Tossing around the idea of buying a Ruger 10/22 31236 Stainless Steel

[Idaho-Lefty]

Talk me into or out of it. I'm in the kicking around phase of buying a semi automatic .22 rim fire rifle and I always wanted a 10/22. I read several reviews and stumbled upon a few people stating they shot bad, along and others complaints like jamming. They stated they cheapened the gun over the years, and quality suffered as a result. I realize this is the internet, and I'll leave it at that.

I'm not looking to customize it, just throw a scope on it and shoot it w/o any modifications. I prefer stainless steel and no sights, this model fits the bill. As always I'm open to suggestions, and TIA.

I bought, a slightly used, Stainless Steel, 10-22 in a Wood stock from my Local Gun Dealer for $300.,..
Sold off, the Barrel on Ebay for $115.00 and Bought, a New 20 inch, SS Green Mtn sporter Barrel ( $135 IIRC ),..
the Group's SHRUNK by more than,.. 50% !
Added, a Volquartzen Trigger Kit ( installed it, myself @ 2-2.25 Pounds ), Volqrt Exrtractor, firing Pin, etc and Glass Bedded Action, in Wood stock. The Rifle shoots, Mid priced, SK, Std Plus Match, Wolf Match Extra, etc., into the 3's and 4's @ 50 yds. ( Even High Velocity Mini Mag's Now shoot Good enough to, Hit a Rabbit's Head ! )
The Rifle, New Barrel, 4 x -14x Burris scope+ Mts, Volqrt Trigger / Parts etc.,. Cost,.. $850 Total !
VERY Happy with, this Barrel and Rifle, Now ( Money, Well spent,.. IMO )

 

[Knotwild]

I don’t like the fact that they can be a bit of a pain to disassemble and that cleaning the barrel from the rear is impossible without buying a jig to bore a hole in the receiver. The width in front if the trigger guard is too wide for comfortable carrying. I don’t have the Ruger, I have a Bergara BXR. It came with a hole in the receiver and it gives very repectable accuracy out to 100 yds (haven’t tried it further). Nicer stock than Ruger and the barrel is threaded and fluted (everyone needs a rimfire suppressor).

If I pick a 22 rifle easy to carry, light, accurate, and easy to clean - it will always be my Belgium Browning SA22. I’m done with the idea that it’s acceptable to buy a gun and have to spend $200 - $300 to make it useable.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

My Rifle Looks like JD's But with, a Stainless Barrel and a slightly Bigger, Scope.
I Didn't even Mess with Buying, the 25 Round Magazines as they ARE, Feeding "Trouble" with, Most Rifles !
A Good Trigger and Barrel, Makes the 10-22, an Outstanding,. Small Game / Fun,.. Target Rifle.
With Rifle Rested over, a large Rock, I gut Shot, a Sage Rat, at a "Ranged",.. 87 Yards !
It was with, a real GOOD "Lot" of, Winchester, 36 grain, HP's ( yep, he was Dead ! )
It's EASY to Find, the Rear of, the Receiver's,.. "Center" and Drill, a 3/8 inch,.. "Cleaning Hole".

 

[243winxb]

I bought a 10/22 around 1990. Nothing special. 1 scope mount hole was stripped from factory.

The Marlin model 60 , tube feed, was more accurate, but changed point of impact, after cleaning. Only 1 screw holding action in stock.

Best buy for $$. Remingtom 581 bolt action.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

We still have a 511X Rem cut down to, Fit All our young Kids and It DOES,.. "Shoot" well !
Go Price out, an Older, NICE condition, Rem Bolt action .22 LR's,.. THEY Ain't, "Cheap",.. anymore, either !
Agree that, the Older Remington Bolt action, .22's,.. Do shoot, Great !

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

My recent experience with the 10/22 is limited. They have put more plastic parts in them in recent years but I don't know if that has affected reliability.

I have one from the early 90s, and a couple from the early 2000s. Kept clean and lightly oiled, they are fairly reliable. The triggers could use some love. I prefer the little Volquartsen kit or the drop in BX-25 kit from Ruger.

The T models can be accurate but a factory built gun is always a gamble.

Yup,. Step One,. get RID of,.. the Ruger, Factory Barrel ! ( Fedderson, Kidd and Green Mtn Barrels are, NICE )
Step 2,.. Buy, a Volqrt Trigger, Ruger BM-X or,.. a Nice Kidd,.. Trigger ( If you can afford it ).
Step 3,.. Plan on, spending,.. "some" Money ! ( Think everything, Out ! )
The ACCURATE, 10-22's,.. ARE,.. a Blast to, Shoot !
When Charged by, a Herd of Sage Rats ( on, a Good Day ) ,.. indespendsable !
After giving away, my Marlin 39-A and Anschutz Rifles to, grandchildren, I found out that, I Missed Having,..
a Good, .22 Rifle.

 

[jds holler]

I ran the numbers on mine, and it was made in '66'. I think I got it in '75'.
Orignal barrel had a couple of bulges in the bore that you could just feel when you cleaned it. Used to shoot about tennis ball sized groups at 50. When I got the new barrel it went down to "inch-ish", and I'm happy.
It's spent so many years, ever present in my travels, that it is responsible for many incredible kills and "one in a million" shots.
It was my trap line rifle for those days, and has killed hundreds of muskrats at 10-20 yards with a head shot. jd

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

@ jds holler,..
Time to, Break loose with, a Few Bucks and put an after Mkt Barrel, on that,.. 10-22 !!
It's only,. Money and It's being, De-Valued by the Day,.. thanks to, Congress !
Might as Well, get some "Use" out of,.. It !

 

[jds holler]

Heck if I spent REAL money on a barrel, then I'd have to start spending money for REAL ammo.
A man's got to realize his limitations, and I guess I'm kind of a "Bucket of Bullets" kind of guy. I'm OK with this twenty dollar take-off barrel that prolly doesn't shoot much different than the $200 one that someone replaced it with.

I guess with these little rifles, my philosophy runs more toward -success depending more on the indian than the arrow. jd

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Agree,.. Mid Priced, Match grade Ammo, ain't,.. Cheap !
I've gotten Lucky and Found some Cheaper, Winchester copper, HP's that have shot, Well.
When, I find a Good "Lot",.. I'll buy, a Bunch, for Sage Rats ( 1/2 inch group's at 50 yds gets it, Done ! )
Fed Auto Match shoots, pretty good, But, has,. SOFT Lead and you gotta clean, every 300 rounds or, so !
When the Auto Match, is GONE,. I'll NOT,.. replace it !

 

[RegionRat]

What makes a good 10-22 a thing of beauty, is when it will shoot crappy ammo near as good as an Anschutz running Ely.

 

[demarpaint1]

Best buy for $$. Remingtom 581 bolt action.

+1 I have two of them, and for accuracy they're tough to beat.

 

[demarpaint1]

i dont see that anywhere. i see it listed as a stainless steel finish. if they make an all stainless one i would like to know as id like one to.

Here's what I was going by. If one of the local gun shops has one I'll try to see it in the next week or so.

• Manufacturer: Ruger
• Model: 10/22 Light Varmint Target
• Series: 10/22 Series
• Caliber: .22 LR
• Action: Semi-Auto
• Capacity: 10 + 1
• Max Capacity: 10
• Barrel Length: 20"
• Barrel Description: Heavy Contour, Threaded
• Thread Pattern: 1/2x28
• Rate of Twist: 1-in-16"
• Stock: Black Hogue Overmolded
• Stock/Grips: Synthetic
• Overall Length: 38.25"
• Weight: 6 lbs.
• Finish: Clear Satin Stainless
• Finish Type: Stainless Steel
• Sights: No Sights
• Sight Type: None
• Safety: 2-Position Crossbolt
• Magazines Included: 1
• Magazine Description: 10 rd.
• Special Feature: Threaded Barrel
• Additional Info: Gray BX Trigger
• Additional Info: One-Piece Picatinny Scope Base

 

[rdremsek]

Here's what I was going by. If one of the local gun shops has one I'll try to see it in the next week or so.

• Manufacturer: Ruger
• Model: 10/22 Light Varmint Target
• Series: 10/22 Series
• Caliber: .22 LR
• Action: Semi-Auto
• Capacity: 10 + 1
• Max Capacity: 10
• Barrel Length: 20"
• Barrel Description: Heavy Contour, Threaded
• Thread Pattern: 1/2x28
• Rate of Twist: 1-in-16"
• Stock: Black Hogue Overmolded
• Stock/Grips: Synthetic
• Overall Length: 38.25"
• Weight: 6 lbs.
• Finish: Clear Satin Stainless
• Finish Type: Stainless Steel
• Sights: No Sights
• Sight Type: None
• Safety: 2-Position Crossbolt
• Magazines Included: 1
• Magazine Description: 10 rd.
• Special Feature: Threaded Barrel
• Additional Info: Gray BX Trigger
• Additional Info: One-Piece Picatinny Scope Base

I have 2 rifles like the one you are looking to purchase but have the wooden stock both shoot great and im using cci standard target rounds and both have bx triggers no feeding or extraction issues at all they are great guns the only change I would make is a better trigger . It's not a 800 to 1000 dollar rifle but it will shoot if you do your part.

 

[hoz53]

Here's what I was going by. If one of the local gun shops has one I'll try to see it in the next week or so.

• Manufacturer: Ruger
• Model: 10/22 Light Varmint Target
• Series: 10/22 Series
• Caliber: .22 LR
• Action: Semi-Auto
• Capacity: 10 + 1
• Max Capacity: 10
• Barrel Length: 20"
• Barrel Description: Heavy Contour, Threaded
• Thread Pattern: 1/2x28
• Rate of Twist: 1-in-16"
• Stock: Black Hogue Overmolded
• Stock/Grips: Synthetic
• Overall Length: 38.25"
• Weight: 6 lbs.
• Finish: Clear Satin Stainless
• Finish Type: Stainless Steel
• Sights: No Sights
• Sight Type: None
• Safety: 2-Position Crossbolt
• Magazines Included: 1
• Magazine Description: 10 rd.
• Special Feature: Threaded Barrel
• Additional Info: Gray BX Trigger
• Additional Info: One-Piece Picatinny Scope Base

notice it says finish- stainless—. i think all ruger 10/22 have the aluminum receiver just different finishes. i went through this before with one that looked stainless but receiver wasnt. if u want all stainless check into it.

 

[hoz53]

Funny story with this old one of mine. About forty years ago, It occurred to me that I hadn't cleaned this thing for --- ever. I'd never dissembled it or messed with it in any way, and it was disgusting.

Soooo, I tore it apart, and tossed the receiver and trigger assembly in a pan of water on the stove, and added a couple spoonfuls of the old cleaning powder called "SPIC N SPAN".
Well, let me tell ya, that cut the carbon and crud, clean as a whistle, and I now had a bright and shiny stainless look - before Ruger even came out with the stainless model. The Spic n Span totally removed the anodize or whatever finish was on the aluminum. I shined it up a bit with crocus cloth, and never looked back.
jdView attachment 1680520

i shoot the heck out of mine. when i get a new one they generally feed any junk ammo reliably until they dont. then i clean the heck out of them which helps but they still dont feed as reliable as new. ive done some of the utube fixes which havent helped much either. ill work on it a little more.

 

[Krogen]

I want to leave it as is. I realize it is a very customizable rifle, I was hoping to hear they shoot good out of the box, not a coin toss. All of my bolt action 22's shoot great. I realize this won't be as accurate as a bolt gun, but I would be disappointed if it shot 4-6" groups at 50 yards, like some of the guns I read about in my initial web search. I guess now I have to decide on taking that chance or not.

If you would like an accurate 10/22 you might consider a Bergara BXR. A buddy has one and is quite pleased with its accuracy.

BXR Steel - Bergara USA

BXR Steel

www.bergara.online

 

[SteveOak]

@demarpaint1

Before you get a 10/22 look at Kidd rifles.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Essential tool. Mines a plastic stock, Chinese carbon barrel, Parker Hale silencer. Don't laugh - Swarovski scope - It's a older Nova that I bought from a deceased estate. Still works well.

 

[demarpaint1]

Great info here, keep it coming. Thanks!!