Experiences with Ruger 1022?

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gasteffens

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Well I am having a blast with my RRA AR15. Seems like .223/5.56 is as big of a caliber rifle as I plan to own for quite a while unless something falls into my lap. Still getting accessories together and working on getting it sighted in... but I would like to add another to the stable.

My dad has a .22 bolt rifle that works pretty sweet, but it is a single shot. It also is not mine.

I have been reading up on the Ruger 1022, and it is semi auto and has 10 round mags. I could stock up on those and shoot all day for cheap.

It will probably be a plinker mostly but it will double as another HD/SHTF weapon.

I am looking at one of these two from Bud's.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/manufacturers_id/369/products_id/70626

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/manufacturers_id/369/products_id/70280

Is it worth trying to track down one of these used? How much of a price break could I stand to get by buying preowned? (Preferably well cared for). Or should I just order one and have it sent to my FFL dealer?

Thanks so much in advance! Lots of knowledgeable folks on this forum.... :)
 
I have had my Ruger 10/22 for probably 10 years now. It is flat out fun to shoot. Mine is the synthetic version. If I were you I would just buy a new one. With proper lubrication mine has never failed me, except for failure due to the bullet.
 
My Ruger 10/22 has been great. Bought it about a month ago and have put all of 1k rounds through it. I put a cheap scope on it and its a blast to shoot.

I wouldn't bother getting a used one your not going to save much.
 
I have two and they are a lot of fun. I have the heavy barrel (twisted looking barrel) target model that I got probably 10 years ago and I have a plain-Jane model that I bought about 1987. Both shoot great and are very fun plinkers.
 
A 10/22 is one of the guns I would think you would not have to order online and pay shipping/FFL fees. Doesn't just about every gun store have a couple of these in stock?

If you have one of the Walmarts that sells guns you could even get it there and save a few bucks.
 
I get what you say bout the FFL fees, but he is a family member of a great friend. Cost through him is not much different than buying at a store like Wal Mart... but the Wal Mart here doesn't have much of anything in firearms except ammo. Also, there are no gun shops very close. The nearest one is the same drive as it is to my FFL dealer, so it works pretty good. He also has experience with Bud's so he's already on file. :)
 
I would look for a used one if I were to buy a 10-22 today. The older rifles had much better stocks, had better finishes, and the trigger group was metal. Something about the old ones feels done better.

I have a 10-22 thats 7 years old. It is an ok rifle. I replaced the stock and the barrel as well as the hammer to get a better shooter out of it. It was good enough stock for a hunting rifle, but I wanted a toy that would shoot better at the range. Spent a bit of money on it as well in the end.

If I were to do a semi auto rifle over it would be either a Marlin model 60 if the budget was tight, a TC R55 (or whatever they label their rimfire autoloaders) or if it could be found, an old BRNO 511. Those rifles stand out to me, the marlin for a budget with great accuracy, the BRNO for amazing old world craftsmanship with great accuracy, and the TC for great modern craftsmanship with great accuracy.

Not that there is really anything wrong with the Ruger but I feel there are better options on the board for the same or similar money. My Ruger still gets use, but I feel I would have done better with my money in any of the other 3. Ruger may have the bigger aftermarket but that could mean a lot needs work from the factory as well.
 
Mine sucked. I sold it. Seriously. I have a Marlin 60 now -- along with a number of higher-end .22s, but the 60 fills the niche the Ruger should have, and the Marlin does it far better, for less dough. It's much more accurate, feeds better, fits better with a scope, and is much more tolerant of whatever ammo I feed it.

I know that some people like the 10/22. Either they're lucky and got one that feeds reliably and shoots halfway straight, or they got one like mine and just have low expectations. Or maybe they replaced half the parts, so the gun works now ($300-500 later).

Ruger's CS is great, though, and I love their .22 pistols (ugly, but good: reliable, durable and accurate with damn near any ammo). I use a modified one for match shooting, and it's served me very, very well.
 
The Ruger 10/22 is my favorite 22 rifle. I bought one years ago while in college and it was a blast to shoot. At the time I didn't realize how reliable it was until I sold it and tried other makes...what a disappointment. Made me appreciate the Ruger all the more. The Ruger just plain worked, nearly every time. Only bad ammo made it choke.

Just a few years back I picked up another one. You cannot have a complete gun collection without a Ruger 10/22...

Here are some basic, low cost mods that will make your 10/22 much more enjoyable to shoot...they are really all you need (although you can mod it death if you want, which is part of the fun of owning one)

Trigger

The trigger pull is passable to lousy, here's a quick drop in fix
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=181454

You can just buy the hammer (cheaper option) and it will make a dramatic difference in your trigger pull or splurge for the hammer and sear set.


Sights

The standard sights are fine, but could use some improvement

I went with the Williams Peep Sights - great product, very easy to install
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=527477

Recoil Buffer
This part is debatable...I don't believe the hype about the buffer preventing the frame from stretching over time. What it does do is quiet the rifle when you fire it...very nice. Instead of a loud clack made by the bolt hitting a metal pin you get a nice quiet bump.

Here is a link to one, there are plenty to choose from or you can save a few bucks and make your own...
http://www.tufferbuffer.com/

Also, check out rimfirecentral.com

You'll never regret buying a Ruger 10/22

Hope this helps...
 
buy one you wont be dissapointed
the beauty of the ruger 10/22 is that its the chevy 350 of .22s you can customize EVERYTHING there is not one single piece that cannot be modified or replaced you could even build one from scratch if you were so inclined

if you do get one there is alot of info here for them and also a place called rimfirecentral.com

i set mine up with a hogue overmold and a .920 barrel with a little trigger work and a cheap $70 scope it shoots great im taking head shots on army men at 50 yards lol

its easily my favorite range toy with at minimum 10000 rounds through it (lost count too many range trips)
 
the older ones used to be had for $100 bucks used, then ruger changed to a different receiver finish and a plastic trigger housing. supposedly the plastic is actually stronger than the aluminum they used before, but have you ever tried to convince gun guys that a plastic part is better than a metal one?! thus, prices on the old ones jumped.

10/22's great. durable, reliable, takes all kinds of aftermarket parts that you don't need (just like an AR) cheap to shoot, etc. I bet a used one will run you $150+ and a new one around $200. buy one, a couple bricks of ammo and don't look back.
 
You really can't go wrong with a 10/22. They are great guns and a blast to shoot. Is this your first .22? If it is it certainly will not be your last. Also, do you have a handgun? If so get a .22 pistol. The money you save practicing with .22 caliber rounds more than makes up for the cost of the firearm.
 
get whatever model you want then put Tech Sights on it
http://www.tech-sights.com/

gets you an identical sight picture (with interchangable parts) as an AR

i have them on mine and ill take them over any cheap 22 scope all day long
Click to expand...
Agreed, 100%!


I know that some people like the 10/22. Either they're lucky and got one that feeds reliably and shoots halfway straight, or they got one like mine and just have low expectations. Or maybe they replaced half the parts, so the gun works now ($300-500 later).
Click to expand...
Think about it, do you really think, based on one bad example, that the millions of satisfied 10/22 owners that have been buying them for 46yrs just have low standards or spend another $500 on them?
 
My old Mossberg 46 shot circles around my stock 10/22. Once the barrel started heating up, it would start stringing the shots vertically. And the stock trigger was horribly gritty with a heavy pull. I put a ER Shaw 18" bull barrel on it and installed a Volquartsen target hammer and bolt release. Now the trigger is nice and it almost keeps up with Mossberg accuracy wise.
I like to tinker with stuff, so it was fun to try to get the most out of my rifle. Out of the box, I think the Marlin 60 is a better buy. And I think the Marlin 60 still outsells the Ruger. Most AR guys I know have a 10/22, while non AR owners are more likely to have the M60.
 
the first 22 rifle i ever bought was a marlin 60. it was terrible (albiet might have just been a lemon) i took it back to wal-mart the same day and traded it up for an iver johnson that was modeled after the m1 carbine. it was pretty good, till the op-rod broke, and it was sent in for warranty repair (to west germany!!!)

during the 6 months i waited for the iver johnson to get back i bought a 10/22, used, in a pawn shop for 100 bux. this was around 1986-1987ish.

i still have it and its my primary 22 rifle (its actually my only 22 auto rifle, i sold the iver johnson for a very nice profit just recently)

i have the factory stock and barrel, plus now i have a green mountain bull barrel (which is what is on it right now in the safe......it looks like this:
Picture005.jpg
Picture227.jpg

and its pretty accurate, and extremely reliable (i usually take 200-300rds to shoot and i dont think it had a single hiccup on its last trip.

1022pic1.jpg
1022pic2.jpg
1022pic3.jpg

i really liked dimis analogy above where it was compared to the chevy 350 of the 22 rifle world!!

it truly is. so many hotrod parts are available, and inexpensive (compared to upgrades for any other rifle i can think of)

or they are loads of fun just the way they come out of the box (or in my case, the pawn shop in tyler texas.

just keep her clean, and give her a little sip of mobil1 every now and then, and you got a loyal and trustworthy partner for the rest of your life. (and prolly your kids and grandkiddos)
 
I'll be the contrarian - stock, out of the box, the Marlin 60 blows the 10/22 out of the water. Most folks buy a $200 10/22 and then seem to sink another 600 into after market things just to get it to shoot straight. I have had both the 10/22 and Marin 60. I would take a good look at the 60 before buying a 10/22.......UNLESS you're one of those who want to spend a lot of money replacing everything to trick it out
 
I have been reading up on the Ruger 1022, and it is semi auto and has 10 round mags. I could stock up on those and shoot all day for cheap.
Click to expand...

if you do get one, look into the 30 round magazines.

being that you have a magazine fed high capacity rifle, they should be right up your ally.
 
Yes the real debate is tube fed or mag fed. Stay stock out of the box or customize. The factory Ruger barrels just don't shoot with factory barrels from most other manufacturers. Its a good thing they are so easy to swap. I really like how mine shoots now but as I said I spent $200 on the rifle then another $220 on parts to get it to shoot well and I still need to raise the comb to get a better cheek weld. Its a good rifle but for $450 you can get yourself into some better built rifles that shoot as well if not better than my 10-22 with a GM barrel.
 
Most folks buy a $200 10/22 and then seem to sink another 600 into after market things just to get it to shoot straight. I have had both the 10/22 and Marin 60. I would take a good look at the 60 before buying a 10/22.......UNLESS you're one of those who want to spend a lot of money replacing everything to trick it out
Click to expand...

We must run in different circles. I own one, and I know lots of folks who own them, and I have yet to see somebody sink $600 into one. Oh, I know people do, I just don't know any of them. Maybe my sample size of a several dozen isn't enough to establish "most" but I'm going to have to disagree with this as a gross exaggeration until proven otherwise.

I will admit to having spent $30 on a couple 30 round mags, and my brother-in-law dropped another $30 on one of those turn-the-crank loaders. I buy the cheap ammo on sale and it always feeds and always shoots straight. I don't clean it all that thoroughly. I just don't worry about it, and it never seems to mind.

So, that's two "they sucks" to the ten or so "works great" in this thread. I'm going to guess that's pretty representative of opinions on the 10/22. Not a bad success rate for Ruger given the tens of thousands they've put in circulation over the years.

As will all things, though, your personal mileage may vary.
 
phlip - Have you shot a model 60 or other similarly priced semi auto to compare? I find I thought my 10-22 was perfect until I tried the model 60 and since then it has shown a bit of a gap in the two. Then I had the pleasure to shoot a BRNO and my lord did everything change.
 
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