At the shooting range, my idea of fun is drilling holes side-by-side in my targets and right on top of each other. You, too? Then you need to take a look at the Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite rimfire pistol.
If the shooter is capable, this lightweight, semi-automatic .22LR pistol will peg five shot groups well under an inch, all day, as I did with multiple brands of .22LR ammunition. Target shooting, knocking over empty beer cans or taking on local varmint and small game populations: the Mark IV 22/45 Lite can do all that, at rimfire ammo prices.
It’s even suppressor-ready and ran great with my SilencerCo Switchback rimfire suppressor attached. The pistol had zero malfunctions in more than 300 rounds fired, and came equipped with features that made this time-tested rimfire pistol platform a real pleasure to shoot.
The original Ruger 22/45 was released back in 1992 as a variation of the then current Ruger Mark II pistol line. It had a lightweight polymer frame and an 18-degree grip angle that mimics the feel of a 1911 for folks who didn’t like the Mark series’ more Luger-style grip. It also had a magazine release on the left side of the frame — a location more familiar to 1911 shooters, and its distinctive lightweight aluminum receiver.
When Ruger made its big overhaul update to the Mark pistol series in 2016, the company also updated the 22/45 and introduced the new Mark IV 22/45 Lite.
New Additions to the Mark IV 22/45 Lite Lineup
Ruger recently launched two new version of the 22/45 Lite. One, like the gun I tested, features a black receiver and black grip panels paired with a gold trigger and a gold barrel. The other new version sports a champagne-colored receiver, black grip panels, and a black trigger.
The Mark IV 22/45 Lite is relatively light, weighing just 25 ounces unloaded, in part due to its ventilated, aerospace-grade aluminum receiver. At 8.4-inches in overall length, the pistol still sports a 4.4-inch tensioned, stainless steel barrel, threaded at 1/2"-28 for direct mounting of a suppressor.
The checkered, 1911-style grip panels not only look good; the rubberized panels provide a comfortable hold, and the 1911 grip angle makes the Mark IV point oh so nicely. Checkering along the metal frontstrap and backstrap only increased my hand’s solid hold on the pistol.
The pistol features an ambidextrous manual safety. As a second safety device, a magazine disconnect prevents discharge when the magazine has been removed.
The other controls include a slide catch located at the top left of the left grip panel and a push-button magazine release on the frame’s left side. A spring in the grip ensures the 10-round magazines (it ships with two) ejects positively with a press of that release.
The gold-colored trigger broke at a steady 2 pounds, 2 ounces, and the serrated trigger face provided great purchase for the pad of my trigger finger.
Getting Range Ready: Optic and Suppressor
TheMark IV’s adjustable rear sight and the fixed front post created a good sight picture., but the pistol is built with 4 inches of Picatinny rail atop the barrel that was just begging for an optic.
I mounted a RFX 45 closed emitter reflex optic from Viridian Weapon Technologies. Viridian designs and builds reflex optics featuring green illumination, and green dots show up tight and precise for my eyes, whereas red dots tend to flare for me (and other with an astigmatism).
The RFX 45 features a 5-MOA green-dot reticle, precise controls, and multi-coated lenses for sharp images. The RFX 45 housing is machined from 6061 aluminum, and Viridian rated battery life at 50,000 hours for one CR2032 lithium battery.
I’ve run the RFX 45 with carbines, pistols, and shotguns and it’s always zeroed quickly, held zero and never failed.
The Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite at the Range
Atmy outdoor shooting range, I first ran the Mark IV un-suppressed with Remington’s new Standard Velocity .22 LR. I shot from 12 yards and a rest and got the RFX 45 zeroed within my first magazine.
Next, I shot offhand at 5 and 7 yards using the Remington Standard V .22LR ammo plus Winchester Wildcat and CCI Clean-22 High Velocity. I had little problem putting five shots at under 1.0-inches with both brands of ammunition.
But that threaded barrel was calling to me, and I soon added my Switchback rimfire suppressor made by SilencerCo. Modular and lightweight, the Switchback offers three different length options and four possible configurations.
In addition to .22 LR, this can also works with firearms chambered in .22 WMR, .22 Hornet, .17 HMR, .17 WSM, and 5.7 x 28mm firearms. The Switchback is pistol optimized right out of the box.
The suppressor muted the already-minimal .22 LR recoil to a minor pulse, and people 20 yards away at my outdoor range told me my pistol sounded like cans of soda pop being opened.
With the Switchback in place, I ran the pistol with CCI Clean-22 High Velocity and CCI Suppressor Max ammo, plus Winchester’s Super Suppressed. Shooting at 12 yards from a rest, the five-shot groups were impressive, including:
CCI Clean-22: a 0.45 and a 0.60-inch group
CCI Suppressor Max: Two 0.60-inch groups (one of which was seven shots)
Winchester Super Suppressed: Two groups at 0.80-inches
After Action Report
After some 300 rounds of .22LR, most of it fired with the suppressor, the pistol was very much in need of a cleaning, which showed off another fine feature of the Mark IV Lit: one-button takedown.
To disassemble the pistol, you only have to remove the magazine, clear the chamber, put the manual safety on, and press the takedown button just below the rear bolt handle. The receiver will release from the frame at the rear, and it simply pivots off. From there, you can remove the bolt and access the bore for cleaning.
Easy! And about as close to a “fun” gun cleaning as I’ve ever experienced.
Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite Specs
Caliber: .22LR
Capacity: 10+1
Action: Semi-Automatic
Barrel: 4.4 inches
OA Length: 8.4 inches
Finish: Black Anodized
Weight: 25 ounces
Sights: Adj. Rear, Fixed Front
Optic Ready: Yes
Grips: Polymer
MSRP: $739
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