Elite Iron Ruger MKIII Integral Suppressed pistol
Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2017 9:57 am
Wanted to put a shout out to Elite Iron out of Potomac, MT.
In summer of 2016 I decided to that I wanted a suppressed Ruger MK pistol. I researched the options, focusing on ones that allowed user serviceability, as most have to be sent to the manufacturer for full cleaning. I landed on the Elite Iron conversion. I contacted them and found that they had a Ruger MKIII available. I purchased the pistol, post 41F (Thanks Obama) and began the wait. It was approved to be sent to my dealer in mid December of 2016. I filed the form 4 as it arrived and it went pending in the first week of January.
I never messed with it or even laid my eyes on it while it was pending, but picked it up the other day when the form 4 was approved. 11/14/17 approval, to be exact.
First impressions were very good. The pistol is very finely crafted and the design is awesome. It is not barrel heavy and handles very well. The trigger is decent. My only complaint is that I didn't know that Ruger was coming out with the MKIV, so I would have had it built on a MKIV if possible, but what the heck.. Sure not Elite Iron's fault. The MKIV is so much easier to clean and take apart. All things I was looking for when I purchased it.
I took it apart and found out what makes it tick. The original barrel is cut to roughly 3" and threaded. It is then turned down and the stainless tube is welded onto the barrel. The seam is polished out and it is very hard to see exactly where it hooks together. The internals are a thing of machining mastery. There is an stainless expansion chamber that is threaded onto the barrel and then a set of 5 very well machined stainless steel baffles lock together and slip inside the tube up against the expansion chamber. A well machined cap then screws down on top of the baffles, sealing it all together. Elite Iron provided the necessary tools to take the silencer part of the pistol apart.
I believe that as long as you clean it regularly, say sub 400-500 rounds, it shouldn't be too tough to take apart. I can imagine if you let it lead and carbon up, it could be a bear to pull the baffles and expansion chamber out. I've decided to let it go to 4-500 rounds before the first good cleaning to try and establish a baseline.
When I took it out to shoot the first time I adjusted the sights a bit. After that this thing just flat ran. Not one hiccup or jam. And its super accurate. Ridiculously quiet. Completely hearing safe shooting CCI Mini Mag ammo.
When I took it apart the first time I did a very through cleaning and treated the expansion chamber and baffles with a silicone oil. I've had very good luck with this process in other serviceable silencers. It allows the crud to be removed much much easier.
If you're looking for an integrally suppressed Ruger MK pistol, I suggest Elite Iron. They produce a very good product.
In summer of 2016 I decided to that I wanted a suppressed Ruger MK pistol. I researched the options, focusing on ones that allowed user serviceability, as most have to be sent to the manufacturer for full cleaning. I landed on the Elite Iron conversion. I contacted them and found that they had a Ruger MKIII available. I purchased the pistol, post 41F (Thanks Obama) and began the wait. It was approved to be sent to my dealer in mid December of 2016. I filed the form 4 as it arrived and it went pending in the first week of January.
I never messed with it or even laid my eyes on it while it was pending, but picked it up the other day when the form 4 was approved. 11/14/17 approval, to be exact.
First impressions were very good. The pistol is very finely crafted and the design is awesome. It is not barrel heavy and handles very well. The trigger is decent. My only complaint is that I didn't know that Ruger was coming out with the MKIV, so I would have had it built on a MKIV if possible, but what the heck.. Sure not Elite Iron's fault. The MKIV is so much easier to clean and take apart. All things I was looking for when I purchased it.
I took it apart and found out what makes it tick. The original barrel is cut to roughly 3" and threaded. It is then turned down and the stainless tube is welded onto the barrel. The seam is polished out and it is very hard to see exactly where it hooks together. The internals are a thing of machining mastery. There is an stainless expansion chamber that is threaded onto the barrel and then a set of 5 very well machined stainless steel baffles lock together and slip inside the tube up against the expansion chamber. A well machined cap then screws down on top of the baffles, sealing it all together. Elite Iron provided the necessary tools to take the silencer part of the pistol apart.
I believe that as long as you clean it regularly, say sub 400-500 rounds, it shouldn't be too tough to take apart. I can imagine if you let it lead and carbon up, it could be a bear to pull the baffles and expansion chamber out. I've decided to let it go to 4-500 rounds before the first good cleaning to try and establish a baseline.
When I took it out to shoot the first time I adjusted the sights a bit. After that this thing just flat ran. Not one hiccup or jam. And its super accurate. Ridiculously quiet. Completely hearing safe shooting CCI Mini Mag ammo.
When I took it apart the first time I did a very through cleaning and treated the expansion chamber and baffles with a silicone oil. I've had very good luck with this process in other serviceable silencers. It allows the crud to be removed much much easier.
If you're looking for an integrally suppressed Ruger MK pistol, I suggest Elite Iron. They produce a very good product.