I’m an idiot—Ruger MKIV trigger work

[Scott Tschirhart]

I ordered a Ruger MK IV trigger upgrade for a .45/22 that had a challenging trigger.

No instructions in the package. But there were instructional videos on YouTube. So I watched a couple of them.

I spent the next three hours working on installation and frustration. I dropped small, hard to see parts so many times that I had to get a magnet out. Fingers are too big so I had to make a trip to the hardware store to get a pair of needle nose pliers.

Finally, I realized that I was trying to install the trigger bar on the wrong side of the frame!

Now I have a light (probably 2 pounds) crisp and useable trigger. And I can probably install the next one in five minutes.

[bmtshooter]

What good would instructions have done?

We don't read them anyway.

[Bill in Oregon]

Don't be too hard on yourself, Scott. I put a Volquartsen kit in a Mark IV a couple of years ago and there was a lot of frustration and a lot of swearing ...

[AJMD429]

.
I have a Ruger Mark 3/45 that has decided that it doesn’t want to cock consistently. I stripped off the optics and stuff and was preparing to send it back to Ruger. This makes me wonder if I should just consider upgrading and replacing some parts and see if that solves the issue….

Anybody have a similar issue with that particular firearm…?

[Walt]

I have a Ruger MKIII and a MKIV on which I did the Volquartsen upgrades as well as put a Tandemkross trigger on the MKIV. I followed the youtube videos too and the conversions worked out quite well. Both triggers are good but not as good as my High Standard Supermatic Trophy.

[GunnyMack]

Scott, get yourself a big fluffy white towel. Any parts dropped will stand out and the fluffyness will help capture stuff.
Also anything that hits the floor can be seen with a bright flashlight. I've heard of some guys building a plexiglass box with arm holes to put over the gun and just let stuff fly!

The Ruger Mk guns can be a real PITA!

[jeepnik]

The Ruger Mk guns can be a real PITA!

It's got to be all of the improved MK II's, III's & IV's that are so hard for mere mortals to work on. And it seems they all need aftermarket parts, triggers in particular. The MK I's don't have that many parts, and go together in what's called an intuitive way these days.

[GunnyMack]

Jeep, I have a Mk ll that I did extensive work on, trigger, springs, integral muzzle break, scope mounts. It's a 10" barrel.
I think the biggest issue is that people don't take them apart often enough and the muscle memory/ reinstallation of the main spring housing. It's been a long time since I had mine apart, anyhow getting everything just right is what frustrates folks.
Needless to say they are great guns!

[stretch]

I think the biggest issue is that people don't take them apart often enough and the muscle memory/ reinstallation of the main spring housing.

THIS!!!

-Stretch

[Ysabel Kid]

What good would instructions have done?

We don't read them anyway.

Things come with instructions? What kind of new-fangled malarky is that?!?

[Bill in Oregon]

No instructions supplied. You have to take picture of the dang QR code ...

[GunnyMack]

No instructions supplied. You have to take picture of the dang QR code ...

Bill the QR codes are getting out of hand! We are doing a deck job and the municipality does not have inspectors, we have to use the state inspection service. The paperwork has a QR that you have to open, fill out and submit. It's a joke! They paid some outfit to set up the website, new software for the office just so no one has to answer the phone. Buried in the paperwork is a phone number, guess what- someone answered!