Readyrod
Member
Which 10/22 magazines last the longest? I mean long life and round count here. Are there any makers of good quality metal mags for the 10/22?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Ruger 10/22 magazine question
- Thread starter Readyrod
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I've never managed to wear out any Ruger magazine. I'd think if you stck to factory you'll be fine. They make a factory 25 round magazine now that sells for only slightly more than the aftermarket mags.
I've used a lot of the Butler Creek magaznes with no issues either. I suspect the ones with steel lips will outlast the ones with plastic lips which I'd avoid. But even those seem to hold up pretty well.
Butler Creek makes a 10 round mag with steel lips that I prefer to factroy. It extends sliglty below the bottom of the gun. Not enough to get in the way, but far enough to get into and out of the gun easier.
I've used a lot of the Butler Creek magaznes with no issues either. I suspect the ones with steel lips will outlast the ones with plastic lips which I'd avoid. But even those seem to hold up pretty well.
Butler Creek makes a 10 round mag with steel lips that I prefer to factroy. It extends sliglty below the bottom of the gun. Not enough to get in the way, but far enough to get into and out of the gun easier.
AJMBLAZER
Member
Get steel lipped mags. If going for 10 round mags just buy Ruger rotary mags.
Also, I STRONGLY urge you to get an extended mag release for it. I've used my 10/22 my entire life and only put the extended release on it about 5 years ago. Holy crap it's so much better. Just bump the little lever forward and out tumbles the magazine. No more wiggling it out as your thumb bumps it while pushing in the mag release.
I have a Tactical Innovations 25 round carbon fiber mag I bought several years back. Works great and is adjustable to fit each gun individually. Only thing is now Ruger has that BX-25 and I think I'd buy one of those if I had to do it all over again.
I will also say you CAN wear out the rotary mags but it takes decades. Dad had two 10 round rotary mags for 30 or so years and one eventually lost some of it's spring tension. You could load it only 8 or so rounds and it wouldn't always feed them out. I replaced it with two new ones a few years ago and they and the other survivor continue to work great.
Also, I STRONGLY urge you to get an extended mag release for it. I've used my 10/22 my entire life and only put the extended release on it about 5 years ago. Holy crap it's so much better. Just bump the little lever forward and out tumbles the magazine. No more wiggling it out as your thumb bumps it while pushing in the mag release.
I have a Tactical Innovations 25 round carbon fiber mag I bought several years back. Works great and is adjustable to fit each gun individually. Only thing is now Ruger has that BX-25 and I think I'd buy one of those if I had to do it all over again.
I will also say you CAN wear out the rotary mags but it takes decades. Dad had two 10 round rotary mags for 30 or so years and one eventually lost some of it's spring tension. You could load it only 8 or so rounds and it wouldn't always feed them out. I replaced it with two new ones a few years ago and they and the other survivor continue to work great.
bhk
Member
I have one factory magazine I have used for zillions of rounds for over 40 years. It still works great.
KDS
Member
I have had pretty good luck with Butler Creek Steel Lips mags. Also get the speed loader, it's the only way to shoot 1000 rounds in one range session!
SwampWolf
Member
I have the opposite opinion. I prefer the older (shorter) mag releases as I've found the newer (longer) ones unwieldy. They tend to snag on things like the gun case when the rifle is being removed and prone to inadvertent releases in my experience. Of course, I use the rifle mostly for hunting and have never had the occasion to expend more than ten shots in the first place, making the exchange of mags a moot point for my purposes.
AJMBLAZER
Member
I forget what brand mine is but it's just a smooth cylinder that sticks down about 1/2 - 3/4" below the gun from the release surface.
Never had it stick or hang on anything and I haven't ever accidentally bumped the mag loose with it either.
I dunno, different experiences.
Never had it stick or hang on anything and I haven't ever accidentally bumped the mag loose with it either.
I dunno, different experiences.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Factory mags, Tactical Innovations TI-25 and the Ruger BX-25.
+1 on the extended mag release. I like the Power Custom version.
+1 on the extended mag release. I like the Power Custom version.
Shawn Dodson
Member
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2002
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- 3,222
I prefer the Butler Creek 10 rd steel lips magazine. In my experience the Ruger factory 10 rd magazine gets dirty quickly and cannot function quickly enough to keep up with rapid fire.
I have a few Tactical Innovations 25 rd magazines and they work best when not fully loaded. When fully loaded the rounds advance sluggishly in the magazine producing failures to feed. I prefer the Butler Creek 10 rd steel lips magazine to TI-25 magazine.
I have a few Tactical Innovations 25 rd magazines and they work best when not fully loaded. When fully loaded the rounds advance sluggishly in the magazine producing failures to feed. I prefer the Butler Creek 10 rd steel lips magazine to TI-25 magazine.
MCgunner
Member
I like the rotary stock ones, have lasted me a long, long time. I have one in the gun and several spares. I don't like magazines sticking out the bottom, messes up carry in the field. I ain't gonna assault Omaha beach with the thing, just shoot a few squirrels or pop cans. 
TAKtical
Member
I dont think the factory rotary mag will wear out in your lifetime. As far as extended mags, the butler creek steel lips or factory extended mags have given me no problems at all but I only have a couple thousand rounds through those so I can really comment on their longevity.
Readyrod
Member
Thanks folks, good info.
MyGreenGuns
Member
The only 10/22 mag I've had problems with was a butler creek 25rd (all plastic). I bought two of them and one ran flawlessly. The other would function normal for the first 15 or so but would fail to feed the last 10. I think there were still 10 in there when I traded it.
squarepants33889
Member
I've only been fortunate enough to be in a few gopher infested pastures where the 25 round Butler Creek steel lips were of any genuine benefit. The factory magazines are nearly indestructible. And the flush fit is beneficial in some shooting positions. The factory magazines carry nicely in the pocket.
If you do buy the 25 rounders, make sure to get the speed loader. Your thumbs can get a little sore on a hot and heavy shooting spree.
As for the extended magazine release, I am not sure I have made up my mind about it yet. I agree that when swapping out magazines in the middle of a heated gopher shoot, when the little varmints are running all over the place, it is definitely an improvement. Unfortunately, twice now, while changing the carrying position of the rifle, I have accidentally dropped a magazine in the dirt. I suppose its a matter of preference, but FWIW, the high cap magazines aren't a significant improvement over the factory ones. But they are a lot of fun when you just wanna mag dump all over a bunch of empty pop cans!
If you do buy the 25 rounders, make sure to get the speed loader. Your thumbs can get a little sore on a hot and heavy shooting spree.
As for the extended magazine release, I am not sure I have made up my mind about it yet. I agree that when swapping out magazines in the middle of a heated gopher shoot, when the little varmints are running all over the place, it is definitely an improvement. Unfortunately, twice now, while changing the carrying position of the rifle, I have accidentally dropped a magazine in the dirt. I suppose its a matter of preference, but FWIW, the high cap magazines aren't a significant improvement over the factory ones. But they are a lot of fun when you just wanna mag dump all over a bunch of empty pop cans!
WALKERs210
Member
I have two of the Ruger 25 rd mags that after a little use have been preforming perfect. I found a 50rd mag on a company's web site " http://www.mwgco.com/ar-15_accessories/product/MWG-022-050.html " after getting the steps down it's easy to load and fits in my 10/22 with very little slack. The cost is a little high but I wanted this one to go with the BullPup stock for the 10/22.
In my experience, the Butler Creek "hot lips" (polymer lips) will wear out in short order. The Butler Creek "steel lips" mags, and the Ruger factory BX-25 mags, have run well for me.
As far as the Butler Creek loader goes...the one I bought a couple of years ago dents many of the rounds as its plastic cam pushes them into the mag. These will have significant issues chambering in barrels with match chambers (such as Green Mountain). For the looser factory barrel, for plinking, it works OK.
As far as the Butler Creek loader goes...the one I bought a couple of years ago dents many of the rounds as its plastic cam pushes them into the mag. These will have significant issues chambering in barrels with match chambers (such as Green Mountain). For the looser factory barrel, for plinking, it works OK.
henschman
Member
The Ruger rotary 10 round mags are nice because they are easy to disassemble and clean when they get all gunked up.
I have 5 or 6 of those. They have seen untold thousands of rounds, most of it really dirty, nasty Remington Golden Bullets. They are used mostly at Appleseeds with loaner rifles, which means they get dropped in the dirt and left out in the elements all day in blowing sand, rain, and other various Oklahoma weather. They are still going strong. As long as I take them apart and clean out all the grime and grit every few thousand rounds they seem to work just fine. You will know it's time to clean them when the rotary mechanism starts getting hung up and doesn't push the next round up for feeding. I have been an Appleseed instructor for 4 years, and I think I've cleaned them a total of 3 times.
I have 5 or 6 of those. They have seen untold thousands of rounds, most of it really dirty, nasty Remington Golden Bullets. They are used mostly at Appleseeds with loaner rifles, which means they get dropped in the dirt and left out in the elements all day in blowing sand, rain, and other various Oklahoma weather. They are still going strong. As long as I take them apart and clean out all the grime and grit every few thousand rounds they seem to work just fine. You will know it's time to clean them when the rotary mechanism starts getting hung up and doesn't push the next round up for feeding. I have been an Appleseed instructor for 4 years, and I think I've cleaned them a total of 3 times.
Readyrod
Member
Ok looks like lots of them are rugged. I'm convinced.
Anyone have the TI aluminum 25 round mag? How is it?
Anyone have the TI aluminum 25 round mag? How is it?
madcratebuilder
Member
+1
These are the good mags. The metal TI's are outstanding.
Roadking Rider
Member
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- Jun 12, 2012
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The Ruger or the Butler Creek with steel lips. Have both and both work as advertised. I prefer the look of the ruger mags but the Butler creek mags are able to marry up to one another head to toe for 50 rounds of fire power. My favorite is the stock 10 round rotary mags when shooting for accuracy.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
That's one thing I have to say about Ruger, while I think the TI-25 is a better quality magazine, the BX-25 is definitely the best looking of them all.
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