The 10/22 has gobs of aftermarket support, a robust architecture, and sturdy magazines. Unlike some semi-autos, it is not finicky about ammo. Ammo is inexpensive and widely available. It is plenty accurate enough out-of-the-box but it can also be upgraded if you want to shoot the heads off of wooden matches or flies off of a cow's ear at 50 yards.
Sportsman's Warehouse has them on sale this week for about half of the MSRP.
It is better to have a firearm than to not have a firearm. You could do far, far worse than to pick up a new-in-box Ruger 10/22 carbine for $200 (even if it does not have a stainless steel barrel)...and elections sometimes don't turn out the way we hope.
And there’s nothing wrong with having several
ReplyDeleteFive gold-stars for you, sir-or-ma'am as the case may be.
DeleteI solemnly maintian you are not a bad person if you lose count particularly when your wife asks. Roger
DeleteOver the years, I must have had a dozen. In 2002 I put a 16" Magnum Research carbon fiber, compensated, target barrel ($300) and Volquartsen trigger group ($250 in 2002 dollars) on my old 10/22. I've got unknown thousands of rounds of every type of ammo through it. For the last 15 years CCI Velocitor is the duty ammo.
DeleteMr ERJ I believe I picked up my first one in the late 80's for 57.00. I had to get a raincheck coupon cause they ( department store) sold out. Still have it, works fine. Thanks Al
ReplyDeleteWhen I got mine in about 1980, I didn't realize how much I would enjoy shooting it over the years. It now has a new trigger, new mag release, new bolt release, and new sights. I also free-floated the barrel. But still has the original barrel, bolt, trigger housing, and stock. Love that gun!
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with you on the 10-22 --
ReplyDeleteI have at least 5 of them around here
Ranging from a special "Canadian Centennial" model that I bought new back in 1965, to a highly accurate Tac Solutions custom take down from a few years ago -- and a large number of 10 and 25 round magazines to go with them (buy Ruger brand -- the aftermarket ones are junk).
All have some type of optic on them, as these old eyes don't do iron sights like they used to.
And the take down model in a Magpul take down composite stock is quite light weight, and will fit in a GHB
They're not as accurate as my Winchester 52C that I still have from back when I shot .22 competition, but they're not nearly as heavy, and they are a lot of fun to shoot.
I'd say a few good words about the Ruger Mini14, in stainless and nylon furniture, if'n one wanted a 5.56 round. That's what live's in my barn.
ReplyDeleteAlso, there are 25 round mags on the market that work well.
ReplyDeleteThey are not quite the "Lego" version of firearms that the AR15 is, but there are TONS of aftermarket bits to replace the stock config, should you desire something different.
Well, a 10/22 would not be a bad choice for a 'forever gun'. My high school graduation gift was a 1981 Deluxe Carbine that shoots lights out. Hunting is more of 'point and shoot' with that one. When misses occur, it is MY fault. No excuses for the carbine.
ReplyDeleteDad purchased a stainless 10/22 carbine with laminated green camo stock for his Grandson (not mine, Dad had passed before my children were born). A very nice gun - i still wonder why I hadn't purchased one for myself back then.
There was (is?) a movement about a dozen years ago for the heavy bullet 60grain Aquila load. Supposedly, the heavy bullet provides deep penetration in live targets, but also has a very pronounced trajectory. I purchased a quick twist 1:9 barrel for the ammunition, as well as a few bricks of the ammunition. So far, haven't tried it. But if you are attempting to make your 10/22 a better short range hunter, might be worth it.
Spend the money you save by buying on sale on magazines. the 10 round rotaries hold up pretty well but everything fails and any mag is the weak point for any firearm. Having extra mags is never a bad idea.
ReplyDeletethe Ruger 10-22 of today is not as good as the examples of 20 years ago, but they are still pretty good and have tons of support.
I've had 10/22's since I got out of the USAF in '73. I have magazines from back then (slotted screw, not hex). If they get iffy on feeding, take them apart and clean it. When re assembling, twist the spring retainer nut one and one third times, the manual says one and a quarter, but you can't with a hex nut.
DeleteAnother vote here. Sturdy, steady, reliable, easy to handle, accurate, doesn’t cost a fortune. Buy extra mags, as someone else noted. We used to buy bulk boxes of cheap ammo years ago, and mostly had no trouble with misfeeding. Eventually we had to switch to another brand, we suspect something in production quality changed. But generally, any ammo would work. Everyone should have several.
ReplyDeleteSouthern NH
The first gun I ever bought was a Ruger 10/22 sporter in 1976. Just this last Christmas I gave it to my oldest son and another 10/22 to his son. That leaves me with just two 10/22's. I cant compare it to other brands but it has given good service for almost 50 years.
ReplyDeleteI bought three of these about 18 years ago, one for each of my sons. They were about $100 apiece back then.
ReplyDeleteI'm down to 2. One is a 3rd year production gun with a 43xxx serial no. The other is a handy-dandy Charger pistol. It's so handy-dandy and accurate that the rifle mostly sits in the corner, not resentful, old 10/22's are above that.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up. Just ordered one for pick up next week. Have a couple but another one won't hurt.
ReplyDeleteJust because this has me thinking about 10/22's, there was a Rimfire forum I used to read years ago, and there was a guy on there from Utah (I think) who machined a 10/22 receiver out of a block of solid brass, just because he could. That man was an artist! Watching that chunk of brass turn into a gleaming 10/22 was astounding! I remember the anticipatory waiting for his new posts about that gun was like what we all do now for ERJ when he's got one of his stories going!
ReplyDelete