Posted: 12/15/2009 10:09:16 AM EDT
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After using my new MkIII 22/45 I was disappointed. The magazines would not drop free, the slide stop did not release when I sling shot the slide and the magazine had to be inserted and removed repeatedly to allow disassembly. After internet searches, I found several solutions to improve it and remove useless safeties. Yes, to me they are useless. I treat all guns loaded and when I am not using them, I lock them in a secure metal box.
I removed the magazine safety by replacing the hammer bushing with a $6 aftermarket one from Midway. Next I removed the internal lock in the mainspring housing and the LCI metal tab on the receiver. Last, I removed the detent for the slide lock to allow it to move freely. I was not happy with this last mod. There were some reports of the slide lock not working reliably by only removing the detent. I brainstormed a better solution to the slide lock. Ruger left space between the slide lock and frame, a perfect place for a spring. After a little research on springs, I found a small coil spring would work, if in compression. I ordered stainless 0.031 spring steel wire ($10 for 100 ft.). I drilled the frame and the slide release and tested it with several prototype springs. It worked great. I made several springs trying to perfect the shape until I was confident I had flawless design. After testing, all the modifications worked flawless. I am now happy with how it functions. New Hammer Bushing 
Missing LCI Tab 
Mainspring Housing without Internal Lock 
Slide Lock with Spring (Note the hole in the slide lock) 
Slide Lock with Spring Top View 
Slide Lock Spring hole in Frame (Center of photo) 
Slide Lock Spring (one of the prototypes) 
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Quoted:
Nice write-up and pics. What's involved in removing the internal lock from the MSH? I'm thinking about doing this to mine. Remove the pivot pin that holds the bolt stop pin to the mainspring housing with a brass punch. It is the top right pin in the photo. Next remove the roll pin in the main spring housing with a roll pin punch. the roll pin was in the empty hole towards the top right of the photo. The small spring and plunger that hold the lock screw from turning out can now be removed through the bore the roll pin blocked. You can see this hole in the photo where it goes through the two empty holes where the lock screw and roll pin were. Use the lock key to unscrew the lock screw completely from the mainspring housing. Finally, replace the bolt stop pin with its pivot pin, using a brass punch. Discard the roll pin, spring, plunger and lock screw. |