On my top 7 22 Rifles list, my number one choice was the humble Ruger 10/22. I listed a few reasons there, but let’s reevaluate why this rifle is so fantastic. The Ruger 10/22 is on equal grounds with guns like the AR-15 and the Glock series of handguns.
It’s the definitive gun of it’s of its type. The Ruger 10/22 is infinitely customizable and one could easily even build their own Ruger with barely any Ruger parts. There are even 80% lowers for this gun. Why is it so popular? Because it works! It works extremely well. It’s accurate, easy to shoot, and most of all reliable.
The Break Down on the Ruger 10/22
The Ruger 10/22 is a semi-automatic 22 LR rifle that comes in several different configurations. This rifle uses a rotary magazine, which makes feeding rimmed rounds easy and its one of the most reliable designs on the market. My particular model is the shorter and lighter carbine variant. The Ruger 10/22 carbine has an 18.5-inch barrel and my particular model has the basic wooden stock. It wears open sights and comes drilled and tapped for a Dovetail scope mount.
The Ruger 10/22 comes in over a dozen configurations, including takedown models, distributors exclusives, tactical variants and more I’m probably forgetting. There is a Ruger 10/22 out there for everyone.
The Ruger 10/22 is designed for a variety of tasks. It’s a great small game hunting rifle, it can be built into a precision rifle or just a fun plinking rifle. That’s what’s mine does in most situations.
When I just want to pull triggers and save money I break out the Ruger 10/22. When it comes to new shooters, the Ruger is a perfect rifle, especially for kids. I firmly believe the key to getting new shooters started is to let them have fun first and then teach them the fundamentals of marksmanship. What more fun than a rifle that fires as fast as you pull the trigger with such little recoil?
Ergonomics
Let’s get the bad out of the way first. The magazine release is a real hassle, at least on my model. The new Rugers have a much better magazine release, but mine is the old school awkward push button design. The right side charging handle is so untactical that I love it. The stock is a little short for my gorilla arms, but because the rifle doesn’t recoil much it’s easy for me to manage it.
The sights are simple open irons, but they work for rimfire needs. They aren’t special, and replacing them with something like Tech sights are a drastic improvement. I keep an old and cheap red dot mounted on mine, and it works well. Everything is simple about the Ruger 10/22 and that’s part of the appeal. It’s just as easy for an 8-year-old to use as it is for a 28-year-old.
On the Range
I’ve had this Ruger for over 10 years and it still remains a constant at the range. I’ve never had any serious malfunctions beyond the occasional failure to fire. These are rare enough that I can’t remember the last actual malfunction. The factory magazines are the key to the reliability with this rifle, and Ruger now produces the BX 15 and BX 25 magazines on top of the standard 10 rounders and they work like magic.
The Ruger 10/22 is a straight shooter and its a perfect companion for any new or experienced shooter. The trigger is outstanding for a cheap little 22 LR rifle and the only complaint I have is the trigger reset. It’s a bit lacking in the audible and tactile feedback realm. But let’s face it, this isn’t a big deal on a rifle made to shoot soda cans.
Long-Term Love
This is one of those guns that’ll never leave the collection. It’s such a fun little gun and I’ve used it to train dozens of young and new shooters in the basic art of rifle shooting. It’s still a gun I break out when stress is high and I need to just put lead downrange. The Ruger 10/22 is a fun little gun, and easily one of the best rimfire rifles ever created. The Ruger 10/22 is an amazing rifle, and a must have for any gun collection.
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