As we’ve reviewed no shortage of Ruger Mark-series guns, including the Mark IV 22/45 Lite, Mark IV Target, Mark IV 22/45 Bull Barrel and more, this won’t be an in-depth gun review. The SSH, or Silencer Shop Host, is the same Ruger Mark IV 22/45 that you know and love. But with a twist.
It sports the shortest Mark-series pistol barrel ever to leave Ruger’s factory at just 3 inches in length.
Naturally, it’s suppressor-ready with 1/2×28 muzzle threads.
I doubt the included thread protector will see much use on any SSH owner’s gun. Realistically, this little 22 LR pistol is more than suppressor-ready, it’s a dedicated suppressor host that’s sold exclusively through Silencer Shop’s dealer network.
Ammunition for this review has been provided by our review sponsor, Ammo to Go. You can support TTAG by shopping for all of your ammo needs at ammotogo.com.
The barrel length and diameter, plus the SSH’s overall balance, are designed with a silencer in mind. I mean, it looks a little stubby and silly in the photo above, right?
Ah, yes, that’s better.
So is that!
And that.
And even a JK 105 RFX in super shorty mode gives the SSH some awesome space blaster sorta vibes.
Not only does the short barrel mean the SSH looks complete and correct with a suppressor on it rather than looking like a complete gun plus a suppressor tacked on, it also means that high-velocity, bulk box 22LR ammo stays subsonic.
This is great news, as you can feed the Silencer Shop Host the most affordable ammo on the market and, coming from it, it’ll still be among the quietest ammo on the market. No need to buy lower velocity, target-grade stuff and certainly no need to buy silencer-specific, subsonic rounds.
In my testing, the SSH fed and fired every type of ammo I tried, from subsonic silencer stuff and fancy target loads up to ultra high velocity varmint ammo. Not just reliable, it was also accurate with all of it.
Three inches of barrel is plenty to fully stabilize 22 long rifle, and I saw consistently tight groups at 25 yards just by resting the heel of the grip on the bench and shooting with a simple red dot.
I probably shanked that “flier” in the group pictured above. Can’t blame it on the trigger, which is pretty darn clean and crisp with an approximately 4.5-pound break.
Of course, given that the SSH is a Ruger Mark IV 22/45, options for customizing and hot-rodding it are many. From target-grade trigger kits to extended controls to sweet grip panels, and other retailers have tons of parts available.
With a Picatinny rail up top, most users are sure to mount up a reflex sight or a red dot, but you can also dream big and go with some night vision!
At a going price of around $559 depending on your local gun store, the Silencer Shop Host is a great option for a well-made, accurate, super fun rimfire plinker and hunter that’s designed specifically for suppressed shooting.
Specifications: Silencer Shop Host (SSH) Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Tactical
- Caliber: 22 LR
- Capacity: 10 rounds (comes with three magazines)
- Length: 7″
- Height: 5.5″
- Width: 1.22″
- Weight: 29 oz
- Barrel Length: 3″
- Receiver Material: Alloy Steel
- Grip: Polymer, Checkered 1911-Style
- Finish: Blued
- MSRP: $749 (available exclusively via Silencer Shop HERE)
Ratings (out of five stars):
Overall * * * *
Absolutely awesome! More fun than a barrel of monkeys! All I’d perhaps change to bump this bad boy up to a 5-star gun is a little more custom work. Given that it’s a Silencer Shop exclusive item it would be cool to see things like custom grip panels, a more tactical style charging handle and magazine release, and maybe a unique trigger shoe style. Heck, a combo deal with a silencer including custom Cerakote on everything would be slick! All things an SSH owner can do on their own, but it’s a cool and specific, unique pistol that I feel could have taken that theme a little further.
