Ruger Mark IV Standard .22 LR
Model: 40105
Ruger Mark IV Standard .22 LR
Model: 40105
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
The Ruger Mark IV Standard is the gun that defined what a .22 LR target pistol looks like. Ruger has been building the Mark series since 1951 — Mark I to II to III to IV — and the Standard with a 6" barrel is the configuration that most people picture when they picture the line. The Mark IV's big improvement over its predecessor is a single button at the back of the frame that drops the entire upper assembly out for cleaning. Owners who suffered through the Mark III disassembly puzzle describe it as a genuine quality-of-life upgrade.
At 30.1 oz with a 6" barrel, this is a deliberate target shooter's gun, not a plinker you throw in a range bag. The weight keeps muzzle flip minimal on .22 LR and the 6" barrel wrings out every bit of velocity the cartridge offers. The fixed sights are adequate for casual use, but most serious shooters add an aftermarket rear sight or a red dot. Compared to the Browning Buck Mark Standard URX at 34 oz, the Mark IV is noticeably lighter; the S&W SW22 Victory at 36 oz is heavier still. Before adding anything else, pick up a magazine speed loader — the Mark IV's mag spring is stiff and loading 10 rounds bare-handed gets old fast.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- The one-button takedown is a genuine improvement over earlier Mark models — drop the upper, clean it, reassemble in under two minutes without consulting a diagram.
- Largest .22 LR target pistol aftermarket available. Volquartsen, Clark, and Tandemkross make complete trigger kits, barrel replacements, and grip frames that fit the Mark IV without machining.
- The traditional Ruger grip frame is widely preferred over the polymer 22/45-style frame for extended target sessions — less hand fatigue at high round counts.
- Fixed sights on the standard model. The S&W SW22 Victory ships with adjustable fiber optic sights — a real gap if you plan to shoot at varied distances.
- The stock trigger pull is widely reported at around 4 lbs but with significant creep. Most serious Mark IV owners spend on a Volquartsen target trigger before doing anything else.
Category Rankings
How the Ruger Mark IV Standard .22 LR ranks among full-size .22 LR handguns.
Compare Ruger Mark IV Standard .22 LR
See how the Ruger Mark IV Standard .22 LR stacks up against similar firearms.
Where to Buy
No prices available at this time.
Alternatives to Consider
Similar full-size .22 LR handguns ranked by similarity.
| NAME | BEST PRICE |
|---|---|
|
Browning Buck Mark Standard URX .22 LR
Browning
|
— |
|
Smith & Wesson SW22 Victory .22 LR
Smith & Wesson
|
— |
|
Heritage Rough Rider .22 LR
Heritage Manufacturing
|
— |
|
Taurus TX22 Competition .22 LR
Taurus
|
— |
|
Taurus TX22 .22 LR
Taurus
|
— |
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the first upgrade most Mark IV Standard owners make?
Community consensus points to the Volquartsen Target Trigger, which runs $120–180 depending on configuration. It replaces the stock trigger and sear with tighter-tolerance parts, cutting the take-up and lightening the pull to around 2.25 lbs. Most owners report it transforms the feel of the gun more than any other single change. A magazine speed loader (around $10–15) is worth buying the same day you take the gun home — the stock spring is stiff enough that loading 10 rounds repeatedly gets physically fatiguing.
Does the Mark IV use the same magazines as the Mark II and Mark III?
No. Ruger redesigned the magazine for the Mark IV and the older Mark II and III magazines are not compatible. Mark IV magazines are available in 10-round versions from Ruger directly. Third-party options from ProMag exist but owner reports on reliability are mixed — the factory Ruger magazines are the safer choice.
