Is the Ruger 10/22 all it's cracked up to be?
- Thread starter CountryAndCalibre
- Start date
Well that is where the buying the parts over a year comes in to play ! The 10/22 is $300 up to and over $1000 depending on what model you want so you REALLY get what your paying for which is why the massive range in price ! If you want anything out of it more than shooting a can at 20 yards your going to want a upgrade and once that happens your just putting lipstick on a pig and pretty much anyone who has upgraded a Ruger 10/22 the only thing Ruger left on their rifle is the receiver. Dlask makes a much much much much better stronger receiver with a milled in rail on top and it IS worth it ! Mine was probably $1000 but since I bought the parts slowly over months it really didn't hurt the budget but I ended up with a 10/22 that is perfect for me that I have no need to do anything to it but shoot it and I can take the heads off chickens at 50 yards shot after shot. Trust me tho once you start building your own rifle it gets addicting and massively increases your firearm knowledge and interest in the hobby.
This is correct. Especially seeing as how the OP wants it for hunting, he should consider a Dlask.
To make a ruger do what a factory Dlask does out of the box will cost more in the end.
Hey Country - Look at all the people saying 'change this . . .change that' - Is that what you want to do ? Just buy a Marlin 795 or 60 or the 'new' Savage A22. All 3 shoot better out of the box than the Ruger. The Savage has a rotary mag 'similar' to the Ruger, and all 3 are less money than the R. Cabelas has the A22 with a scope and extra mag for $450, and the R for $440 - and you have to 'fix it'. Marlins are hard to find, new or used but they are out there too.
Just Sayin'
Just Sayin'
I have an older one, has the "boat paddle stock". It did well from new. I replaced the extractor, then it was great. I decided to add a Power Custom Comp trigger kit with over travel stop. Its fantastic. I never went gopher hunting last year, but the two year before I shot probably 1000 gophers with it. I upgraded the stock to a X22 2 years ago and its even better for using my sling while resting on my tripod with bag on top. Is it the greatest rifle in the world? No. Is it crappy and useless? No. Not sure why all the hate. I would recommend one. They are super fun. I usually use it from 0-75 yards, then switch to the .17HMR for farther stuff and to let the barrel cool on the 10/22.
Back again - I forgot to say that unless you're dead stuck on the semi, a bolt action is generally a bit more accurate. You just have to git that bunny first shot. I have a Savage B22 that can do 1/2" or so at 50yds if I'm careful - only $340 with a rotary mag - 10 or 25 shot.
And Lead - how much is your 10/ ? Trigger about $150+, stock another 150 +, base rifle $440. You coulda' had a Tikka ;-)
And Lead - how much is your 10/ ? Trigger about $150+, stock another 150 +, base rifle $440. You coulda' had a Tikka ;-)
Lol well said. I'm just after a .22lr to take rabbits etc and get my boy into hunting as gets older (he turns 3 this month). Something that works fine out of the box with minimal changes and customization is ideal in this case.
I will take a look at the Marlins and Savage! Thanks for your help!
I'll suggest the Savage 64 of any model just because it's cheap as can be and made in Canada. But what I really want to suggest are the CZ's. They are my favorite 22lr's out there, and really need no work out the box while being great quality for the price.
Cz 512 comes in either 22lr or 22 magnum
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Cz 512 Tactical model also comes in either 22lr or 22 magnum
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I would also suggest a bolt action. It's good way to learn on a single shot and start off learning the basics.
Cz 457 (a 455 or 452 would also be a good choice)
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If you aren't planning on modifying anything get the Marlin 795.
Last round bolt hold open, better barrel, push button bolt release, can take large capacity mags, more accurate.
I may be wrong but you cant get a push button bolt release or last round bolt hold open on a 10/22 even with upgrade parts.
nothing wrong with the 10/22, but if comparing stock rifles the Marlin wins.
Last round bolt hold open, better barrel, push button bolt release, can take large capacity mags, more accurate.
I may be wrong but you cant get a push button bolt release or last round bolt hold open on a 10/22 even with upgrade parts.
nothing wrong with the 10/22, but if comparing stock rifles the Marlin wins.
rifleman762
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Alberta
Comparing lower cost factory semi auto guns for accuracy: Marlin 795 is best, Remington 597 is pretty good, Ruger 10/22 isn't that great. I haven't tried a Savage 64. If you want aftermarket tinkering, though, the only choice is a 10/22.
Honestly, if you ask 100 people if the 10/22 is any good, you are going to find around 50 that love it, another 30 that like it, and 20 that hate it. Don't flame me here, I don't have any data, just a guess. Pretty much the same with any semi auto. This is because everyone gets to try a relatively small sample size and then they start to generalize about all the remaining guns out there. I'm in the 30 group above btw.
You can see it in this thread, the first replys were positive, then the 10/22 haters showed up.
Ask me how i feel about the savage 64, I'll say I hate em. Ditto the Nylon 66. And I have reasons. But I can assure you some say they are among the best.
Marlin semis are a solid meh for me, mainly due to the trigger. Don't hate em, don't love em.
Some guys think hitting a tin can at 50 yards is hunting accuracy, some will want to head shoot squirrels at 50 yards and so even there, there are many different standards.
Now if a guy tries a few kinds of ammo in a given gun and finds it isn't accurate with them he generally concludes the gun is inaccurate. But the same gun that shoots 1.5-2" groups at 50 yards may shoot another variety into 1/2". It takes a lot of effort to determine these things, and I suspect many guys never do that testing.
From what I've read, the 10/22 is on average just as accurate as the other semi 22's that are available.
Ok, so in my opinion, the 10/22 is a great squirrel/rabbit gun. It is light, accurate enough, shoots well, is generally very reliable and you can always add stuff to make it shoot even better. They are not perfect but most folks are very happy with them, in my experience. I personally prefer the ones with the aluminum trigger housing over the later plastic ones, but apparently they shoot about the same. Put it another way, the 10/22 is my favorite gopher gun ever (and many love it for that purpose). And if you can use one for gophers, it will do just as well for rabbit and squirrels.
Since you want to introduce your son to it someday, it will be a good choice for that, as they are generally light, short and point well. However, a semi auto is not really the best gun for a young boy to start with, and you will do well to start him on a little single shot or something and leave the semi automatic for a later time.
Ok, so having said that, if I were in your shoes, the first semi I would look for is an old brno 581. They are an exceptional rifle in a field of many good choice.
Here's a link to one on the EE right now:
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/2130316-REDUCED-Brno-581-Winchester-Wildcat-2-semi-autos?highlight=brno
these guns are never cheap, but are known for their accuracy and brilliant design. For me that's never worked out. The 10/22 is doing everything just fine.
One more thing, those that hunt squirrels in particular love shooting the 17HM2 over the 22 long rifle, because it is generally accurate enough for headshots, has far less drop than a 22 LR so more range and less hold over requirements, and puts them down better than a 22 LR, but without blowing them up ala 17HMR. I suspect it would offer the same advantages over the 22 LR on rabbits as well.
However, this is generally a bolt action only chambering. Just sayin.
Good luck
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Shooter_01
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Durham Region, Ontario
I’ve had a handful of 10/22’s over the years and they’ve all been great. Still have a TD and wouldn’t hesitate to get another.
Buy one and enjoy!
Buy one and enjoy!
These questions always bring out the fan boys and the haters...
But all of the rhetoric aside... why do you think that millions have been sold for decades and continue to be sold? It is a good little platform... you can mess around with it and bang away with it ad nauseum... the real reason it became so popular is the Ruger rotary magazine... it was and is a genius little invention.
If you want it for rabbits, it is a good choice... if you want it for squirrels, I would be looking for a good bolt action, like the CZ 452/55/57 etc...
But all of the rhetoric aside... why do you think that millions have been sold for decades and continue to be sold? It is a good little platform... you can mess around with it and bang away with it ad nauseum... the real reason it became so popular is the Ruger rotary magazine... it was and is a genius little invention.
If you want it for rabbits, it is a good choice... if you want it for squirrels, I would be looking for a good bolt action, like the CZ 452/55/57 etc...
I had one for a long time and thought it was the bees knees. Then I sold it. I bought my wife a Mossberg Plinkster (702 I think?) a few years ago, It does the same job as the 10/22 at 1/3rd the price ( I think I paid $125 at the Abby out doors show) and with 25 rd mags.
For the price point the Plinkster is a better choice. They have an option 25 round magazine that I like better than the standard 10 round magazine. The sight on the Pinkster is very nice compared to the Ruger. Now don't get me wrong I'm not bashing the Ruger 10/22. I own two of them but like other have said The standard trigger that it comes with is crap. on My completion gun I replaced mine with a Volquartsen TG 2000 trigger group which cost me as much as the rifle itself. I put a Kahles 3 MOA red dote on for a sight which greatly increase my speed on target acquisition. That being said am I any faster with my 10/22? not really. My other 10/22 with the 20" barrel is a sweet looking limited edition with a 3-7 power Leupold scope on it. I bought it second hand and the previous owner had a trigger job done on it that is just sweet. I don't even know what was done to it as I haven't had it long enough to warrant taking it down for cleaning. It is capable of MOA at 100 yards with the right ammunition. Would I buy another Ruger 10/22? Probably not. Not because they aren't a good gun but because for the price after all the modifications you can buy a Dlask or Grey Birch for around the same price.
Lol, did they make a Tikka in around the year 2000. Tikka does not make an mlok front stock. Tikka does not have an over travel stop trigger, Tikka can not double tap. Let me guess, the rifle was $300, trigger kit and Volquartsen extractor was like $130, X22 stock was $230. Say $700/21 years =$33 per year cost so far and going down .....for a semi that shoots decent, and is adjustable to fit any of my family members. One family of 4 eating at Wendys will cost $50.
If I bought a Tikka, I would buy a new stock for it the same day. KRG or MDT Don't have too, but I would, as it would be better. One thing to remember is down the road, parts for the ole "crappy 10/22" are everywhere, since it was built in 1964. A Dlask version could be a nice option, but I do not know much about them.
If not modding it, an extractor may be required or may not. Thats it. I would look at whatever .22 fits the OP's requirements, but I would not disregard the 10/22 as trash.
