How good are old Ruger 10/22s?

[Red State]

I am considering buying a used 10/22 that has had lots of upgrades to it (barrel, stock, bolt, optics, ect).

It really looks like a nice gun, but I am not sure if the age of the receiver should be a major factor in my decison. The serial number starts with #117 and according to Ruger's website, the gun was made in 1978. Was QC good at Ruger in the 1970s or would I be better off just getting a new gun?

 

[hardluk1]

Some of those old but carred for 10/22's would shoot like the fancied up one guys are build today. If the rifle has all it old parts,, barreland stock and the price is good , get it. You could return to stock and see what it does.

 

[dakotasin]

my 1973 (i think - would have to look it up to be sure) production 10-22 will hold about a 4.5" group at 100 yards w/ federal bulk pack ammo, and will almost cut that in half w/ good ammo.

i don't recall the last time i cleaned it or had a malfunction w/ it.

it is not going to win any accuracy matches or beauty contestants, but i can wreck a rabbit's day on command from any reasonable range...

 

[winchester '97]

It all depends on what you want to do with the gun. If you want a project gun or a home built race gun, the 10-22 is oyur best bet. for small game ill take my marlin 60 every time, or the clip fed version of the 60 if you don't like tube mags. The only 10-22 i ever handled felt like it looked up close, cheap. It was carbine version and the stock felt about 2 sizes too big, was way to light for something that size, which led to the overall cheap feeling, plus the bad flip up sights and tacky barrel band. Also the marlin will hold to 2 inches or under open sights at 100 yards, with any ammo. Like i said, if your going to build it into something else the ruger has my money, but as a stock rifle either marlin is way better.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

The Pre 1980 ones are the BEST ! IMO

 

[Maverick223]

As far as 10/22s go they are the best of the bunch. Not super accurate, although mine became a tack driver when I got rid of the bbl band and free floated it. I would get it if the price was right.

 

[ms6852]

Pretty darn good. My rugers will eat any ammo you give it. For a semi auto rifle it is one of the most reliable in the 22lr compared to other semi's that have cycling problems. This rifle is one of the most versatile rifles when it comes to upgrading and stripping apart. It can be a $200 rifle or a $2000 easily.

 

[kenno]

I think mine is late 70's I put a business card under the barrel at the barrel band and a Volquartsen trigger/sear in it. with a 16 power scope I can shoot the eye out of a ground squirrel with bulk ammo. I have built it into a tac-carbine and it shoots like a centerfire

 

[eXtrudebg]

I have both an older 10/22, pre-80s which I kept stock and a new one that is highly customized. Of course the new one is more accurate, but each is about the same when it comes to function. No gripes.

 

[JSmith]

Thanks for the info. I'm a handgun shooter, but lately I've been thinking I want a rifle just for fun and I saw a 10/22 at the gun shop last month. Think I'll go see if it's still there...

 

[DougW]

I guess my current 10/22 is about 10 years old. Shooting at 50 yards, it is almost boring. All the bullets make one little hole (about 1 1/2" accross). Kinda like shooting a laser. Point and shoot. This one is tremendously accurate. Most accurate .22 I have ever fired.

 

[jmorris]

I have 7 10-22s in various configurations all of them were built before ruger started making the trigger housings out of plastic. The marlin is on par in factory configuration but the sky is the limit for the ruger aftermarket.