would be better recommendation for a first pistol. I’m not unhappy with my purchase, nor would I rule this gun out completely to a new shooter, but I wouldn’t feel right recommending it without a warning about the assembly procedures.
I totally agree there NotSimple. I am an avid shooter and the MKII or MKIII is the most difficult weapon I have to reassemble. It is an excellent gun but a good one for the first timer…..I would have to say no.
I don’t know who makes it, or how good it is, but there is a kit you can buy that replaces some parts on the Ruger to make it easy to dis-assemble. Nothing is changed, you just swap out a few parts. The original Ruger parts are saved, so you still have the “Original Gun” when you want to re-assemble it for whatever reason. I can’t remember where I read about it – some gun mag a few years back. Perhaps an internet search, perusing Shotgun News, or some other reader could help
Alas, another great article on a specific gun, liked by the author. I would venture to say the “best” firearm I own is the ones my Dad and Uncle have given me. They all serve a certain purpose and some are more comfortable and easier to shoot, clean, holster, than others, but I enjoy all of them. Although these commentors attempt to ridicule and pass their expert judgement on Ben, I do not recall reading anyting authored by them as something unique and better. It’s great to disagree, but offer another solution!
Interesting choice. Sounds like a great gun.
A good friend in the know recommended that I start with a wheel gun and suggested a S&W Model 19. Idiot proof as you don’t have the safety issue of “ready-to-shoot” of most semi-autos. You can practice with .38 SPL or wadcutters and leave the .357 mag for self defense. Of course, you would want to shoot a few boxes of the .357 at the range to get a feel for recoil & noise. Downside is that it is not optimum for conceal carry. I could open carry as that is legal here in Delaware, but it freaks out the citizens. At some point, I will get a compact semi-auto in .40 cal. Yes, there is a reason military and police are ditching the 9 mil.
Looking for the “best” beginner handgun will be both fun and frustrating because there are several “best” beginner’s handguns, IMHO.
The good ‘ol .22. One would be hard pressed to find a decent shooter who hasn’t burned up a bunch of .22 ammo and had fun doing it. Fun aside, the round has probably taken more game and varmints than any other, due to affordability and availability. A little on the light side as a defensive round, but only a dummy would chance being shot with one. My wife carries a smooth little 8 shot semi in her purse and I’m quite sure it will get a crook off her. I prefer the heavier calibers myself, but I’ve also been shooting for over 50 years. Haven’t owned MKII, but know they have a fine reputation for reliability. A pistol like this should make a good first gun, no doubt.
Here we go,,,, this was my first handgun that I bought myself, brand new in the box it was $69 from Montgomery Wards. Most of you here familiar with my “rants” will probably understand my “choice.”
I like this little pistol, and have become deadly with it. Like most rugers it is reliable, and tough. It DOES NOT break. Takeing it apart can be tricky, by a CD, but I have only taken mine apart twice in 33 years, and I cannot even guess how many thousands of rounds I have put through this little gun.
I see a lot of folks that I know and respect,,,, but I would go for it. I buy every single one I can find under $250. You dont need a bull barrell because you wil get used to this gun as if it were an extension of your hand. Not one single time in all those years has this little gun failed me…… I have wheel guns galore, rifles/acp’s etc,, this little “ruger Luger” is my favorite. I got good enough with it to hit squirrels, and rabbits on the run, and it fed me through college when a box of 22′s was only 50 cents….. I like em, and if you dont want yours I will take from you.
Personally, I don’t own one of these, so I can’t comment on wether or not it’s a good first gun. Any gun is better than no gun. In the dark of your home, at 3 am, an intruder probably wouldn’t realize you are only holding a .22. The article doesn’t say what the gun will be used for, really. If you are on a backpacking trip and tired of freeze-dried food, this would be an excellent gun to have along for the occasional rabbit, where legal. At the local range, I have sent countless thousands of .22 rounds down range thru my own .22′s, both handguns and rifles. But for self defense? I would recommend another Ruger- the SP101. It’s a 5-shot .357 with a 2 inch barrel. It’s great for home defense (load it, and it’s still ready 5 years later- a great selling point for women who don’t want the irritation of practice, maintenance, and cleaning!) It’s great for in the car. It will fit in the glove box, slide under the seat, and in a collision, the transfer bar will keep it safe. And it’s great for concealed carry. All things being equal, the average revolver is better than the average pistol for self defense. My SP101 would penetrate into a sandbank 2 or 3 inches deeper than ball ammo from my Springfield 1911. I know, I should use hollow points. But the .357′s were hollow points but would mushroom quite well when dug out, and still penetrate better than the .45 ball. Something to think about.
Collinsm – When your rotation comes up, come home. You are needed. Lots of folks should have first-hand advice on this stuff and who is better than a war-fighter? Things are getting rather shabby. And those Rockies are burned-off. Could use a tune up …
needed
Only 3 months left on my last war!!! WOOOHOOO
The Col
Not to worry Col, we saved you a spot. Get shut of the nonsense and come get you a rocking chair, though you won’t use it much, as there is much to do. We need to keep helping folks see that there should be at least a .22 in every house, If we can’t do that much, the tyranny will prevail and there will be none of that ….