This is another article-to be, put here for critique. The 10/22 has now been in production for 50 years, and it's become a classic for its popularity and innovative features. Hope you like it!
John
In 1964, the 15-year-old gunmaking firm of Sturm, Ruger & Company announced a look-alike companion piece to its .44 Magnum carbine, in .22 Long Rifle caliber. The little 10/22 carbine has now endured for over 50 years, and shows no signs of diminishing in popularity today. It’s become the favorite rimfire autoloading rifle in America, and over 6 million have been sold. This is its story.
Company president Bill Ruger had been wanting to introduce a really nice, affordable, accurate and reliable .22 autoloading rifle to get a share of the market enjoyed by worthy competitors such as Remington, Mossberg, and Marlin. He also wanted something so technologically advanced that it would be more than just competitive. The gun should sell itself with its features and have a good chance to become a leader in the marketplace.
Accordingly in the early 1960s, he collaborated with a couple of other ace design innovators, Harry Sefried and Doug McClenahan. The result was a short rifle that featured some really new concepts. The 18 ½-inch barrel was not screwed or pinned into the lightweight aluminum receiver. It was clamped to the receiver with a v-shaped crossbar that utilized two large hex screws. This allowed the barrel to be swapped out easily for ones of other lengths and configurations, and it could be removed for thorough cleaning from the breech. However, the really innovative feature lay not in the gun itself, but its magazine. Taking his cue from the Savage 99 rifle which used a rotary integral magazine, Ruger conceived the idea of a detachable 10-shot rotary magazine that would fit flush with the stock, making the gun sleek and easy to handle. The feed lips of the plastic magazine were durable steel. Thus the magazine would feed reliably and last indefinitely. An easily-removable captive action spring with its attached operating handle rested into and behind the reciprocating investment cast blowback bolt. The trigger and hammer group could be easily removed from the receiver with a couple of pins. This group incorporated the hammer, a manual hold-open lever, a number of stamped metal parts and a crossbolt pushbutton safety. The bolt, in recoil, impacted on a sturdy metal dowel placed transversely through the back of the receiver. The magazine could be plucked out using a thumb latch and a dished-out section of its guide in the receiver. After loosening a single screw, the barrel and receiver could be lifted easily out of the stock once the barrel band was loosened and slid off. The receiver itself was made of investment cast aircraft-grade aluminum, and anodized black to match the aluminum trigger and hammer group. This was a well-engineered gun, but it could be manufactured economically so it could be sold for an attractive price – just $54.50 at introduction.
The rear sight was a folding leaf, adjustable for both windage and elevation. The front sight had a brass bead. The top of the receiver was drilled and tapped for a tip-off scope mount rail that was provided with the gun. The stock was well-finished walnut and the buttplate was black-anodized aluminum. The barrel itself had a 16-inch twist with six grooves, and was unusually accurate. The only tools needed for complete disassembly and assembly were a screwdriver, a hex driver and a punch. The 10/22 was quite modular, so a variety of stocks and barrels could be swapped out easily. Bill Ruger billed it as “…the ultimate in logical design.” Not only was it an ideal companion piece for its more powerful .44 Magnum sibling, it weighed only 5 ¼ pounds. This made it great for informal plinking, small game hunting and casual target shooting. An aftermarket industry for the immediately popular little gun quickly sprang up, offering target barrels, fancy or folding stocks, improved components and add-ons. The basic gun could be made into anything from a target rifle to a “tactical” number complete with extended magazines holding anywhere from 20 to 50 rounds. It became a .22 rifle for all seasons. Bill Ruger, in writing to prominent gun writer Jack O’Connor, said “from a technological point of view, the new 10/22 is one of the best things we have done.”
Because the 10/22 was modular, it was easily modified at the factory so as to offer a multitude of variations. One of the first was the “Sporter” version, introduced in 1966. The stock was more gracefully contoured, it had a rubber recoil pad, and had no barrel band. The next year, the same configuration was available with hand checkering. A version with a Monte Carlo comb on the stock was also offered. In my opinion, one of the classiest versions was the “International” model that used a full-length Mannlicher–style stock. One of these is illustrated here. It features extra-fancy wood with a polyurethane finish, and was part of a special run for a big distributor in 1995.
The cost of walnut blanks began to escalate, and in 1980, the standard stock for the 10/22 became birch, and later, maple became the regular production item. A stainless steel barrel became an option in 1992. More recently, the trigger and hammer housing was made of a strong polymer material, the same as the standard buttplate. The Sporter model still has a walnut stock, checkering and sling swivels. A “Compact” model has an uncheckered stock, a fiber-optic front sight and a 16-inch barrel. The Target version has a custom light trigger and a 20-inch bull barrel. There are no sights on this one, but it’s drilled and tapped for a scope. A “Tactical” type has a choice of barrels; one is a 16-inch bull barrel and the other is a standard barrel with a removable flash hider. Options on this one are a black polymer stock or a Hogue Overmolded stock with an adjustable bipod. This version has been utilized by the military and law enforcement, often equipped with a sound suppressor for covert use. The Navy SEALs are known to have some of these. .22 WMR and .17 rimfire versions were offered for a short while, but have now become collector items. Ruger has produced a clear polycarbonate 10/22 40th anniversary edition 10-round magazine as well as a five round rotary magazine for states with restrictive magazine capacities. In 2011-2012 the company introduced the BX-25, a factory 25-round curved extension mag with a black composite frame and steel feed lips.
A number of commemorative editions have been marketed, and the SR-22 is a variant that mimics the appearance of an AR-15. The “Charger” is built as a pistol, with the same action, a short barrel and a bipod for stability. Recently, several takedown versions have been offered, where the barrel and forestock are removed easily with a twist. These come equipped with a custom backpack that accommodates the two major pieces. In 2014, all 10/22s made have special 50th anniversary markings to commemorate the passing of 50 years since the gun’s introduction. Custom aftermarket kits abound, with one of them even transforming the 10/22 into a Thompson submachine gun look-alike. Another binds two 10/22 actions together and trips their triggers with a hand crank, making a rapid-fire “Gatling gun” that fires from a tripod. Another kit cosmetically alters the barreled action into a German MG42 machine gun look-alike!
The 10/22 is not without its faults. The original gun’s magazine release system was awkward, and popular aftermarket extended mag release levers found such wide acceptance that the factory is now equipping each new rifle with one. The gun has a fast lock time, but the trigger pull is normally somewhat heavy. Many owners install custom trigger components to give a light, crisp let-off. The manual hold-open device requires a less-than intuitive action to release the bolt, but aftermarket replacements allow the bolt to go forward after retention by simply pulling the bolt back a bit and releasing it. As issued, the 10/22 must be cleaned from the muzzle unless the owner is willing to detach the barrel so it can be cleaned from the breech end with a cleaning rod. Cleaning from the breech is desirable so as not to damage the critical muzzle area. Some owners have modified their guns by drilling a hole in the back of the receiver to allow a cleaning rod to go clear through from the rear. As the rear of the receiver is normally concealed by the stock, there are no cosmetic or debris admission problems connected with this. I think such a hole is a good idea, and I recommend it as a factory feature. Getting the recoil spring and operating handle back into the bolt and receiver takes manipulative skill, and can be frustrating. A larger bolt handle such as offered on the short-lived .22 magnum version of the gun would help – and yes, this is another hint to the factory.
The Ruger 10/22 has achieved classic status for its innovative features, its modular adaptability and its sterling sales record for over 50 years. You won’t find many of them on the used gun market; their owners love them!
(c) 2014 JLM
John
In 1964, the 15-year-old gunmaking firm of Sturm, Ruger & Company announced a look-alike companion piece to its .44 Magnum carbine, in .22 Long Rifle caliber. The little 10/22 carbine has now endured for over 50 years, and shows no signs of diminishing in popularity today. It’s become the favorite rimfire autoloading rifle in America, and over 6 million have been sold. This is its story.
Company president Bill Ruger had been wanting to introduce a really nice, affordable, accurate and reliable .22 autoloading rifle to get a share of the market enjoyed by worthy competitors such as Remington, Mossberg, and Marlin. He also wanted something so technologically advanced that it would be more than just competitive. The gun should sell itself with its features and have a good chance to become a leader in the marketplace.
Accordingly in the early 1960s, he collaborated with a couple of other ace design innovators, Harry Sefried and Doug McClenahan. The result was a short rifle that featured some really new concepts. The 18 ½-inch barrel was not screwed or pinned into the lightweight aluminum receiver. It was clamped to the receiver with a v-shaped crossbar that utilized two large hex screws. This allowed the barrel to be swapped out easily for ones of other lengths and configurations, and it could be removed for thorough cleaning from the breech. However, the really innovative feature lay not in the gun itself, but its magazine. Taking his cue from the Savage 99 rifle which used a rotary integral magazine, Ruger conceived the idea of a detachable 10-shot rotary magazine that would fit flush with the stock, making the gun sleek and easy to handle. The feed lips of the plastic magazine were durable steel. Thus the magazine would feed reliably and last indefinitely. An easily-removable captive action spring with its attached operating handle rested into and behind the reciprocating investment cast blowback bolt. The trigger and hammer group could be easily removed from the receiver with a couple of pins. This group incorporated the hammer, a manual hold-open lever, a number of stamped metal parts and a crossbolt pushbutton safety. The bolt, in recoil, impacted on a sturdy metal dowel placed transversely through the back of the receiver. The magazine could be plucked out using a thumb latch and a dished-out section of its guide in the receiver. After loosening a single screw, the barrel and receiver could be lifted easily out of the stock once the barrel band was loosened and slid off. The receiver itself was made of investment cast aircraft-grade aluminum, and anodized black to match the aluminum trigger and hammer group. This was a well-engineered gun, but it could be manufactured economically so it could be sold for an attractive price – just $54.50 at introduction.
The rear sight was a folding leaf, adjustable for both windage and elevation. The front sight had a brass bead. The top of the receiver was drilled and tapped for a tip-off scope mount rail that was provided with the gun. The stock was well-finished walnut and the buttplate was black-anodized aluminum. The barrel itself had a 16-inch twist with six grooves, and was unusually accurate. The only tools needed for complete disassembly and assembly were a screwdriver, a hex driver and a punch. The 10/22 was quite modular, so a variety of stocks and barrels could be swapped out easily. Bill Ruger billed it as “…the ultimate in logical design.” Not only was it an ideal companion piece for its more powerful .44 Magnum sibling, it weighed only 5 ¼ pounds. This made it great for informal plinking, small game hunting and casual target shooting. An aftermarket industry for the immediately popular little gun quickly sprang up, offering target barrels, fancy or folding stocks, improved components and add-ons. The basic gun could be made into anything from a target rifle to a “tactical” number complete with extended magazines holding anywhere from 20 to 50 rounds. It became a .22 rifle for all seasons. Bill Ruger, in writing to prominent gun writer Jack O’Connor, said “from a technological point of view, the new 10/22 is one of the best things we have done.”
Because the 10/22 was modular, it was easily modified at the factory so as to offer a multitude of variations. One of the first was the “Sporter” version, introduced in 1966. The stock was more gracefully contoured, it had a rubber recoil pad, and had no barrel band. The next year, the same configuration was available with hand checkering. A version with a Monte Carlo comb on the stock was also offered. In my opinion, one of the classiest versions was the “International” model that used a full-length Mannlicher–style stock. One of these is illustrated here. It features extra-fancy wood with a polyurethane finish, and was part of a special run for a big distributor in 1995.
The cost of walnut blanks began to escalate, and in 1980, the standard stock for the 10/22 became birch, and later, maple became the regular production item. A stainless steel barrel became an option in 1992. More recently, the trigger and hammer housing was made of a strong polymer material, the same as the standard buttplate. The Sporter model still has a walnut stock, checkering and sling swivels. A “Compact” model has an uncheckered stock, a fiber-optic front sight and a 16-inch barrel. The Target version has a custom light trigger and a 20-inch bull barrel. There are no sights on this one, but it’s drilled and tapped for a scope. A “Tactical” type has a choice of barrels; one is a 16-inch bull barrel and the other is a standard barrel with a removable flash hider. Options on this one are a black polymer stock or a Hogue Overmolded stock with an adjustable bipod. This version has been utilized by the military and law enforcement, often equipped with a sound suppressor for covert use. The Navy SEALs are known to have some of these. .22 WMR and .17 rimfire versions were offered for a short while, but have now become collector items. Ruger has produced a clear polycarbonate 10/22 40th anniversary edition 10-round magazine as well as a five round rotary magazine for states with restrictive magazine capacities. In 2011-2012 the company introduced the BX-25, a factory 25-round curved extension mag with a black composite frame and steel feed lips.
A number of commemorative editions have been marketed, and the SR-22 is a variant that mimics the appearance of an AR-15. The “Charger” is built as a pistol, with the same action, a short barrel and a bipod for stability. Recently, several takedown versions have been offered, where the barrel and forestock are removed easily with a twist. These come equipped with a custom backpack that accommodates the two major pieces. In 2014, all 10/22s made have special 50th anniversary markings to commemorate the passing of 50 years since the gun’s introduction. Custom aftermarket kits abound, with one of them even transforming the 10/22 into a Thompson submachine gun look-alike. Another binds two 10/22 actions together and trips their triggers with a hand crank, making a rapid-fire “Gatling gun” that fires from a tripod. Another kit cosmetically alters the barreled action into a German MG42 machine gun look-alike!
The 10/22 is not without its faults. The original gun’s magazine release system was awkward, and popular aftermarket extended mag release levers found such wide acceptance that the factory is now equipping each new rifle with one. The gun has a fast lock time, but the trigger pull is normally somewhat heavy. Many owners install custom trigger components to give a light, crisp let-off. The manual hold-open device requires a less-than intuitive action to release the bolt, but aftermarket replacements allow the bolt to go forward after retention by simply pulling the bolt back a bit and releasing it. As issued, the 10/22 must be cleaned from the muzzle unless the owner is willing to detach the barrel so it can be cleaned from the breech end with a cleaning rod. Cleaning from the breech is desirable so as not to damage the critical muzzle area. Some owners have modified their guns by drilling a hole in the back of the receiver to allow a cleaning rod to go clear through from the rear. As the rear of the receiver is normally concealed by the stock, there are no cosmetic or debris admission problems connected with this. I think such a hole is a good idea, and I recommend it as a factory feature. Getting the recoil spring and operating handle back into the bolt and receiver takes manipulative skill, and can be frustrating. A larger bolt handle such as offered on the short-lived .22 magnum version of the gun would help – and yes, this is another hint to the factory.
The Ruger 10/22 has achieved classic status for its innovative features, its modular adaptability and its sterling sales record for over 50 years. You won’t find many of them on the used gun market; their owners love them!
(c) 2014 JLM
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