Ruger Mk II tapered barrel threading options?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Ruger Mk II tapered barrel threading options?

Posted: 10/31/2020 10:26:57 AM EDT

I've got a Ruger MkII with a tapered 6" barrel. It has fixed iron sights.

I've got a suppressor on order (dead air mask), and am looking into options for threading it.

I want to keep the irons.

The gun has a lot of sentimental value, but I am not shooting any more unsuppressed for my ears sake.

Can I tap your knowledge for this?

1) Get the barrel threaded and the front sight moved back. It is my understanding that the tapered barrel makes this more difficult. I am also very concerned about the front sight getting out of alignment when it is moved back. I am not sure if there is anyone near qualified to do this. Is there anyone that you all could recommend that would do a good job with this?

2) Buy a new upper with threads. Looks like this would run about $250+ for the pac-lite upper. I did hear it has an aluminium breech face which is more prone to wear. The VOLQUARTSEN ones have a steel breechface and run around $445, which is a lot.

3) DAQ muzzle coupling. Cheap & scary. It sounds this could be either great or a disaster, if the bore is not aligned to the threads.

4) Buy a new gun. Not too enthused about this.

Posted: 10/31/2020 10:36:33 AM EDT

[#1]

Posted: 10/31/2020 12:19:28 PM EDT

[#2]

Buy a take off upper from Volquartsen

Thread it.

Posted: 10/31/2020 12:32:34 PM EDT

[#3]

I’d just find another upper or gun. Which gun is it exactly? The valuable piece on the MKII and III seems to be the lower so you could sell it but most people end up not wanting to swap uppers around.

You won’t have an issue with the Tac-Sol upper. If you are truly the 1% high volume shooter and you damage it I bet they’d take care of you.

Quoted:
@eastTXHunter

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Last I heard he wasn’t messing with sights.

Posted: 10/31/2020 2:02:16 PM EDT

[#4]

Oregon Percision Arms did mine. Carbon fiber tensioned barrel etc. It’s one of my favorite guns now, way better than the OEM tapered barrel. I’m not sure if David retired yet or not.

Posted: 10/31/2020 2:27:41 PM EDT

[#5]

Have a front sight dovetail cut into the front of the receiver. Any competent machinist can do that. Keyword is competent, and competent means busy, busy means not cheap. Better off with a production-made solution, in my opinion.

Posted: 10/31/2020 2:35:40 PM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
Buy a take off upper from Volquartsen

Thread it.

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OP has a MKII, those VQ uppers are for a MK IV so it won't work.

I had my MKIV threaded by D.Wilson Mfg. and I'm really happy with it. He moves front sights from the bull barrels. Might reach out to him and ask if he moves taper barrel front sights. He does great work.

Posted: 10/31/2020 5:06:16 PM EDT

[#7]

I was in the same boat. Bought a Mk IV Lite and kept classic Mk II gun in classic condition.

Posted: 10/31/2020 5:45:11 PM EDT

[#8]

While it is possible to relocate the front sight, the barrel has to be cut off behind the sight band, and then the band bored out and pressed on behind the tenon. Barrel gets a good bit shorter, and the step from the taper up to the band doesn't look right anymore.

If I wanted a tapered barrel Mk II suppressed, I would thread in internally and make a male-male adapter like I do for the Beretta 71s and some other .22 & .32 cal pistols.

Posted: 10/31/2020 5:45:43 PM EDT

[#9]

Someone was asking what my gun looks like.

It is the same model in the below link (not my gun):

Image of a similar pistol

Posted: 10/31/2020 5:47:59 PM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:

If I wanted a tapered barrel Mk II suppressed, I would thread in internally and make a male-male adapter like I do for the Beretta 71s and some other .22 & .32 cal pistols.

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Who does this for a ruger mkII?

Posted: 10/31/2020 5:51:40 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
Someone was asking what my gun looks like.

It is the same model in the below link (not my gun):

Image of a similar pistol

View Quote

That’s how mine started.
If I were you I’d just cut it all the way back and get a red dot. Looks almost integral that way.

Getting the receiver tapped for a rail was cheap while I had my barrel work done.

Posted: 10/31/2020 5:52:26 PM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:

Who does this for a ruger mkII?

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He does. https://www.ar15.com/forums/Armory/ECCO-Machine-and-Fabrication-Silencer-Mount-Conversions/20-502349/

Posted: 10/31/2020 6:04:19 PM EDT

[#13]

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Quoted:

Who does this for a ruger mkII?

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I can do it on any .22 barrel that will support at least 11/32 internal threads.

Posted: 10/31/2020 7:14:38 PM EDT

[#14]

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Quoted:

I can do it on any .22 barrel that will support at least 11/32 internal threads.

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I don't know anything about gunsmithing.

How would I know if my pistol will support the internal threads?

Posted: 11/1/2020 7:17:29 PM EDT

[#15]

I'm taking another look at the Pac-Lite upper.

Anyone have any more thoughts about getting it threaded v/ the Pac-Lite?

I am especially thinking about reliability.

Posted: 11/1/2020 7:23:41 PM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:
I'm taking another look at the Pac-Lite upper.

Anyone have any more thoughts about getting it threaded v/ the Pac-Lite?

I am especially thinking about reliability.

View Quote

What reliability concerns do you have? Just make sure you price the Paclite vs a whole gun. I love my paclite and have had no issues with it. They have been building Ruger uppers for a long time. 15+ years at this point I think.

Posted: 11/1/2020 7:59:17 PM EDT

[#17]

My stock Ruger is pretty reliable.

I have read reports that the paclite may not be as reliable, require more cleaning, etc.

I would like to know if it is true or not.

It looks like a pac-lite is about $240 plus transfer now.

Posted: 11/1/2020 9:52:26 PM EDT

[#18]

Mine has never had an issue. I used it in steel matches for a little while. I have a bunch of guns so none a lot of rounds but I bet it's had a few thousand through it with no issues. I don't do heavy cleaning or anything weird on any of my guns. Rimfires just get a bore snake at the start of the day and at the end.

I don't know which model you are looking at but it looks like Grabagun has several PAC-LITE uppers in stock starting under $220. I don't know how your local availability is but I've picked up several Mark II and III guns under $250 locally.
https://grabagun.com/bsearch/result/index/?p=1&q=pac-lite

Posted: 11/1/2020 11:36:11 PM EDT

[#19]

Where do you buy grip frames?

Posted: 11/1/2020 11:49:15 PM EDT

[#20]

If the gun hold sedimental value just leave it alone.

A pack lite upper changes so much of the gun, it's not the same gun anymore.

Also getting one is the same process as getting a whole new gun. So you might as well get a new gun.

Posted: 11/2/2020 12:43:31 AM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:
Where do you buy grip frames?

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Volquartsen makes high end grip frames but they're more money than a whole Ruger. If you want a Ruger grip frame your choices are to buy a gun and sell off the upper or buy one from one of the few companies that part out guns the problem being that the grip frames cost almost as much as a cheap gun because that's where the value is on these.

Posted: 11/2/2020 10:30:54 AM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
If the gun hold sedimental value just leave it alone.

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I can't shoot unsuppressed anymore due to health reasons (hyperacusis).

The gun is useless to me as is.

Posted: 11/2/2020 12:02:09 PM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:

I can't shoot unsuppressed anymore due to health reasons (hyperacusis).

The gun is useless to me as is.

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
If the gun hold sedimental value just leave it alone.

I can't shoot unsuppressed anymore due to health reasons (hyperacusis).

The gun is useless to me as is.

That sucks. Definitely changes things.

Posted: 11/2/2020 1:14:55 PM EDT

[#24]

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Quoted:

I don't know anything about gunsmithing.

How would I know if my pistol will support the internal threads?

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I'm not comfortable with a wall thickness of less than .030" at thread roots for internal threads in pistol barrels. 11/32-40 2B threads have a max major diameter of .3515", so the barrel needs to have an OD not smaller than .412".

In the case of the Ruger Mk series tapered barrels, the barrel band/sight base is machined into the barrel, and all but the last couple of threads are inside that. Its been awhile since I've had one here, but if memory serves, they're just over 1/2".

Posted: 11/2/2020 2:26:36 PM EDT

[#25]

Quote History

Quoted:

I can't shoot unsuppressed anymore due to health reasons (hyperacusis).

The gun is useless to me as is.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
If the gun hold sedimental value just leave it alone.

I can't shoot unsuppressed anymore due to health reasons (hyperacusis).

The gun is useless to me as is.

Sentimental value /= useless IMHO.

What is the sentiment? The serial number? are the aesthetics the relevant piece of the puzzle or is it the feeling you get when you open the safe and think about that person or time?

It’s what, a $300 gun? Make it a wall hanger and buy a purpose built suppressor host

Posted: 11/2/2020 6:18:47 PM EDT

[#26]

You will be better off just buying a new Ruger with a threaded barrel.

Unless you really want a Pac Lite upper.

Tactical Solutions do make good barrels.

Posted: 11/4/2020 9:21:44 AM EDT

[#27]

Quote History

Quoted:
I'm not comfortable with a wall thickness of less than .030" at thread roots for internal threads in pistol barrels. 11/32-40 2B threads have a max major diameter of .3515", so the barrel needs to have an OD not smaller than .412".

In the case of the Ruger Mk series tapered barrels, the barrel band/sight base is machined into the barrel, and all but the last couple of threads are inside that. Its been awhile since I've had one here, but if memory serves, they're just over 1/2".

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Listen carefully to whatever this man says.

Posted: 11/4/2020 1:35:38 PM EDT

[#28]

Quote History

Quoted:
I would thread in internally and make a male-male adapter like I do for the Beretta 71s and some other .22 & .32 cal pistols.

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Pic of that work?

Posted: 11/4/2020 1:43:50 PM EDT

[#29]

Sixtysixdeuce- are you a licensed gunsmith? If so, how much would you charge for threading the barrel, and adding an adapter for a Dead Air Mask suppressor?

I am learning a lot from this thread.

Posted: 11/4/2020 1:47:51 PM EDT

[#30]

Quote History

Quoted:
Sixtysixdeuce- are you a licensed gunsmith? If so, how much would you charge for threading the barrel, and adding an adapter for a Dead Air Mask suppressor?

I am learning a lot from this thread.

View Quote

This thread is all about his work.

https://www.ar15.com/forums/Armory/ECCO-Machine-and-Fabrication-Silencer-Mount-Conversions/20-502349/

For reference he internally threaded my 81BB and provided an adapter. I want to say it was $125 total shipped back to me. This pricing may not apply to your specific case but Ecco is fairly priced IMO from all the work I've seen.