Bullseye, formally NRA precision pistol, is one-handed slow, timed and rapid fire at 25 and 50 yards, and the .22 stage is where most competitors begin. The Ruger Mark series has been the entry-level bullseye pistol since the 1950s because it's accurate, affordable, and fixed-barrel, and the Mark IV Target is the current version of that idea. This guide covers what the Target model gives you, how to set it up, and which ammunition actually suits the game.
It's a buyer's guide from Ruger's specifications and Ammunition Depot's listing, not a match report. Our rimfire competition guide covers the disciplines themselves.
| Barrel | 5.5 in bull barrel, blued, per listing |
|---|---|
| Grips | Laminate wood, per listing |
| Capacity | 10+1 |
| Takedown | One-button; the Mark IV's defining change |
| Optic | Receiver drilled and tapped for a rail |
| Ammo | Standard-velocity 40 gr solid; test lots |
What the Target model is
Ruger's Mark IV line shares one receiver and the one-button takedown. The Target variant adds a heavy 5.5-inch bull barrel, an adjustable rear sight, and a fixed front blade. The extra barrel mass steadies the pistol on a one-handed hold, which is why bullseye shooters prefer it over the lighter Standard and the shorter Tactical. The listing we link is the blued version with laminate wood grips.
The receiver is drilled and tapped, so a Picatinny or Weaver rail goes on without gunsmithing, and most bullseye shooters run a red dot. The fixed barrel means the sights and optic stay in one relationship to the bore, which is the single biggest reason a Ruger outshoots a tilting-barrel .22 at 50 yards.
Why the one-button takedown matters
Every Ruger Mark before the IV had a reputation for being miserable to reassemble. The Mark IV replaced that with a single button at the rear of the frame: press it, and the upper tilts off. For a competition pistol that fires thousands of rounds a season and gets cleaned weekly, that change alone justified the new model. It also means you can clean the chamber between relays without tools, which matters because a fouled .22 chamber is the usual cause of the light strikes and failures to feed that cost points.
Ammunition: standard velocity, and test lots
Bullseye is shot at 50 yards for slow fire, and at that distance the difference between a high-velocity plinking load and a standard-velocity target load is visible on paper. High-velocity .22 LR is transonic at 50 yards, passing back through the speed of sound and getting buffeted as it does. Standard-velocity loads leave the muzzle just above or just below the sound barrier and stay more stable.
Aguila's Target Competition is a 40-grain lead solid loaded to standard velocity, and it's the entry-level match load many bullseye shooters use for practice and club matches. Buy several boxes from the same lot, test them against a bench at 50 yards, and stock up on the lot that groups. Our rim-thickness sorting guide covers the next step if you get serious.
Setting it up for the line
- Optic. A small tube or open red dot on a receiver rail. Bullseye shooters favor larger dots than action shooters because the aiming area is a black bull, not a steel plate. Our rimfire optics roundup covers pistol-rated dots.
- Trigger. The factory Mark IV trigger is serviceable; aftermarket triggers and sears are common and legal in most bullseye divisions. Check your rulebook.
- Grips. The laminate grips are fine to start. Many shooters move to an anatomical target grip later, which is a bigger accuracy gain than most people expect.
- Magazines. Two are the minimum for timed and rapid strings; four make a match relaxed. See our magazine and loader guide.
Beyond bullseye
The same pistol is competitive in rimfire Steel Challenge with a different optic and faster ammunition, and it's a fine trainer for anyone who wants to learn a clean trigger press without recoil. Our Steel Challenge vs NRL22 guide explains how the disciplines differ, and the .22 pistols by role roundup places the Mark IV against its competition.
Zeroing for 50 yards
Zero at 50 yards, since that's where slow fire lives, and note how much the 25-yard hold differs; with standard-velocity .22 LR it's usually a small amount low. Our zeroing guide explains the trajectory. Then leave the sights alone and change nothing but the lot of ammunition until your scores tell you otherwise.
The Ruger Mark IV Target is the default bullseye .22 for good reasons: a fixed bull barrel, a receiver ready for a dot, and a takedown that finally makes cleaning painless. Feed it standard-velocity 40-grain solids, test lots at 50 yards, and put the money you save on the pistol into a grip and an optic.
FAQ
Is the Ruger Mark IV Target good for bullseye competition?
It is the most common entry-level pistol in NRA precision pistol. The bull barrel, fixed-barrel accuracy, and drilled-and-tapped receiver for an optic make it a natural fit.
What ammunition should I use for bullseye?
Standard-velocity 40-grain lead solids. They stay stable through 50 yards, where high-velocity loads become erratic as they drop back through the speed of sound.
Can I mount a red dot on the Mark IV Target?
Yes. The receiver is drilled and tapped for a rail, and most bullseye shooters run a red dot on it.
What changed with the Mark IV takedown?
A single rear button releases the upper from the frame. Earlier Marks required a notoriously fiddly reassembly sequence; the Mark IV removed it.
Check the Mark IV Target listing
Configurations vary by finish and grips. See what's listed today.
Shop the Mark IV Target