Posted: 4/6/2026 12:34:40 PM EDT
| A few years ago shortly after my best friend swooned over his new Ruger 22/45 Tactical and told me to get one, I saw a Volquartsen Mamba and damn, what a fine rig. I definitely want a Ruger 22/45, but what version? Well, here we are. I am on the fence between the dirt cheap $300 22/45, the Silencer Shop version of the 22/45 Tactical and put a VQ trigger kit in it or do I just STFU and get a Mamba? To be fair, no matter what I get it probably won't see a lot of use, which is why I think I am leary of the Mamba. Also of note, I live in soon to be communist VA and after 1 July, any semi-auto firearm with a threaded barrel will be considered an "assault weapon" and not eligible for purchase. |
f that noise...
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OP will you be able to buy parts once the AWB goes into effect? Will you be able to own a suppressor? The stock Mark IV LITE is pretty decent on it's own. On the other hand, I have also shot silhouettes 100 yards with a Mamba. If you want a tack driver, get the Mamba. If you want a fun suppressed 22 and to save some coin, get the Silencer Shop shorty. |
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Originally Posted By Ewald: OP will you be able to buy parts once the AWB goes into effect? Will you be able to own a suppressor? The stock Mark IV LITE is pretty decent on it's own. On the other hand, I have also shot silhouettes 100 yards with a Mamba. If you want a tack driver, get the Mamba. If you want a fun suppressed 22 and to save some coin, get the Silencer Shop shorty. Parts and stuff shouldn't be too bad, just mostly mags I'd guess. Cans are still legal here, doubt that changes much. I also want a "tactical" 22 rifle, so maybe I'll get a nicer bolt action and just snag the SS 22/45 shorty. |
f that noise...
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Originally Posted By MK19: Also of note, I live in soon to be communist VA and after 1 July, any semi-auto firearm with a threaded barrel will be considered an "assault weapon" and not eligible for purchase. I have a 22/45 with an integral suppressor, so no threading. Extremely quiet. Similar to special forces "Amphibian" pistol, that may still be in use, not sure. |
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I've had three Volquartsen's and still have one, they are all outstanding. My most recent one was just the barrel install on a Ruger MKIV, that one will put a full magazine into a dime at 25 yards from a machine rest. The 22/45 needs at least the Volquartsen kit to get the best out of the frame. The other issues remains with the muzzle crown and how cleanly the chamber has been cut. You will be much happier with a Mamba compared to any stock Ruger, not to mention the amount you have to spend in time and money to get it to it's full potential. And to the OP, you will find out after getting a quality 22 pistol/revolver, you will shoot it a lot more than you think you will now, they are that much fun. |
Dave Funk
Past President and now a Board of Directors member Iowa Firearms Coalition.
Past President and now a Board of Directors member Iowa Firearms Coalition.
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This seems like more of a dilemma than a debacle. Anyway, I have the SSH that my OCL Lithium lives on. It's a lot of fun and looks great with an RMR on it but I really don't shoot it very often because I mostly shoot competitions. I also have a Tandemized racegun 22/45 that I use in Steel Challenge that is pretty good but frankly anything Volquartsen makes is better than the Tandem-Kross equivalent. I did put the Creekside Custom trigger with Volquartsen internals in it. That trigger is money! BTW, the Virginia AWB will not apply to rimfire, and pistols need 2x prohibited features to qualify as an AW. Don't let that stop you from buying a new gun though. 
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I have the Silencer Shop MkIV, I really like it. It has a Rugged Mustang that lives on it along with a Holosun EPS, and a TLR7. I also put the Volquartsen trigger kit in it and some different grips. It has been great so far. I will probably get a Coletac chest holster for it soon. My uncle has a Mini Mamba and it is awesome! I can't justify the price difference for the little that I use it, and other stuff I want to buy, but if you can swing it, the Mini Mamba is nice, if not the Silencer Shop one is good too. James |
To hurt your head even more, Tandemkross makes some good stuff for the 22/45. I use this for steel challenge, a Tandemkross Kraken frame with the 22/45 upper that I added an RDS and their "compensator:" 
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President, Quantico Shooting Club where we shoot 1,000yds every Sunday!
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You will not go wrong spending the coin for a VQ...with that said... A factory 22/45 is good. With whatever tweaks you add it can be great. Price is dependent on how deep you want to get into it. If you're not sure how much you will shoot it, I'll just say I never even had a .22 pistol because I never thought I needed one. Since getting it, I've put rounds through it at a rate of probably 50:1 against other guns. My guess is you'll shoot it far more than you think you will - because rimfire is cheap and fun. It's a good marksmanship training tool, the most fun plinking pistol around, and excellent for pests. My recommendation: if you don't want to jump in all the way immediately, buy the factory railed/threaded 22/45, SKU 40190. It will do everything you need it to and accept upgrades from mild to wild. Best of all, they are currently quite cheap. ETA: or the new anniversary model, 40194, with factory RDS mount. Not sure what the price on that will be but the 40190 has been on sale around $350 lately. |
Malcolm X was right about liberals.
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There really isn't a "right" or "wrong" answer. Most people are just going to recommend whatever they have but IMO, they are all basically the same pistol. The only things you have to answer for yourself is... 1. How much do you want to (or are willing to) spend? 2. Do you want a straight out of box turn key solution or do you like working on and customizing your own stuff? 3. Do you prefer heavier or lighter guns? If money is no a concern or limitation and/or you want a turn key option then go with one of the VQ options. If you don't want to spend that much (or at least not that much up front) and/or you like to tinker, get one of the less expensive options and go from there. Every part that comes on the Mamba is available separately and there are other options from companies like Tandemkross, TacSol, etc. Light vs All steel heavy barrel models? This is a preference thing but personally, I think all of the factor steel/4.4" heavy barrel uppers are very unbalanced, especially with on the 22/45 frame and/or with an optic/suppressor mounted. They are however the least expensive option so if you think you may want one of the fancier barreled receivers, this may be a good starting point? The "Lite" models are almost too light IMO but add a optic and suppressor and they feel pretty good. As for as a suppressor shop models, their 3" models are cool but I don't like that most of them require a different optic mount than all other Ruger MK's. Not a huge deal but not ideal IMO. SS does have a new "Lite" option (Model: 43963) that looks much better then most of the factory "Lite" models IMO. Here is on older outdated pic of my 2. I have since installed the VQ trigger in the Lite model and if I had to pick between them, that's the one I'd probably stick with. if I was starting from scratch, the new SS Lite model looks pretty sweet.  |
On going to war over religion: "You're basically killing each other to see who's got the better imaginary friend." - Richard Jeni
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Attached File Just throwing it out for ideas...22/45 heavy/threaded, tandemkross trigger, VQ trigger kit, Lobos mount, DPP generously supplied by an awesome guy here, TLR-1 on a Performance Services mount. Stupid fun, and all in costs about what a mamba would cost before adding an optic. The mamba is absolutely better, but "that much" better is up to you/your budget. After the trigger job this one is in the 2lb(ish) neighborhood. It's claimed a lot of critters already, mostly possums and coons. Attached File Attached File Attached File |
Malcolm X was right about liberals.
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Originally Posted By LeadBreakfast: You will not go wrong spending the coin for a VQ...with that said... A factory 22/45 is good. With whatever tweaks you add it can be great. Price is dependent on how deep you want to get into it. If you're not sure how much you will shoot it, I'll just say I never even had a .22 pistol because I never thought I needed one. Since getting it, I've put rounds through it at a rate of probably 50:1 against other guns. My guess is you'll shoot it far more than you think you will - because rimfire is cheap and fun. It's a good marksmanship training tool, the most fun plinking pistol around, and excellent for pests. My recommendation: if you don't want to jump in all the way immediately, buy the factory railed/threaded 22/45, SKU 40190. It will do everything you need it to and accept upgrades from mild to wild. Best of all, they are currently quite cheap. ETA: or the new anniversary model, 40194, with factory RDS mount. Not sure what the price on that will be but the 40190 has been on sale around $350 lately. This was my track. Bought the 40190, added Hogue grip, pulled the rail and added the Lobos mount and a Holosun. Screwed on a Sparrow and am currently awaiting the arrival of the VQ accurizing kit. This was over the course of about a year as I shot it. I honestly didn't think I'd like it as much as I do. My wife and I battle on KYL rack and dueling tree. She uses her TX22 with PA dot. The only thing I don't like about the gun is the price of the mags. |
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That depends on the can. With a Ti Hydra, (that also spends time on my PS90) it's a very light combo. Attached File |
"Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most." A. Brilliant
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Originally Posted By Abbysdaddy04: I purchased a 22/45 tactical for a deer feeder raccoon gun and my Dead Air Mask got here a few weeks ago, and I slapped an old Nikon Spur red dot on it. For sure I’m putting VQ trigger in it, but definately see a Mamba or Scorpion down the road. Fun platform. The trigger upgrade makes mag dumps effortless. Add a light for night time fun 
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Malcolm X was right about liberals.
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Functionally there's not much difference between the 22/45 lite and the mamba - if you put a volquartsen trigger kit in it. I believe the Mamba will be more durable because volquartsen makes really, really good parts. I broke my 22/45 lite after about 70k rounds - the frame cracked and ruger sent me a new one. This was basically rapid fire for 70k rounds. It doesn't sound like you will ever get close to that. Other than that, the only thing that breaks is the firing pin spring. You can get a 5 pack of those for like 20 bucks. https://tandemkross.com/rebound-springs-for-ruger-mark-series-5-pack/ Oh - the magazine buttons do wear out too - they eventually start galling the magazine and you can fix it with these (even after the fact): https://tandemkross.com/magazine-follower-buttons-for-ruger-mark-series-and-22-45-2-pack/ Oh, and magazine springs wear out too: https://tandemkross.com/green-springs-magazine-springs-for-ruger-mark-series-3-pack/ |
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| Old thread but still worth mentioning: I just installed the TandemKross mag safety delete busing in my older 22/45. Fairly easy to do and mags now drop free. It’s also easier to disassemble and reassemble as you don’t need to install the mag to drop the hammer. Inexpensive upgrade worth every penny. |
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