The Ruger 10/22
Hey all, happy 10/22 day! Today we are going to be looking at the
Ruger 10/22, one of the most iconic and enduring rimfire rifle designs of all time. Since the debut of the design 60 years ago, the rifle has been exceptionally popular among shooters of all types. Both new shooters developing their skills and seasoned shooters love and appreciate this iconic rimfire rifle. We are going to delve into the history of the 10/22 in addition to its traits, features, and other considerations. Without further ado, let’s talk about the
Ruger 10/22.
Who is Ruger?
Ruger is a well-known American firearms manufacturer with many production facilities across the country. Founded in 1949 by Bill Ruger, the company produces a wide range of firearms and accessories.
Ruger firearms span various designs such as pistols, revolvers, bolt action rifles, and semi-automatic rifles. The company produces everything from hunting rifles to AR-15s, allowing them to appeal to a wide variety of shooters.
Notably, many of the firearms produced the by company feature cold hammer forged barrels, a desirable trait, especially for rifles. Ruger firearms and accessories are well-known for being of high quality while not breaking the bank, allowing shooters of all budgets to access quality firearms. Among the company’s most iconic and prominent product offerings are their rimfire firearms which include the 10/22, Single-Six revolver, and 22/45 and Mark IV series of pistols.
What is the 10/22?
The 10/22 is one of the most iconic designs
Ruger has produced.
Ruger introduced the 10/22 in 1964 in its iconic, standard configuration. This initial 10/22 design was a semi-automatic rifle with an 18.5” barrel and a wooden stock, mirroring the standard configuration of many commercial rifles of the era. The 10/22 introduced an iconic rotary
magazine which held 10 rounds of
.22 Long Rifle. The
magazine capacity and chambering were reflective of what the rifle was all about – 10 rounds of
.22 Long Rifle – hence the 10/22 name. These BX-1 magazines notably fit flush with the firearm when inserted.
The 10/22 features a prominent crossbolt safety which features a distinct red color when in the “fire” position, making it easily identifiable. As far as sights went, the original 10/22 featured traditional style open sights which provide a clean sight picture while maintaining an adequate field of view. Though some changes have been made over the years, this iconic carbine configuration of the 10/22 has been consistently offered since its debut many decades ago. Today, shooters can acquire traditional style 10/22 type firearms in addition to a wide range of other variants.
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Many 10/22 Variants
Like most popular designs, the 10/22 eventually became available in a number of variants and configurations. Beyond its initial, simple rifle offering, the 10/22 has been developed into target models, compact/youth models, tactical models, and even takedown models. Later designs have featured provisions for mounting scopes, threaded barrels, differing barrel lengths, and different forms of iron sights. In addition to standard rifle configurations, both reminiscent of and departing from the initial 10/22 design, the 10/22 has also been made available in pistol form as the Charger. The wide range of offerings from
Ruger allow end users to find a 10/22 which truly fits them the best and meets their needs.
Simple Design
One of the biggest features of the 10/22 is its simplicity. As a rimfire rifle, the 10/22 does not need an overly complex mechanism or method of operation. For
.22 Long Rifle, a simple blowback type operation is more than sufficient. This design features a simple bolt, firing pin, and spring design which relies on the blowback generated during the firing cycle. By utilizing a simple design such as this, there is simply less to go wrong with a 10/22 than other, more complex firearms. This simple design is also quite easy to work on and makes routine maintenance easy, allowing for a long service life.
Easy to Work On
Notably, the 10/22 is one of the easiest firearms to work on and customize. The simple design of the rifle is easy to maintain and can be broken down quite easily. This allows an end user to swap components such as bolts, charging handles and stocks efficiently. Additionally, it is very easy for an end user to swap a 10/22 barrel out for an aftermarket offering without the need for a gunsmith. Barrels are retained by a V-block and two bolts which are easily removed. With an easy barrel swap process, an end user can swap a factory barrel for a bull barrel, threaded barrel, or lightweight sleeved barrel if they so desire. Of course, when working on any firearm, one should ensure proper torque specs and safety procedures are adhered to.
Many Magazine Options
Ruger 10/22 owners are able to take advantage of a wide range of
magazines. Many 10/22s will come from the factory with the iconic BX-1 rotary magazines, providing a reliable and flush-fitting
magazine solution. Of course, other options exist if one can legally possess higher capacity magazines.
Ruger also offers their 15 round BX-15 and 25 round
BX-25 magazines as factory extended mag options. Additionally, there are many aftermarket magazine offerings an end user can consider. These offerings include everything from standard capacity offerings to large capacity drum magazines. Simply put, there is a great deal of magazine support from both Ruger and aftermarket sources.
Considerable Aftermarket Support
Due to the design’s continued popularity and prolific nature, the 10/22 has garnered considerable aftermarket support. This aftermarket support is observable in the wide variety of accessories and components available for the 10/22 design. These types of components and accessories include scope mounts, barrels, triggers, receivers, stocks, muzzle devices, safeties,
magazines, and more. Many companies, such as TandemKross and Volquartsen, produce a wide range of performance-oriented upgrades and parts for the 10/22 such as extractors and firing pins. The wide range of stocks and chassis systems one can purchase for a 10/22 truly allow an end user to tailor the firearm to their needs and preferences. It is not an overstatement to say that the 10/22 aftermarket rivals that of the AR-15.
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Clones and Imitations
The popularity and viability of the 10/22 design has spawned a wide range of clones and imitations. These clones and imitations can be had in the form of production firearms or built from a wide range of aftermarket parts. Simply put, there are many 10/22 type firearms which are not made by
Ruger. In most cases, the only Ruger-made parts on these types of firearms are the
magazines. These clones can range from offerings which resemble the original 10/22 design to ambitious designs which depart from established traditions. For example, the Fletcher Rifle Works OpenTop 11/22 design is essentially a 10/22 style firearm which features an open top, allowing for easy removal of the bolt, extractor, and firing pin. Ordinarily, an end user would need to remove the trigger guard and separate the receiver from the stock on a standard 10/22 design.
Great for Small Game Hunting
Due to its chambering in
.22 Long Rifle and wide range of configurations, the 10/22 is great for small game hunting. The light weight nature of base 10/22 designs, even when paired with scopes, makes them exceptionally handy and portable in the field. The light recoil and low report of the cartridge can be appreciated by both experienced and new hunters alike.
Additionally, the
.22 Long Rifle cartridge is excellent at dispatching small game and for pest control use. Game such as squirrel and rabbit can be humanely dispatched with a 10/22 at the right ranges. Of course, as with any type of hunting, one should be sure to employ proper
ammunition, firearms, and practices for the game they are hunting. Doing so will ensure both an optimal and ethical hunt.
An Excellent Trainer
Due to the low recoil and report of
the .22 Long Rifle, the 10/22 is an excellent trainer firearm for instructing new shooters. The tame cartridge allows shooters to develop their shooting fundamentals without being overwhelmed by a larger, louder cartridge. Additionally, the similarities that the rifle bears to larger centerfire rifles makes it a great platform for learning shooting skills. Both novice and experienced shooters alike can find value in the 10/22 as a trainer.
The wide range of 10/22 configurations available in the present day makes it an even more effective trainer. Traditional offerings and tactical designs alike can be used as analogues for their centerfire counterparts. Of course, the economic nature of the 10/22 and the
.22 Long Rifle also help make it a great trainer. There is a low cost of entry for
Ruger 10/22 rifles and for
.22 Long Rifle ammo which makes training incredibly accessible and cost effective.
Conclusion
All in all, the 10/22 is an exceptional design which as persisted for over 60 years now. The design is enjoyed and employed by shooters of all types for various use cases. Additionally, the fact that the rifle is copied and imitated to such a degree is truly a testament to the design’s longevity and popularity. While we here at True Shot Ammo do not sell firearms, we do sell
Ruger magazines and
.22 Long Rifle ammo which will pair great with your 10/22. Whether you are after a
BX-25 magazine or want to purchase some
bulk .22 Long Rifle ammunition, we have got you covered. As always, happy shooting.
Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at sales@trueshotammo.com for more ammo options.
