Sidewinder

Dolomite, thanks for your response. I would imagine that possibly all of the new manufactured MK llls are drilled and tapped these days. So, your point is well taken.   In the fog of trying to get to the right person to straighten this out for me, I don't remember exact details, but think I was informed there was heavy phone traffic, and that I was number three. That's when I decided to leave a message. Reasoning that my problem might take a while to resolve, and such could be the case with the other two.   Off topic: Go Vols against S. Alabama!

Since this thread was started I have acquired a MK lll 22/45 Target model... which I have disassembled, cleaned, and successfully reassembled. I also bought a NIB MK lll Hunter yesterday, and shot it today. I liked the way it shot, and believe I'll leave it unmodified for a while, until I have shot it more. I put around a hundred rounds of mixed ammo through it, and it fired it all flawlessly. I'm a happy camper. Thanks to all who have offered advice and information. This one's a definite keeper. Looking forward to some hunting with my "Hunter" this winter...small game that is.

Thanks everybody, I appreciate your replies. Here's an update.   Shot the gun this afternoon, and it was great! All brands and conditions of ammo slid right through this ammo eating machine! Was not shooting for accuracy, as I had misplaced my targets... and wanted to fire for a functional check. But, I was able to cut vines and briar stems easily, with bulk ammo. I like this gun!

Update to all, and thanks for your response. This was my very first time to enter the doors of any Academy Sports store. It was my first dealings with this chain. I bought the gun and walked out after all of the paperwork.   I called Ruger CS and left a voice mail. I also sent them an email, so hopefully I'll know something early next week. I can handle it either way, if it was supposed to have a scope rail, they should make it right...if not, I guess I got what I paid for. It'll just be one of those things that I wish had turned out differently. There'll be no hard feelings toward Academy Sports, nor Ruger.   I took the gun out this afternoon and shot it. I ran about 100 rounds through it without a hiccup. I threw everything at it, old ammo, new ammo, some brands that were not supposed to feed well through semi-automatics...you name it...it never missed a beat right out of the box. It handles ammo much better than my MK lll 22/45 Target model. I hope I get to use it for what it's designed for...a little small game hunting this winter. Santa came early!   Thanks to all who commented with their concerns for me.

Did you buy them from Academy Sports in Smyrna? My MK lll is stamped "Target" on the left side of the receiver. The right side is stamped "MKlll HUNTER" in bigger letters.

TrickyNicky, thanks for your response and offer. As far as Academy Sports in Smyrna, I'm pretty sure it's over. I have called Ruger, and after getting put in the "on hold" que, I left a message with all of the details. I haven't heard from them yet...I just did this a couple of hours ago.   My guess is that someone took the scope rail because it is anodized aluminum, to match the stainless barrel and frame. Don't know why though...as I believe they're both the same price... aluminum or blued.   Thanks again, I'll be happy to pay you for yours, if it comes to that. It was very nice of you to offer, but I was raised to pay my way, even though it is very generous of you to make the offer. Greatest people in the world own guns...and are on this site!

Cannoncocker, thanks for your reply. I have called Ruger, but it looked like I was going to be "on hold" for a long time... on my nickel, so I left a message. By the way, on the left side of my receiver it has RUGER in large letters...then, .22 cal. Long Rifle, then under that  -Mark lll Target-. And, the top of the receiver is drilled with three plug screws installed. I just think it is misleading to advertise a gun at a lower price than your competitors, and then accomplish that by removing the scope rail and mounting screws, or one of the mags, or possibly have a cheaper set of grips on it. Any vendor could do that...can you imagine your Chevy dealer asking if you would like to have tires and wheels with that model!   My Instruction Manual has the same instructions as yours... and my gun was built a couple of months ago...08-01-2013. Personally, I was just shopping for the best retail price, and didn't think I would have to give up a $25 scope rail to do it. I feel what was done was legal... but not very ethical...but, it's my fault I didn't notice it missing until after I got it home. Thus my rant..."Buyer Beware"! Academy Sports may not be the only one doing it... others probably do it too, sadly.

I'm not sure if this is the correct place for this thread or not. If not, moderators please move to the correct category. I looked at all the other headings, but none seemed to be specific to this thread. So, as it has to do with the purchase of a handgun, I'll post it here.   Yesterday, 09-26-13, I purchased a Ruger MK lll Hunter (all stainless) from Academy Sports in Smyrna. The price was told to me, by Dillon, over the phone as $549  on 09-25-13. I asked him to put it on hold for me until Friday 09-27-13, he cleared it with someone, and agreed. Something just made me think I had better pick the gun up yesterday, 09-26-13, which I did. Upon arriving, I found out my "on hold" Ruger MK lll Hunter was on display! Fortunately, for me, no one had bought it.   With the rush of others waiting, I failed to notice the scope rail and screws was missing from my gun box. After this discovery, i called Academy and talked to Ferris. Time passed, and he told me he couldn't confirm that a scope rail and screws came with my gun. He said if I could produce something in writing, they would see what they could do.   After mentioning my situation on this site, some responded that their Ruger MK lll Hunters came with a scope rail and screws. With this information, I decided to call back to Academy and tell them what people were saying... hoping it would fulfill that written requirement. I got Dillon, the initial person I had spoken with initially. Dillon, very quickly, told me that my gun did not come with a scope rail and screws, due to their price. Apparently, they remove items such as scope rails, mags, or whatever, to make their price more competitive! I'm glad the Honda dealer didn't leave the rear seat out of my car, in order to be competitive!   Bottom line... by the time a scope rail is purchased, and shipped, I'll be back to what others are selling the gun for! So much for a more attractive price! Abracadabra...which shell is the pea under! Think you're getting a great price... better carefully inventory your gun box...and "Buyer Beware"!

Hipower, according to Dillon at Academy Sports in Smyrna, the lower price means you're not getting something with your gun that everyone else is getting! Possibly one mag instead of two... in my case, the scope rail and screws were missing. So, are we really comparing apples to apples, when we compare Academy's price to others? Well, after I pay for the scope rail and screws, and have it shipped, their price might not be so good! Better inventory everything that "comes" with the gun, and then see if you're really getting a better deal! Buyer beware!

Jonnin, thanks for your input. It's always helpful to hear from people that actually own a certain gun, rather than someone that just has an opinion from reading about one. I bought the Ruger MK lll Hunter, in all stainless, yesterday at Academy Sports in Smyrna. It didn't come with a scope rail and screws... supposedly because their price was lower than some others. But... after you buy the scope rail, it won't be cheaper than others! I think Ruger lists them on their site for around $25, plus S&H.

PackinMama, thanks for the information. I hope a lot of the other Ruger MK lll "Hunter" owners will chime in to the affirmative on the scope rail coming with their guns. I spoke with Ferris at Academy, who said if I could show them something writing, they'd try to take care of it for me. He said he had gone to the Ruger website, and couldn't fine anything that said my gun came with a scope rail and screws. For the price, I thought a scope rail should be included in the box. If Academy won't help me, which they're not going to, unless I can produce something in writing, I'll have to count on Ruger to come through. Who did you talk to there...Customer Service? Thanks for your help. I'll give a field report on the gun after I shoot it.   My old eyes are tired... a friend told me they have the rear sight with the fiber optic light tubes... kinda like night sights on the Glocks. Might be a lot of help, coupled with the fiber optic front sight. Maybe you or someone else has one and can give us a report. Thanks again.

I will do. Haven't shot it yet... but plan to very soon. Some tell me that there's a rear sight with the FO sight tubes in it! Said you can use same colors as front sight, or different. I might have to check that out.

Thanks... Academy had it priced at $549.00, NIB. After I got home, I couldn't find the scope rail base and screws. Academy could not determine that one was supposed to come with it... but I think it does. Anyone else that has bought a new stainless steel MK lll Hunter on here? If so, did your's have a scope rail and screws? It's such an inexpensive item that I think Ruger puts one in the Ruger MK lll Hunter boxes. It has to be stainless to match the rest of the gun.

Graycrait, it's nice of you to post your friend's loss on here. Maybe the thieves will try to move the guns for cash, and your friend will be able to get them back. Hope so anyway. We need to bring back the "horse thief" law of the 1800s, and apply it to breaking into a man's (or woman's) home. I hope he get's his stuff back... especially his guns. Like someone else said...odds are it was someone that knew him, or someone that was told what he had in his house.

Thanks to all who who pitched in to help. Got a tip from a guy in the ammo line at Wal-Mart a couple of days ago about one that had just came in ro Academy Sports in Smyrna. I called and had the hold it for me. Picked it up this afternoon, and am very satisfied. It's the all stainless Ruger MK lll Hunter, with 6.78 fluted barrel and fiber optic sights. I'm "Happy - Happy - Happy"! Thanks again to all.

Very nice. I've been seeking out the Savage 24s for a number of years now. I have a few in various calibers/gauges, and like them very much. My latest quest is to find one in .22Hornet/20Gauge. I've been fortunate enough to have acquired the holy grail of Savage 24s...the Savage 24C...Campers Companion. I love these guns, and will remain in "hot pursuit" of that elusive Savage 24 chambered in .22Hornet/20Gauge.

Wow! Congrats on finding such a bargain. When a good gun can be bought at a good price... that's a win - win situation. I know your son will enjoy it. It's a shame you didn't take advantage of the deal for a 12 gauge for yourself.

They're all good. How do I know? Because the politicians hate them all... and, anything that the politicians hate, has to be good. Any opinions on the Romy "G" parts kits on here...from actual experience?

I have a Remington SPR 310 OU in 20 gauge and like it very much. This is a gun built by Baikal in Russia, and I feel it has good eye appeal. Also, there is a selection of extractors or ejectors, simply by turning the position of the screws on each barrel. It shoots 3" magnum shells. It's not a current production gun, but my guess is that there's probably one out there in the gauge that fits your needs.

I have a Kahr CM9 and pocket carry in a soft DeSantis holster. Obviously, it works great while standing, not so much while sitting and driving.

Not for me. Hope it comes with an original slide so it can be restored.

A Ruger MK lll Hunter, with an all stainless frame, a stainless 6.88" fluted barrel with the fiber optic front sight, LNIB...at a reasonable price. The ones on GB are asking ridiculous prices. 

What critter is less desirable than a snake, peejman? Let's see, in case one has you cornered...there's the Snake Charmer .410 single shot... and a Super Comanche that has chokes to shoot .45 L.C. / .410. The choke tube stops the bird shot from swirling as it exits the muzzle, for a much more even pattern. Lots of fun to shoot!

What position do you carry this in KahrMan? Is it comfortable? I have a Kahr CM9 that I right pocket carry in a soft DeSantis. I'd like alternate carry positions, especially while driving.

Ten four on that Tartanphantom! I'm not complaining, as a ride in the country is always relaxing to this ole country boy, that was raised on a farm, with game just out the back door. OK Corral would be worth the five bucks, if you only went out there and ate a sack lunch, and listened to the sounds from the woods. F...r...e...e...d...o...m! This my favorite of all the ranges I've been to. Hope it lasts forever.