The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: alfsauve on February 25, 2025, 01:28:55 PM
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Forgot where I posted the other stuff, so doesn't hurt have a new thread.
Finished my Optic, red dot, a Ruger MKIV 22/45 Lite. Just added Holosun Comp sight, a Le Vang comp (red to color things up like Michael suggests) and a TandemKross recharging ring. Oh, and cut the notch in the back of the grip to accommodate MkIII magazines.
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Sweet. Very nice.
I was talking to a friend today about getting the 22/45 in the not too distant future (I hope not too distant).
So tell me what you know about the Tactical Solution PAC-LITE IV barrels and the Volquartsen light weight barrels.
Volquartsen touts a hardened breech and stainless steel which I dunno if the TacSol has. Also...I'll need to contact them but Volquartsen only says Mark IV and omits any reference to a Mark IV in 22/45...I am assuming there is a difference in how the barrels mate up to the receiver? Which I am wondering because, go ahead and call me vain, but I prefer the looks of the aftermarket barrels...which..hey, I can live without.
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That looks a lot nicer than my heavy barrel 22/45.
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One of the issues with the whole MK family is that the upper is the regulated part. It this wasn’t an issue when Bill designed it in ‘49, but you’d think with the later version they’d have made the barrel easier to replace like the 10/22. Maybe with the MK V version. Baby steps.
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Don't hold your breath, Alf. I'd like to see the grip frame be the registered part so you could swap barrels. People have been talking about that for decades. At least they made them easy to field strip, so maybe another improvement will happen in our lifetimes. I still have some things I need to install in mine, like new mag springs.
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So tell me what you know about the Tactical Solution PAC-LITE IV barrels and the Volquartsen light weight barrels.
Nothing in particular that I know about. All good companies, just for a whole new gun, they far beyond my desired ROI. The thing is nobody sells you just a barrel, because it’s not a diy swap out. Almost all “barrels” include a new receiver which has to go through an FFL. Tac-Sol, TandemKross and Volquartsen are high quality but expensive. Imagine if the Fire Control Unit could be separated from the grip and the barrel as easy to swap as the 10/22? There would be no end to the after market parts. Think Sig P320 and 365.
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Shot at Talladega's "Match Tracker" monthly match.
RF Rifle both Iron and Optic.
Got bumped to B in the Iron Sight! YEAH-H-H-H.
Missed B in Optic by 1.4 seconds. Boo-o-o-o-o. Had a ammo issue on two stages.
I'll go shoot Alabama state match next month and I think I'll do RF Rifle Iron and Revolver Optic.
I learned that shooting two divisions using the same magazine means you're reloading a whole lot. Will definitely mix it up here on out.
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So what ammo were you using? What's the predominant ammo on the rimfire competition trail?
I generally have best results with CCI and after that maybe Federal 22 LR.
Also...I've perused S&W and what do you think about the SW22 Victory for competition? I see it comes with an optic and a carbon fiber barrel....but do you see it on the competition trail and if you do have you gleaned anything about it's performance?
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I use only CCI Standard lead and plated, plus Federal Range(blue box), which I think is the same as CCI Standard. Out of ~500 rounds down range I had 3 misfires. CCI Standard lead works well in the 10/22s and the plated version in the MKIVs. This is based on bench rest testing for grouping and functioning.
My observation, somewhat limited, is CCI is the most used, with most favoring some version of Mini-Mag. Aquila and Federal are probably second.
Ah S&W. Love their revolvers, not sold on their semi autos. There are those who love them and, like my friend, Gary, those that don’t. Gary’s gun had to go back for warranty repair. Been 8 weeks. To put in perspective, I had a revolver rebarreled by them in three. When they work they’re evidently very good. If you want the best then go Volquartzen or TendemKross. But also note they’re $1,200-$1,500. I’m not sure that for the extra $600 the ROI is worth it over a stock 22/45 light. My mods only cost me $100.
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IMO it's hard to go wrong with a Ruger 22/45, or a MKII, III, or IV pistol if you like that grip angle. Anything but the original. There's a good reason Ruger owns just over 50% of the .22 pistol market (and almost 50% of the .22 revolver market, too). They're good, affordable guns. You can customize them however you want, and use the money you saved by not buying a more expensive gun to buy more ammo and practice to get better.
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The thing about rugers is you throw away everything but the serialized part.
I would take a sw model 41 all day long. My colt woodsman out shoots me despite being 70+ years old.
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Woodsman are no longer made, but with 690,000 made I’m sure there are plenty available on the used market. The 41? At $1,500 sure it’s good but stack that up against the custom models, some a few hundred less I’m not thinking it’s a good ROI. Then consider using it for Steel, not Bullseye, the Ruger makes so much more sense.
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From what I've read about them, the S&W 41 was good for what it was made for, but expensive.
My dad had a Colt Woodman that flew out of his home-made shoulder holster when he was running through the woods and was lost forever. :( He got a Ruger Mk II Target Model which I have now. It had a MK II mag and a MK I mag that I've since replaced. The weight of 6 7/8" tapered barrel and 5 1/2" bull barrel are exactly the same. But the 22/45 Zytel grip frame is lighter than the steel MK II, so my 5 1/2" gun is lighter than my 6 7/8".
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Well when I ride into Tulsa tomorrow I may just have to swing by a gun store or two and pick up various models.
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If I was going to buy another .22 pistol right now I'd get a Mark IV 22/45 Tactical with a threaded barrel, either a 4.4" barrel or a Silencer Shop exclusive 3" barrel. I don't have anything suppressed and either of those would be a great first suppressor host IMO. I'd probably get the 4.4" with sights on it, then decide what kind of red dot and light to mount. Something small and lightweight for both.
I was so used to steel frame pistols like my Colt Gov't Model, that my 22/45 felt top-heavy at first. It didn't take long to get used to it, and it should feel good to anyone who shoots a polymer frame pistol. The old non-removable grips were too slippery for me so I put a Hogue HandALL Universal Full Size Grip Sleeve on it. Problem solved. Checkering would be a more elegant solution but cost a lot more to get done than slipping on the Hague HandALL. I'll still consider getting it done when I have more money.
That's got to be cheaper than milling out the grip frame to accept 1911 grips, but now that I think of it, my laser-engraved grim reaper grips would really look cool on it. They were a limited run and the computer programming for the laser was immediately destroyed at the end of the run so they wouldn't be duplicated. Does anyone know where I can get my old 22/45 modified to take 1911 grips? I know someone was doing that before the MK III and MK IV came out.
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The thing about rugers is you throw away everything but the serialized part.
When I went into the LGS a couple of months back and saw the entry level 10/22 for $219, I jumped on it. The clerk kept trying to extol the features of the gun. I finally had to say, "Look. All I want is the receiver and the bolt. Everything, everything else is getting replaced." He finally shut up and finished the paper work. I will say on the top end 22/45s no a lot needs to be done.
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Getting ready for the World Speed Shoot next week. Probably 800 rounds practice this week and 400 next.
Did a sort of the upcoming 2025 World Steel Challenge match breakdown. What's Trending you might ask? Here's a list of the match breakdown (minor changes between now and the end of the match of course). Looks like there aren't enough people to award prizes in the Single Stack category. Interesting how Single Stack has so few entries. Gun wise, single action it should be up there, but I guess iron sights aren't popular
I find it interesting that PCCI & RFPI are so low but then they are Iron sights, though RFRI is #4. But as expected all the Optic/Open (read that red-dot) divisions are on top. Would surprise me if someone suggest making the bottom 4 division optional for some matches. (I'm going to shoot Limited Optic next month so I can keep my status as Classified in all 14 divisions.)
Division Entries Percent
RFRO 152 22%
PCCI 119 17%
RFPO 109 16%
RFRI 59 9%
CO 58 8%
LO 42 6%
OPN 39 6%
RFPI 29 4%
PCCI 24 3%
OSR 17 2%
LTD 14 2%
PRO 13 2%
ISR 11 2%
SS 7 1%
693
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Finished my Optic, red dot, a Ruger MKIV 22/45 Lite. Just added Holosun Comp sight, a Le Vang comp (red to color things up like Michael suggests) and a TandemKross recharging ring. Oh, and cut the notch in the back of the grip to accommodate MkIII magazines.
Looks great! That pistol really seems like a perfect platform for customizing it exactly the way you want. I’ll definitely need to take a closer look at one of these.
Noticed any downsides so far?
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Downsides?
Some people don’t like the grip angle. Some runs at the factory they’ve used two different screw types on the sights. My two came, NIB, with slotted screw for elevation and Allen head for windage. Just a nit. I don’t think they do that any more. The biggest thing is the hold open mechanism is a press fit and it didn’t fit well on one of mine. I threw it away as I don’t really need it for competition. I did put a TandemKross Halo Ring on the back of the bolt to make it easier to cock/charge.
Of course all manner of upgrades if you feel inclined. Bolts, triggers, extractors, firing pins…
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Right after I posted this I wondered how do I insert a chamber flag w/o a hold open and only two hands?
It’s been a while since I’ve used it. Then I verified chamber flags are not required on handguns in SCSA. Senior moment.