I did some work on my Ruger Mark II and 22/45 pistol mags

[Big Frank]

To celebrate Ruger day this year, 10/22/25, I ordered some parts for my 10/22 rifle, and Mark II and 22/45 pistols. I already bought a pair of TANDEMKROSS Plus 1 Magazine Bumpers for the Mark II mags, which have since been discontinued. And I had more than enough TANDEMKROSS Green Springs, 2 3-packs. So I removed the magazine block retaining plungers from all 4 mags, chucked them in a cordless drill and spun them in 220 grit sandpaper to polish them up. One from a Mark II mag is a much different shape (pic 1). I also sanded the molding flash off the top, front, and back of all 4 mag followers and cleaned them off.

I think that was the mag that the bottom of the tube was squeezed in on, and I forced a very large screwdriver into it to spread it out farther. That was probably the one with a much shorter spring in it (pic 2). The Green Springs are longer than the longest of the 4 springs. One of the Mark II base pads was solid black like the ones for the 22/45, and the other one had a silver color piece stuck on, and looks kind of like a hollow rivet on the inside. The logo is upside down compared to the one molded in on the black mag (pic 3).

I replaced the Mark II base pads with the TANDEMKROSS Plus 1 Magazine Bumpers (pic 4). There were 3 different mag follower buttons on these, one was grooved and 2 others were the same size but smooth, and one was smooth but smaller than the other 3 (pic 5). I replaced all 4 with Volquartsen Magazine Follower Buttons I already had. I was working on a Gadsden Flag TekMat (pic 6) to keep everything clean, and make the parts easy to see.

https://tandemkross.com/green-springs-magazine-springs-for-ruger-mark-series-3-pack/

https://volquartsen.com/products/1236-magazine-follower-button-for-ruger-pistols

[Big Frank]

Then I ordered 2 2-Packs of TANDEMKROSS Maximus Plus1 Follower for Ruger Mark Series Pistols, and replaced all 4 followers. You can see the Volquartsen Magazine Follower Buttons in the picture, and the magazine followers. All 4 mags now hold 11 rounds, even the 2 with +1 base pads. They won't hold 12 rounds, but will hold 11 with either the Plus 1 Magazine Bumpers, the Maximus Plus1 Follower, or both. The new mag bumpers do make them easier to get hold of, but changing mags is still a bit of a hassle. I still want to get an extended mag release for the Mark II, but I may be done modifying the 22/45. Unless I get the bull barrel turned down and threaded for a suppressor. Then I'll probably get an optics mount installed too.

P.S. A spare M16 firing pin is a most excellent tool for depressing the mag base latch pins. And most pins on a Ruger 10/22, Remington 1100, or most other firearms. I think Uncle Sam gave me one when I was in the army.   I remember in basic training the drill sergeants would always have one tucked in their pistols belt for adjust rifle sights when we went to the range.

https://tandemkross.com/plus1roundinfactorymagazines-rugermkseries



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBxnwulVigk

[alfsauve]

No end to what you can do with TandemKross parts.  I don’t need the extra capacity as Steel Challenge only NEEDS 5 rounds then maybe 1 or 2 makeups. I spent my money on magazines. I bought a variety from MK III to MK IV, and standard   To 22/45.  Simply changing the base pad made them all work in my 22/45 MK IVs.   That and I ground a notch in the back of my 22/45s so they’ll accept either MK III or IV magazines.

 Hate to admit it but I have 40 which means I can shoot a whole 8 stage Steel match without recharging a mag.  And of course with 3-5 round left in each mag after each string I have plenty of spare ammo in case of reshoots.  What some find odd is that after each stage I empty the used mags.  That way there’s never a doubt about which mags to use next.  They’re either completely empty or completely full. 

[Big Frank]

Having your mags completely empty or completely full is a good way to avoid "whoopsies" with a half full mag. I didn't need to spend 30 bucks on the new +1 mag followers, but they feel smoother than the factory mag followers, even after I sanded the mold parting lines off them. And I think they're less likely to cause malfunctions. I'll probably only load 10 rounds most of the time, but I like having the extra room to move the button up and down to settle the rounds.

[Big Frank]

More goodies from TANDEMKROSS ordered. MarkPRO Extended Magazine Bumper for Ruger Mark IV 22/45 (2-Pack), not the Tomahawk Hooked Bumper for Ruger Mark IV 22/45™ (2-Pack). Both kind also work on Mark II and Mark III 22/45s. Sometimes you have to look for Mark IV parts to find stuff for the Mark II and III like I did. And I ordered a black Titan Extended Magazine Release for Ruger Mark IV 22/45, that also works with all Mark II and II 22/45s.

While I was at it I ordered a Guardian Bolt Release Plate for Ruger 10/22, to replace the silver Volquartsen Automatic Bolt Release I have in it. Besides being the right color, it's 2 bucks cheaper than the Volquartsen. And I'm getting a black Victory Trigger for Ruger 10/22. Flat-faced, skeletonized design for better control and feel. Textured trigger face offers a no-slip grip in any condition. 100% adjustable for post-travel. Can drop trigger pull weight up to ½ a pound. That's it, 4 parts altogether, 5 counting the 2nd basepad in the 2-pack. And I still managed to spend over $130 including tax and shipping.

https://tandemkross.com/titan-extended-magazine-release-for-ruger-mark-iv-22-45/

https://tandemkross.com/victory_trigger_ruger_1022

[Sponsor]

[Rastus]

Nice grip.  I still haven't gotten around to getting a 22/45...maybe next year. 

[Big Frank]

The TK hiveGrip is available for Ruger Mark III and IV 22/45s, Smith & Wesson SW22 Victory, and AR-15s too. I'd like to have something like that, but I'm stuck with the factory grip on my Mark II 22/45, but put a Hogue HandALL Grip Sleeve over it. The plastic grip was too slippery without it, and I'm not paying anyone to mill the grip frame to take 1911 grip panels like some people have done.

https://tandemkross.com/search-results-page?q=hiveGrip&page=1&rb_categories=Grips

https://www.hogueinc.com/handall-tactical-grip-sleeve-small-black

[Big Frank]

I put the TANDEMKROSS MarkPRO Extended Magazine Bumpers for Mark IV 22/45s on both of my Mark II 22/45 mags. They're a hollow 2-piece design with a small screw holding the 2 halves together. They never need to be separated, do I put red thread locker on the screws and cranked them right down. I also put the Titan Extended Magazine Release for Mark IV 22/45s on it. The round button seems like it's a hair too big for the way I grip my pistol, and the button is THICK. The hexagonal button isn't a whole lot smaller, but it's VERY thin. I ended up putting it on with the spacer to raise it up a bit higher, but it feels like it's still not quite as thick as the round button without the spacer. It may be as thick as the round button now, but doesn't feel like it to me. I used a 5/16" nut driver and blue Loctite to secure it. I always had to shift my hand clockwise around the grip to hit the mag release. Now I don't. And I really like the extended mag bumpers. It makes it easier to seat the mags, and I don't have my big fat ham hands wrapped around the bottom of the magwell interfering with the mags dropping. Thanks to the TK Green Springs, they eject forcefully. I'm happy with both parts, and the springs.

I chamfered the end of the Majestic Arms Speed Strip bolt stop pin, which I previously ground the end off of to shorten it a bit. It was so tall it lined up too close to the sights for me before. It started out round when I got it, but after I ground it down it was flat. Since it was flat with a sharp edge, it was hard to insert, before I reground an ~45 degree angle on it tonight. It was an easy job to chuck it in a cordless drill and grind it on the fine wheel of my bench grinder, then file and sand it using the drill. I think it's been 7 years since Dino passed away. He was a ice guy and had some good products. E Arthur Brown has a few Majestic Arms parts left, like Extended Bolt Releases, but no Speed Strip Kits. I really need it on my 22/45 since I have the Hogue grip sleeve on my gun. It's too big of a pain the @$$ to take it off to clean the gun and put it back on, but the grip is too slippery without it. Hopefully it's on to stay after I replaced the mag release.

https://tandemkross.com/markpro-extended-magazine-bumper-for-ruger-mark-iv-22-45-2-pack/

https://tandemkross.com/titan-extended-magazine-release-for-ruger-mark-iv-22-45/

https://eabco.com/brands/majestic-arms/?sort=priceasc&limit=20&mode=4



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDcwDg2aTs8