Remington 597 vs. Ruger 10/22

[PirateRadio]

I got my 597 last Saturday and have put about 400 rounds though it. I had a few ejection problems when I was shooting it yesterday but that turned out to be bad ammo and not the guns fault. My experience with .22s is limited but so far I'm loving this gun. It fits me just right and is a lot of fun to shoot. Seems very well put together too.

 

[WYJT]

I have both the Ruger 10/22 and the Remington 597. Both have bull barrels and both have laminated stocks with scopes. I took both guns to the range and put them in a gun vise. I couldn't honestly say that one is more accurate than the other. They were both very accurate.
On the 10/22's there has been a lot of trouble with the bolt stops. If you have this trouble, here is a good fix. http://www.alpharubicon.com/leo/fixermod.htm
On the Remington 597, the only complaint I had was the factory plastic clips not feeding right and jamming the gun. I wrote to remington about this and they sent me a metal clip free of charge and it's been fine ever since with no more jamming.
The only thing I like better about the Ruger 10/22 is that there is a lot more accessories available for them, than there are for the 597. But aside from that, they are both very good and very accurate guns.

JT

 

[NorthCounty]

I have both rifles and I must be doing something wrong. My 10/22 is pretty accurate (accurate enough for me), but the 597 is terrible. My tightest group at 50 yards is 8 inches. Its all over the place. My 10/22 from the same distance on the same day was making about 3 inch groups. I've tried several types of ammo with similar results. Now, I am by no means a marksman I just like to have fun, but the 597 isn't even fun to shoot.

 

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

I have both rifles ! I have had the 10/22 since 1965 and I cant tell you how many rounds have been fired through it ! it is functionaly perfect and has never failed to fire or eject ! i bought a Rem 597 a couple years ago because i didnt want to put a scope on the Ruger and i wanted a second .22 for when I have company ! the remington is a great shooter i put an inexpensive simmons blazer 3-9 valiable scope on it because the one that came on it was junk ! I had problems with the jamming but it seems to have been remedied by losening and then tightening the 2 allen bolts / guide rails in the action ! apparently they are tightend unevenly sometimes abd cuase the bolt to bind when the action cycles ! i love to shoot them both both favor the Remington due to my aging eyesight ! When I go to the range ! If I were hunting rabits I would go with the ruger ! The Remington is a decent shooter but it seems to attract dirt and grime inside the action ! Nothing stops the ruger ! Kevin

 

[WYJT]

I've shot rabbit and prairie dogs out to and beyond 100 yrds with the 597 and have no trouble with the accuracy. I did have jamming trouble with it, but cured the problem by getting rid of the factory plastic clips and buying metal ones.

 

[1911NM]

Once more for another round of problems with the 597. Mine is picky on ammo, and even with a good teardown and cleaning the firing pin strike is light enough some cheapo ammo won't fire at all. I have the plastic mag, and have no trouble with feeding. I just eject more live rounds on the ground than anything else. Oh, yeah, the trigger pull is horrendous. I carried a 10/22 while running a trapline for years, and bought my wife one of the short sporter stocked models last year as she is like 5 foot nothing. I never want to put up money shooting against her, and had no problems with the 10/22 in all kinds of weather. It may not shoot with some of the bolt guns I have had, but good enough for the plinking we do anymore. I am either going to replace the hammer on the 597, or trade it off. All just my personal experience, YMMV.

 

[WYJT]

My 10/22 on top and my 597 on bottom.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r116/JTs_photo/DSC01910.jpg?t=1202664568 .

I don't have any complaints about the trigger pull or any thing else on these two. They shoot just about exactly the same. I couldn't tell you which one is more accurate. I took both to the range the same day and shot them at 50 and 100 yard targets and they shot so close to the same that I couldn't pick one over the other as far as accuracy.
The remington is considerably lighter though.

JT

 

[bannockburn]

I have both; the Ruger was puchased new in 1978, and the 597 I bought for my son a few years ago (his choice). My 10/22 is extremely reliable and accurate, even with iron sights; eventually I mounted an old Weaver K2.5 on it, and its still putting them all in the ten ring, provided I do my part as well. Preferred ammo is still CCI MiniMags, though I have also been getting some really great results with Wolf Match Target. My sons 597 is another story. I can't report on accuracy because it jams so frequently, its difficult to have any sort of consistency with it. I have tried all the fixes for it, including the reworked magazines and tightening down the op rods. Nothing helps; what adds insult to injury though is the fact that it does the worst (FTF and FTE), with any Remington brand ammo. Go figure.

 

[WYJT]

Bannockburn,
I have both; the Ruger was puchased new in 1978, and the 597 I bought for my son a few years ago (his choice). My 10/22 is extremely reliable and accurate, even with iron sights; eventually I mounted an old Weaver K2.5 on it, and its still putting them all in the ten ring, provided I do my part as well. Preferred ammo is still CCI MiniMags, though I have also been getting some really great results with Wolf Match Target. My sons 597 is another story. I can't report on accuracy because it jams so frequently, its difficult to have any sort of consistency with it. I have tried all the fixes for it, including the reworked magazines and tightening down the op rods. Nothing helps; what adds insult to injury though is the fact that it does the worst (FTF and FTE), with any Remington brand ammo. Go figure.
__________________
Do not draw me without reason-Do not sheath me without honor


Wow, that surprising. I run the cheapest ammo I can find at walmart through both my 10/22 and my 597 and they both shoot great. I buy the 550 round bulk boxes or ammo at wally world and don't have any trouble.

JT

 

[WYJT]

Bannockburn,
I have both; the Ruger was puchased new in 1978, and the 597 I bought for my son a few years ago (his choice). My 10/22 is extremely reliable and accurate, even with iron sights; eventually I mounted an old Weaver K2.5 on it, and its still putting them all in the ten ring, provided I do my part as well. Preferred ammo is still CCI MiniMags, though I have also been getting some really great results with Wolf Match Target. My sons 597 is another story. I can't report on accuracy because it jams so frequently, its difficult to have any sort of consistency with it. I have tried all the fixes for it, including the reworked magazines and tightening down the op rods. Nothing helps; what adds insult to injury though is the fact that it does the worst (FTF and FTE), with any Remington brand ammo. Go figure.
__________________
Do not draw me without reason-Do not sheath me without honor


Wow, that surprising. I run the cheapest ammo I can find at walmart through both my 10/22 and my 597 and they both shoot great. I buy the 550 round bulk boxes or ammo at wally world and don't have any trouble.

JT

 

[bannockburn]

WYJT

It's just kind of frustrating because the 597 is a well built rifle and it's probably capable of decent accuracy, if you could get more than one shot off before you get a jam of some sort. The original plastic magazine was the worst for non-function, and the metal ones haven't been much better, even after I completely deburred them and polished them up, inside and out. But it was my sons first .22 rifle and he wants to keep it. So maybe some day Remington will redesign the magazine so it actually functions as one, and not just as a box with some .22s in it that may or may not feed into the gun. And then maybe we'll see what his 597 can do.

 

[Matt-J2]

Aren't the op-rod screws supposed to be loosened, rather than tightened?

I thought the problem is they were usually too far in, and backing them out loosened the op-rods enough to let everything move the way it's supposed to.

 

[bannockburn]

Matt-J2

Sorry I wasn't clear about that; the op rods are supposedly too tight from the factory, causing them to bind and the bolt to short stroke. By loosening the op rodes and then re-tightening them, but without the total crank down, you eliminate the binding and the mis-feeds. But as I posted, it still didn't help any with my sons rifle.

 

[Matt-J2]

Ok, wasn't sure if that's what you meant or if you meant you had tightened them down even further than factory, and inadvertantly made the problem worse.

 

[MCgunner]

I have both rifles and I must be doing something wrong. My 10/22 is pretty accurate (accurate enough for me), but the 597 is terrible. My tightest group at 50 yards is 8 inches. Its all over the place. My 10/22 from the same distance on the same day was making about 3 inch groups. I've tried several types of ammo with similar results. Now, I am by no means a marksman I just like to have fun, but the 597 isn't even fun to shoot.

8" groups at 50 yards? I've never fired a .22 that bad. I have a 3" barrel cheap POS Phoenix Arms HP22 zinc alloy pistol I carry in a pocket that will put 'em into 6" at 50! ROFLMAO! If I had a .22 that couldn't group 8" at 50, I'd send it back to the factory. You sure your scope mount ain't loose?

Even 3" at 50 is pretty pathetic. My 10/22 is no tack driver, but I can put 10 rounds into 1.5" at 50 with its iron sights. That ain't that shabby. A scope might tighten that a little, too, and I still need to try some match ammo in it. My Remington 597M with 3x9 Bushnell trophy shoots 1.5" groups at 100 yards. 100 percent reliable. Love shooting that thing, but it's a little expensive compared to LR ammunition. I can get a box of 9x19 for what the stuff costs at Walmart.

 

[CajunBass]

I've got two 10/22's and a 597. If you're compairing the standard 597 to the standard 10/22 carbine, I'd give the edge to the 597. The standard 10/22 carbine feels sort of small to me, where the 597 looks and feels like a full sized rifle.

However, neither of my 10/22's are standard carbines. One is a Delux Sporter, the other is a Wally World Special. In my particular case, the edge goes back to the Ruger just on looks alone.

I can't tell much difference in the way they shoot. They both work fine, squirrels fall out of the tree sometimes when I shoot at them. Usually it's from laughing, but sometimes I hit them.

I say get 'em both.

 

[ceetee]

I just recently mounted an inexpensive scope on my 597 (the Simmons 3-9x32 AO). I made a full post on Rimfire Central. To make a long story short, this rifle is plenty more accurate than I am. All these targets were shot at 25 yds, and all the flyers are totally my fault...








This last photo shows twenty rounds - two full magazines. Ammo used was CCI Minimag HP's.



The upshot is that if I were a better marksman, these groups would probably be single-holers. If your rifle isn't performing to this standard, then it needs a trip back to Remington, to be made right...

 

[22hgrfle]

I've had the 597 for a while and finally got to try it out at 100 and 200 yds. It jammed occasionally with Federal Champion and Remington Golden Bullet which are pointy, but not with Peters (Remington) which is rounder-tipped. Got a good shot group with iron sights at 100 yds, but need to work on the sight for the 200 yds. It does not come with a wrench to adjust the sight unless I've put it away for good somehow. Mine came with the cheaper polymer stock and I've noticed that the barrel seems to rust. Kind of wishing I'd have gone with the 10/22 which has more accessories, but I have no complaints as to accuracy.

 

[240SX]

I have both, a 10/22 (carbine) and a Remington 597. The 10/22 has been the most outstanding .22 rifle over the passed decades, but I believe that Remington has developed a rifle that is ready and willing to compete with the 10/22.

You can get everything for the Remington 597 that you can for the 10/22. I have my load to the max and enjoy both. I feel that I have 2 extremely well built, accurate, and reliable .22 rifles.

 

[goldie]

i had the 22 mag hb version of the 597. it had a nice solid feel,but it would not stay on target,it would seem to drift to the right after many shots(at 50 yds).when i took it apart,the left side of the bolt was not round,just looked cut off,not well finished,& to re assemble the bolt with the guide rods was a real fiasco.my hk300 would shoot rings around it.i eventually sold it.maybe the 22lr version is better.also, that zinc magazine was kind of crappy,once a round got stuck next to another,had to pry it out.

 

[Rimfiredude]

Remington 597

Let's talk a little about ammo first. I purchased a 597 and thought Remington ammo would be the best choice. After a few attempts to get the blasted rifle to work I called Remington. I was told to take it to the warranty station in San Gabriel. After about 10 days they called and told me it was fixed. I then picked it up and took it to the range. Same nonsense...Hickup, burb, jam, stovepipe etc. Then I noticed some Winchester SuperX in my gun case. I appears they had tested it with Winchester ammo. Guess what, it worked just fine with the Winchester ammo. I had some CCI Mini Mags in my truck. I tried the Mini Mags and they worked just fine.

So I replaced the hammer with a Volquartzen hammer which dropped the trigger to a hair over 2 pounds. I purchased 11 more magazines and tried a few more kinds of ammo. I like Federal Champion 40gr. round nose, not the 36 gr. hollow points. The magazines do not like the hollow points because they are a little to long and jam. STICK WITH THE ROUND NOSE BULLETS.

OK...now the real test. I just finished shooting 4 bricks "2,000 rounds" of "Federal Champion 40gr. round nose lead" through my 597 without cleaning it. Guess what...it did not burp one time.

The 597 is a fine, reliable rifle. It has been my trusty Steel Competition rifle for about 5 years and very, very seldom does it let me down.

And by the way, the mags do come apart to clean. Just pop off the base plate with a little screw driver.

5 cases of ammo later...I could not love the rifle more.

 

[RemMod597]

Lost 597 Extractor

I, too,, lost my extractor on the 597 on my first outing with it. Terrible jammiing after about 200 rds of Federal Bulk. Noticed the missing ejector when I field stripped the rifle. Took it back to Joe's (formerly GI Joe's) and they sent it back to Remington for repair. I am anxious to get it back and go play with it.

Oh yeah, out of the box it is extremely accurate.

 

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

another lost extractor !

Well I just went to the range this afternoon and after getting all dailed in ,ny Reminton started jamming ! I looked closly inside and noticed the extractor was missing !! all I could find was the extractor plunger ! I am thinking that the spring and the extractor might have gotten into the barrel and launched down range ? i will be on the phone to remington in the morning 1 I hope they will just send me the parts ! Kevin

 

[kcshooter]

Wow. My 597 has thousands and thousands of rounds thru it. I very seldom get an issue. I use the winchester super X ammo because it seems to work almost flawlessly. The federal "match grade" bulk pack seems to be a pretty good cheaper ammo. It is a LOT more accurate than the 10/22.

 

[Rimfiredude]

597

I am glad to see more favorable reports on the 597. All I have done to mine is a Volquartsen hammer and a YellowJacket stock. It just keeps running, case after case after case of ammo. It even eats the Federal Bulk Pack ammo that Walmart sells. Like it so much I bought another one in stainless and another Boyd Evolution Stock for it in Camo.

I put a Volquartsen barrel on my buckmark and it became a tack driver.I would love to have a comped Volquartsen carbon fiber lightweight barrel for my 597. If you are interested, please email "Nice Shot LLC" nicellc@ sbcglobal.net. If he gets enough interest he said he will place an order.