Thursday, February 6, 2014

The Ruger 10-22 Review

During the gun “scare” of 2013 I tried to find a particular .22 rifle. It was nowhere to be found. During that time it was difficult to find many different guns. Now days it’s a little easier to find guns and ammo.

The Ruger 10-22 is one of the most versatile rifles I’ve ever shot. I’ve seen it in every configuration you can think of. Ruger actually sells 6 variations of this gun. The Target, the Sporter, the Tactical, the Compact, the Carbine, and the newest the Takedown. Since 1964 the Ruger 10-22 rimfire .22 caliber rifle has been serving the American public. Millions of people learned to shoot with this rifle and thousands have owned them.
“Although the concept of Ruger’s first .22 rifle began in the 1950s, the final design took its inspiration from the success of the Ruger .44 Magnum Carbine, which was introduced in 1960. An obvious hint can be found in this line from Ruger’s 1964 catalog describing the 10/22 as a rimfire rifle “…built to high-power rifle standards…” In fact, anyone comparing the two rifles will notice a not-so-coincidental similarity in design, including their carbine-style barrel bands, basic pistol-grip stock configurations and semi-curved buttplates.
The 10/22 was the result of a collaboration between Bill Ruger, Harry Sefried and Doug McClenahan. Like everything the meticulous Ruger conceived, the 10/22 was over engineered, yet, due to its well thought-out mechanics, was eminently affordable. It carried an initial price tag of just $54.50. As Ruger wrote to Jack O’Connor a few months before the 10/22 was introduced, “…from a technological point of view, the new 10/22 is one of the best things we have done.”
On March 24, 1964, Ruger sent proofs from its upcoming catalog, announcing the new .22 rifle, to gun writers. At that time, however, only three preproduction prototypes existed. But later that spring, at the 1964 NRA Annual Meeting, attendees got to see and handle the rifle in Ruger’s booth, even though it wasn’t officially announced in gun magazines until June of that year.

“The New Ruger 10/22 .22 Caliber R.F. Self-Loader,” that first advertising headline proclaimed, was “the ultimate in logical design.” And indeed it was.
The trigger-housing group could be easily dropped out of the rifle for cleaning, and disassembly was simple enough to require only a screwdriver and a punch. Its barrel screwed in, making subsequent replacements and upgrades simple. The receiver was investment cast of aircraft-grade aluminum, as were the trigger guard and buttplate. Metal parts were either blued or anodized blue-black, and the stock was walnut. Its 18.5-inch barrel was topped with a simple, but effective, fold-down leaf rear sight and a gold-bead front post. Lock time was fast, and combined with twin anchoring points for the six-groove barrel with its 1:16-inch twist rifling, accuracy was exceptional. But perhaps most revolutionary—an apropos word in this case—was the 10/22’s 10-shot rotary magazine, a concept that took its inspiration from Ruger’s admiration of the rotary magazine in the Savage 99.

Needless to say, the 10/22 proved extremely popular, especially for shooters who already owned a Ruger .44 Magnum Carbine because it served as the perfect companion piece. However, with its easy-to-carry weight of only 5.25 pounds, the rifle also found immediate favor as an economical plinker and a fast-handling small-game rifle. A more sleekly styled Sporter—sans barrel band and with a rubber recoil pad—was introduced in 1966, with a hand-checkered variant coming out a year later. There was also a version with a Monte Carlo comb, plus a full-stocked Mannlicher-style model, which did not have the staying power of other stock configurations.
In 1980, with the cost of walnut escalating, Ruger switched to birch stocks. Still later, the stocks were changed to maple. Laminated stocks were introduced in 1986, and a stainless steel barrel was offered in 1992. Recently, the trigger housing was changed from aluminum to polymer.
Today, the 10/22 exists in five basic configurations. The Carbine is still made in the style of the original 1960s version, although with an improved, extended magazine release (one of the few distractions—along with a sluggish trigger pull—of the earlier 10/22s), which has become standard on all models. In addition to hardwood stocks, there are options like synthetic stocks, and a stainless steel barrel and receiver. A continuation of the original 10/22, the Sporter model features a checkered American walnut stock along with sling swivels.

The Compact model has an uncheckered hardwood stock, a fiber-optic front sight and a 16-inch barrel. Capitalizing on the 10/22’s penchant for accuracy, the Target model sports a crisply tuned trigger and a 20-inch bull barrel without sights, but it’s drilled and tapped for a scope. Its laminate stock also contains sling swivels. Finally, the Tactical model is available with a 16-inch, crowned bull barrel or a standard-contour barrel ending in a removable flash suppressor.
Although devoid of iron sights, the 10/22 Tactical comes with a scope base and is offered with either a black synthetic or Hogue Overmolded stock. The latter version is shipped with an adjustable bipod.

It is the Tactical model that has extended the 10/22’s popularity far beyond the target ranges and hunting fields. A number of these rifles have been equipped with suppressors and supplied to various law enforcement organizations as well as the military for use in covert operations. In its camo guise, it is a favorite for commandos and has been issued to such elite units as the Navy SEALs.”
( From Shooting Illustrated http://www.shootingillustrated.com/index.php/22082/ruger-1022/ Thanks to Rick Hacker)

There are other versions and so many aftermarket stocks, sights, and magazines that it’s impossible to mention them all.
The 10-22’s accuracy is legendary. It’s not inconceivable to get 1 inch groups out-of-the-box with the right ammunition. It can get better! Match barrels and triggers are available to increase that accuracy.
This is not really about the 10-22. This is about a magazine accessory by the company Alangator. It’s called the TriMag triple magazine coupler. I have many 20 and 25 round magazines for my 10-22 but this little beauty turns into a 30 round mag. It holds 3 10 round rotary magazines together in a central clamp. This allows the shooter to change magazines quickly and tripling the 10-22’s firepower. Another advantage is that the profile of this configuration. It does not hang down low like a 20 round magazine. If you live in a state that limits your magazine capacity, this would also be a viable answer. Be mindful of your 10-22’s stock. Make sure this item will work with the stock you have on your gun. Sometimes just one 10 round magazine sticks during magazine ejection. This product also takes care of that problem. In a pinch you can use this tri mag as a rifle rest if needed.
I love this product and think it would be handy to have 2 or 3 for your 10-22. What? You don’t have a 10-22? First get one, then buy several of these couplers for another answer to having ammo accessible.

Check ‘em out and get back to us with your experience.

Semper Paratus

Burn

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