Ruger 10/22 vs Remington 597

I love my 597 AAC-SD 16.5" standard profile barrel with Volquartsen hammer and extractor upgrades from Milarm.
Sure a fatter barrel would have been nice, but even the standard barrel is thicker than an M14.
Accuracy is all shooter and ammo dependant.
Check out rimfirecentral for groupings.

The extractor upgrade was not needed but the only reason I got one was since I got their hammer and because I could.
I have a swivel bi-pod and three 30rnd black Remington mags. No issues yet.
Just run a bore snake through the big mags and all is well.
Last shot hold open is standardized, unlike Ruger.

One mod I will do is replace the original trigger spring bushings with stainless ones that I still have yet to get around to making...
The stock trigger bushings are plastic and eventual wear in them is normal and will not effect function.
Polishing guide rods and pivot pins is also very popular but I see no use as of yet.
To further lower trigger pull, you can reverse the trigger spring or get a MCARBO kit for ~40$ (yes they do ship to Canada!).
They also come with a full size adult stock, unlike Ruger, and most have weaver rails but picatinny is also available.
Aftermarket support is growing with a couple of different barrel manufacturers out there including Volquartsen (not on their website but contact them via email).
There is even a guy on eBay making and selling from the US aftermarket aluminum triggers that are anodized in clear, red and gold.

The one reason why I got a 597 in the first place is because not every semi .22lr has to be a Ruger (Marlins are amazing) and not everything has to imitate ARs.
I wanted to be different and I'm happy I did!
As you can tell, nothing needed to be done in order for it to be a shooter.
 
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Welcome aboard.

For a 3rd post, you've certainly picked a good topic for strong opinions! Folks love what they love. I'll be the first to suggest a shooter without a .22 at all has a tormented soul.

I have owned dozens (gotta be close to 100 by now) of .22's. I no longer tolerate 10/22 on the premises. The 2 I owned were great for migraines, but inferior performers. Not every one has the same experiences though, and there is a huge following for the 10/22. If you wish to buy a rifle, and then buy more stuff to add to it, the 10/22 is a platform that can't be beat.

I bought my 597 used, for cheap (frugal shooter here), and love it. Reliable, and accurate. I like it being "full sized" too.

Although, not part of your original list, but suggested any way...The Marlin 795 shouldn't be overlooked. Marlins outsold Rugers for decades, but you don't see used ones listed too often...that'll tell you something. Very affordable, and accurate.


ciphery said:
Oh and the "micro groove" rifling of the marlin rifles are a poor excuse for rifling. They are the next thing to a smooth bore from factory and I can not see the longevity of a marlin barrel. I can also see fouling being an issue with accuracy.
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Have you ever encountered a shot-out Marlin, or any .22? I've looked down the bore of some old Savages (3c a good example), and rifling looks very shallow, almost "washed". The same bore looked that way 80 years ago too. My very-well-used Marlin '39 from 1954 is the first year of "micro-groove" production, and still shoots like a laser.
 
transam_218 said:
I have a 10/22 and a savage 64b, the savage is more accurate, but the mags. Only go up to 10 rounds and there really isn't any aftermarket stuff for it. The 10/22 hasn't been as reliable but there are lots of aftermarket options if your into that.
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For plain jane dependability, and accuracy, I like the Savage 64, I have the 64G all wood, LOVE IT. Never any issues and way more accurate than the 10/22 out of the box. No experience with the Rem.
 
smokeater40 said:
For plain jane dependability, and accuracy, I like the Savage 64, I have the 64G all wood, LOVE IT. Never any issues and way more accurate than the 10/22 out of the box. No experience with the Rem.
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I adore my 64's. I have owned a few of them, and still have my first .22 of all...a Cooey 64. Running the same design for 50+ years, through 3 different names, and still being churned out today must mean something. Being frugal, I look at pricetags too now, and sadly the 'ol 64 cost more than a Marlin last time I snooped at prices.
 
This may sound a little odd but one thing I like about the 597 is the factory 10 round mag is extremely easy to load. There's very little spring pressure. You can load and shoot all day without any issue. With the marlin 795 10 round mag, (and this is probably the only thing I don't like about the marlins as they are fine rifles), when shooting lots of rounds at the range, I would end up with cuts on my index finger from loading the mags. Used to have to tape my finger to keep it from getting cut into.
 
My buddy and I have exactly opposite experiences with our 597's and 10/22's. My 597VTR was flawless out of the box for over 5,000 rounds, after that I replaced the hammer and ectractor, not because I needed to, but because they showed up then! My 10/22 was a disaster from day 1 and has since left the premises. My buddy's 597 had some issues which we worked through and got it running smoothly, but his 10/22 ran like a top out of the box. He goes to the 597 more often becaue it is more like a full size rifle than the 10/22 and is more accurate than the 10/22.
He will be playing dress up with the 10/22 amd I am sure it will then outperform the 597.
 
My first experience with semi rimfire was 597 and was jumbo-jam-o-matic.
Most of my friends who had them get rid of them very soon after first couple of uses, dont know any friend of mine who had problems with 10/22, acctually who ever get it nobody get rid of it.
 
daka said:
My first experience with semi rimfire was 597 and was jumbo-jam-o-matic.
Most of my friends who had them get rid of them very soon after first couple of uses, dont know any friend of mine who had problems with 10/22, acctually who ever get it nobody get rid of it.
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You probobly can't read the owners manual. My guess is guide rods to tight. Remington would not sell a rimfire rifle that does not work. And they have been selling piles of 597's. I have 2 of them, one of the first year production and one a couple years old. Bone stock have had 0 problems.
 
I've had both, They are both ok guns for what they are intended. The 10/22 has the edge on aftermarket parts. Neither come close to a nice bolt gun from Anschutz, CZ, or Sako, but they are fun to shoot.
 
Ruger has always made fine guns, and most were economical, and some were even accurate (lol :).. but the 10/22 is at least 30% too high in price. I think the accuracy issue may be the way the barrel is attached, which is pretty loose and floppy compared to ones that are threaded or pressed in.. FWIW the mini-14 was horrible for accuracy as well, unless their Hogue-ed out target model with futuristic barrel harmonic dampener is any better.

They make the finest .22 pistol for the money by a landslide though (and .357 IMHO, as I owned the 6 inch stainless GP100 some years ago)... I am surprised there isn't a rifle based on that action :) Their AR doesn't look half bad either..

If I bought another new semi .22 today I would prob go with the 597 based on cost and availability of parts and aftermarket accessories. If you are competent enough to 'slick things up' on the inside you will be ok. That said, Remington has sh*tty support up here, and poor availability of factory parts also. Marlin is becoming a gamble, but their AR clone looks fun and is not restricted..Mossberg is always an option. Last but not least there is always the option of building a rig to your satisfaction, meaning based on 10/22 and costing big $ in parts.

What we really need are for the feds to help stimulate the economy by luring back some of the Canadian firearms and ammo manufacturers that were chased away over the last 30 years, and to stimulate and assist new ones. Having Lakefield put out some NEW exciting products would be cool.. Maybe Dlask, or NEA, or somebody could expand their line to include plinkers, and target rifles, a muzzle loader or two :) .... sigh... big dreams
 
Thanks for all the replies. It sounds like most people are sayin the ruger is. More reliable which Is what I have heard. I will have to check out the Marlin as well! I am not to familiar with marlin firearms.
 
AWOL said:
Or...

You could just get a 10/22 that doesn't jam and has no requirement to adjust guide rods.
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even more Or....

You could just get a (marlin 795/60) that (not only) doesn't jam and has no requirement to adjust guide rods, but also outshouts any of the others named here right out of the box, at half the price!;)
 
I got a Marlin 990L which is a much older model 60. Thousands thru her and still eats anything i want to feed her. Accuracy is great. Gophers fear her when i am with her in the fields. Tried a 10-22 and decided not to even buy one. Too expensive to make it shoot. Only thing left of the original gun is the action and woods.
 
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