The Ruger 22/45 is an excellent hunting, target practice, and self-defense weapon. Furthermore, regardless of how you shoot, it feels great in your hands. However, it does have certain limitations that you should be aware of before purchasing.
Failure to feed, barrel heating up, failure to eject, jamming, and magazine problem are all possibilities. Apart from that, you should not be concerned because additional concerns are uncommon.
In this piece, I’ll go through the Ruger 22/45 issues in greater depth. I’ll even provide a few solutions to these common issues. But first, let’s go through the specifications.
Features & Specifications of Ruger 22/45 lite Gun:
| Capacity | 10+1 |
| Receiver material | Aluminum |
| Grip frame | Polymer |
| Barrel length | 4.40 inches |
| Weight | 25 ounces |
Common Henry Ruger 22/45 lite Problems and Solutions
| Problems | Solution |
| Jamming | Replace the magazine & polish the feed ramp |
| Failure to fire | Modify the mag lock / send to Ruger |
| Failure to eject | Rotate and hard tap the gun |
| Barrel heating | Replace the barrel with an aftermarket one/Send to Ruger |
| Unintentional discharge | Send to Ruger |
1. Jamming:
The Mark IV Lite is infamous for having an odd jamming issue where the bullet gets jammed up at a sharp angle, usually above the chamber, occasionally into the top edge of the chamber.
Possible Reasons
Given the breadth of the problem, anything may be a factor. This composition also has a number of factors that create jamming.
The cause might be dirt, debris, a mechanical problem, or anything else. As a result, pinpointing a single source of failure is extremely difficult.
However, the two most common reasons for jams in this rifle are slack wristing or a defective extractor.
The Fix:
Replace the magazine first, since stock magazines have been identified as the root of this problem.
If the magazine is not the problem, you should look at the feed ramp. If the feed ramp is the source of the problem, it should be thoroughly polished and lubricated.
Nonetheless, there is a strong chance that the issue will exist. In this case, send the weapon to Ruger for repair.
2. Failure to Fire:
Failure to fire is when the trigger is pushed and the hammer or firing pin is released, but the cartridge’s firing process fails to commence.
Possible Reasons
Ruger has issued handgun frame molding concerns concentrated around the half-moon-shaped key hole where the magazine lock goes.
Any such motion in this critical position causes the magazine to sit lower than it should, making it difficult for the bolt to peel off a cartridge.
The weight of a full magazine causes this issue to emerge, however, a nearly empty magazine will sit just high enough to eliminate the issue.
The Fix:
Here are three approaches to resolving the problem:
- Manipulate the mag lock and watch the magazine rise ever so little to identify the sections of the key slot that were too loose.
- Then, using a toothpick/needle and JB Weld, gently rebuild the parts of the key slot that were too loose.
- Remove just enough JB Weld to allow the mag latch to fit precisely in the key slot without causing unnecessary friction.
- Make the magazine ride as high as feasible by rotating the mag latch slightly.
3. Failure to Eject:
Failures to eject can be caused by a dirty gun, a rusty chamber, or the shooter’s lack of a firm grip.
Possible Reasons
The fired case is partially discharged from the chamber, forcing the slide to lock partially open on the empty case.
The most common source of this problem is “riding the slide,” which occurs when you hold on to the slide as it travels forward, therefore reducing its forward pace.
The case is frequently seized by the slide and held upright, the empty hull sticking upwards like a stove’s metal chimney.
The Fix:
To begin with, pull the slide all the way to the rear and let it go. If it doesn’t work, tap the magazine to ensure it’s well installed.
Then, carefully rotate the handgun so that the ejection port is at an angle to the ground, and violently rack the slide. This should expel the used cartridge and enable a fresh one to enter the chamber.
4. Barrel Heating:
There have been several claims of the barrel heating up after rapid shooting.
Possible Reasons
If fired quickly enough to grow hot, the unvented LITEs would lead the barrels.
This is most likely why Ruger began producing versions with ventilated barrels.
People were upset with the Cobalt because they said dirt could get into the shroud through the vent holes.
The Fix:
As this is a design there is not much you can do. If it gets to the point where the hot barrel hinders the regular operations then you should send it to Ruger.
Installing an aftermarket barrel could help, but there is no guarantee.
5. Unintentional Discharge:
An unintended discharge occurs when a weapon discharges (fires) at a moment that the user did not intend.
Possible Reasons
Ruger determined that if the safety is not used correctly, all Mark IV pistols (including 22/45TM variants) made before June 1, 2017 have the potential to discharge unintentionally.
If the trigger is pushed when the safety lever is halfway between “safe” and “fire,” the handgun may not discharge when the trigger is pulled.
However, if the trigger is depressed and the safety lever is moved from the mid to the “fire” position, the handgun may discharge.
The Fix:
Although only a limited number of handguns appear to be impacted and no injuries have been reported, Ruger is dedicated to safety and would want to upgrade all possibly affected pistols with an updated safety system.
Visit this site to check if your pistol belongs to the affected lot. If so, then send it to Ruger as soon as possible.
User Feedback on Ruger 22/45 lite
The Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite has a great feature in that most of its flaws may be fixed by aftermarket products. The Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite is a reliable.22LR pistol overall, despite a few characteristics that might require modification. It is a fantastic option for both competitive and recreational shooters.
Here is a testament to my review from a user on thearmorylife. Even with the shortcomings, this gun is well worth the money. If you have prior shooting experience, it will fit like a glove.
But there have been many complaints about it too. Especially, the recall about the accidental discharge deserves special mention. It is a grave safety issue but it was swiftly addressed by Ruger.
On rare occasions, you may get a 22/45 (non-light) for a great price, then purchase a lite upper, an aftermarket upper, or both a longer barrel and a treaded for the price of a lite.
Top 3 Alternative Guns of Ruger 22/45 lite
SW-22
The SW-22 Victory is another pistol influenced by Luger. Smith & Wesson addressed the design with their usual focus on material and design excellence. It performs better with mixed ammunition than the Ruger Mark IV.
Browning Buck Mark
It features a plethora of factory choices, making it simple to choose the Buckmark that best meets your needs. This one has greater customization options than the Mark IV.
Heritage Rough Rider .22
It’s also a great gun for working on your accuracy as the low round count and almost-but-not-quite painfully slow reload will have you picking and placing your shots carefully.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is a Ruger 22 45 accurate?
Accuracy was 1.87 inches on average.
What does the 22 45 Lite mean?
The 22 in 22/45 is a reference to the 22LR cartridge. The number 45 is a tribute to the 1911 grip, which has a standard grip angle of 45 degrees.
When did Ruger make the 22 45?
The first Ruger 22/45 pistol was introduced by Sturm, Ruger in 1992.
What ammo does a Ruger 22 45 take?
The Ruger 22/45 is a.22 caliber handgun that can fire the.22 Long Rifle round, as the name indicates.
Is the Ruger Mark IV worth it?
This one will be worth your money if you want the can, light, and optic on it in addition to the traditional Ruger Mark performance and feel.
Conclusion
Almost every firearm model from any manufacturer can occasionally malfunction. Even if the issues stated above are restricted to specific firearms, you may not want to accept the chance that it will not function as self-defense equipment when you need it.
Ruger measures success on product quality and customer pleasure. Ruger 22/45 lite will most likely provide superb service and perfect performance. On the contrary, you may be constantly dealing with a number of challenges, even though it is unlikely.
