Born back in 1964, the Ruger 10/22 rifle is the best-selling rifle in America. That’s quite a while to be banging around in rifle racks and behind the seats of pickup trucks all over America. Very accurate and reliable, it is one of the most customized rifles in the world. It’s mind-boggling all the different things that can be done to customize this little rifle. Ruger puts out a number of different versions of this rifle. At one time, it was available in .22 Magnum and also .17 HMR calibers. These days, though, it’s just good ol’ .22 Long Rifle.
Sootch00 gives us a rundown of the Ruger 10/22 in this video:
Ruger 10/22 Features
One of the reasons for the Ruger 10/22’s popularity is its great balance and weight distribution. With the 10-round magazine in place (it fits flush), you can hold the rifle where the magazine goes and it balances so nicely.
The safety is in front of the trigger guard and is of the cross-bolt type. The bolt does not hold open after the last round is fired, but there is a bolt hold open in front of the trigger guard. Personally, I never really saw much use in that feature, but I guess some folks might like it.
Sights consist of a buckhorn rear with a white triangle and a brass bead front sight. They’re fully adjustable, of course. They’re pretty basic, but function well enough.
The barrel has a tapered profile. It has become popular to put a heavy barrel on the 10/22, which can make them extremely accurate. The action is blowback.
It’s customizable!
One reason that the Ruger 10/22 is so customizable is that the only tools you need to do so are a screwdriver, hex key, and some punches. You can do anything to the rifle, including removing and replacing the barrel, with those few simple tools. The receiver is drilled and tapped, so a scope can easily be installed. In fact, my 10/22s came with a scope base that easily attaches to the receiver, which makes mounting a scope very easy.
The stock on the rifle in the video has a wooden buttstock with a plastic butt plate, which is pretty standard. Since there is basically no recoil, we don’t need to have the butt plate padded. Currently, stocks are available in wood and synthetic. The wood stocked version weighs approximately 5 ¼ pounds, which makes it a real pleasure to carry.
The barrel length on the standard model is 18 ½ inches, for an overall length of 37 inches. Other available barrel lengths include 20 inches and 16 ½ inches (the Carbine version). I have the standard model and the 16 ½ inch model, and that little carbine is a real joy to handle!
Ruger 10/22 mags are amazingly reliable.
A good bit of the Ruger 10/22’s success is owed to its magazine system. The standard 10-round magazines are of the rotary type and they are amazingly reliable. Other magazines currently include the BX-15 (15 round) and BX-25 (25 round) from Ruger. They are very robust and well-built, not to mention supremely reliable. Ruger even has a magazine that is two 25-round magazines molded together; when one empties, you eject it, flip the magazine to the other end, insert it, and you have 25 more rounds. Personally, I tend to stay away from most aftermarket magazines, instead preferring factory original mags.
The magazine release on the rifle in this video is of the older type, which is a push-button. Newer mag releases are of the lever type, and in my opinion, the lever is easier to use.
The rifle itself has a reputation for reliability.
As far as ammo is concerned, my Ruger 10/22s seem to eat everything that I feed them, they’re not sensitive at all. Bulk pack, CCI, it doesn’t matter, the little rifle chews through whatever is stuffed into the magazines as long as it’s at least standard velocity.
Both of my 10/22s wear the blued finish, but a stainless All-Weather finish also exists. Obviously, the stainless version will be easier to care for and less prone to rust in the elements.
Some military and law enforcement units have used special Ruger 10/22s (the AWC Ultra II) with a heavy barrel and sound suppressor. They are incredibly quiet, and when fired, all you can hear is the action clicking back and forth as long as subsonic ammunition is being utilized. In 1987, the Israelis began using suppressed 10/22s as a “non-lethal” riot control weapon.
.22 LR is a popular caliber.
The .22LR has so many advantages it’ll make your head spin. It’s less expensive than most other ammo, so you can buy a lot to store and practice with. It’s quieter than most other calibers. There is nearly no recoil, which allows rapid-fire without going off target. For teaching new shooters, all these factors are a real boon. And in the hands of an experienced shooter, these factors also make it an advantage.
As long as you recognize and take into account the .22LR’s disadvantages, it can be a great caliber. Naturally, it’s not nearly as powerful as most other calibers, so shot placement is going to be paramount to success. Because of its low velocity and solid nature, most .22 rounds are going to hold together as opposed to fragmenting, so they will tend to penetrate.
Another great aspect is that you can carry a large amount of this ammo with you if you’re heading out into the woods for an extended outing. 500 or more rounds can easily be slipped into a backpack without much effort, and that can last for quite a while in the wilderness. A mess of ammo and a Ruger 10/22 don’t weigh a lot, so you can carry it farther and easier than many other firearms.
Can you use a Ruger 10/22 for protection?
The Ruger 10/22 can protect you from both two-legged and four-legged predators if you do your part. And with a few 25-round magazines, you have some firepower along for the ride.
One more advantage of this rifle is that it looks…well, not like an evil “assault rifle.” It’s a plane Jane affair that won’t get timid people upset. Additionally, it doesn’t have features that would lead it to be banned in certain communities; no pistol grip, flash suppressor, or any other items that make a firearm look evil and more deadly. It rather resembles the M-1 Carbine from WWII.
Check out the Ruger 10/22, it has a lot to offer!
