Except for a subsonic Aguila 38-grain hollowpoint loading, the Ruger 22/45 ate up a variety of .22 factory loads without a bobble.

The rear adjustable sight is standard Ruger fare with the addition of a V-notch rear sight blade. The combination of this V-notch rear blade and the fiber-optic front sight make for fast target acquisition. The pistol also comes with a Weaver-style scope base adapter for mounting a scope, electronic sight, or other sighting apparatus.

The new 4.5-inch-barreled Ruger 22/45 Mark III Hunter was an accurate and reliable plinking partner.

Magazine capacity of the Ruger 22/45 is 10 rounds. The pistol's overall length is 8.5 inches, and it weighs in at approximately 29 ounces.

I gathered an assortment of popular .22 LR ammo and took the new Ruger 22/45 Mark III Hunter to the range. I set up bullseye targets at 25 yards and did my shooting from a sandbag rest. This Ruger 22/45 handled its shooting chores without a bobble--with one exception--and I suspect that I'll be able to tighten up these group sizes once I get a little more used to the fiber-optic front sight.

RUGER 22/45 MARK III
Manufacturer:	Sturm, Ruger & Co.
Model:	22/45 Mark III
Operation:	Blowback autoloader
Caliber:	.22 Long Rifle
Barrel Length:	4.5 inches
Overall Length:	8.5 inches
Weight, empty	29 ounces
Safety:	Manual sear lock; magazine disconnect; loaded chamber indicator; internal key lock
Sights:	Adjustable rear; fiber-optic front
Stock:	Integral polymer
Magazine Capacity:	10 rounds
Finish:	Black Zytel polymer frame; stainless-steel barrel, slide, and upper assembly
Price:	$487

Here's the information on that exception. On my way out the door to the range, I grabbed a box of Aguila .22 ammo. I've got an assortment of Aguila ammunition, and it has always performed pretty darn well, so I was a bit surprised when this Ruger pistol wouldn't eject it. Being the trained investigator that I am, I finally looked at the box and discovered that I had picked up some of Aguila's subsonic .22 ammo. The low velocity combined with the 38-grain bullet just wasn't enough to cycle the pistol's action.

Of course, once the requisite accuracy testing was out of the way, I loaded up the little Ruger and engaged in some "serious" plinking. I was able to bounce golf balls and empty shotgun shells all around the range. I just couldn't get enough of turning those charcoal briquettes into little puffs of smoke as they disintegrated. And splattering some big, brown hens' eggs, much too long in the 'fridge, all over the place was much too easy. If I wasn't a dedicated gun writer immersed in a serious gun test and evaluation you might have thought I was having a ball.

I appreciate Ruger and Editor Joel Hutchcroft for giving me this opportunity to have some rimfire plinking fun. It's good mental health for a shooter. Sometimes we get so caught up in the serious stuff--handgun hunting and defensive training and competitive shooting--that we forget how much fun shooting can be.

So, as your duly authorized Handgun Editor it is my duty to prescribe some relaxation for you. Remind yourself of the safety rules, round up some suitable targets, and spend the afternoon plinking. It'll make you smile. Oh, and while you're at it, try out this new Ruger 22/45 Mark III Hunter with the 4.5-inch barrel. It's a plinker's companion if ever I saw one.