Want to get my first rifle! Looking at Ruger 10/22...help/advice needed please

[ghostofmadison]

Hi. The thread title speaks for itself! I'm a newbie to rifles (only fired a few ARs and .22s here and there throughout life). I am very interested in a Ruger 10/22 because they're so inexpensive, have a good rep, and the ammo is dirt cheap compared to larger calibers. Also will be a good rifle to build fundamentals on.

My questions are: what is a good setup? I don't need anything fancy for this - I just want the most reliable and accurate setup available out of the box - something that will last at least 10 years with frequent use. I've heard stainless steel is better? Where on earth should I get one of these, what will the cost be, and what precise setup do I want?

Also, any good manuals online on how to safely operate and clean these, or is it worth getting some formal instruction on it?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Isher]

10/22 is good, as long as you get one

From Y2K or before.

In general, if you hunt around for the "old"

.22's, though they may look shabby,

They are way better guns.


scyth


ps

You dont need to invest in gun bling. Ammo is way better.

 

[ghostofmadison]

Thanks! Any reason pre-Y2ks are better, or is it just overall quality?

Also, where would I find a pre-Y2k in my town (I live in a big city) - if I went to a gun shop with used .22s, is there a manufacturing date I can see on the rifle, or will the paperwork have that?

 

[Isher]

Well -

I'd take a long look at Winchesters and Marlins, both tube and bolt guns, also.

By Y2K I was referring specifically to the Ruger.

Seems like they went down the slippery slope after that......

Just my opine.

Anyone wants to pitch in, have at it.


scyth

 

[gidaeon]

Also, any good manuals online on how to safely operate and clean these, or is it worth getting some formal instruction on it?

When you go to a good gun range, at least DNR run ranges, and act humble and inform the range safety officer ect., that you are new and would like any potential help there will almost always be someone happy to help you.

I almost got a 10/22 for a .22 rifle, but had a few unexpected problems when I tried one out and decided it wasn't for me; then I found a Marlin 60 used for far cheaper and love it. A 10/22 may be great for you but be sure to handle one, and some other .22 rifles first before deciding. IMHO avoid plastic sights! I agree with what was already said, an older rifle may well be considerably cheaper and better built than a new one. Do your research and you won't regret your purchase.

 

[Historian]

I own 2 10/22s and the new Ruger SR 22 which is just a 10/22 jazzed up. With the right modifications (one of the things I like about the rifle is that you can modify it in so many ways) each of my rifles will shoot five out of five into a one inch circle at fifty yards. Right out of the box my SR 22 was shooting one inch groups as soon as I got the scope adjusted. IMO it's a great first .22. Best of luck with whatever you choose.

Historian

 

[longdayjake]

There is a reason that so many people love 10/22s. They are really good weapons. However, I have been able to buy a few "duds" from pawn shops really really cheap. All that was required to fix them was to turn around a spring in the trigger group and all was well. I think sometimes people get crappy guns and dont realize that in almost every case it is a simple fix. Its not like guns are extremely complex.

 

[MichaelK]

I have two 10-22's one I bought 25 years ago, and one just two years ago. Besides the new one being stainless, I don't see any substancial difference between the two. Stainless is nice if you live in a wet place like Oregon where your shoes turn green. If you local gunshop doesn't have a stainless one in stock, you can just special order it.

Just put a cheap 3X9 scope on it and your all set.

 

[FarmGirl]

Best advice I know of on rifles, even 10-22's is to make sure you handle the gun before you purchase. While brand quality is a big thing, you may decide to go with a different brand with equal quality than someone else's "favorite" brand because of the way the rifle feels.

If it's comfortable for you to hold and handle, IMO, you'll shoot better, which is always more fun

 

[ByAnyMeans]

I agree to handle the gun before purchasing. I always heard 10/22's are great but when I handled one it just did not feel right to me. Everyone I know that has one loves it but was not for me.

I found a slightly used Marlin 975 and Marlin 60 for $250 OTD. I keep a 4X scope on the 60 and TechSights peep sight on the 975. They are very accurate and reliable. The 975 is very light and perfect if you like to introduce shooting to many different people. I have used it for everyone from 8 y.o. girls up to middle age men. If you get the 10/22 I still recommend the peep sights.

Regardless what you choose I would recommend that after you familiarize yourself with the chosen rifle (hunter saftey class if needed depending on your skill level) that you attend an Appleseed shoot. It will be the best money ever spent on beginning rifle shooting. You don't need much more than a 22 with GI sling, four ten round magazines, a 500 round value pack of ammo, piece of mat and the willingness to learn (some comfort items are recommended). The shoots I have gone to have been run by a great bunch of guys who donate their time to teach and really like to do it. My fiance also loved it as well.

http://appleseedinfo.org/


EDIT TO ADD: Checking the forum at Appleseed it seems many people go for an extended magazine release and bolt release. This seems to be the most common modification along with peep sights without getting into triggers and barrels.

 

[lopezni]

Savage rimfire, they are really accurate and affordable. You get get one with a bull barrel and accutrigger for about $250.

 

[Leaky Waders]

Cons: 10/22's are not very accurate out of the box and don't leave the bolt open on the last shot.

Pros: 10/22's have lots of after market parts to accuraize and accessorize your new rifle.

Personally, 39A or win 94/22 (no longer made) - great rifles that need no modification and you can give to your grand kid's some day. If you wanted an auto then I'd recommend a marlin 60.

Regardless of which rifle you get, 22's are fun to shoot and great rifles for small game.

 

[ArmedBear]

With the right modifications, a 10/22 will shoot 2 MOA 5-shot groups at 50?!?

My Marlin 60, base model, no modifications whatsoever, will shoot 1 MOA 5-shot groups at 50 (obviously, with a scope on it).

Like some others, I had a 10/22, and I sold it. I bought a new Marlin 60 and it has been a wonderful rifle. It's more accurate, more reliable, cheaper, and more pleasant to load, than the 10/22.

(I also have a few other .22 rifles that cost a good deal more. I like them for various reasons -- but I can't honestly say they're better shooters than the 60.)

If you like the 10/22, go ahead and get one. Anything you don't like, you can fix with aftermarket parts (for a price). But do check out some other rifles, as well.

 

[shootr]

I recently bought a new 10/22 from Cabelas. My BIL wanted one and they were having a sale on the std, wood-stocked carbines with a Pine Ridge 3 x 9 scope for $240. They looked so nice, I told the salesman to grab me one too.

I had no idea what to expect in terms of accuracy of the rifle or the scope -but boy was I pleasantly surprised! Mine's far more accurate than I expected and consistently prints tight little groups with Winchester "Target" $25.00 /500 bullets. I couldn't be happier. Have been out with it three times now and the scope holds zero too.

BIL is bent on modding his all up but I like mine just as it is and won't be touching a thing. I'd forgotten how much fun a little .22 plinker could be and I've been grinning ear-to-ear with this thing. Highly recommend!

I've got a number of other .22s, but have never owned a Marlin 60. However, if you check those out and like them, I'm sure you'll be just as happy. Marlin makes a nice gun and I'm sure they're very good. Heck - you're buying your first one! There's no wrong decision to be made!

 

[gearheadpyro]

10/22's are great little guns, I got mine about 2 years ago. Handle it first, makes sure it fits, if not try something else before buying. Then shoot shoot shoot, welcome to the sport.

I decked mine all out, you can replace every single part of this gun 25 different ways if you want; but you don't have to to have a fun gun.

As for reliability. I wanted to test the limits once and ran 500 of the dirtiest .22's I could find through it, never misfired or failed to extract. haven't tried sand in the action yet but I expect it would still fire (j/k).

One thing to watch out for, and it is very minor, the newer models that have a black powdercoat type finish on them will flake inside the action. It's not cosmetic as it's all inside the action, and it doesn't seem to affect function, but when you pull the bolt out during cleaning you'll see it. Don't worry about it.

 

[Ignition Override]

How about a Romanian .22 Trainer, if seen at a local gun show?

 

[blackops]

The Ruger LR 22 is a great rifle to start with. Learn how to shoot that rifle and then move to the larger cartridges. It's a rifle that I know many people grew up with as I did. I would put it in the top ten hunting rifles of all time. Especially the older models.

 

[gunsandreligion]

With the right modifications (one of the things I like about the rifle is that you can modify it in so many ways) each of my rifles will shoot five out of five into a one inch circle at fifty yards.

Those obviosly aren't the Right modifications.

 

[shootr]

LOL!! Tough crowd... tough crowd.

 

[greyling22]

last time I checked a 10/22 was a carbine firing a .22lr. it came with iron sights too. Most of my friends used it as a lightweight plinking gun and were shooting without a rest running cheap bulk pack ammo through it. it was not a sniper rifle and a 3" group at 100 yds is still coke can sized. a coke can. at 100 yds. offhand. with iron sights. with cheap ammo.

IMHO, people who dump hundreds of dollars into a 10/22 to get stellar accuracy are like the guys who dump $15k into a honda civic trying to turn it into a fast car. it can be done, but why? just buy a fast car/long range rifle in the first place. If you want cheap fun, get a 10/22. If you want to shoot golf balls at 200yds from a bench, buy some gun designed to do that.

but hey, different strokes for different folks. personally I've never fired any gun of any design that wasn't more accurate than I was. wasn't it jerry miculek who ran around shooting balloons at 100yds with a snub nose smith 38 just to prove that very point?

 

[Wyo_F-A]

DON'T BUY A 10/22....

....only because you will be forced, like me, to invest a ton of money into making it the coolest, most accurate 10/22 anyone has ever seen.

Over the last few years I have become more of a fan of my Marlin 60's, and the 10/22 gathers dust unless my little brother comes over to shoot it.

 

[goon]

I love my stainless 10/22 but it did have an issue when I first got it. I had to replace the extractor to get it running right, eventhough it was brand new.
Having said that, it runs like a machine now and it accurate enough for my purposes. I plan to keep mine.
Having said that, if you are really looking for a quality .22, check out a CZ-452.