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Want to build my fiance a pistol

4K views 16 replies 11 participants last post by  Blue Ridge Reef 
#1 ·
Just a little background, I'm a gun enthusiast and my soon to-be-wife had never held a gun before we met. She's been a good sport and has shot everything from my Buckmark to 1911s in .45 ACP. Her favorite thing to shoot (by far) is .22 pistols. She really took to my Ruger Mark series guns, even over polymers and we've talked about a gun of her own. Her only complaint with my Ruger guns has been the weight (all are Target or Hunter series guns with some upgrades). Last week, a guy at our range had a 22/45 stock, and she loved everything about it but the sights and trigger. So I have started the wheels in motion to get her the perfect gun. I feel like weight is #1, sights #2 (she likes fiber optic front sights), and trigger third. I told her I could buy her any Mark series they make and change out sights and trigger, so just pick the color scheme she wants, and I'll make it happen.

As it turns out, when I asked her what color she'd ideally have, she said red. In her perfect world, red like her Kitchenaid stuff. Aw, yeah! Easy-peazy, right? So I found the NRA Davidson's Mark 3 22/45, some Pac Lite offerings, and a few others. She'd be happy with any of them, but she'd really just prefer a red gun with black parts and grips. Suddenly, I can not find one, even online! So I put it on her to find me her dream gun, and I can take it from there. Less than an hour later, she sent this pic to my phone: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7OMwIz7HuiQ/maxresdefault.jpg

I contacted TI, and they are happy to do a barrel for me, but will not coat a stipped lower to match, nor will build me a red pistol. I contacted VQ today, haven't heard back yet. I contacted a cerakote guy, and he will coat anything I send him, as long as it's completely stripped. He mostly does 1911s and Glocks, and does great work but isn't familiar with the platform.

Just figured folks here have been through this sort of thing and would know what to do. I'm willing to drop up to $1000 on this pistol. Maybe a sconch more, but I feel like we're already well past the point of diminishing returns. Thanks for your thoughts in advance!
 
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#3 ·
If color is the priority, then weight and trigger pull - getting a 22/45 lite, upgrading the trigger, and cerakoting red might be a easy and cheaper way to go. It's obvious your not as concerned about cost, and more about just getting her what she would really want. Question is which dream are you gona try to bring to life. Recreate the picture she sent you, or keep the color scheme but use other parts. I'm sure the TS and volquartzen parts are great, but are the looks or small possible improvement in functioning or accuracy worth the price?
 
#9 ·
Red lowers

Yep those are VQ red lowers which they do no offer any longer.

Your best bet unless you happen to find one someone who will sell a red one...is a red Tac sol barrel

( do not I repeat do not buy their comp) The comp may look cool but is a terrible design and will lead up fairly quickly and is a real PITA to clean. Madd dog makes several good ones as does Tandamoss

Then get the VQ lower in black and add some sexy red grips

https://www.volquartsen.com/products/1124-aluminum-grips-for-mkiii
There are many makers of grips so google them

And no this one is not for sale sorry



Good luck and believe me no amount is too much to spend on this project :)
 
#11 ·
rep 1954 .... I love your little short barrel model... Very nice.

Sorry I had to run out to shoot a steel match today and had to cut my first post short.

Here are some more grip options and a pistol by dr Frakenruger who has a site for custom rugers here http://www.drfrankenruger.com/

http://www.drfrankenruger.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/2245_Micarta_Red.109134245_std.JPG

The grips are on E bay...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-MADE-IN...197489?hash=item543ae2d6b1:g:48cAAOSwsN9XAokb

and more

https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/pro...748004855.do?sortby=ourPicks&refType=&from=fn

and one last set of grips

http://www.rimfiresports.com/mercha...oduct_Code=TSMARKIIRED&Category_Code=VC2GRIPS

Also the first post had wrong info on the comp source it is not madd dog its

http://maddmacsprecisiontactical.com/lite-comp-2245l013.html

Good luck in the search
 
#12 ·
Thanks! That Franken Ruger gun looks almost identical to the Davidson's exclusive NRA gun:
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/05/24/ruger-2245-lite-nra-edition/

At least, from the photos, the grips saying NRA seem to be the only difference. Will look into Mad Max for a comp, appreciate the head's up the VQ isn't the one I want.

I could just buy an NRA gun, drop in a F/O front sight, VQ trigger, and LCI filler and have a pretty good shooter for her. And I may still, but for now the quest is to come as close to duplicating the gun she likes best.

Thanks for everyone's input so far.
 
#13 ·
I'd get a red ruger lite now and upgrade trigger parts and keep looking for the red volquartsen lower that you can use with a lite or pac - lite barrel later.

I have both a ruger lite and volquartsen lower with a paclite upper. It's hard to beat the value of a ruger lite with volquartsen sear & trigger and I like the clark bushing
 
#14 ·
try rugerparts.net and see if he has any red ruger 22.45 lite barrels. he has had them in the past

also try Lee at Wirthwein Guns he has a lot of Volquartsen frames and might have a red one or know where to get one good guy to deal with

I have a red Volquartsen LLV barrel that I got from Lee mounted on a Volquartsen black Mark III style frame - cool looking pistol.

Good luck with your search. I like my red barrel - do not think it would look good with a red frame. the black frame seems to set off the red in the barrel
 
#16 ·
I think you have a winner with the NRA edition and swapped grips. As to the trigger, I would leave it and swap the trigger sear. It's the part that makes more of a difference in trigger weight. Don't forget the bushing to rid her of the mag safety. Depending on the size of her hands, you might want to get slim grips as they can be much easier for smaller hands to hold.
 
#17 ·
I bought a 22/45 frame off of gunbroker, and a Pac Lite upper. Kurt Grimes, the fella who runs the rimfire raceguns page is going to build and coat it for me. Hopefully I'll have it back pretty soon; will post it up when I do. Thanks for steering me in the right direction, fellas.
 
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