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Work order — Ruger Mark IV

Taking the firearm apart for a job such as refinishing, and putting it back together to specification. Generated from the Pew-Takedown entry last updated 2026-10-29. Confidence: high.

Shop difficulty: Tier 2 of 3

Ruger fixed the old Mark-series takedown with a button, but the full job is 67 pieces (49 keys): grip frame with hammer, sear and sear spring, bolt stop, magazine disconnector, safety detent and several spring-loaded plungers; the magazine ejector springs out when the right grip comes off, and reassembly only works with the safety on. 65 parts (Mark IV pistol parts list incl. barrel/receiver sub-assembly and magazine (manual pp. 35-37); 65 rows, 49 keys. 22/45 Lite list omitted.). Pew-Takedown's rating, not the manufacturer's.

Bench time: strip ~25 min, rebuild ~40 min (estimate). Actual: strip ______ rebuild ______

Special tools:

• 3/32" hex wrench — Grip panel screws
• 1/16" hex wrench — Right-side safety lever

Watch for:

• Taking the right grip panel off frees the spring-loaded magazine ejector, which is lost if not covered. (disassembly; Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.)
• Reassembly only works with the safety on (white dot showing); with it off the barrel/receiver will not go back on. (reassembly; Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.)
• Ruger stops owners at the bolt; the grip-frame fire control (hammer, sear, sear spring, disconnector) is not covered and carries the old Mark-series reputation. (both; American Rifleman (NRA))

1. Clear and make safe

1. Point the muzzle in a safe direction and keep your finger off the trigger.
2. Press the magazine release and remove the magazine.
3. Pull the bolt fully to the rear and lock it back with the bolt stop.
4. Inspect the chamber and magazine well with a light, then physically confirm the chamber is empty.
   Warning: A .22 case is small and dull. Look and feel.
5. Engage the manual safety and remove all ammunition from the work area.

2. Disassemble

Manufacturer's video: Ruger® Mark IV™ Disassembly, Cleaning and Reassembly Tech Tip (RugerFirearms)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loPw_seEcs8

Field Strip

1. Complete the Clear and Make Safe procedure. Remove the magazine and empty it, draw the bolt fully rearward, confirm the chamber is empty, release the bolt, and put the safety ON so the white dot is visible.
   Tip: The Mark IV comes apart with no tools at all. If you are reaching for one, you are on the wrong procedure — that is the Mark III.
2. Hold the barrel in one hand and the grip frame assembly in the other, and depress the take-down button just below the rear of the bolt.
3. With the button pressed, tilt the BARREL downward so that it clears the bolt stop pin.
   Tip: Barrel down, not receiver up. Tilting the wrong way binds it on the bolt stop pin and no amount of force helps.
4. Lift the barrel and receiver assembly straight up off the grip frame assembly.
5. Pull straight back on the bolt ears to draw the bolt out of the receiver.
6. Clean the bolt face, chamber, and receiver interior. Rimfire fouling accumulates fast here.
7. Stop here. Ruger states no further disassembly is necessary. The grips can come off with a 3/32 in hex wrench if you want them off.

3. Refinish

The components the procedures above separate. Coating, masking and cure are outside this database; follow your coating system's instructions. A part the manufacturer marks "factory fit" should not be swapped or reworked.

The manufacturer's full parts list (65 parts) is on the reference page.

4. Reassemble

Manufacturer's video: Ruger® Mark IV™ Disassembly, Cleaning and Reassembly Tech Tip (RugerFirearms)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loPw_seEcs8

Reassembly

1. Confirm the pistol is free of cartridges and keep your finger out of the trigger guard. The safety must be ON, with the white dot fully visible, or it will not go back together.
   Tip: Safety off is the single most common reason a Mark IV refuses to reassemble.
2. Insert the bolt fully into the barrel and receiver assembly.
3. Place the barrel and receiver assembly on top of the frame so the notch in the receiver aligns with the pivot pin in the grip frame.
4. Rotate the barrel and receiver assembly down onto the bolt stop pin in the grip frame.
5. Gently squeeze the barrel/receiver and grip frame together until you hear a click, then check that they are firmly together and cannot be pulled apart.
6. Replace the empty magazine, point the pistol in a safe direction, move the safety off to expose the red dot, and pull the trigger to uncock it.
   Warning: Confirm the magazine is empty first.
   Tip: Ruger's own instruction: guns should not be stored loaded or cocked.
7. Perform the function check.

5. Torque

No manufacturer torque values are recorded for this firearm.

Notes: The manufacturer's documents give no torque value. They say: "This nut should never be loosened, removed or tampered with. This nut is epoxied and torqued in place at the factory." (Instruction Manual for Ruger Mark IV Pistols, PDF p. 32) "After the degreased areas are dry, place a drop of blue LOCTITE® adhesive/sealant or equivalent to the scope base screws." (Instruction Manual for Ruger Mark IV Pistols, PDF p. 32)

Fit or check on rebuild

• Sear spring orientation and preload — A mis-seated sear spring gives a hammer that will not stay cocked; standard Mark-series check (Brownells tip not reachable)
• Function check: trigger reset, sear/striker engagement, safeties — Standard post-reassembly check on any pistol whose fire-control parts were removed; a mis-seated spring shows up here, not on the bench

6. Function check

• Verify the pistol is unloaded with no magazine inserted before each step.
• Cycle the bolt by hand and confirm it returns fully into battery.
• Cock the action, engage the safety, and press the trigger. The hammer must not fall.
• Disengage the safety and press the trigger. The hammer should fall.
• Confirm the bolt stop holds the bolt open and releases cleanly.
• Confirm the magazine seats, locks, and drops free.

If any check fails, the firearm is not safe to fire. Stop and see a licensed gunsmith.

If it won't go back together

Sources

1. Instruction Manual for Ruger Mark IV Pistols — Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. primary
   https://ruger-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/_manuals/Mark-IV-Pc4tS28s.pdf
2. Ruger — Mark IV Recall — Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. primary
   https://ruger.com/dataProcess/markIVRecall/index.php
3. Ruger Mark IV Standard Rimfire Pistol — Specifications (model 40104) — Sturm, Ruger & Co. primary
   https://ruger.com/products/markIV/specSheets/40104.html
4. Ruger Patents — Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. primary
   https://ruger.com/micros/Patents/index.html
5. Product Preview: Hammer Strut Support for Ruger Mark Series .22 Rimfire Pistols — American Rifleman (NRA) secondary
   https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/product-preview-hammer-strut-support-for-ruger-mark-series-22-rimfire-pistols

Educational guide only. Some information comes from non-authoritative sources. Always consult your manufacturer's manual and a licensed gunsmith. Verify your firearm is unloaded before every procedure. Full disclaimer: https://github.com/Fundamental-build-LLC/Pew-Takedown

Legal notice: this material is third-party information compiled from sources of varying reliability and is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not gunsmithing, technical, safety or legal advice, it is not verified or endorsed by any manufacturer, and it must not be taken as fact. Any work on a firearm beyond the routine field stripping described in its own owner's manual should be performed only by a licensed and insured gunsmith. You use this material entirely at your own risk. Fundamental Build LLC and the project's contributors make no warranty of any kind and accept no liability for death, injury, damage or loss arising from its use. Full terms: LEGAL.md.