Sturm, Ruger & Company Inc has announced the addition of three new pistols to the Mark IV .22LR line of rimfire handguns.
First up is the Mark IV Tactical, which, as it sounds, is covered in rails. The pistol features a stout 4.4" bull barrel witha 1/2"-28 thread pattern for attaching a suppressor.
It also comes with fully adjustable sights and factory-installed upper and lower Picatinny rails to allow for the mounting of weapon lights, laser sights, optics and other accessories. MSRP: $569.
The second new entry in the Mark IV line is a throwback to the pistol's roots. The New Mark IV Standard model features a tapered barrel and a natural pointing grip, much like the Ruger Standard pistol, which first hit the market back in 1949. The new Standard is offered in both 4.75-inch and 6-inch barrel lengths with fixed sights. Both have an MSRP of $449.
Both new models, like the rest of the Mark IV line, feature a one-piece, precision CNC-machined grip frame and the one-button takedown that is the disctictive feature of the Mark IV family. They also feature an ambidextrous manual safety and a redesigned bolt stop for more ergonomic operation. Thanks to the addition of a spring, the magazines reliably drop free for faster reloads and a redesigned magazine disconnect prevents the pistol from firing without a magazine inserted.
Each Mark IV ships with two 10-round magazines—the pistols will also accept Mark III magazines and many Mark III accessories, though grips made for previous models will not fit the Mark IV pistols.
The Mark IV first hit the web in late 2016 and was formally introduced at the 2017 SHOT Show, making quite a splash by eliminating the difficult disassembly process that plagued the Mark III pistols and marking the most significant redesign of the company's first flagship pistol since it was introduced in the the 1940s.
In June of this year, Ruger [issued a recall on all Mark IV pistols](have the potential to discharge unintentionally if the safety is not utilized correctly” and are being recalled for a retrofit including a new safety and sear.) sold prior due to "the potential to discharge unintentionally if the safety is not utilized correctly.” The company retrofitted all pistols with a new safety and sear and threw in a free 10-round magazines as well.
