As much as I like the Ruger MKIV 22/45 line of pistols, they can definitely use some improvement. I previously covered all the upgrades I did to my wife’s pistol here. Of the two that I have for myself, one got a similar treatment from TandemKross. But there was one thing that still bugged me about both – the craptacular magazine disconnect on the trigger. So before I get into the “how” of resolving that, I need to share my opinions on the “why”. Feel free to disagree, but I think my points are valid.
My personal reasons to remove the magazine disconnect
First, its very existence is likely related to some well-meaning corporate lawyer, who doesn’t understand firearms. Even if they do, it feels like a misguided attempt to make a firearm “safer”. I know liability is a big thing for any firearms manufacturers, but disagree with the approach. So, I’ll choose to keep the lawyers out of my firearms.
Second, the very notion of having to insert a magazine in order to pull the trigger goes against safety protocols. When you are dry firing to check the trigger function, you should have already verified that the firearm is not loaded. That is, rack the slide, and visibly verify that no round is chambered. Having to insert a magazine is counterintuitive, and introduces an unacceptable margin for error. And when cleaning, no magazines or ammo should be in your work space. If you’ve reassembled it after cleaning, and want to verify the safety and trigger function, you should not have to insert a magazine. That’s common sense.
Finally, the extra parts involved seem to complicate an already mediocre trigger. If you’ve ever given your Mark pistol a full takedown for a thorough cleaning, you know it’s a pain to get the hammer and disconnect bits back in. They probably also contribute to some of that less-than-ideal trigger pull. Whether it’s in my head or not, the trigger feels a bit better without the disconnect.
How to replace the disconnect with the TandemKross Blast Shield
As always, I’m not going to reinvent the wheel by trying to make my own video. Below is a tutorial straight from the TandemKross website. It covers the replacement, and is easy to follow. Remember to verify that your firearm is unloaded before starting this process. And then check it again. Safety first.
Here’s a photo of one of my pistols with the Blast Shield in place. One moving part has been simplified, and a fragile spring has been completely removed. As an added bonus, it should keep some rimfire residue off your hammer and sear. A clean firearm is a happy firearm. Or at least a more reliable firearm. And then you can dry fire to your heart’s content, without having to reach for a magazine. Be sure to follow the four rules of firearm safety, and there will be no mishaps.
Wrap-up
Unless you’re getting in there to give everything a deep cleaning, this whole process should take about 20 minutes. And the part is only $19.99. If you’re patient like me, wait for one of the TandemKross sales with free shipping. Then treat yourself (or your firearm) to a little something extra with the savings. They’ve got plenty of parts that not only improve performance, but provide visual appeal as well. This Lite model certainly gets attention at the range. And rather than trying to explain to someone what all the red bits are for (while we’re both wearing ear pro), I demonstrate, then let them run a magazine through it. That always results in a thumbs up, or positive comments. It’s a sweet shooter, and I can’t wait to get outdoors and ring some steel with it.
Thanks again to TandemKross for making these good guns great. At my request, they provided the Blast Shield shown in this article. I’m sharing their products because I find them to be quality products and an excellent value.