Instruction manual

11
The RUGER
®
COMPETITION MODEL MARK III has a slab-sided,
heavyweight barrel with target grips.
The RUGER
®
22/45 MARK III has a grip frame assembly made of molded
synthetic polymer, with a grip shape and angle generally similar to “1911”-style .45
caliber pistols.
RUGER
®
MARK III HUNTER models feature a 6 7/8” target-crowned,
fluted bull barrel, a micro-adjustable V-notch rear sight, and a HiViz® light-
gathering front sight.
All RUGER
®
MARK III pistols have the same basic operating mechanism and
include the following features with which the gun user should be thoroughly
familiar:
Bolt Stop:
When the last shot has been fired and the magazine is empty, the bolt
stop automatically holds the bolt open. When there is an empty
magazine in the
pistol and the bolt is retracted manually, the bolt stop will automatically hold the
bolt open. If a loaded magazine is inserted in the pistol when the bolt is closed and
the bolt is then retracted fully, the bolt stop will not automatically hold open the
bolt. The user can actuate the bolt stop mechanism to hold the bolt open at any
time by retracting the bolt and pushing up the bolt stop.
The bolt stop can be released when an empty
magazine is in the pistol by drawing
back slightly on the bolt and depressing the bolt stop thumbpiece. When the bolt is
released, it will move forward under pressure from the recoil spring.
The bolt stop is spring-loaded or detented in position. Therefore, when there is a
loaded magazine in place and the pistol is jarred, the bolt may fly forward and
chamber a cartridge. For this reason and as an essential safety practice, the safety
of the pistol should always be in the “on” (S) position except when the user is
firing the gun at a selected target.
Magazines:
The 10-shot magazine (Part M10MKIII) for the RUGER
®
MARK
III pistol is different from all other Ruger rimfire pistols. In addition to the
familiar removable plastic bottom decorated with a silver “eagle,” the M10MKIII
magazine has a trigger interlock window and protrusion. (See “Magazine
Nomenclature,” p. 27.) The M10MKIII is the only magazine that should be used in
RUGER
®
MARK III pistols because it is designed to correctly function the
bolt stop and magazine disconnect.
The RUGER
®
22/45 MARK III pistol uses a different 10-shot magazine (Part
AP10MKIII) which is identified by its removable elongated plastic bottom. The
AP10MKIII magazine is distinguishable from earlier 22/45 magazines by the
presence of the trigger interlock window and protrusion. (See “Magazine
Nomenclature,” p. 27.) Note that the AP10MKIII is not interchangeable with the
M10MKIII magazine described above. (See “Magazine Nomenclature,” p. 27.) The
AP10MKIII is the only magazine that should be used in the RUGER
®
22/45
MARK III pistols because it is designed to correctly function the bolt stop and
magazine disconnect.