So, you're looking at the Ruger Mark IV 22/45 and wondering if it's actually worth the hype or just another rimfire pistol taking up shelf space. Honestly, I’ve seen a lot of people get confused by the naming alone. Is it a Mark IV? Is it a 22/45? Basically, it's both. Ruger took the legendary internal bolt design of their standard Mark series and slapped it onto a frame that feels like a 1911.
If you've ever spent a Saturday afternoon struggling to reassemble an old Mark III—sweating, swearing, and watching YouTube tutorials at 0.5x speed—you already know why the Mark IV exists. They fixed the "puzzle box" takedown. Now, there’s just a single button. You press it, the barrel tilts up, and the whole thing comes apart like a dream. It's almost too easy.
The 1911 Connection
The "45" in the name isn't about the caliber. Don't go trying to shove .45 ACP rounds into this thing. It’s still a .22 LR. The name refers to the grip angle.
Standard Ruger Mark IV pistols have a very "luger-style" aggressive rake to the grip. Some people love it. I think it feels a bit like pointing a kitchen utensil. The Ruger Mark IV 22/45 uses a polymer grip frame that mimics the exact 10-degree angle of a classic 1911 government model.
For guys who carry a full-sized 1911 or even a modern polymer 9mm, the 22/45 is the perfect trainer. The muscle memory transfers almost perfectly. You've got the same thumb safety location, the same mag release, and that slim, vertical feel in the palm. It’s light, too. Since the frame is polymer rather than stainless steel, the weight drops significantly, making it a favorite for long days at the range or carrying it through the woods for some casual plinking.
Why Mark 4 22 45 Still Matters
In a world of tactical plastic and "tacticool" accessories, the Mark 4 22 45 (or Mark IV 22/45, depending on how you like to type it) remains the gold standard for rimfire reliability.
Why? Because the bolt is internal.
Unlike a Glock 44 or a Sig P322 where the entire slide moves back and forth, the Ruger uses a cylindrical bolt that moves inside a fixed receiver. This means your sights never move. When you fire, the red dot or iron sights stay exactly where you put them. It makes follow-up shots incredibly fast.
I’ve seen guys at Steel Challenge matches absolutely shredding targets with these. If you're into competitive shooting or just want to beat your buddies in a friendly "hit the soda can" contest, this is the tool you want.
Versatility and the "Lite" Versions
You’ll often see people debating between the standard "Tactical" model and the "Lite" model.
- The Tactical: Usually comes with a heavy bull barrel. It feels substantial. It’s threaded for a suppressor, which is basically mandatory these days if you want to have real fun.
- The Lite: This one has a thin steel liner inside a ventilated aluminum shroud. It’s incredibly light—almost like a toy—but it’s surprisingly accurate.
If you're buying this for a kid or someone with smaller hands, go for the Lite. If you want something that feels like a "real" gun with a bit of heft, stick to the Tactical. Both versions of the Ruger Mark IV 22/45 come with Picatinny rails on top and often on the bottom too.
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You can put a light on it. You can put a massive 5-MOA red dot on it. You can even put a compensator on the end if you want to look like you're in a sci-fi movie. It's a modular platform.
What the Bible Has to Say (Sort of)
Now, weirdly enough, if you search for "Mark 4 22 45," you might stumble upon some theological discussions. Mark 4:22 in the Bible says, "For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be brought to light." It’s a bit of a coincidence, but it actually fits the gun. For years, the "hidden" nightmare of the Ruger Mark series was the reassembly process. It was a secret known only to the most patient gunsmiths. With the Mark IV, Ruger finally "brought the solution to light."
They stopped hiding the mechanism behind a complicated latch system and gave us the one-button takedown. It’s a bit of a stretch, I know, but hey, if you’re a fan of both firearms and scripture, there’s your Sunday morning connection.
Performance in the Real World
I’ve put thousands of rounds through these. Not exaggerating.
The biggest issue with any .22 is ammo sensitivity. The Ruger Mark IV 22/45 is better than most, but it still prefers high-velocity stuff. If you try to run super-cheap, dirty bulk ammo, you’re going to get some failures to eject. It's just the nature of the beast.
But if you feed it CCI Mini-Mags or even Federal AutoMatch, it’ll run until the gun is literally black with carbon.
The magazines are also built like tanks. They’re steel, single-stack, and hold 10 rounds. People complain that they should hold 15 or 20, but the 10-rounders are incredibly reliable. They don't jam, and they're easy to load thanks to the little button on the side that lets you compress the spring.
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Making It Your Own
If you get bored with the stock version, the aftermarket for this pistol is insane.
- Volquartsen: They make a "Black Mamba" upper and trigger kits that turn this into a world-class race gun.
- Tandemkross: If you want "go-fast" parts like larger mag releases or "halo" charging rings, they’re the go-to.
- Hogue: Their rubberized grips for the 22/45 frame make the gun feel like it's glued to your hand.
Most people start with a red dot. A simple Holosun or Vortex Venom transforms the shooting experience. Instead of squinting at iron sights, you just put the red dot on the target and squeeze. It feels like cheating.
The Bottom Line
Whether you're looking at the Ruger Mark IV 22/45 for training, competition, or just because you want a reliable way to turn money into noise, you can't really go wrong here. It’s the most user-friendly version of the most successful rimfire pistol ever made.
Just remember to clean it occasionally. Even with the one-button takedown, it still needs some oil and a quick wipe-down every few hundred rounds.
To get the most out of your new pistol, start by picking up a few extra magazines—ten rounds go fast when you're having fun. Then, look into a basic red dot sight to truly unlock the accuracy potential of that fixed-barrel design. Once you have the basics down, consider a trigger upgrade like the Volquartsen Accurizing Kit to bring the pull weight down to a crisp, match-grade level.