Ruger Mark III Magazines
Factory Ruger OEM • Mark III (2005–2016) • Cross-Compatible with Mark IV • .22 LR • 10-Round
The Ruger Mark III — produced 2005 through 2016 as the third generation of Bill Ruger's 1949 .22 LR target-pistol family — remained in production for eleven years and built an installed base in the hundreds of thousands. Mark III owners continue to carry, train, and shoot the pistol today and require ongoing factory-magazine support. Keep Shooting carries factory Ruger OEM magazines that are cross-compatible between Mark III and Mark IV (2016–present) — the 10-round single magazine and the best-value 10-round 2-pack bundle. Factory production from Prescott, Arizona.
About Ruger Mark III Magazines at Keep Shooting
Keep Shooting carries factory Ruger OEM magazines for the Ruger Mark III — the 10-round single magazine ($27.36) and the 10-round 2-pack bundle ($41.53, approximately $20.77 per magazine for meaningful savings). Both magazines are cross-compatible between the Mark III (2005–2016) and the current-production Mark IV (2016–present) — Ruger maintained the magazine geometry across the generational transition so that existing Mark III owners could continue to use their magazine inventory if they upgraded to a Mark IV. For the current- production Mark IV variant magazines (identical SKUs), see our Ruger Mark IV Magazines category. For the broader Ruger magazine lineup, see our parent Ruger Magazines category, or the Ruger brand page for the full Ruger catalog.
The Ruger Mark III was introduced in 2005 as the third generation of the Mark-series .22 LR target pistol family that Bill Ruger launched in 1949 with the original Ruger Standard. The Mark series generational progression had been: Standard (1949–1951), Mark I (1951–1982 — target variant with bull barrel and adjustable sights), Mark II (1982–2004 — improved extractor, bolt hold-open, scalloped receiver), and then the Mark III in 2005. The Mark III was produced continuously for eleven years through 2016 when Ruger announced the Mark IV at SHOT Show — making the Mark III the second-longest-running generation in the Mark-series family after the Mark II's 22-year run. Hundreds of thousands of Mark III pistols were produced across the generation's lifecycle, building a substantial installed ownership base that continues to demand factory-magazine support nine years after the platform's discontinuation.
The Mark III's engineering changes from the Mark II introduced features that became standard on the Mark IV. A magazine disconnect (the pistol will not fire without a magazine inserted — controversial among some defensive-pistol users, but standard for compliance with California and similar state regulations that require magazine disconnects on new-production pistols). A loaded chamber indicator (a visible and tactile tab that protrudes when a round is chambered — another California- compliance-driven addition). An Internal Locking System (ILS) — a keyed lock built into the grip frame that disables the pistol when engaged, a safety feature added for jurisdictions that required it but controversial among shooters who preferred simpler architectures. A Picatinny rail mounting option on certain Mark III variants for scope and red-dot mounting. And a 1-piece bolt with improved cocking-ear geometry for easier slide manipulation.
The Mark III's disassembly difficulty remained the platform's defining commercial complaint. Every Mark-series pistol from the 1949 Standard through the 2016 Mark III required a multi-step disassembly procedure involving the mainspring housing latch, the bolt geometry, and a precisely- calibrated sequence — a process that took minutes to execute correctly and frequently resulted in scraped hands, lost parts, and reassembly failures. The Mark III's reputation for being one of the hardest-to-disassemble pistols in the American market was a standing joke in the .22 LR target-pistol community for the platform's eleven-year production run. This was the specific problem the Mark IV was engineered to solve, with its one- button take-down that completes field- strip in 10 seconds vs. the Mark III's 2–5 minutes (with practice). Mark III owners who carry the platform today either have long since mastered the disassembly sequence or avoid disassembly entirely by hiring gunsmiths for cleaning and maintenance — an unusual arrangement for a civilian .22 LR pistol.
Mark III variants spanned the target / competition spectrum. The Mark III Standard (4.75-inch barrel), Mark III Target (5.5-inch bull barrel — the competition workhorse), Mark III Hunter (6.88-inch fluted barrel, scope-ready — the small-game hunting variant), Mark III 22/45 (polymer lower with 1911- angle grip frame for training shooters with 1911-style centerfire pistols), and Mark III Competition (bull barrel with muzzle compensator). All non-22/45 Mark III variants share the standard magazine covered in this category; the 22/45 variants use a DIFFERENT magazine engineered for the 1911-angle polymer grip frame and NOT compatible with the standard Mark III magazine.
Magazine compatibility. Mark III magazines are fully interchangeable with Mark IV magazines — Ruger kept the magazine geometry constant across the 2016 generational transition to simplify the upgrade path for existing owners. Mark III owners can buy current-production Mark IV-marked magazines without concern; Mark IV owners can use older Mark III magazines purchased before 2016. Mark III magazines are NOT compatible with Mark II (1982–2004) or earlier Mark I / Standard pistols — Ruger changed the magazine release geometry and feed-lip angle in the Mark III redesign, which broke compatibility with the two-generation earlier production run. Mark II owners who try to use a Mark III magazine will find the magazine does not seat correctly. Mark III 22/45 variants require a different magazine geometry than the standard Mark III — the 22/45's 1911-angle polymer grip frame uses entirely different magazine well dimensions.
Why Mark III magazines remain in production. Ruger has maintained factory magazine production for the Mark III since the platform's 2016 discontinuation — the magazines are sold today under the combined "Mark III / Mark IV" product designation that reflects the cross-compatibility. This is consistent with Ruger's historical practice of continuing magazine production for discontinued platforms well beyond the host pistol's catalog lifecycle. Factory magazines for the discontinued Ruger P-series (P85, P89, P95) pistols remained in production for decades after the pistols themselves exited the catalog. Mark III owners can expect continued factory-magazine availability for the foreseeable future, particularly given the magazine's cross- compatibility with the current-production Mark IV — Ruger has strong commercial incentive to continue producing these magazines regardless of Mark III inventory depletion.
Factory Ruger OEM magazines for the Mark III. The 10-round single magazine ($27.36) is the standard replacement magazine — steel- bodied construction with polymer follower, stainless spring, polymer floorplate, factory Ruger production from Prescott, Arizona. The 10-round 2-pack bundle ($41.53) is the best-value option for shooters rebuilding magazine inventory after 10+ years of sustained use has caused spring fatigue in original-production magazines — roughly $20.77 per magazine in the bundle vs. $27.36 single-magazine pricing. Both magazines ship with the current-production "Mark III / Mark IV" packaging reflecting the cross-compatibility.
The Mark III civilian market today is the orphaned-platform ownership community — specifically the shooters who bought Mark IIIs between 2005 and 2016 and continue to carry, train, and shoot the platform nine years after its discontinuation. Primary buyer profiles: long-term Mark III owners replacing spring-fatigued original- production magazines (the most common reason for new magazine purchases — 15-year-old magazines typically develop feed reliability issues from spring fatigue); Mark III collectors who own multiple variants (Standard, Target, Hunter, Competition) and maintain magazine inventory across them; target and competition shooters who bought Mark III Target or Competition variants for bullseye matches and continue to shoot them despite the newer Mark IV option; and cost-conscious buyers who purchase used Mark III pistols at post-discontinuation discount prices and need to build up magazine inventory beyond the single magazine typically included with a used pistol purchase.
For the current-production Mark IV magazine ecosystem covering the same SKUs, see our Ruger Mark IV Magazines category. For Ruger's compact .22 LR training pistol (the SR22), see our Ruger SR-22 Magazines category — the SR22 is Ruger's compact polymer rimfire training pistol, a smaller-envelope companion to the heavier Mark III/IV target platform. For Ruger's rimfire carbine, see our Ruger 10/22 Magazines category. For ammunition, Aguila .22 LR — one of the most widely-recommended rimfire loads — feeds reliably through the Mark III; see our Aguila Ammunition brand page for .22 LR High Velocity and Subsonic loads.
Keep Shooting ships all Mark III magazines from our Pennsylvania warehouse with free shipping on orders over $49.95 and hassle-free returns. The Mark III's 10-round capacity ships to all 50 US states — the rimfire target-pistol capacity falls below every state-level magazine capacity restriction. Whether you're a long-term Mark III Standard owner replacing spring-fatigued magazines after 15 years of plinking, a Mark III Target competition shooter building up magazine inventory for club-level bullseye matches, a Mark III Hunter owner maintaining magazine spares for small-game hunting trips, or a Mark III collector building up factory-correct magazine inventory across multiple pistol variants, every Mark III magazine in our catalog is factory Ruger production from Prescott, Arizona and carries the Ruger manufacturer warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions — Mark III Mags
Keep Shooting carries a wide selection of Mark III Mags products from trusted brands. Browse our catalog to see the full range, and use the filters on the left to narrow by brand, price, or product type.
Yes! All orders over $49.95 qualify for free shipping, including Mark III Mags products. Orders typically ship within 1–2 business days.
Keep Shooting offers hassle-free returns on Mark III Mags products. If you're not completely satisfied, contact our customer service team for a return authorization. All products must be in original, unused condition.
If you need help choosing the right Mark III Mags product, our team is available to assist. Check individual product descriptions for detailed specifications, or contact us directly and we'll help you find the best fit for your needs.