Ruger 10/22
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| Ruger 10/22 | |
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 10/22 Carbine |
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| Type | Rimfire semi-automatic rifle |
| Place of origin |  United States |
| Production history | |
| Designer | William B. Ruger, Harry H. Sefried, II |
| Manufacturer | Sturm, Ruger |
| Number built | over 5 million, 1964-present |
| Specifications (Standard 10/22 carbine) | |
| Weight | 5.25 lb (2.4 kg) |
| Length | 37 in (940 mm) |
| Barrel length | 18.5 in (470 mm) |
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| Cartridge | .22 lr |
| Action | Auto-Loader |
| Feed system | 10 round rotary box magazine |
The Ruger 10/22 is a semi-automatic rimfire rifle chambered in .22 Long Rifle. It has a removable 10-round (or 5-round) rotary magazine which allows the magazine to fit flush with the bottom of the stock. High capacity magazines are also available. A magnum version, chambered for the .22 WMR cartridge, was made from 1998 to 2006[1], and a .17 HMR version, the 10/17 was announced in 2004, but this model is no longer in production.[2] The standard version has been in production since 1964.[3]
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[edit] Variations
The 10/22 is available in a wide variety of configurations. As of 2008, the Ruger catalog shows nine current and two discontinued variations, all in .22LR.[4] Wooden stocks are available in standard, deluxe versions and International versions, in addition to laminated wood and black synthetic. The standard "Carbine" barrel length is 18 1/2 inches, while the "Rifle" version has a 20 inch barrel, and the "Compact Rifle" has a 16 1/8 inch barrel, and a shorter stock. A target model is available with a 20 inch bull barrel with no sights. There is also a 22 inch barrel version, but Wal-Mart is the exclusive dealer for this model. The .22 Long Rifle version uses an aluminum receiver, while the .22 WMR version uses a steel receiver with integral scope bases.
[edit] 22 Charger pistol
The 22 Charger target pistol, introduced in late 2007, is a target handgun based on the 10/22 action. The 22 Charger comes with a black laminated wood pistol metallic silhouette style stock with forend, a 10 inch (25 cm) matte blued heavy barrel with no sights, a bipod, and a Weaver style scope base. Overall length is just under 20 inches (50 cm) making it quite large for a handgun. As it has an integral bipod it is likely to be used from the prone position. The bipod attaches to a sling swivel on the stock fore-end, and is easily removable.[5][6]
[edit] Uses and customization
The 10/22 is very popular for small-game hunters, and among those who just like to plink or target shoot.[10] This popularity has led to many after-market modifications being available to improve performance, augment the rifle's looks, or increase its magazine capacity, leading the 10/22 to be one of the most customizable firearms made[11]. Custom manufacturers also make "clones" of the 10/22, which are similar in design (most parts will interchange) but built to much higher tolerances and costs. The 10/22 barrel is pinned rather than screwed into the frame, making removal and replacement of the barrel (which would require a gunsmith's work with most other rifles) much easier. This, when combined with the simple construction of the rest of the components, means that the average person can easily replace any part in the gun with nothing more than a screwdriver and a hex key.
In fact, every part of the 10/22 can be purchased from aftermarket makers, and it is possible to spend many times the original cost of the gun buying aftermarket parts.
[edit] Modifications
The image at right shows two 10/22 carbines, the top one in nearly stock form (a 4 power magnification scope has been added, using the factory supplied scope base) and the bottom one in highly modified form. The modified version includes an 18 inch steel bull barrel, a muzzle brake, a laminated wood silhouette style stock, and a scope with a lit reticle, in addition to internal modifications to the trigger group to improve the trigger characteristics. See the entry on accurizing for more information on the reasons for these modifications.
[edit] Magazines
There are many types of magazines for the Ruger 10/22: the 10 round magazine, the 25 round magazine, the 30 round magazine, a 50 round magazine (which is in the category of a tear drop magazine), banana magazines, and the new drum magazine.
The standard 10 round 10/22 magazine stores the cartridges in a rotary fashion, rather than stacked, as seen in a box magazine. This allows the magazine to fit into the weapon without sticking out from the stock. The action of the rifle strips a cartridge from the magazine with each shot, allowing the next cartridge to rotate into place.
[edit] References
- ^ Ruger Rifle Serial Number History. Retrieved on 2006-10-02.
- ^ Ruger 2003 4th quarter press release. Retrieved on 2007-10-02.
- ^ Wood, J.B., Firearms Assembly / Disassembly Part III: Rimfire Rifles Revised Edition, DBI Books, 1994, ISBN 0-87349-152-1 p.331
- ^ Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.. Ruger 10/22 Autoloading Rifles. Retrieved on 2008-06-04.
- ^ .22 Charger Pistol. Retrieved on 2008-01-03.
- ^ Ruger’s New .22 Charger Semi-Auto Pistol.
- ^ "Autoloading rifles" at Ruger-firearms.com
- ^ "Hornady's Sweet Seventeen" by Rick Jamison, Shooting Times
- ^ "Rotary magazine for firearm with hold-open lever" Patent
- ^ "50 Years Of Ruger Genius" Guns Magazine, Sept, 1999 by Clair Rees
- ^ Charles E. Petty. RUGER 10/22: From Factory to Fantasy. Guns Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-09-11.
