10/22 vs rem 597

597 + VQ hammer is a very good shooter. I floated the barrel on mine, and also did the VQ extractor. 10/22 has more potential, but the 597 will probably shoot better for less money when you're looking at the lower end of the price spectrum.
 
The 597 is a POS my dad bought one for my brother even though i said get a ruger. Well the POS jammed on every type of ammo from the cheapo bulk pack to CCI stingers and velocitors, we sent it back to remington and after waiting nearly a year we gave up and bought him a 10/22.
 
The best thing you can do (and hopefully you are located close to a gun store with a lot of .22s in stock) is to actually go into the store and handle a few. Pictures, product specs, pricing and internet opinions are great and all, but nothing compares to having them all in front of you, or in your hands to compare. Once you find the one that feels right to you, take it home.

I bought the 10/22 in the end, but it's a scoped rifle. There's something about the shape of the stock that makes it damn near impossible for me to use the factory sights. Other rifles are much easier for me to do so for some reason. The 10/22 is a rather short-feeling rifle. Others (and I believe it was the 597 mentioned before) have a better 'real rifle' feel to them in terms of proportions. I love the rotary magazine of the Ruger. It's a great design, and feeding issues were very minimal when the rifle was stock, and now non-existant with the VQ extractor installed. I also use the steel-lips 25 rounders, but they tend to be a touch more problematic (one magazine I have tends to freeze, while the other works flawlessly for the most part).

Who'dve thought that I'd end up with a Ruger 10/22 when I walked in the store. When I pushed open the door, I was all set on a Marlin model 60. Funny how handling my options and having them in front of me changed my mind very quickly. I'm sure it is a good gun as well, but it just wasn't for me all things considered for my purposes.
 
I bought 597 compulsievely at the spur of the moment and never regretted the purchase. I also handled a few 1022 and I refuse to have any spurs of the moments with those. Everything on 1022 seems like need a bit of tweaking or fixing or parts replacement. The only one I remotely liked was target model with synthetic adjustable stock and bull barrel but even that one was flawed here and there.
 
If you want to buy a gun and sell every part on it except for the receiver and replace them all with over priced after market components then yes go buy yourself a 10/22 but if you want to buy a rifle and shoot it right out of the box or maybe add $50 for VQ hammer/extractor, then the 597 is the gun for you. but hey like has been said go to a gun shop and handle them both and which ever one suits you best go home with it, or just be done with it and buy one of each:D. I own three 597's and two 10/22's (one of each is for the wife as I am not into pink) and yes I have been slowly building up a pile of after market stuff to build up one of the 10/22's, only $500 or so more and I can start the build :redface::redface:
Slayer
 
I'm thinking of another 22 for the kids and I'm leaning towards the 597.

I've had three 10/22's and liked them all but to be honest I was replacing triggers and barrels to make them do what I want.

Perhaps I need a 597 and I'll keep it a KISS rifle.
 
I have both in target models. I prefer the 10/22.

The rotary mags are excellent on the 10/22 and far superior to that of the 597.

Required upgrades:

The rail that came standard with my 597 didn't feel secure at all. I've changed it out for a Leupold one piece base. I also did this for the 10/22 but the rail on the 10/22 was fine and seemed fairly solid. I just don't like Weaver stuff if I can help it. 597 rail had to be changed, not so with the 10/22.

The triggers on both models need work. They both suck in stock form. You can use them but they really aren't very good. Once fixed up they are good.

Mechanical issues:

Both of mine cycle and fire without issue.

That being said 2 of the 4 magazines that I bought for the 597 failed to insert properly and would fire one shot and then fall out. I've never had any issues with the rotary 10 shot mags in my 10/22.

Although I've never had any problems, there is lots of material on the net about loosening the guide rails on the 597 since you'll get issues if they are too tight.

Shooting:

My 10/22 shoots everything decently. For target work it shoots the Lapua Super club fairly well. I'm happy with it. As a non serious target rifle, plinker and just a fun gun it does very well. The accuracy is acceptable.

The 597 TVP. It shoots most stuff like crap. 2-3 inches indoors 20 yard range (no wind). Then it shot one lot of Lapua better than my Ruger which has decent accuracy. I was ecstatic. That was until I grabbed another box of Lapua and it shot mediocre. I was out of the same lot that shot well, and the box I grabbed was a different lot. So it has potential for sure, but this rifle for it's intended purposes is far too ammo sensitive.

Reports on the internet show that this isn't an isolated incident. I could accept that mine was a lemon, but others have had this same problem. Then we get to the fact that I can't change the barrel with an aftermarket one. Frankly on a $500 .22 rifle I really shouldn't have to.

I'll be trying to figure out what's wrong and get this problem fixed.

Summary:

Neither rifle is really a great out of the box do nothing to it firearm. Both need some work. The 597 needs as much or more work than the 10/22 to make it a nice firearm to shoot. If you want an out of the box target/varmint semi auto rimfire with nothing to change, then get a T/C R55 benchmark.

Recommendation:

Ruger 10/22 target/varmint model.
 
597

i have both 597 yellow jacket, bought cheap 597 and 10/22 stainless,yellow jacket can shoot 2-3 10 shot clips at 50 yards cover it with a loonie. my 10/22 shoots well too but not as good but i had to get soem stuff done to the action other wise very very picky on ammo, could not get thru a 10 shot clip on any thing . Works good now . but i heard report of the remy tvp having barrel trouble,/ Both good gun 10/22 got more accessories.. but if i was to buy again would be a remy for sure
 
10/22 all the way! I've got the sportster with the walnut stock...great quality...something you could pass down. I've just got a cheap tasco scope on it but 1" groups at 75 yards no problem. The hot lips 25 round mags really make this a fun plinker.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom