I finally bought a Ruger Autoloader after working on them for other people for decades. I liked them from a mechanical standpoint but being as I prefer wheel guns and have a couple of Hi Standards which satisfied that autoloader niche, I just didn't have a real desire for one.
I got the Mark III 22/45 Target Model which has adjustable sights so while sighting it in I noticed that the adjustment turning directions weren't marked. I figured it out by experimenting but later on read the directions. I know, I know, no comments please.
I have to know the mechanics behind why something happens so I went to the parts list section to see if I could see the screws and threads. I just happened to notice that the Rear Sight Elevation Screw (Key #12) is pictured as the Rear Sight Base Set Screw (Key #16) and vice versa.
Not a biggy and I expect that eventually someone at Ruger will find this mistake. Just thought that it might save some time when a gunsmith has to replace the Elevation Screw. They are commonly abused.
I am well satisfied with this pistol and the only thing I would change would be to mark the movement directions on the base. Mine shot very low and rather than adjusting the rear sight so high as to peril the blade, I elected to draw-file the front sight down a few thousandths.
Oh yeah and incidentally, for those of you who adjust pistol sights and have a modicum of mechanical aptitude; on THIS sight, remember that a screw-in motion (clockwise) of the elevation screw moves the strike of the bullet down and a screw-in motion of the windage screw moves the strike of the bullet to the left. Of course you can always mount a red dot sight or scope with the provided Weaver-style base.
Doc
Modified on 11 Feb. '07
Well, as I progressed to taking it down to find out if it matched the quality of other models, I found that I disliked the polymer frame as much as I disliked the other makes of "plastic" handguns. It is a personl thing and those of you who remember my Amazon site which I hosted back in the 1990's will remember why. Polymers ain't steel and can't compare with the fit of steel on steel. We will have to put up with it 'cause like car parts, which fail on schedule to prompt us to buy a new one, this pistol will follow that scenario. Oh yeah, the manual shows a picture of an old style Magazine Disconnector rather than the one in this (22/45) pistol (Key #38). Also the picture of the Trigger Pivot Pin doesn't show the extra spring retaining groove which serves to distinguish it from the Hammer Pin. All in all I would highly recommend that unless your gunsmith takes the time to school him/herself on the 22/45 model, don't bother him/her with trying to repair it. Let the factory repair it. Better yet, do as they recommend; only field strip it . You will find out when you try to re-assmble it why I despise polymer frames. I hope Bo-Mar will make a replacement rear sight for it and hope they will put turning directions on the adjustment screws. I can't imagine that Bo-Mar wouldn't put the directions on theirs.
