Ruger has sold over six million 10/22 rifles since they were introduced in 1964. That’s because they’re affordable, accurate, and reliable. But I think the main reason is that they are so much fun to shoot.
INEXPENSIVE AND FUN
Ruger 10/22s are often the first rifle people own. As the name suggests, they're chambered in .22 Long Rifle and sport a semi-automatic action. They don’t have much recoil, and they’re not very loud, making them ideal for introducing youngsters to the shooting sports.
NEW MODELS
But with all of the new models of 10/22s Ruger has released, I think even veteran shooters should take a look at the rifle if they don’t already own one. There's s wide variety of models for all types of shooters. And there’s simply nothing more satisfying than setting up a bunch of targets at various ranges and picking them off with a 10/22.
TAKEDOWN MODEL
The Ruger 10/22 Takedown I reviewed for this article came from the Guns.com Certified Used Guns Vault. It arrived in excellent shape, and like some used guns from the vault, it came with a few unexpected goodies. It’s unclear what accessories the previous owner added, but I was pleasantly surprised by all of them. This is one of the great aspects of buying used guns from Guns.com.
GREAT HIKING GUN
As the name implies, the rifle breaks down into two pieces. This feature, along with the padded case that it comes with, makes it ideal for taking it on outdoor adventures. It takes a only few seconds to take the rifle down or put it together. The rifle weighs 4.6 pounds empty, making it incredibly light and maneuverable.
NEAT FEATURES
The Magpul X-22 Backpacker stock has a compartment in the cheek weld where you can store up to three 10-round magazines. 10/22 rifles usually come with only one 10 round magazine, but this used gun came in with three. There was also one 25-round Ruger BX-25 magazine. This magazine is a must for all 10/22 rifles because reloading is much less fun than shooting.
ADD-ONS
Despite the rifle coming with adjustable iron sights, the previous owner installed an inexpensive Bushnell Trophy TRS-25 Red Dot on the plinker's Picatinny rail. The red dot worked well, and .22 LR bullets start to drop at around 40 yards, so you don’t need much of a zoom. Of course, you can shoot well beyond 50 yards with .22 LR. But that's when a magnified optic would come in handy.
THREADED BARREL
The last interesting feature on the Takedown model I reviewed was the flash suppressor reminiscent of Mini-14 rifles. The rimfire rounds don't create much of a flash, so I'm not sure the muzzle device was necessary – but it sure looked badass. The threaded barrel also allows for the addition of a suppressor. Not that .22 LR is that loud, but it's nice to have options.
CONCLUSION
I personally love shooting Ruger 10/22 rifles. There is something very satisfying about the low recoil, low noise, and not spending a ton of money shooting a lot of rounds. I love setting up targets at a variety of distances and seeing who among my friends is the best shot. It’s a very enjoyable and relaxing way to spend the afternoon. And for outdoor adventures, the Takedown model of this rifle is ideal because it packs down to such a small package.
