My Favorite Ruger 10/22
Let me begin by saying that I’m not much of a .22 rifle guy. Like many youngsters who grew up in the late 1950s and early 1906s my Father taught me firearms safety and shooting at around age 10 to 12. I learned to shoot on my Dad’s Marlin Model 81 bolt action rifle. We shot at tin cans behind grandpa’s barn. I inherited that rifle when my Father passed away in 1999. Still own it. A used Marlin Glenfield Model 25 bolt action rifle was my first firearm purchase after I turned 18 and had a steady, full-time job. The price was $50 in 1973, which was all I could afford with a $500 a month salary. I still own that one too. In addition to those two I have had many .22 rifles come and go. I’ve owned several Remington Nylon 66s, Ruger 10/22s, a Winchester Model 67 single shot, and numerous others that I can’t recall. I’ve found that I don’t often shoot .22 rifles and tend to sell them and after a while buy another, not shoot it much, sell it and repeat.
In early 2015, I was proof reading and editing Walt Kuleck’s soon to be new book entitled “The Ruger 10/22 Complete Owner’s and Assembly Guide” in preparation for publication in March 2015. I found Walt’s book to be so interesting that I decided I needed to buy another Ruger 10/22 rifle. Over the years I had owned two basic examples separated by a decade or two. I do not recall why I sold them, but guess it was due to lack of shooting them.
After the mad rush of publication and initial orders I began searching Ruger’s website and discovered the wide variety of models from which to choose. Which one to buy? I recalled that Ruger had introduced a Takedown model a few years previously (2012). That sounded interesting. In 2016 a visit to my friend’s gun shop, Bullseye Gun Vault in New Alexandria, PA, I saw a Ruger 10/22 Takedown model in stainless steel with black synthetic stock and equipped fiber optic front and rear sights. My aging eyes could actually see the sights! And the backpack type case that came with it was interesting. This was the one; it came home with me. After shooting it on a 50 foot indoor range and on a 100 yard outdoor range I knew this one would be a keeper.
For Christmas of 2016 Walt gifted me a factory drop in Ruger BX-Trigger group. It was a noticeable improvement in trigger pull and an aid to more accurate shooting. In addition to the standard 10 round magazines I added a few factory Ruger 25 round magazines. Broken down my 10/22 rifle has accompanied my wife and I on every trip where I could legal stow it in the back of my SUV. And I do shoot my Ruger 10/22 Takedown more than I have any other .22 rifle I’ve owned. I’m certain I won’t be selling this one!
BY SCOTT DUFF
Get Walt’s book “The Ruger 10/22 Complete Owner’s and Assembly Guide” today!
