LOL, after 32 years of NOT having this gun (my Ruger MK l) in my possession, and just recently getting it back, I decided I needed to tear it down and give it a good inspection and cleaning. So last night I did. And after cleaning it, I then recalled just what a PITA these can be to reassemble and get the hammer to function correctly.
Mine is one of the few that comes apart fairly easily. I know some folks have to use hammers to break them apart and to put them back together.
Well, after 40 minutes of trying over and over, I finally got the trigger, hammer, and bolt to all work properly. THe final trick I tried, was once the pin was inserted through the bolt, I kept the trigger engaged, magazine inserted, and then i pulled the bolt back slightly, then locked the back arm. That trick seemed to do it.
I know I can order a Speed Strip kit. And I still may. (I definitely will when I get a newer MK lll), but the l's are a bit easier to work with.
The last time I tore this exact gun down was in 1980 for a good cleaning. Then I sold it to my brother. Not once over the past 32 years, has he ever field stripped it. The gun has 10's of thousands of rounds through it. I was amazed at how little crud there was in it. And no rust anywhere.
I do love taking this thing to the range and doing some plinking with it. In fact, I plan on shooting a couple of hundred rounds this weekend. Someday my son will be taking his kids out to shoot with it.
Mine is one of the few that comes apart fairly easily. I know some folks have to use hammers to break them apart and to put them back together.
Well, after 40 minutes of trying over and over, I finally got the trigger, hammer, and bolt to all work properly. THe final trick I tried, was once the pin was inserted through the bolt, I kept the trigger engaged, magazine inserted, and then i pulled the bolt back slightly, then locked the back arm. That trick seemed to do it.
I know I can order a Speed Strip kit. And I still may. (I definitely will when I get a newer MK lll), but the l's are a bit easier to work with.
The last time I tore this exact gun down was in 1980 for a good cleaning. Then I sold it to my brother. Not once over the past 32 years, has he ever field stripped it. The gun has 10's of thousands of rounds through it. I was amazed at how little crud there was in it. And no rust anywhere.
I do love taking this thing to the range and doing some plinking with it. In fact, I plan on shooting a couple of hundred rounds this weekend. Someday my son will be taking his kids out to shoot with it.
