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New to me, but not new (made in 1980).

Took it apart to get more accustomed with it. I've disassembled and reassembled several pistols that aren't considered easy (tokarev, cz-52). But they weren't kidding when they said maintenance on a Ruger 22 is tough!

Came apart no problem but I spent 45 minutes and tons of curse words trying to get the pistol reassembled. Couldn't get the part that pulls out of the backstrap back in for the life of me. Finally got it back together and now the pistol won't cock? Can only pull back about half way. This thing is driving me nuts.

I remember having the same difficulties assembling my Ruger MK 1 for the first few times. Below is a link to a Ruger Assembly manual I found online. You might not be catching the hammer when you reassembled it.

https://ruger-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/_manuals/markI.pdf

Got it back together and functioning but I'm still not sure how or if I will be able to do it again

Very common problem for new Ruger owners. Watch 2 minutes of this video on assembly. I started it at the appropriate spot. If you lean the gun muzzle up at this point the arm falls in the correct spot. If it doesn't it will not cock, just as you described. If you ask how I know, a friend told me.

Have the same gun! My first handgun. Can’t really explain how I do it put when you insert the main spring housing piece flip the gun upside down. Then tilt the barrel down as you insert it. Once it’s in tilt it back so the hammer strut seats in the pocket. Then close it up, you’ll feel the tension and latch. I think that’s the method. Still have it but don’t shoot it that often. Teenage me could assemble it with my eyes closed. Must have been some John Wayne movie influence!

Once you have done it a couple times , it is not that hard.
After awhile you will get the hang of it.


You can also install a hammer strut support to make it a little easier.
These do help.
https://www.hammerstrutsupport.com

That is how you know you assembled it incorrectly. You need to get the hammer strut in the top cup of the mainspring housing like others have said. Once you know what you need to do, it is easy and you wont have any issues again.

Ballistic Therapy wrote: ↑September 25th, 2020, 4:28 am Once you have done it a couple times , it is not that hard.
After awhile you will get the hang of it.


You can also install a hammer strut support to make it a little easier.
These do help.
https://www.hammerstrutsupport.com

I don't know what's more amazing, how much of a difference a tiny piece of metal makes or the fact that Ruger didn't engineer and install that piece themselves in 70+ years.

I'd always heard this pistol was a pain to reassemble but I'd heard similar things about the tokarev and CZ-52 as well and I was able to figure those out ok. I guess I thought if I could figure out the quirks of designs made by humorless, godless communists that the quirks of a production, American capitalist pistol wouldn't be much of an issue. Turns out I was way wrong....

Well if you ever get a Walther P22 don’t throw away the piece of wood that comes with it!

Those funny Germans.

Winmagbill wrote: ↑September 25th, 2020, 9:02 am Well if you ever get a Walther P22 don’t throw away the piece of wood that comes with it!

Those funny Germans.

I bought one of those off Armslist a few weeks ago. On closer inspection I just didn't care for the fit and finish. Then I noticed it would fire with the safety on and that it had already been returned to Walther on a warranty claim in the past.

Promptly passed it on and I've added Walther to the list of manufacturers I won't buy.

Sounds like you got a bubba’d P22. They can be a great little gun especially with the longer 5” barrel.

MarkItZero wrote: ↑September 25th, 2020, 9:21 am

Winmagbill wrote: ↑September 25th, 2020, 9:02 am Well if you ever get a Walther P22 don’t throw away the piece of wood that comes with it!

Those funny Germans.

I bought one of those off Armslist a few weeks ago. On closer inspection I just didn't care for the fit and finish. Then I noticed it would fire with the safety on and that it had already been returned to Walther on a warranty claim in the past.

Promptly passed it on and I've added Walther to the list of manufacturers I won't buy.

Let me guess , it was a Smith & Wesson Walther.

Not that I recall, it did have a compensator on it if that helps

Bill Ruger was a genius. Years before YouTube existed, or was even imagined, Ruger designed a gun that could not be reassembled without watching a YouTube video. What a visionary!

"Ruger Mark 1 won't cock"

What a coincidence, neither would my ex-wife.