Gun Of The Week: Ruger Mark IV Target 75th Anniversary

Hey, everyone. Welcome to another American Rifleman Gun Of The Week video, and this time, we’re on the range with a special commemorative edition of Ruger’s popular Mark IV rimfire pistol. This version commemorates Ruger’s 75th anniversary in 2024, and as such, it provides a bit of a throwback to the classic version of the pistol that started Ruger off as a company.

In 1949, Alexander Sturm and Bill Ruger started what is now one of America’s most recognizable firearm brands. And Sturm, Ruger & Co. began with a small advertisement in the August 1949 issue of The American Rifleman. Its first product? The Ruger Standard Pistol, which later became known as the Mark I. Priced at $37.50 each, a stack of orders flooded in, giving Ruger the kick-start it needed to become one of the world’s preeminent firearm manufacturers.

Fast-forward 75 years, and today, Ruger is on its fourth iteration of that famous Standard Model rimfire pistol, and the Mark IV is the basis for the gun we have here. In terms of its general lines, this 75th Anniversary Model is styled much like some of the early target variants of Ruger’s Mark I Standard Pistol introduced in 1950, down to the heavily tapered barrel, Patridge-style adjustable target sights and classic checkered stock panels. But there are a few welcome updates to this commemorative edition that make it handy to shoot and maintain.

One of the best updates to the Ruger Standard Model in recent years came with the Mark IV, which incorporated a takedown button at the rear of the receiver. Anyone who’s been a user of Ruger Standard Model Pistols knows how much of a challenge it can be to reassemble the guns once taken down, and the Mark IV variant does away with the reassembly issues encountered on previous models. Simply push the takedown button to separate the two receiver halves for easy cleaning. Once you’re ready to reassemble, the upper receiver pivots back down onto the frame and snaps into place.

A bilateral safety lever replaces the single-sided safety found on earlier Ruger rimfire handguns, but for those who would rather retain the single-sided safety, Ruger has made it possible to remove the right-side lever, and it includes a washer for replacement. This is a benefit for those who feel that a support-side safety interferes with a comfortable grip. Also found on the left side of the grip frame is the bolt-stop lever, which sits above a recessed portion of the left-side stock panel. A right-side, push-button magazine release completes the controls and allows the 10-round magazine to drop freely.

When it comes to pure shooting enjoyment, it doesn’t get much better than the Ruger Mark IV. This svelte, ergonomic rimfire pistol is easy to shoot, and the steep grip angle provides for a comfortable, natural presentation. Considering Ruger’s had 75 years to perfect the platform, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that our range experience was seamless. We appreciated the simple, tasteful 75th anniversary rollmark on the receiver and consider this a fitting and eminently practical tribute to the company’s roots.

Ruger Mark IV Target 75th Anniversary Model Specifications
Manufacturer: Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.
Action Type: blowback-operated, semi-automatic, rimfire pistol
Barrel: 6.88" tapered-target profile
Receiver: aluminum
Slide: alloy steel
Magazine: 10-round detachable box
Sights: fully adjustable target-style rear, Patridge-style post front
Trigger: single-action
Overall Length: 11"
Width: 1.20"
Weight: 32.8 ozs.
MSRP: $599