Anyone done the Volquartsen kits themselves?

[charlessummers]

I think I'm going to do this to my MkIII... but was wondering if I can do this myself? I'm pretty handy with a pair of pliers , and know my way around my pistol fairly well, but I've never done anything that seems this involved. My worries are little springs shooting across the room as I'm disassembling. Are my worries justified?

[graycrait]

I've done it roughly 10-12 times. The key issues are:

1) getting rid of the mag release - what where those guys thinking? What a stupid piece of equipment.

2) but in a MKIII you have to have something to take up the space when you toss the mag release and that is easily and cheaply done buy replacing the mag release with MKII bushing. A Canadian made Sams bushing is better but harder to get - sort of.

3) the Safety detent ball and spring can go flying (sort of) and to prevent that it is easiest to jam one of those wedge shaped pencil erasers that go over the top of a wooden pencil in that space to hold the safety lever and detent in while you futz with the sear and trigger bar.

4) the trigger bar plunger and spring can fall out and often do if you don't have the frame/receiver in a vice at a slightly downward attitude.

It generally it takes me 10 minutes or so to replace the stock MKIII stuff with a: MKII bushing, VQ sear and VQ or stock MKIII hammer along with the new plunger and spring. You can also take a Dremel with felt pad or Craytex bits and polish all friction points, which takes another 10 to 15 minutes. This ain't gunsmithing. It is simple armorer's work that anyone can do if they have some patience, a flat surface to work on and good light.

I tell folks that for about 55.00 worth of Volquartsen parts and 30 minutes you can take a 300.00 Ruger MKIII or II and have it shoot with any $1,000.00 .22 pistol. Why Ruger doesn't do the work to make their triggers & actions world class is beyond me, but Volquartsen and Clark must be happy that Ruger does not.

[gnmwilliams]

I've done it roughly 10-12 times. The key issues are:

1) getting rid of the mag release - what where those guys thinking? What a stupid piece of equipment.

2) but in a MKIII you have to have something to take up the space when you toss the mag release and that is easily and cheaply done buy replacing the mag release with MKII bushing. A Canadian made Sams bushing is better but harder to get - sort of.

3) the Safety detent ball and spring can go flying (sort of) and to prevent that it is easiest to jam one of those wedge shaped pencil erasers that go over the top of a wooden pencil in that space to hold the safety lever and detent in while you futz with the sear and trigger bar.

4) the trigger bar plunger and spring can fall out and often do if you don't have the frame/receiver in a vice at a slightly downward attitude.

It generally it takes me 10 minutes or so to replace the stock MKIII stuff with a: MKII bushing, VQ sear and VQ or stock MKIII hammer along with the new plunger and spring. You can also take a Dremel with felt pad or Craytex bits and polish all friction points, which takes another 10 to 15 minutes. This ain't gunsmithing. It is simple armorer's work that anyone can do if they have some patience, a flat surface to work on and good light.

I tell folks that for about 55.00 worth of Volquartsen parts and 30 minutes you can take a 300.00 Ruger MKIII or II and have it shoot with any $1,000.00 .22 pistol. Why Ruger doesn't do the work to make their triggers & actions world class is beyond me, but Volquartsen and Clark must be happy that Ruger does not.

This ^^^ Mine shoots like a dream though after I replaced my trigger and sear. Plus it's very good education. Good luck!

[red dirt]

I just read about those mods yesterday, it seems that the MKIII grips are out of stock everywhere. I'd love to do these to my MKIII 22/45 if I could find the parts.

[mav]

I've done it. It isn't all that bad.

[charlessummers]

Ok... placing the order for the parts tonight. Depending on the shipping times, I should be shooting by next weekend and will run here if I have any problems since "you talked me into it!".

I think I'm going to add a reflex, or red dot sight as well.

[mav]

This is the site I used when I first started tinkering with my Mark III. It has some nice detailed pictures.

Real Guns - Trigger Tweaking Ruger's Mark III Target Pistol

[j2flan]

sg552.2@gmail.com contact for the SAM LAM bushing. Just put one in my MK111. Sam is a great guy and will let you know when he gets the $10 from you and when he sends the bushing. It took 10 days and the bushing was perfect as was the fit. Go to detailstrip for a little extra help a first time detail-strip. I lost the safety plunger in the carpet, got with a magnet and some luck.

GO SLOW

[crossfire]

VQ mark III trigger kit + mark II bushing and a Bushnell TRS-25 mini red dot. This web site is a big help detailstrip