Ruger Competition Target MKII questions...

[smong2000]

OK, now I'm hooked, just got my 1st Ruger MkII last week (10" SS Bull) and I'm already looking for another...
I have found a MK II Competition Target at a gunshop, problem is that someone cut the barrel down to about 4", very professionally with a nice crown.     Looks to be in good condition otherwise and comes with Laser grips (switch on side panel, not sure if it's a crimson trace) but no sights. 

Couple questions,

How difficult is it to change barrels (not entire upper, just the barrel) and how do you line it up properly?  I've done Savages before, nothing that needed alignment though.

What's the difference between the Target and Comp Target models?

How much would be reasonable $$ to put into this deal, with laser grips, no sights and a chopped down barrel?

Thanks Folks, and thanks for talking me out of cutting my 10" barrel. I posted this on Rimfire Central as well.

[Richard P]

I'm sure someone, probably at RimfireCentral, knows whether the Ruger barrel is pressed in or screwed in.  My guess is ''pressed in''.  But, if it were screwed into the reciever : Assuming you put in a new barrel and it did not index the front sight at 12:00.  Determine if your barrel is not up to 12 oclock; or is past 12 oclock.  If it turned past you'd have to determine how much to add thread to the barrel to make it almost turn in another complete turn. Then you (your 'smith) are into trimming the breech of the barrel and correcting the chamber depth.
   I'd suspect the more likely scenario is that it stopped turning short of 12 oclock.  So, now it is a matter of taking metal off a shoulder that meets the reciever so the sight is vertical and the headspace is proper.
    Maybe this will get you started.  rp

[Richard P]

  I'm going to add a bit that I learned a few years ago on indexing a rifle barrel.  The barrel stopped short of indexing at vertical.  I knew metal would need to be removed-----but, how much ?   The answer is in the pitch of the threads.  Knowing (or measuring) that the pitch was 1 in 14, it takes 14 turns to move one inch. So one turn moved 1/14th of an inch or .0714285 or .0714 inch.  We didnt need to move one turn, so dividing by 360 (degrees in a circle) said we would have to remove .0001983 to move the barrel one degree.  Now you'd need to determine how many degrees you are out from vertical.  if it is 15deg  you'd have to remove .00297 or right at 3/1000 inch.  (Someone please verify the calculations----dont trust mine.)
    This is the mechanics of the process.  It's important if you have to index a front sight and be careful of a pre-cut extractor recess. rp

[Savage]

Smong,
The upper receiver on your Ruger is the barrel. It's all one piece. Tactical Solutions sells uppers for your pistol. You can go long, short, threaded, red, blue, purple, green, or even black. Just decide what you want and go for it!
Savage

[Dand]

I believe Volquartson used to make aftermarket barrels for the mark II. They probably have instructions for how to remove and install the barrels. YOu might google search for their website.

[Savage]

Yep, Volquartsen also makes aftermarket uppers for the Ruger Mk pistols. Again, the barrel and the upper receiver are one piece. Take the old upper off, put the new one on. No fitting or tools required. A two minute job if you're clumsy.
Savage

[smong2000]

Thanks guys,  I was in touch with Nic from Volquartzen, very good guy.  The factory barrel does in fact screw off the receiver but it's pretty much a gunsmith job to index the sight and ramp for each barrel to your receiver by turning off some of the barrel shoulder unless you get very lucky. VQ sells the Ruger take-off barrels and said they will remove your old barrel and install the new (take-off) Ruger barrel for $50 plus the cost of the barrel.  Of course they make a way better one piece integrated upper (receiver and barrel) with alloy but apparently also offer their own top shelf barrels on a Ruger receiver and that's where the take-offs come from. 
The upper changeover is very simple as you say.  I think once you have barrels indexed to a specific receiver, all you need is a good barrel vice and you can loosen the lock-tight and switch barrels back and forth as well.
smong

[Savage]

As inexpensive as complete uppers are from Tactical Solutions, and given how simple it would be to change uppers back and forth, don't see any advantage to removing and installing barrels on an upper even if could be done at home. Different strokes I guess. If Volquartsen will install a "Take Off" barrel on your upper for $50 plus the cost of the barrel, that might be cheaper than buying an upper------not sure. Just depends on what you want. Good luck on your project.
Savage

[OLDHandgunner]

smong,
I converted one of my Ruger auto's over to a Tactical Solution 6" fluted ( black & silver ). I had them install a sighted rail mount for me. Now I can shoot it with open sights or as I have it now with a Red Dot. Not only does it look super, it is very, very accurate and it seems to weigh about 1/2 of what the factory gun weighed.

[Tom C.]

You could always call the factory and see what they would charge for a new barrel fitted to your gun. I have a MK II678GC and it is one of the most accurate .22s I have seen. I put a little red dot holo sight on mine to take advantage of the accuracy.