Remington 597 vs Ruger 10/22

[duck911]

Unless this happened this week, there are no 597 aftermarket mags available at this time. Promag and Eagle have been claiming to be coming out with 20 rd mags "any day" since last spring! Don't think so? Please provide a link to the aftermarket mag for sale.

Fluke.... I called Eagle on Friday and these mags ship next week. 30 rounders! The wait is finally over.

--Duck911

 

[Ifishsum]

I really prefer the 597s due to their accuracy and feel. One of them did take a little tweaking to get perfect reliability, and they don't seem quite as tolerant of cheap .22 ammo, I shoot CCI minimags almost exclusively with no issues.

Bottom line, I feel like the remmy has tighter tolerances and may need a little more care and cleaning to keep it running smooth, but in stock configuration offers more than the Ruger - double guide rods for the bolt, built-in buffer, last shot hold-open and more ergonomic mag release to name a few. If your plan is to buy lots of upgrade parts, the 10/22 has much more available. You'll need them to outshoot my 597s

I have owned both models, so this is not just blind loyalty.

 

[MCgunner]

That's funny I knocked the peons off a squirrel with my 597 on the first shot. Seems to cycle fine.

Same here, though my 597 is the magnum and I don't know, but it seems to have a little better reputation. I haven't shot it much yet, just got it not long ago, but it's been 100 percent through about 200 rounds. It does feel like a real rifle in my hands, too. The accuracy is typical Remington, deadly, almost four times as accurate as my 10/22. Since it shoots to over 100 yards fairly flat with Maxi Mags, that's a good thing. I shoot little five shot 1.5" clusters at 100 yards with it. I've been real happy with it. Glad I didn't get a lemon. Sounds like some folks might have gotten burned. But, I bet they do have pretty tight chambers considering how accurate they are and tight actions/chambers can mean cleaning is critical. That might be part of the problems.

I just installed a "target hammer" in mine, 34 dollar part, but boy it sure helped the trigger! Don't take two fingers to break the sear anymore! It isn't what I'd call light, but it's normal for a .22 now, not any heavier than the 10/22's trigger and a lot more crisp.

The odd thing about my 10/22, it seems to shoot best with CCI stinger. Now, I've never owned a .22 that PREFERRED stingers, odd. Usually they lack the accuracy. Kinda neat that it shoots 'em well, because they do pack a little more punch on stuff like rabbits, not any more punch that a .22 mag of course, but apples and oranges here. I have two other .22s, an old Remington M512X bolt gun and an old Mossberg M152 semi auto. The old M512 is almost a target accurate gun, amazing accuracy. I got that thing for my 9th birthday and it's slain many a bushy tail. The Mossberg I got when my mom married my step dad and he gave it to me, bought it back in the 50s. It's got the fore-stock that folds down into a hand grip, if you remember those.

I do have one other .22 and actually like it, an AR7 Charter Arms. It is about as accurate as the 10/22 and has the stiff trigger of the Remington, so it combines the worst of both, ROFL! It is, however, reliable after I tweaked on the mags a bit and it sure packs tight and light. .22s are so cheap, heck, might as well own a collection of 'em. I might get a Marlin M60 before I'm done. I really like the looks of the stainless ones with the laminated stocks.

 

[dfaugh]

[whisper] Marlin Model 60 [/whisper]

How about 1/2" 10 shot groups (at 50 yards, with good ammo) from a totally stock gun w/ $40 scope. Unless you really gotta have something to play around with (add-ons and accessories) you should really consider the Model 60 (or the magazine fed version of same gun--I forget the model #).

 

[MCgunner]

How about 1/2" 10 shot groups (at 50 yards, with good ammo) from a totally stock gun w/ $40 scope. Unless you really gotta have something to play around with (add-ons and accessories) you should really consider the Model 60 (or the magazine fed version of same gun--I forget the model #).

My 50 year old Mossberg will do that, but only with Eley or RWS Target. Normal priced ammo, it's about like the 10/22. I haven't tried Eley in the 10/22 yet, but it sure turned a sows ear into a silk purse with that Mossberg!

But, my Remington 512 has out-shot a passle of M60s at a club bench rest shoot before, so I'm not lacking accurate .22s. For any more accuracy, I need to look to Anschutz.

 

[hodge2]

I would get the Ruger 10/22. I have owned one for many years with no problems

 

[bartsimpson123844]

"I would get the Ruger 10/22. I have owned one for many years with no problems"

But Have you owned a 597?

 

[No_Brakes23]

While I disdain all Rugers for political reasons, the 10/22 is a decent rifle. I have always enjoyed shooting my dad's 10/22. For my 22LR, I went with the 597 because of the aforementioned political reasons, and because I liked the feel and the sights. I knew about the mag problem, so I went around buying up the steel mags, I could find. They all work fine.

It *IS* finicky about ammo. It doesn't like Remington ammo, oddly enough, but shoots CCI just fine. If you don't have any hang-ups about Ruger, and you like to hot rod your guns, then the 10/22 is probably a good choice. Personally, I like the Remington better.

 

[gp911]

Nylon 66! Best .22 ever!

Okay, I'm biased... This is an interesting thread for me as I am considering another .22 and can't pull the trigger, so to speak. I actually like the Henry lever gun, but my opinion changes daily on what I want, so no new .22 yet...

gp911

P.S. Heeeey, 100th post!

 

[rugerdude]

For accuraccy and "big rifle feel": The 597 wins.

For upgrades, handiness, and reliability: The ruger wins

A close friend of mine got the 597 and I got the ruger.

He sold his 597 for a ruger pistol and I still own my ruger.....plus some tacticool crap

 

[nemoaz]

Ruger

 

[rugerdude]

Basis?

Anschutz

 

[Squidward]

It depends Had to say it

Go by RimfireCentral and look at the 10/22s

 

[rustymaggot]

i only skimmed the replys cause i have no need to follow a 'whats better' debate. so, what i have to say may have been touched on already.

ruger 10/22 needs a aftermarket extractor to be reliable. far as i have seen personally its the only serious short comming of the rifle. i reccomend the 'exact edge' from volquartzen. with it my ruger feeds all ammo reliably, even the bulk pack junk. bolt buffer saves loose scope screws. factory ruger magazines are reliable, plentiful and darn cheap. fancy stuff available all over for the rugers, if your into the gizmoes.

i have no experiance with the remington in question(unless i had one a long time ago and dont recall). i do have experiance with the remington targetmaster single shots and i love those.

 

[nemoaz]

Basis?

I don't think we are allowed to talk about it for some reason. Search Bill Clinton Gun Ban and Bill Ruger piece of **** gungrabber.

 

[rugerdude]

Heh, well let's see here:

Ruger 10/22's are easily one of the best semi-auto .22's on the market (not necesarily THE best, but definitely good.)

Despite what bill ruger supported, I can still buy 10, 20, 25, 30, and 50 round magazines for his rifle. Along with folding stocks, PG stocks, and flash hiders.

Looks like despite his intentions, he ended up with a very AWB unfriendly gun (actually 2, because of the mini-14)

 

[No_Brakes23]

Rugerdude, some of us choose not to support a company that seems to have an anti-2a position. They have never apologized for the actions of "Brady Bill." I make no argument against the quality of their products, but I won't support them financially until they apologize for Bill and take the ridiculously long warning off their barrels. It's a shame, too, I really like their Vaqueros and Redhawks.

 

[rugerdude]

They didn't take anything from anyone, they supported something that the legislative branch of the U.S. Government ratified.

If they make a good product, and it's what I want at a price i'm willing to pay, then I say it'd be kinda dumb not to buy it. They can not write laws, the only thing they can do is stop making guns, in which case I'll buy from someone else.

I'm not trying to knock your principles, but they're never going to apologize and I don't see that they really should. They did nothing but have an opinion.

 

[No_Brakes23]

I never said they took anything, but they certainly didn't display a pro-RKBA attitude. I'll send my money to a company that doesn't officially cave in to antis. Fortunately, the 597 I got works just fine, even though it doesn't yet have the aftermarket support of the 10/22.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

Just to let you know I bought my Remington 597 2 weeks ago and it has a very crisp trigger so they must have improved the hammer. This gun must be the latest and greatest squirrel blaster. bought it at Dicks and came with a scope $157.00 out the door. Shoots like a dream.

 

[gaweidert]

I have had my 597 for about 2 years now. I polished the rails and that is about it. It's been a reliable and fun plinker. I have 5 mags f0r it. These are not the latest versions. They have been good too. I recently polished the follower and inside of the mags. Seemed to allow the follower to move more freely. Currently running Winchester Wildcats. Next up is Remington Thunderbolts. Lots of 10/22's out there so they must be doing something right.

I hadn't owned a 22 in over 30 years. I mostly collect bolt action milsurps in 8mm, 30-06 and 7.62x54r calibers. Took my new 597 to the range and loaded her up. Put on hearing protection and let her rip. Heard somthing like a dry fire, felt nothing and thought my rifle had not fired at all. Took a few seconds to realize that I was so used to the heavier caliber stuff that I couldn't feel the rifle at all. Only reason I got it is because it was only $99 at Gander Mountain on sale. Came in handy during the recent shortage of 5.56 and 7.62 x 39 ammo. I may get a used Marlin 60 next. Never a big fan of the 10/22, but it is more the way the rifle "feels" than anything else.

 

[MCgunner]

Just to let you know I bought my Remington 597 2 weeks ago and it has a very crisp trigger so they must have improved the hammer. This gun must be the latest and greatest squirrel blaster. bought it at Dicks and came with a scope $157.00 out the door. Shoots like a dream.

My 597 magnum was crisp with the stock hammer, but had a terribly heavy let off. The Volquartzen hammer lightened the effort considerably and it's still crisp. I couldn't find my trigger gauge to quantify things, but it's much better now. The heavy trigger didn't keep me from shooting 1.5" 100 yard groups, though, with a variety of ammo including CCI Maxi Mags.

As to politics, I own more Rugers than anything else. Ol' Bill is dead, now. I think his politics were a bit of corporate CYA with the government at the time. I really don't care. I was buying Japanese cars, trucks, motorcycles when my step dad disowned me for it with all the WW2 BS. Well, you know what, Japan's one of our best allies now. We still wanna punish 'em? I just look for more for less for my money, that's all. I think Detroit might wake up one of these days. The gas crunch nearly killed 'em and I don't think 2 dollar a gallon gas will last.

Yep, politics is always changing. It's been a dozen years since cutter Bill's ban.

 

[Ohio Rifleman]

I got my 10/22 carbine with a scope already installed for around $200, which is a heck of a deal. Anyway, the accuracy on that gun is phenomenal. The bullets go exactly where I put my crosshairs. And I use cheapy .22 Thunderbolt. And I definitely prefer wood over plastic stocks for aesthetic reasons. I've never owned or fired or even handled a Remington 597, so I can't tell you anything about it. But I do own a Ruger 10/22, and I think it is a fantastic rifle, it has never given me even the slightest problem with cheap non-jacketed ammo and the factory magazine. One word of advice...stay away from Eagle 30-round magazines for the 10/22, they're absolute junk. I couldn't get more than 15 rounds in them, and they turned my rifle into a jam-o-matic. It may be more expensive, but stick with the factory 10-round rotary magazines. Again, I can't tell you to take the 10/22 over the 597, all I can tell you is that my experience with the Ruger 10/22 has been wonderful, and it is the first .22 I've owned, and I'm very, very happy with it.

 

[nemoaz]

Just saw the CCR version of the 10/22. I'm having impure thoughts. I'm always a sucker for shorter, smaller, and lighter.

edit: Cleaned my old Glenfield Marlin 60 last night... but that 22" barrel looks so long and unwieldy now.