I own a few Ruger pistols and a rifle right now to include one Ruger MK I, two MK IIs, aq MK IV, a New Model Single Six Convertible in stainless steel, and a Ruger 10/22 that I have owned since about 1980 or so. I have owned a few other new Model Single Six revolvers, an old model Single Single six revolver or two, a Ruger Redhawk in 44 MAG and an SP101 in 357 MAG. I just cleaned my 10/22, in fact I have all of my long arms in my apartment right now and plan to clean & lube them all over this weekend.
Now, I have been wondering about something about Ruger forearms ever since I got the 10/22 ad my first Ruger MK II (with 5.5" target bull barrel and what I have wondered is this: Are all Ruger semi automatic pistols and rifles as big of a pain in the buttocks as are the 10/22 and the Ruger MK II to take apart and assemble (especially to assemble)? So, really, I would love to find out if other folks have the same difficulties as me, not so much with the Ruger MKII, they are a legendary PITA to assemble so I watch my own video on YouTube for how to do it right but are other Ruger semi-autos as bad?
So while I can pretty easily get a MK II together again, if I watch the video; the one I am wondering about is the 10/22. I find it bothersome trying to get the bolt back onto the recoil spring guide/bolt handle assembly just right. I just did it and it took me several attempts and a good five to 10 minutes to get it in there right. Once it goes in right, that successful attempt seems to have been a breeze but during the several attempts to seat it properly before that, it is as annoying as a tick crawling around in your arse crack - and that is to say the least about said annoyance. Anyone else feel likewise - not about the tick analogy but about certain Ruger semi-auto guns being bothersome to reassemble?
As for their revolvers, I have never tried to do a detailed strip to clean them, all I do is a field strip at most. I learned my lesson with regard to doing a detailed strip of a revolver way back in 1980 or 81 when I took apart a Colt Border Patrol 357 revolver and it had to be sent to a Colt armorer to assemble it again. A field strip of the Ruger convertible revolvers requires removing then later putting back in place the cylinder. In my experience, that has always been easily accomplished. So what is it that drove Ruger to design some firearms which are easy to disassemble/assemble and yet design others that are worthy only of the gnashing of teeth and spewing forth of many loud and foul expletives? I just don't get it.
Now, I am guessing that making some of their guns that way must have been caused by Alexander McCormick Sturm and William B. Ruger the founders of the company. I say so because it was the younger Ruger, William B. Ruger Jr., who ran the company after his dad retired in 2000, who I think finally redesigned the Ruger MK pistols (or had it redesigned) to produce the new and much improved Ruger MK IV with its easy to use takedown button. Sometimes change is good. Sadly the younger Ruger passed away in September 2018 (how did I not know that or if I did at one time know it, how did I forget - those little gray cells are getting old I suppose). Luckily though for we Ruger lovers, the company is still going strong; they also bought Marlin when Remington (Marlin's former owner) went belly up.
I guess I had best stop wasting time and get back to cleaning my long-arms, only three down and about another 18 or so to clean. Then next weekend or sometime later, I guess it will be pistol & revolver cleaning time.
All the best,
Glenn B
