William Batterman Ruger launched his company—with the help of Alex Sturm—on what is widely recognized as the best-selling, semi-automatic .22 rimfire pistol ever made. To say the Ruger Standard was wildly popular is a gross understatement. It set the foundation for the fabled firm and established its reputation for long-lasting quality, reliability and performance.
A lot has changed since that 1949 introduction, including manufacturing processes, metallurgy and polymers. The fact the Standard, in its wide variety of configurations and Mk I versions, thrived through some of the most radical advances in manufacturing speaks volumes. It wasn’t until 1982 when the Ruger Mk II hit the market. The performance lived up to the legacy, and enthusiasm for the gun continued to grow.
A decade later, the first Ruger 22/45 came out, packing all the virtues of the company’s most popular rimfire pistol line, but it brought something new—the look and feel of the classic, .45 ACP M1911. Several generations have followed, and in 2013, an American Rifleman review of the 22/45 Lite explained, “Ruger scored a hit in 1992 when it paired its classic semi-automatic .22 Long Rifle rimfire pistol design with a fiberglass-reinforced nylon grip frame whose shape and angle approximated that of the M1911. Since then the appropriately designated 22/45’s grip frame has been subtly reshaped, and the Mark III 22/45 line has grown to include several models—the latest of which is the 22/45 Lite.
As its name suggests, it is the lightest to date, weighing 22.8 ozs., with an empty magazine in place. That makes it more than a half-pound lighter than other 22/45 models, which range from 31 to 33 ozs.” The exhaustive testing showcased the blowback’s performance and reliability, but Ruger has never been in the habit of resting on its laurels.
Today the 22/45 is in its fourth (Mk IV) version, and there have never been more options available. All are chambered in .22 Long Rifle, come with a pair of 10-round magazines, feature one-button takedown for effortless field stripping and have an ambidextrous safety easily converted to left-side only. Rear sights are adjustable, front sights fixed and the polymer grip frames emulate the comfort and feel of an M1911 better than ever.
The basic version currently available wears a 5.5" bull barrel and MSRP is $499. A pair of 22/45 Tacticals are also available, with prices starting at $639. Finishes are black or brown Cerakote, and the threaded barrels are 4.4" in length. The receiver wears a rail atop that makes optic mounting fast and another under the barrel for lights or lasers.
There are 15 versions of the 22/45 Lite in a wide array of colors. Each also have a rail on top for optics, a ventilated aluminum receiver and 4.4" barrels, which are threaded on some models. MSRPs start at $699.
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