Beauty Follows Function: The Ruger Mark IV Hunter .22 Pistol

It’s strange how things stick with you over time. Years ago, I vividly remember reading a column in Outdoor Life (or maybe it was Field & Stream) about the then-new Ruger Mark III Hunter. I thought then, as I do now, that it was one of the most strikingly handsome rimfire pistols I’d ever seen. It featured a fluted stainless-steel target barrel, target sights, and half-checkered Cocobolo grips. To me — a high schooler at the time — it was gorgeous.

All these years later, I finally have one—albeit the newer Mark IV version. And yes, I still think it’s a beautiful handgun. But I’ve added a few things from TANDEMKROSS to it to make it (in my opinion) even better.

Mark IV Hunger Spec

The Mark IV version of that Hunter that caught my eye so long ago is an excellent upgrade over its predecessor. The biggest improvement is the push-button take-down design Ruger came up with. Previous generations required a Master’s degree from MIT to disassemble (that’s only slight hyperbole). I much prefer this current version.

The rest of the standard specs are as follows:

• Model: 40118
• Frame: Stainless Steel
• Caliber: 22 LR
• Capacity: 10
• Sights: Fiber Optic Front, Adjustable Rear
• Optic Cut: Threaded for Optic Rail
• Magazines: 2
• Barrel Length: 6.88”
• Overall Length:  11.12”
• Overall Width: 1.20”
• Height:  5.50”
• Weight: 44 oz.
• MSRP: $1019

Features

This pistol is, of course, chambered in .22 LR. Ruger has paired a satin stainless steel frame with a 6.88-inch cold hammer-forged fluted bull barrel, delivering the accuracy and longevity the Mark series is well known for. Ruger’s signature one-button Mark IV takedown system allows the barrel-receiver assembly to separate from the grip frame without tools, simplifying field stripping and proper chamber-to-muzzle cleaning. The pistol also features an internal cylindrical bolt for consistent sight-to-barrel alignment, an ergonomic bolt stop, contoured ejection port, and oversized bolt ears.

The fiber optic front sight and fully adjustable rear sight are solid, while the drilled and tapped receiver accepts Weaver- or Picatinny-style rails for easy optic mounting (or the TANDEMKROSS mount, which I prefer). Those checkered cocobolo grips, an ambidextrous manual safety, push-button magazine release, and two included 10-round magazines round out the package from the factory.

Setup

Honestly, this pistol is awfully good right out of the box. There were two things, though, that I wanted to improve; the optic mount and the ergonomics for working the bolt. Thankfully, TANDEMKROSS exists, so getting what you need to do that is easy. You have options.

The first selection I made was the Shadow Mount V3.0. This is designed specifically for micro red dot sights. I like that it keeps things minimal without needing to add a rail or remove the rear sight. The mount is universal and will work with a number of popular optic footprints.

I mounted the Vortex Defender-CCW on it. It’s a perfect fit and keeps things nice and compact. One note: this mount will only work with 4-hole-pattern Mark-series pistols and won’t work with the SilencerShop exclusive models. I learned that the hard way. Make sure you read the fine print.

The biggest downside I’ve always had with the Mark series is how difficult it is to manipulate the bolt (or “slide”). I generally end up pinching my fingers. Fortunately, TANDEMKROSS offers their HALO Charging Ring for Ruger Mark pistols. To me, it’s a no-brainer addition.

The HALO slides onto the back end of the existing action(?) and is clamped into place with a screw. Voila. Simple enough. Some might argue it detracts from the pistol’s clean lines, but I’m not one of those people. I think it looks good and is incredibly functional.

At the Range

I’ve shot this pistol both before and after the modifications. While I liked it before, I love it now. For ammunition, I kept things simple and went with CCI Standard Velocity. In my mind, it’s the gold standard for 22 LR. I never seem to have any issues with it and that applies to running the Mark IV Hunter.

Accuracy is great with the standard fiber optic sights and even better with the Vortex red dot. I might be young(ish), but I wasn’t blessed with good eyesight. I find the red dot to be a near must-have.

As for the HALO, it’s especially helpful when working with new shooters. Charging the pistol was always a pain point for me, but no longer. It’s easy and anyone can do it. That’s the whole point of .22 pistols—they’re meant to be enjoyed by everyone.

Parting Shots

I’ve put close to 300 rounds of .22 ammo through this pistol so far and just love taking it out for a spin. From first seeing it back in the 9^th or 10^th grade to now, I’ve come full circle. Back then, I only dreamed of working a job where I could talk about cool guns. Now I get to do it.

This pistol was on my want list for a long time and I’m glad to finally have it in the collection. The add-ons from TANDEMKROSS and the red dot from Vortex just elevate it. If you don’t have a Ruger Mark IV series pistol in your collection, you need to change that.