Trouble re-assembling my MkIII (big surprise!)

BigMike

BigMike

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I just bought a Ruger MkIII from Adam at Acme after him and Nicole fed me [smile]

I checked out a little youtube on how to dis/reassemble as I've heard they are a PITA. Taking it apart was no biggie. Got it cleaned out, but having a problem getting it back together.

The mainspring housing is giving me fits. When I think I have the bolt up thru the receiver and try to rotate the mainspring down into the grip, it pulls the bolt back thru the receiver leaving me at square one.

I have been keeping the hammer as horizontal as possible, and think that my problem is that my barrel and receiver are not seated fully back into the frame. I don't have a rubber/plastic hammer, just a 16oz brass hammer that I have been wrapping with a gun cloth.

Anybody have this problem/gonna be at HSC tomorrow morning?[wink] Was gonna go shooting with my dad and he doesn't know I picked this thing up.
 
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If you think the receiver isn't back onto the frame all the way, give it a good whack with a mallet. I used a block of wood and a drilling hammer last time I took mine apart.

Also, you need to make sure that the bolt on the MSH is all the way in. It will click in.
 
atmay said:
If you think the receiver isn't back onto the frame all the way, give it a good whack with a mallet. I used a block of wood and a drilling hammer last time I took mine apart.

Also, you need to make sure that the bolt on the MSH is all the way in. It will click in.
Click to expand...

I've noticed the bulge on the bolt that goes thru the receiver. To my knowledge I have not had a "click": it just appears to be seated. I guess I will have to man-up and hit this thing harder.

If I hadn't already started drinking, I would go over to Lowe's and grab a rubber mallet
 
BigMike said:
I've noticed the bulge on the bolt that goes thru the receiver. To my knowledge I have not had a "click": it just appears to be seated. I guess I will have to man-up and hit this thing harder.

If I hadn't already started drinking, I would go over to Lowe's and grab a rubber mallet
Click to expand...

Get a block of wood and the biggest metal hammer you can find.

I find that getting the MSH back in sometimes requires using a tool to leverage it in. I lay a screwdriver or wrench under it (with the gun upside down), hold one end down, and whack the other end with something.
 
I had run into the same problem on my first strip. In addition to the good whack, make sure that you're following the reassembly instructions thoroughly. I think part of my problem the first time was that the instructions tell you to turn the gun a certain way once you get to that point, which seems pointless. However it made a difference and worked for me after that.
 
Make sure you put in an empty mag and release the hammer before you try and rotate the mainspring housing down, or it will push the pin back out [wink]
 
... Like John said, make sure that you pulled the trigger (with a magazine in), then, with the trigger still held back, make sure that the hammer is fully forward! Without spring pressure, a new hammer might not freely fall all the way forward. I usually use a dowel, cleaning rod, etc., to push it all the way forward. NOW TAKE THE MAGAZINE OUT! You can't fit the mainspring into the frame with the magazine inserted.

Then, rotate the gun so the muzzle is pointed to the ceiling. This lets the hammer strut (the short bar that dangles off the back of the hammer) fit into the notch on the mainspring. As you insert the mainspring post through the hole, you should be able to see that the hammer strut falls into the slot. Once that strut is in the correct place, the orientation of the handgun doesn't matter.

Only when you are SURE that the hammer strut is engaged in the mainspring should you tap on the bottom of the mainspring to fit the post through the hole. BTW, make sure that the mainspring release is opened before you try to fit it into the frame.

Hopefully, you've figured it out by now! Enjoy!
 
RichM said:
rotate the gun so the muzzle is pointed to the ceiling. This lets the hammer strut (the short bar that dangles off the back of the hammer) fit into the notch on the mainspring. As you insert the mainspring post through the hole, you should be able to see that the hammer strut falls into the slot. Once that strut is in the correct place, the orientation of the handgun doesn't matter.
Click to expand...

This was the step I was referring to in my post. Since I stripped it once and have since been bore-snaking only, I couldn't remember exactly [laugh]
 
Ya it's not working. For once, I actually understand everything that has been said. Whenever I am releasing the hammer, it doesn't sound like anything is happening. Pulling the trigger does nothing for me. Not sure if this baby should be dryfiring or what, but it's not.
I have been aiming skyward, inserting mag, pulling trigger (nothing), installing the stubborn MSH, it appears thru the hole at the top but won't seat.

When I look thru the hole from the top, part of the firing pin spring rear horseshoe bracket shows, so it's not a clear view thru. I'm guessing that since it's under pressure, this is what "locks" it in place.

I know that once this is all figured out, I'll be fine. I've never been this stumped before. I am gonna get a rubber hammer at Lowes before I go to the range.
 
WHOA.....I finally got it to seat!

Only problem is that I didn't feel slight spring pressure before I pushed the whole MSH into the back of the grip. The bolt won't open fully.

Will take apart again, guessing that the hammer strut is not in the right place




With my Pa on the way to my house for 8:30, it is NES that has made this a great shooting day! Thank you so much!!!!!

I didn't even take the MSH all the way out, approximated where I needed the strut, pushed it back in and felt spring pressure. I got it all closed up. Cycled the bolt and it dryfires! The slide release is stiffer than hell, but it'll break it!

My sincere thanks to the best forum, best community of shooters out there!
 
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Awsome !!! Glad to hear the end result was a sucessful one. I've been following this thread since last nite... just picked up my Mark III hunter model yesterday... I am never going to take it apart after reading this!! Bore snake, brake clean and compressed air for me.. happy and safe shooting today, be sure to let us know how that puppy shoots. I'm running out to the range in a few just to take a few function test shots..
 
I bought one of these recently. Putting it back together is like wrestling with a bear, and the bear is making fun of you the whole time.
 
They do loosen up after a time and become easier to reassemble. I bought a rubber mallet to use with mine, my first reassembly was done with a 16oz claw hammer and a couple socks[laugh]

Enjoy it!
 
atmay said:
If you think the receiver isn't back onto the frame all the way, give it a good whack with a mallet. I used a block of wood and a drilling hammer last time I took mine apart.

Also, you need to make sure that the bolt on the MSH is all the way in. It will click in.
Click to expand...

You don't need a mallet. Just whack it with the 2x4 block.


BigMike said:
WHOA.....I finally got it to seat! ... The slide release is stiffer than hell, but it'll break it! ...
Click to expand...

Glad to see you got it working. I guess I was a little late to reply. I hope by the above statement you meant break IN. Right?
 
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It shot like a champ! More accurate than I am, and it loves federal bricks!

I spent most of the time at HSC loading mags for my saiga so that my dad could shoot it. But the most fun that we had was shooting that mk3.

Only had time to put about ~300 rds, but it shot great.
 
Coyote33 said:
You don't need a mallet. Just whack it with the 2x4 block.
Click to expand...

The last time I had mine apart, I didn't have a 2x4 of any reasonable length available, and I must say....I'm glad I had the drilling hammer, because I'm not sure anything smaller could have done the trick.
 
I can relate to you... The first time was a bear.. and every time since has gotten better. BUT, anytime can turn nasty if the written directions included are not followed preciseley, word for word. Tipping the gun up or down, etc.... has the hammer fall or not, and although seems pointless, is crucial. Every single time I tried disassembly and reassembly without the directions I got myself in a jam. Out came the directions and sure enough I missed one critical sentence.

Last time I tried cleaning using a large can of Gunscrubber. Must admit it cleaned it perfectly and took just a few minutes... re-oiled and good to go.... Maybe the "lazy" way, but it worked very well.

Good luck.
 
After reading a lot of threads similar to this one, I wonder if Ruger might want to redesign the gun. The difficult take down is a definite turn-off to gun buyers. Maybe the Mark IV will be easier.
 
yanici said:
After reading a lot of threads similar to this one, I wonder if Ruger might want to redesign the gun. The difficult take down is a definite turn-off to gun buyers. Maybe the Mark IV will be easier.
Click to expand...

I agree. This gun is a great gun to learn technique on, but it's hard to recommend it to brand new shooters because field stripping is so complicated.

Then again, every other 22 with a standard slide (mosquito, walther, 22 conversions for larger guns) are all finicky with ammo type, so perhaps that's the trade-off. The Mark III is just really reliable.
 
wacky_doug said:
I agree. This gun is a great gun to learn technique on, but it's hard to recommend it to brand new shooters because field stripping is so complicated.

Then again, every other 22 with a standard slide (mosquito, walther, 22 conversions for larger guns) are all finicky with ammo type, so perhaps that's the trade-off. The Mark III is just really reliable.
Click to expand...

This is really reliable too, and comes apart/goes back together in 30 seconds flat. Only thing you really have to watch for is to keep the magazines clean. Any moderately hot bulk ammo runs fine through it. This weekend between Saturday and Sunday the gun had 500+ rounds put through it, and the only real issues were from a crudded up magazine that was in the rotation.

No, you can't install volquartsen super xiectalub triggers in it, or any of that crap. But the 22A is a decent 22 for what it is. It's good for plinking or training new shooters on. It might not be quite as accurate as the rugers are, but it's still way, more accurate than chinse-plinkers like the P22 and the Mosquito.

But it works. (or at least mine does) ... and it only cost me $169 + tax used.

IMG00183-20110410-2318.jpg
 
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wacky_doug said:
Haven't seen a 22A before. (I like my cave.) I'm intrigued. MA FFL compliant?
Click to expand...

Yes, at least last I knew you could get the longer barreled ones in MA.... the 22A either comes with a slab side barrel like mine or one that looks like a round tube. The MA ones typically come with this big wooden target grip on them, but a screwdriver and $20 fixes that. Ironically enough I found the grips that are on mine at an MA gun store. Mine didn't have the wood grip on it, but it had these older plastic grips that were just kinda meh, but the ones on it now have rubber panels.

-Mike
 
I think we should start an NES MKIII Support Club. I will volunteer to be the Cape/ Plymouth area representative. Bring me the pile of parts you spent 2 hours cursing at and I'll show you what you're doing wrong.
 

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