mustang69 505 Posted August 8, 2014 All, Picked up a Ruger 22/45 Lite on a deal I couldn't pass up and am looking for your experiences with it, and any tuning tricks. I bought a Sig 1911 TacOps back when Sig had the buy one / get a 1911-22 free. With the OGAM and permit timeframes I was finally able to go get the 1911-22. Since I already have one I asked about swapping it for something else. In the end, they gave me a nice credit for it (more than I see them selling for on-line) and I never had to take possession and burn a permit. In its place I got the Ruger Mark III 22/45 Lite with the drilled stainless slide. Any comments on it or experiences with it would be appreciated. I've shot the all-steel version and it was a tack-driver but haven't shot a Lite version yet. How picky are they with the ammo? Thanks, Dean Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T Bill 649 Posted August 8, 2014 Every 22LR has its quirks. How many if any yours has will be determined over time. FIrst and foremost, stay away from Remington Thunderbolts ammo. In a word, garbage. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JT Custom Guns 956 Posted August 8, 2014 CCI mini mags are your new Best friend..................... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sixtytwo327 14 Posted August 8, 2014 I have the 22/45 target and added the Volquartsen Competition Kit with MKII internals. The kit eliminates the mag disconnect and you get an adjustable, greatly improved trigger. Improves both reliability and accuracy, and simplifies the take down process - if you feel the need to upgrade, start there. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mikeythumbs 1 Posted August 8, 2014 Most of the Rugers ealt almost anything but I have no experience with the Lite. My mkii has only found one or two ammo brands it does not like wolf match just has too little punch and it didnt really like winchester wildcat think it had too much lube on it and did not feed real well Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Russell 3 Posted August 8, 2014 I have two 22/45s and love them. Here's what I'd consider "required" mods which are all easy to do yourself: mag disconnect hammer bushingVQ searVQ triggerslingshot mod (remove bolt stop detent and spring) You might also need a VQ exact edge extractor depending if you have an extraction issues. I don't like the all black sights so went with Williams Fire Sights; Dawson also makes a fiber optic front sight that's nice. CCI mini mags are your new Best friend..................... You don't need to use the expensive stuff with a Ruger. Mine eat just about any bulk pack .22, except Rem Golden Bullets, but they're junk so no big surprise there. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
supranatural 66 Posted November 23, 2014 You don't need to use the expensive stuff with a Ruger. Mine eat just about any bulk pack .22, except Rem Golden Bullets, but they're junk so no big surprise there. That's very different from my experience, Remington gold bullets work great in all my 22s including my p229 22LR, it actually cycles great with the gold bullets. Wish I could find more, although their accuracy isn't so hot. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fishnut 2,358 Posted November 24, 2014 Ugh I am lusting after a 22/45 lite but I have other needs first. I have shot quite a few of the older steel versions many times and I love them so I want a lite and I thing my wife will really like to shoot it too but for a .22 I don't really care to shoot the high end ammo through it so it it cant cycle the cheap golden bullets or thunder bullets through it that's a deal breaker for me! I shoot .22 mostly to keep my ammo cost to a minimum so whats the point of paying top dollar for plinking ammo. if the 22/45 lites cant cycle cheap ammo reliably then I guess I will need to get a buckmark or an older 22/45 instead. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mustang69 505 Posted November 24, 2014 Update - I've been able to find CCI minimags lately at the range and the 22/45 Lite functions fine on them (at least it cycles fine) but I've had some problems. First, the rear sight was installed "clocked" to the side a bit, maybe 5 degrees, making it very difficult to align the sights correctly. Secondly, after about 50 rounds the bullets were tumbling into the target. I cleaned the barrel, removed some leading and it improved, but wasn't great. It looks to me like the rifling is off a bit. So, it's on it's way back to Ruger. First time I've ever had to send a handgun back to the manufacturer. What is a pain is the barrel is part of the receiver, which is the serial numbered part. If Ruger needs to replace that I need to burn another permit to get it back. Argh... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maintenanceguy 510 Posted November 25, 2014 Some manufacturer's will re-stamp your serial number on a repaired gun if they replace the part with the serial number. Same gun, same serial number, no need for a new permit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mikeythumbs 1 Posted November 25, 2014 Some manufacturer's will re-stamp your serial number on a repaired gun if they replace the part with the serial number. Same gun, same serial number, no need for a new permit. I was going to suggest the same thing if they need to replace call and ask them if they can do the same serial explain our stupid P2P system to them if they dont know Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mustang69 505 Posted December 28, 2014 Update on the problems - for various reasons it took a while for my local LGS to return the firearm to Ruger and for me to get it back. Ruger replaced the barrel and rear sight at no charge, and my FFL didn't charge anything to send it back and return it. Everything fixed. Ruger customer service was excellent. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mikeythumbs 1 Posted December 28, 2014 Update on the problems - for various reasons it took a while for my local LGS to return the firearm to Ruger and for me to get it back. Ruger replaced the barrel and rear sight at no charge, and my FFL didn't charge anything to send it back and return it. Everything fixed. Ruger customer service was excellent. Always good to hear about great customer service Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tony357 386 Posted December 28, 2014 I have 22/45 lite. did the mag disconnect delete and VQ extractor while i was at it.. Big difference the mags will drop out you will not have to pull them out.. i use federal bulk ammo no issues.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites