Author Topic: Ruger Mark III Hunter  (Read 5702 times)

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Offline Don Dick

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Ruger Mark III Hunter
« on: December 30, 2004, 12:07:01 PM »
I picked up a Mark III Hunter today nice gun.  Fluted barrel and nice sights
and scope mount encluded.
Some people come into our lives and quickly go.  Some stay awhile and leave footprints on our hearts.  And we are never.  Ever the same.   Authur unknown.  In memory of my son Jonathan.

Offline BlkHawk73

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Ruger Mark III Hunter
« Reply #1 on: January 02, 2005, 04:24:27 AM »
Have seen a few for sale online but none in person yet.  Not really my cop of tea with the fluted bbl though.  The sights seem kinda nice. (all MKII or MKII's come with scope base)  Many are downing the MKIII's because of the features but at leats Ruger is getting it done first and staying in the maket.  :-)   I'm betting the same quality and accuaracy of the MKII line goes into your MKIII.  Let us know how it shoots.
"Never Surrender, Just Carry On."  - G.S.

Offline Paladin

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Ruger Mark III Hunter
« Reply #2 on: January 05, 2005, 04:23:42 PM »
I should pick mine up friday.  hope it shoots as good as my 10 inch mk ll

Offline Wolfdog

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Ruger Mark III Hunter
« Reply #3 on: January 06, 2005, 03:51:31 AM »
Well from everything I have read over at MarkII.org all the accessories and parts designed for the Mark II will work with the Mark III with few exceptions.

  One of those is that the magazine in the Mark III has a new notch cut in it for the magazine disconnect safety and the hammer has a new little tab on it that fits into this notch so tha if you use a Mark II magazine in a Mark III it will not fire.  This can be fixed by swapping in a Mark II hammer.

  The Mark III upper will function on a Mark II lower and vice versa as well.

Offline Paladin

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Ruger Mark III Hunter
« Reply #4 on: January 08, 2005, 04:13:47 PM »
picked up my MK III yesterday evening. weather is a little robust  today, but I found time to fire a couple of mags full. shot some wildcats to dirty up the barrel and I thought they did  quit well ( out the back door off hand ) and than I tried a mag full of wolf. the wolf shot very well. I think I got a good one , but a few hundred rounds,a good scope and a rest will tell the story.

Offline ELMO

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Ruger Mark III Hunter
« Reply #5 on: January 09, 2005, 12:40:59 AM »
I was at a gun show the other day and was looking at one of these. The sights are an improvement, if you use open sights. I already have a 6 7/8 slab side so I had to put this gun down. The fluted barrel was a nice feature also.......

Offline Flash

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Ruger Mark III Hunter
« Reply #6 on: January 09, 2005, 02:37:57 AM »
Palidin, my local shop has a new MKII  blue Target with a 10" barrel in the yellow and black cardboard box for $220. This seems pretty reasonable. What did you pay for your's?
What doesn't kill us, makes us stronger!

Offline Paladin

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Ruger Mark III Hunter
« Reply #7 on: January 09, 2005, 06:33:17 PM »
Flash
 my sisters son gave me mine. seems his wife though it was to heavy so he bought a lighter one and gave me the Mark II . it's a real good shooter

Offline WNY_Whitetailer

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Ruger Mark III Hunter
« Reply #8 on: January 16, 2005, 02:46:26 PM »
Don...If you don't mind me asking...How much did that Mk III Hunter run you?
Patience comes with age and You can't teach common sense

Offline Tacoma

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Ruger Mark III Hunter
« Reply #9 on: January 18, 2005, 06:41:39 AM »
Excuse the  off topic question Wolfdog , but are you saying that with a hammer swap, a MK II mag will work in a MK III? Will it retain OK ? Considering a MK III myself and already ahve a forest of MK II mags.  I would likely swap to a Volquartzen hammer anyway.

Offline Paladin

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Ruger Mark III Hunter
« Reply #10 on: January 18, 2005, 05:31:02 PM »
I don't think the mk II mags will work in the mk III, but I think the mk III mags will work in a mk II. the deal with the hammer is so the gun won't fire with out a mag in it. I haven't compared the two mags yet , but I do know there are some differcies

Offline Don Dick

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Ruger Mark III Hunter
« Reply #11 on: January 20, 2005, 03:26:34 PM »
WNY_Whitetailer, I traded on it, but they had 450 on the tag.  I ordered a
Burris Speed dot 3 MOA and just got it today. I will try it out on Saturday.
The gun has a nice trigger.
Some people come into our lives and quickly go.  Some stay awhile and leave footprints on our hearts.  And we are never.  Ever the same.   Authur unknown.  In memory of my son Jonathan.

Offline WNY_Whitetailer

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Ruger Mark III Hunter
« Reply #12 on: January 22, 2005, 02:28:52 AM »
Thanks Don...
Patience comes with age and You can't teach common sense

Offline Don Dick

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Ruger Mark III Hunter
« Reply #13 on: January 22, 2005, 11:36:52 AM »
I put a Burris Speed Dot 3 MOA on it and I have to admit it is the most fun I have had shooting a 22 in some time.
Some people come into our lives and quickly go.  Some stay awhile and leave footprints on our hearts.  And we are never.  Ever the same.   Authur unknown.  In memory of my son Jonathan.

Offline hhuber50

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Ruger Mark III Hunter
« Reply #14 on: March 14, 2005, 04:12:51 AM »
I'm also interested in getting a MKIII Hunter.  However, I've heard that there may be a problem with the loaded chamber indicator causing an unintended discharge if the weapon is dropped with the impact on the indicator and a round chambered.  Does anyone have any information on this situation?  Thanks!

Offline Keith L

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Ruger Mark III Hunter
« Reply #15 on: March 14, 2005, 11:22:09 AM »
Wouldn't that be something: a "safety" device that could cause unintended discharge.  That could never be...
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."  Benjamin Franklin

Offline TC Shooter

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Ruger Mark III Hunter
« Reply #16 on: March 26, 2005, 04:30:58 AM »
my local shop has a new MKII blue Target with a 10" barrel in the yellow and black cardboard box for $220. This seems pretty reasonable.

If it is indeed new that is a pretty good price! I paid $289 for my 10" MKII last year. Although the one I bought was factory drilled and tapped and included an aluminum scope base.

As far as the new MKIII Hunter - I really loved the looks of this one. I like the new magazine release - the rest of the "safety" items I can live without. At a show last weekend I saw them priced at $399.

Offline Blunderbus

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Ruger Mark III Hunter
« Reply #17 on: May 12, 2005, 09:45:41 AM »
Had a chance to shoot a MK III Hunter today. Still not sure what I think of those sights.  Kind of funky when you're used to patridge.  Overall, a good impression. Felt good and shot good, once I got the sights halfway figured out. If I got one, I'd probably scope it.

FWIW, everybody who got a chance to shoot it seemed to like it.

Blunderbus

Offline Cahunter

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MK III Hunter
« Reply #18 on: July 09, 2005, 08:04:17 AM »
I started paperwork on one yesterday. :) Nice gun. As far as the loaded chamber indicator firing when dropped, won't happen. I read an article where the guy took a brass hammer and hit it as hard as he could and didn't even scratch the rim on the case. He also did a drop test and nothing happened. http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger_MarkIII-Hunter.htm   I really like the internal key lock. No external lock to bang my gun all up :). 9 more days   :grin: ......

Cahunter

Offline 22shooter

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Mark III hunter pistol
« Reply #19 on: July 21, 2005, 12:17:49 AM »
I moved out of CA, three years ago.  I know live in a gun friendly State.  A month ago I walked into a Sportsmen Warehouse.  I saw a new Hunter model on display.

I got to handle it and made up my mind to buy it.  Fifteen minutes later I walked out with it.  Paid $399 for it.  

I am look for an optical sight.  Any ideas?

Offline Shuttleman

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Ruger Mark III Hunter
« Reply #20 on: August 01, 2005, 09:20:14 AM »
Pick mine up today....can't wait   $419

Offline K.K.

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Ruger Mark III Hunter
« Reply #21 on: November 15, 2005, 01:52:39 PM »
I've owned mine for about 6 months and absolutley love it!  I also put on a Red Dot (cheap BSA), but it works great.  Only trouble is trying to find a holster for carrying it with the red dot scope on.  any suggestions???  Enjoy your new pistol.

Offline old coach

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Ruger Mark III Hunter
« Reply #22 on: November 30, 2005, 03:04:34 PM »
Call Buck at BUCKEM  ENTERPRISES he will make shoulder holster to fit anything.  Great leather, good service,good value $120 for shoulder belt, holster, shell holder, shipped.  He is in Hershey, Pa.  717-832-3020

Offline Nebraska Kelly

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Got a new Mark ll cheap
« Reply #23 on: January 01, 2006, 08:57:07 PM »
I just puchaced a new MK ll at my local gun shop for $250.  It is drilled and tapped and came with scope base. I think that is a good price. Before the MK lll came out they were going for $300 at this shop.  I bought a MK111  5.5 bull this past summer. I never liked the sights. I also did not like the other changes. I have always loved the 6 7/8 taperd bull barrel MKll. The sights on this pistol work with my eyes. I also think the trigger on this gun is as good as I need on a hunting/plinking/informal target  pistol. I just shot the new one I got with a millet 30mm red dot on it. The first 10 shot group fired with winchester hollowpoints ran 7/8 inch group at 30 yards off the sandbags. Then adjusted the scope so bullets hit the bullseye. Then started shooting from all diffrent positions. This is one very very very accurate and stable MK11 pistol. I got a good one. Not every MKll I have purchaced over the years has shot as good. They have there individual personalitys just like any other pistol.   I wanted to get it before there were no new ones left to get.  
My experience with the MKlll was not as good. It shot accuratly enough although not as good as my new MKll. But I hated the sights. I also didnt like the round in chamber indicator. At about 300 rounds a live round locked up in the chamber with it not fully shut. Almost but not fully. I could not clear the jam by pulling on the bolt. It was stuck hard. I had to take a screwdriver and with the help of another person we wedged the tip in the small space and pried open the bolt. This is something I have never had happen with a MKll.  I cant say for sure it was the new loaded round indicator that made it stick so tight. But I think it was. I will stick with my tried and true MKll.
Kelly

Offline Hemlockusa

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Re: Ruger Mark III Hunter
« Reply #24 on: August 28, 2006, 04:00:20 PM »
You men are getting bargins on the Mark III Hunter 6 7/8  - I scouted every gun shop around and ended up at Cabela's for $469.00.  It's a sweet heart though, and I am happy I spent the money.  My problem is old age.  The tri focals and sights at arms length are a Joke.  So  I hope no one gets between blurrs ;D  I would appreciate any of you OLDER SENIOR shoot's with some Idea's - I heard that the red dots are very helpful ??? Is that correct????

Would also like to know if anyone has replaced the trigger with the VQ accurizing kit by themself????

OK - I gave myself away.  Senior (one foot already in the dirt)  so I would appreciate any help from you young-un's    ;D

Thanks for your comments and help

John H

Offline Chris

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Re: Ruger Mark III Hunter
« Reply #25 on: August 29, 2006, 03:52:29 PM »
Hemlockusa:

Volquartsen trigger upgrade.  Good investment...worth the price and easy to install.

Red Dots.  Young(er) eyes or OLD EYES...GREAT investment.  No more squinting and head bobbing...just put the dot on the target and pull the trigger.

...Chris   :)   

"An intellectual is a man who doesn't know how to park a bike!" Spiro Agnew

Offline greener

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Re: Ruger Mark III Hunter
« Reply #26 on: August 30, 2006, 12:41:49 AM »
hemlock:  I put in the VQ accurizing kit (trigger, sear, hammer).  It wasn't hard, even for a 10-thumbed mechanical idiot such as myself.  The Hunter trigger isn't bad, but the kit sweetens it up considerably.  The kit came with an extended bolt release, which I didn't like, so my upgrade included two disassemblies and reassemblies.  See http://www.guntalk-online.com/detailstrip.htm.  This has nice instructions for taking one apart and putting it back together.