My First Rifle (Ruger 10/22) Could Use Your Help

[samefly]

Will be picking up a Ruger 10/22. It's going to be my first rifle so I could use any words of wisdom and advice from you more experienced members out there. I'm choosing the 22LR as a cheap way to learn to shoot and have as a survival weapon should the need ever be (small game and whatnot). Choosing the Ruger for its price and reputation.

Scope and Rings?
Trying to keep it inexpensive (so I can save $ for a .308 and higher end scope down the line) but I'd still like something worth keeping and does the job. Does a 2-7x make sense?

Bulk Ammo?
So I've read on here to stay away from the Remington bulk. What do you recommend? I'd hate for every other shot to be a FTF


Any Other Tips or How To's?

 

[Onmilo]

I have a 2X7 Leupold on my CZ452 and love it.
I stay with the regular sights on my 10/22 for now.

Winchester Dynapoints in bulk packs are becoming available again, at least in my area.
I tried them in my 10/22 and was satisfied with the results. HTH

 

[rcmodel]

IMO:

A first rifle should not have a scope.

Until you learn how to shoot with open sights, you don't really know how to shoot.

rc

 

[foghornl]

Try a small box (50 or 100 rounds) of as many different brands/types of ammo as you can find. 22 rimfires can be well...persnickety about the ammo they like. CCI is usually a good place to start. My first .22 was a Rem Nylon 66 that ate everything except the Rem 36-Gr Golden bullet hollow point...a Rem rifle that choked on Rem ammo..figure that one out...Sheeeeeeeshhhhh

The 2-7 variable scope sounds OK, but try it with the iron sights first. Some 2-7 scopes have verysmall lenses. The first vari-scope I had for a .22 was 2-7x 20, meaning 20mm lenses. Very tiny field of view, and not much light gathering.

My 10/22 eats just about anything excpet the Rem plain-lead "Thunderbolt" ammo...although I haven't shot any Thunderbolt in 4 or 5 years, so quality MAY be better.

 

[FlyinBryan]

So I've read on here to stay away from the Remington bulk. What do you recommend? I'd hate for every other shot to be a FTF

winchester wildcats or dynapoints

edit: onmilo beat me to the winchester suggestion for ammo.

 

[JTW Jr.]

Mueller APV scope. Have a couple , one on a 10/22 and one on a Savage 22. Great bang for the buck.

 

[samefly]

Interesting point about shooting iron sights first. I thought to get a variable scope to practice what I would be using on the larger caliber rifle. Definitely appreciate the feedback and tips. Keep em coming. Thanks again everyone

 

[LoonWulf]

My best luck with ALL my .22s has been with cci blazers, they are a bit pricy here but imo worth the slight extra cost. Remington bulk has been mildly problematic, and bot federal and winchester have been deecent to good in atleast one of my guns.

A 4x scope is realy all the top end you need with a .22, id look in the 40-60 dollar range from one of the major. Ive honestly had good service from all my cheap scopes.

 

[Hamish]

Start with iron sights, but replace the ones that come on the 10/22. Order a set of Tech Sights, and install them on your 10/22. These are great iron sights, and are easily adjusted and installed. Learn how to shoot with these iron sights first, then get a second 10/22 and put a scope on that one. 10/22s are pretty inexpensive, and are worth having a few of (I have three, and have my eye on another).

As far as ammo goes, pick up 50-100 rounds of different brands (I just ordered a variety from Midway), and try them out in your rifle. Two of my 10/22s shoot quite well with CCI Standard Velocity rounds - and one of them shoots amazingly well with Wolf Match Extra, but that's a pretty expensive .22LR cartridge. The other one does a bit better with high velocity rounds, and does well with CCI Mini-Mags. I have a couple of other 22 rifles, and the CCI Standard Velocity does well in them too, so now I buy it a case (5k rounds) at a time.

Have fun with it. Start with the iron sights, and then expand your collection and your abilities with another rifle and a scope.

 

[7.62 Solution]

Congrats on the new rifle, good choice I think. I agree on trying different ammution till you have one that functions well is available locally and meets your price. Instead of a scope you may think about a red dot sight I like them on .22s

 

[loose noose]

My 10-22 Ruger was first bought in 1972, (with an original walnut stock) and will shoot just about every thing you feed it. The thing is it prefers Federal Premium, however every rifle is different. Everybody is correct in telling ya to learn to shoot with the iron sights first. Anyway welcome to the shooting community.

 

[blarby]

Until you learn how to shoot with open sights, you don't really know how to shoot.

persnickety about the ammo they like.

My original recommendation and contribution here would be this :

Once you have figured the above two things out, and are ready for glass... Buy something that would be suitable for use on your eventual next rifle.

Nikon makes a wide variety of very well made entry level glass that have BDC, and are multiplatform useful. You might not like the BDC reticle, but its dang handy for new folks.

Have a smith mount the scope.

Save the set screws for your rifle scope mounting holes.

Learn to dope yer scope appropriately at varying ranges. Experiment with compensating for windage, not just elevation for distance.

Once you've got a feel for it, and have funds for your new rifle...take the ruger and your new rifle back to ( preferably) the same smith that put it on.

Have him transfer the scope.

He will glow at you for the return business, and perhaps your savvy.

Learn it all over again with your new rifle. At least the reticle and the scopes adjustment will be familiar, if nothing else will.

Continue to use your 10/22 for trigger pressure practice.

If you can, go back to that same smith, and if possible, correlate the trigger pull between the rifles as similar as possible.

Find a friend or family member.

Teach them how to use a 10/22 with irons.

Suggest they get a rifle, and tell them about your now long time buddy the 'smith.

 

[Ramone]

Before a scope, learn to use Irons- and the Tech sights are a vast improvement over the stock Ruger.

Best way to learn, short of joining the USMC, is to attend an Appleseed shoot in your area.

 

[Tipro]

Any Other Tips or How To's?

My 10/22 prefer's to be really lubed up. Web down a cotton patch with some lube and run it over the bolt and all over the receiver. Put one drop on the charging handle. Reassemble and play with the bolt a little, getting everything greased up. Don't just drop lube straight into the receiver, but don't get scared to run a cotton patch all around.

Get one of these tri-mag holders from midwayusa. Great deal. Can reload without dropping the mag. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/19...le-magazine-coupler-ruger-10-22-polymer-black

Stick with Ruger 10 and 25 round factory mags. They're cheap enough that you don't need after market stuff. I'd get 6 10-rounders to put in 2 tri-mags, and 1 or 2 25 round mags.

Search more of midwayusa.com for the Volquartsen aftermarket parts including a new trigger and ejector. This link will give a good lighter trigger and an automatic bolt release. You can do the auto bolt release mod on your own following one of the many video's out there demonstrating it, but if you don't feel comfortable I would buy this part too. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/14...and-target-hammer-ruger-10-22-stainless-steel

Also, get a sling.

I bought a case for my 10 22 that was real cheap. Wish I had spent a little more money and gotten one with a pocket or two.

 

[AntiSpin]

Weaver makes a 1" rimfire scope -- the Classic R4 -- that I find absolutely the best scope that I have ever seen on any .22, anywhere.

Mine is on a single-shot bolt. My shooting buddy put the same scope on his 10/22 and couldn't be more pleased with it.

It uses my favorite (duplex) type of crosshairs, and its additional size (1"), larger than the standard rimfire scope, pulls in a lot more light and gives a very crisp, clean picture.

It cost a bit more (about $120 if I remember correctly) than the usual Simmons 3/4" rimfire scope, but the improvements are more than worth it.

 

[mac66]

Ruger 10/22, Simmon's 22 mag AO 3-9X scope and CCI Blazer ammo. It's how I roll.

Seriously that gun is my Appleseed loaner rifle and has been used in at least a dozen shoots by various people. It has probably shot rifleman about that many times as well. Not everybody who shoot it scores, but if you know what you are doing it will get you there.

Scope is about $70 on Amazon or at Optics Planet. I bought a second one for another of my 22s. Good bang for the buck.

 

[firstater]

Shoot it before you start adding to it. You could turn it into a liberty training rifle, lots of good info on that, but shoot it first to see what it can do. I added tech sights and a few other things after I shot it for a while. The bolt release mod really made a difference.

If you get 10 round mags get the clear ones. The ruger 25 round mags shoot well, no jams so far. Need to get loader for thm, I feel like I spend more time loading then I do shooting.
For ammo, I shoot what's cheap. Only problems I run into are with thunderbolts. Seem to get more failure to fire with them. I'd buy them if price is right but prefer federal or remington copper plated for cheap ammo.
Enjoy your 10/22, It my favorite gun to shoot.

 

[BUCKrub91]

In my opinion you should keep it with just Irons and learn to shoot well with them before getting a scope

When you get your .308 put a scope on that

just my opinion congrats on the rifle it was a great choice for a first gun

 

[mokin]

I think th Ruger 10/22 is a great little rifle. I'd buy a couple of different bulk packs just to see what it likes. Mine doesn't start to have problems with Thunberbolts until it goes a couple hundred rounds without being cleaned. Also, I'd go out and shoot it a lot before changing anything about it. Have fun, be safe and learn what it can do first. Then go check out the aftermarket parts. Be warned though, tweaking a rifle like that is addictive and can get expensive.

 

[sixgunner455]

You can spend a lot of money playing with a 10/22.

Ammo - I don't buy Remington .22lr unless it's all I can get, and usually I'll just troll some more stores until I find something else. I like CCI Blazer, Mini-Mag, Velocitor, and Stinger. I just ordered a brick of Standard Velocity - we'll see. In bulk ammo, my 10/22 likes Federal AutoMatch from WalMart best. Groups them much better than the redbox Federal, but it runs those just fine, too.

Scope - get one, if you're going to be running your .308 with one. Only makes sense. But shoot it without, too. If you want to get serious about punching paper, you'll have to spend some money on your glass, and get something that really pulls in the target - better than 9x. I'm a bit weary of my 9x obscuring the target I actually want to hit, so I'm looking for something more.

Trigger - you would do well to replace the stock hammer with a Volquartsen hammer and fix the bolt release so it automatically releases just by pulling on it.

But shooting it stock for a while until you learn the gun is also a very good idea.

Good luck!

 

[SimplyChad]

My original recommendation and contribution here would be this :

Once you have figured the above two things out, and are ready for glass... Buy something that would be suitable for use on your eventual next rifle.

Nikon makes a wide variety of very well made entry level glass that have BDC, and are multiplatform useful. You might not like the BDC reticle, but its dang handy for new folks.

Have a smith mount the scope.

Save the set screws for your rifle scope mounting holes.

Learn to dope yer scope appropriately at varying ranges. Experiment with compensating for windage, not just elevation for distance.

Once you've got a feel for it, and have funds for your new rifle...take the ruger and your new rifle back to ( preferably) the same smith that put it on.

Have him transfer the scope.

He will glow at you for the return business, and perhaps your savvy.

Learn it all over again with your new rifle. At least the reticle and the scopes adjustment will be familiar, if nothing else will.

Continue to use your 10/22 for trigger pressure practice.

If you can, go back to that same smith, and if possible, correlate the trigger pull between the rifles as similar as possible.

Find a friend or family member.

Teach them how to use a 10/22 with irons.

Suggest they get a rifle, and tell them about your now long time buddy the 'smith.

You wouldn't happen to be a smith would you?
Try all kinds of ammo and learn the Irons. If you cant get the BRM down with Irons the scope might make things worse.

 

[kozak6]

I agree that you should learn how to use iron sights before you mount a scope.

If you have a backyard, you also should buy an air rifle. The fundamentals of marksmanship carry over. I don't know what your circumstances are, but for me it's a tremendous pain to go to the range. However, if all it takes is opening the back door and stepping outside, you can get a heck of a lot of shooting in.

 

[KodiakBeer]

Ditto on the sights.

The 10/22 is a great choice! If you have problems with a particular ammo at first, just put it away. The odds are that once you've shot the rifle a lot, you can go back and shoot that ammo without any problems. The 10/22 tends to wear in and get less picky the more it gets shot.


.

 

[451 Detonics]

I do feel learning iron sights is important and at the same time I feel the Ruger factory iron sights are rather less than optimal. Someone above mentioned Tech Sights and they are okay but I prefer the NDS-26 from Nodak Spud combines with their NDS-44 front. I think they are both better made (I own both) and they provide a rock solid scope base as well for future use.

I have yet to find a 10/22 that wouldn't shoot the Federal AutoMatch pretty well but trying all the different 22 ammo you can will lead to the best load for your rifle.

 

[CraigC]

So I've read on here to stay away from the Remington bulk. What do you recommend?

I would recommend shooting every load you can find to see what your rifle likes. IMHO, there's a lot of regurgitated crap on the internet about Remington ammo. Conversely, I burn thousands and thousands of rounds of it every year. Just ordered another 6300rd case yesterday. Most of my two dozen rimfires thrive on the stuff.

Until you learn how to shoot with open sights, you don't really know how to shoot.

Agreed! Anybody can shoot with a scope but iron sight proficiency is a skill all its own. I would suggest Tech Sights and attending an Appleseed. The Nodak stuff is also very good but availability can be spotty. I would say their rear sight is "better" but I like the Tech Sights front tower for its steel construction and use of AR-style sight posts.