First rimfire. 597 or 10/22?

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browninggold

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Ok guys, buying my first rimfire simply to do some plinking with. Reading lots about the Remington 597 and Ruger 10/22. Since I know nothing about quality and reliability of either, and I want to keep spending under $500, which one is the best bang for the buck?
 
browninggold said:
Ok guys, buying my first rimfire simply to do some plinking with. Reading lots about the Remington 597 and Ruger 10/22. Since I know nothing about quality and reliability of either, and I want to keep spending under $500, which one is the best bang for the buck?
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The 1022 runs great with factory mags ,takes a bit of breaking in time with the 25 rnd BC mags. Stripping the 1022 down for cleaning and mods is really easy. Lots of aftermarket parts . ( have no experience with the 597)
 
Both are nice rifles, if you want hi cap mags for it though or to do mods get the 10/22.
If a bolt action is what you want get a Savage mkII made in Lakefield Ontario.
 
I have both, 10/22 runs better out of the box. My 597 took more work to run reliable with 25 rounders ( mag prob not the gun) but is more accurate now. 10/22 is way easy er to disassemble and has more after marked support.
 
If you can afford 500 bucks either will do, there is more crap for the Ruger. You can take a 4 pound gun and make it an easy 12 pounds. For low cost shooting get a Norcino JW14 for 99 buck on sale at Canadian Tire. I have a 597 and a JW14, both great.
 
I've owned both, and still own 597s. 10/22's are no longer tolerated on the premises. Many folks love their 10/22's, and have had much more luck than I had.

If you have any inclination to change a rifle as it arrived in it's box, buy a 10/22. There is no shortage of aftermarket stuff for them.
 
browninggold said:
Ok guys, buying my first rimfire simply to do some plinking with. Reading lots about the Remington 597 and Ruger 10/22. Since I know nothing about quality and reliability of either, and I want to keep spending under $500, which one is the best bang for the buck?
Click to expand...

I'm not a fan of either gun, the 597 for superficial reasons (don't care for the look of them...but the 22MAG models are tempting) and the 10/22 because they're highly overrated guns. If "plinking" is your goal, I suspect both would serve you well...but I'd urge you to look at the Marlin 795 or Marlin 60. Both have inferior iron sights when compared to the 597 or 10/22, but otherwise...they're excellent guns in my experience, and certainly more accurate than any stock 10/22 I've shot. You'll save about $100 buying one of these Marlin semis as well.

Since you mention 2 semi-autos, I've only commented on those...but I'm more inclined to suggest a bolt action for your first rimfire. I haven't had a Ruger in the house since my short-lived experience with a new 10/22 years ago, but reports on the 22MAG Ruger American bolt actions sound very promising. They come in around $325 at my local dealer. There are other good choices too. Some of the Savages, Marlin XT series, CZ's are great (but would punish your $500 budget a little).
 
If you like to swap parts, you cant beat the honda civic of rifles, the 10/22.
The 597 has 0 aftermarket parts compared to the 10/22.
Also have you heard of anyone copying the 597?
Kidd, volquartsen, Dlask, magresearch, RIA all make a version.
Juat my 2¢ If it was a poor design and bad gun, why would so many people own them?
 
Marlin 795s will outshoot both easily while costing much, much less. The Marlin 795s also have access to quality high-cap mags now, including 80-round drums, so the 10/22 no longer holds the monopoly. Only thing Ruger has left is a huge aftermarket parts source, so if you want to staple on another $500 onto a $350 rifle to help it shoot almost as good as a stock $200 Marlin, you can.

Could also look to CZs- gorgeous rifles and very, very well made.
 
I have both the ruger 10/22 and the rem 597 . This is my second 10/22 and I have never had any issues with either of them . The 597 on the other hand which I bought on a whim because Cabelas had a good sale price on it has been a problem . Right out of the box it had feeding and ejection issues . The internet is full of similar complaints . After much research on the internet I have set tension on the guide rods , polished them and tore down the magazine and stretched the spring slightly . Put everything back together and the gun seems to be running OK so far . If you want reliable out of the box and you are stuck on a semi go for the 10/22 . Some say that the 597 is more accurate of the two and perhaps now that mine will function I can find out .
 
Id go with the 10/22..I had a few problems with the trigger assembly on my 597, although I fixed it my self it took considerable patience and dexterity....
 
I too have both. I do not care for a stock 10-22. My 597 is a Yellow Jacket model w/ heavy barrel. While the semis are nice to shoot with & great in the gopher patch, a good bolt is far better in my opinion. Buy a good gun & you will have a gun your grand kids can shoot! Pay the price once and enjoy. Buying & playing with a few different gun also has advantages but If you can try some & decide from there.
 
I wish I'd taken the money I spent on my 10/22 and put it into a CZ-512. With the great gun panic of the past few years down south, Ruger ramped up production and chucked QA out the window. You may, or may not, get a lemon. What you won't get is the fit and finish and quality build of the 70's, 80's, and 90's 10/22's that made it famous and loved.
 
I have the 597, sorted the issues out with jamming (sharp edges on the bolt where it contacts the guide rails), shot the 10/22 and my opinion is after 3000rds on the 597..


Neither....

Was my first gun, it shoots well but I find myself being constantly targeting my ranges at 150 yds and I kick myself for not getting a bolt action like the savage.

It has the 30rd mag clips that are not bad once worn in but they are a pita to load. Mines got the heavy barrel and boyds stock and and feels like a real gun vs the 1022 that feels a bit like an air rifle. .

But that's just my opinion of it. 50 - 100 yds, it's fun...
 
Never owned either but sold tons of both when I worked for Crapbelas a few years ago. Took my time and did lots of research. Watched the returns dept closely, the semi autos came back way more often than the bolt guns.
That being said, Marlins and Remington's were 5 times more likely to be returned than the Rugers. Mostly feeding issues with the 597, some fit and finish issues, occasionally someone would complain that they would slam fire an entire magazine and a spring would come flying out of the action.
Had an entire shipment of 795's come with the front sights 45 degrees off center, yes the sights were literally on the side of the barrel. They went back to Remington needless to say.
Debated the Ruger for a while but decided on the Mk II BV instead.
Sooooooooo glad I did.:cheers:
 
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