How short should I thread Ruger Mark II?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - How short should I thread Ruger Mark II?

Posted: 1/25/2017 11:54:45 AM EDT

Picked up a pristine Mark II for a song and dance. Original plan was to thread it as short as physically possible (~1.8 inches) but did a ton of reading/YT videos and a guy who cut to 2” and did lots of subsequent testing has keyholing and cycling problems and says he wouldn’t cut that short again. Not to mention the massive FPE losses as you get this short. With a 4.5” barrel CCI SV is doing 896 fps at 71 FPE. Come down to a 2” barrel and it’s doing 730 fps at 47 FPE. So a 34% loss of energy over 2.5 inches.

I think I have settled on 3” for now—kind of a compromise. But maybe 2.5"? The barrel taper makes it look funny in a long config, plus the Mark II is just a long-frame 22 pistol already.

Use case is popping rabbit-sized critters with a NV-compatible RDS. Thoughts? Here is a mock-up of 3 inches.

Posted: 1/25/2017 11:56:55 AM EDT

[#1]

I did my Browning Buckmark at 2". Works perfect. all ammo is subsonic out of it.
I would think you could go that short as well with the Ruger.

RLTW
Steve
816-718-9489

Posted: 1/25/2017 12:08:26 PM EDT

[#2]

I had my Buckmark cut down and threaded at 4".....

Posted: 1/25/2017 1:34:54 PM EDT

[#3]

I'd be very comfortable at 3"

Posted: 1/25/2017 5:08:59 PM EDT

[#4]

I'm fairly conservative about these things. I'd say no shorter than 4". You still need velocity and stability. Understand, that the throat of the 22 lr barrel doesn't fully become rifling until about 1". Also, shorter barrels in that range manifest minor deviations in powder charge and even primer charge drastically. Further, your suppressor will stay cleaner with a longer barrel. If you are trying to save length, just buy an Oculus.

Posted: 1/25/2017 6:16:45 PM EDT

[#5]

I have a 4" barreled 22/45 lite and I consider it ideal. Keeps all bulk pack ammo subsonic and is very accurate at all distances. Was hitting a 2/3 size torso target consistently at 75 yards.

Posted: 1/26/2017 9:49:58 AM EDT

[#6]

I had my MK3 22/45 done at 4.5" and have been very happy with it.

Posted: 1/26/2017 10:27:33 AM EDT

[#7]

4" vs 5.5" here, longer one will pop depending on temp. 4" is subsonic with all bulk I have tried.

Charger at 4.5 is also pop-free.

Posted: 1/26/2017 10:54:33 AM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:

Charger at 4.5 is also pop-free.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f49/postban/Handguns/Ruger%20Charger/IMG_20150515_161156_zpslclxqnzq.jpg

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Is that barrel available commercially or something you had cut down and threaded?

Posted: 1/26/2017 1:03:29 PM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:

Is that barrel available commercially or something you had cut down and threaded?

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Stock Ruger Charger 10" Cut/thread by jpgrips.com.
Kidd is the only other one close that is threaded but far too long at 6".
Still fits the factory stock with can on.

Posted: 1/26/2017 2:52:39 PM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
Charger at 4.5 is also pop-free.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f49/postban/Handguns/Ruger%20Charger/IMG_20150515_161156_zpslclxqnzq.jpg

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Did you do the grip/stock yourself?

Posted: 1/27/2017 4:30:37 AM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:

Did you do the grip/stock yourself?

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Yes. A little chopping and a shit ton of sanding/forming.

Posted: 1/27/2017 9:01:08 AM EDT

[#12]

I picked up a 5.5" Bull Barrel upper for $95.00 a couple of years ago, and had my smithy shorten it to a 4" threaded barrel. While it was in the lathe, he also removed the rest of the factory warning message.

It keeps bulk ammo sub-sonic, and is very accurate. Here is a pic...

Have a good weekend,
Bob S.

Posted: 1/29/2017 1:35:04 PM EDT

[#13]

I like the concept of the suppressed super shorty. You end up with a budget version of an integrally suppressed gun. But with the issues noted above.

I find for shooting, 4.5" is about right. It keeps bulk pack ammo subsonic, and still retains a reasonable amount of energy. The gun will typically still cycle without a can at this barrel length.

The down-side is you end up with something the same size as a 10"-barreled gun.

In the end it's a matter of personal preference.

Posted: 1/30/2017 3:54:54 PM EDT

[#14]

Thanks guys, I chose 3 inches. Off to Morgan she goes.

Posted: 1/30/2017 9:44:04 PM EDT

[#15]

Ill have to go measure the barrel, but it runs great with all types of ammo.

edit 3.5"

Posted: 1/31/2017 10:28:11 AM EDT

[#16]

Had this idea last night.

Cut down barrel short enough to have this shoulder up against the portion of the barrel receiver area.

Should look like this below but with the 3 lug adapter. I think It would be very cool. The photo was taken from silencertalk

uploading pictures

Posted: 1/31/2017 10:36:31 AM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:

Yes. A little chopping and a shit ton of sanding/forming.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f49/postban/Handguns/Ruger%20Charger/4de27e36-550b-4f9b-a117-0a8997d51543_zpssbmoydjj.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f49/postban/Handguns/Ruger%20Charger/IMG_20150515_155311_zpsnql8bbqr.jpg

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Nice job!

Posted: 1/31/2017 12:22:42 PM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:

Yes. A little chopping and a shit ton of sanding/forming.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f49/postban/Handguns/Ruger%20Charger/4de27e36-550b-4f9b-a117-0a8997d51543_zpssbmoydjj.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f49/postban/Handguns/Ruger%20Charger/IMG_20150515_155311_zpsnql8bbqr.jpg

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View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:

Did you do the grip/stock yourself?

Yes. A little chopping and a shit ton of sanding/forming.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f49/postban/Handguns/Ruger%20Charger/4de27e36-550b-4f9b-a117-0a8997d51543_zpssbmoydjj.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f49/postban/Handguns/Ruger%20Charger/IMG_20150515_155311_zpsnql8bbqr.jpg

So, did you take a 10/22 stock and a charger pistol, or did you SBR or AOW a 10/22 rifle?

Bob S.

Posted: 1/31/2017 12:55:26 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:

So, did you take a 10/22 stock and a charger pistol...

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^this. See pic of former 10/22 stock above.

Posted: 1/31/2017 1:39:15 PM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:
Had this idea last night.

Cut down barrel short enough to have this shoulder up against the portion of the barrel receiver area.

Should look like this below but with the 3 lug adapter. I think It would be very cool. The photo was taken from silencertalk

uploading pictures

View Quote

This is one of the guys I talked to. He says he would not do it this short again because it made the gun unreliable. I agree it looks super cool.

Posted: 1/31/2017 1:48:02 PM EDT

[#21]

Id say save the MkII, they are starting to become collectible and use something with a bull barrel. It will look better when chopped.

Posted: 1/31/2017 3:23:57 PM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:

This is one of the guys I talked to. He says he would not do it this short again because it made the gun unreliable. I agree it looks super cool.

View Quote

I was going to say I'm surprised it's reliable unsuppressed.
No need for a quick attach in that scenario.
I get if you're dedicating a can to a host and don't want to fork over the cash for an integral

Posted: 1/31/2017 4:19:33 PM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:
I was going to say I'm surprised it's reliable unsuppressed.
No need for a quick attach in that scenario.
I get if you're dedicating a can to a host and don't want to fork over the cash for an integral

View Quote

I have absolutely zero interest in an integral upper for this gun, and zero desire to shoot it unsuppressed. So I think threading it to 3" will work great for my purposes. I only have $250 into the gun, so another $85 and now it will be threaded.

Just need a Burris FF and mount and I'll be done. The FF is supposed to be NV-friendly, which will make it a perfect rabbit-popper.

Posted: 1/31/2017 4:52:01 PM EDT

[#24]

For night time critter dispatch I use 22 long and put my thumb against the slide to keep even quieter.

Posted: 2/1/2017 12:58:26 PM EDT

[#25]

Quote History

Quoted:

This is one of the guys I talked to. He says he would not do it this short again because it made the gun unreliable. I agree it looks super cool.

View Quote

I wonder how hard it would be to remove some material from the bolt to make it cycle more reliably.

I have sold off my MK3 so dont have one to look at and guesstimate on.

Posted: 2/2/2017 10:07:09 AM EDT

[#26]

Heading back today

Posted: 2/2/2017 10:19:11 AM EDT

[#27]

Looks good. I have a couple Mark IIs I want to send him. Probably do 3.5" as that is what I seem to remember as being the optimal length for reliability and keeping everything subsonic.