Ruger’s 10/22 line, which includes some of the most popular rimfire autoloaders ever produced, is expanding.
The storied firearms company recently announced a new lightweight model chambered in .22 LR and featuring a custom look and feel. The new lightest model in the 10/22 line, it weighs a mere 3.5 pounds, thanks partly to its 16.1-inch cold hammer-forged tensioned barrel with a lightweight carbon-fiber sleeve.
According to a news release announcing the new rifle, in addition to the reduction in weight, the stainless steel tensioned barrel is more rigid, reducing vibration, and is even threaded 1/2″-28 for the addition of a muzzle device of the user’s choice. The gun also features a tough but lightweight Magpul MOE X-22 stock that is painted black and features a textured splatter paint for an improved grip in even the worst weather conditions while complementing the rifle’s aesthetics. The stock, which has a 13.5-inch length of pull, features M-Lok attachment slots at the 6 o’clock position and integral sling loops for use with locking sling swivels.
A genuine Ruger BX-Trigger with an approximate pull weight of 2.75 pounds and a crisp, clean break add to the custom feel of the new model.
In addition to the lightweight model, Ruger’s Custom Shop has added two new 10/22 rifles fitted into a chassis manufactured by Grey Birch and featuring a tensioned barrel with a carbon-fiber sleeve and BX-Trigger. They have identical features, with one for right-handed shooters and one for left-handed shooters. The high-end Grey Birch chassis, which folds for easy transport, is adjustable for length of pull and comb height.
The rifles’ 10-inch forends feature M-Lok slots and have Arca-Swiss rails under the forends. These little rifles are as cool-looking chassis rimfires as you’ll likely find on the market. And with the 10/22’s legendary accuracy and reliability, there’s little doubt they’ll put a smile on shooters’ faces who are into long-range rimfire.
Specifications: 10/22 with Carbon-Fiber Barrel Sleeve
Caliber: .22 Long Rifle
Action: Semi-Auto
Barrel: 16.1 inches
OA Length: 34.1 inches
Weight: 3.5 pounds (empty)
Stock: Magpul MOE X-22
Sights None (Picatinny rail)
Finish: Clear satin
Capacity: 10
MSRP: $649
Specifications: Custom Shop 10/22 Competition
Caliber: .22 Long Rifle
Action: Semi-Auto
Barrel: 16.1 inches
OA Length: 36.8 inches
Weight: 4.2 pounds (empty)
Stock: Gray Birch Chassis
Sights None (Picatinny rail)
Finish: Hard-coat anodized black
Capacity: 10
MSRP: $1,129
The 3.5 pound model would qualify as a survival rifle if it had iron sights on it.
Ruger has no idea what decent irons are. For 10/22 (Tech Sight’s TSR100 )
No arguments. I’ve got Tech Sights on my current 1022. A survival rifle needs irons in case it’s optics fail it. IMHO.
Cool, but a Rossi RS22 is almost that light and can be had for nearly nothing (around $125).
You get what you pay for.
Sometimes you do, and sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you get more than you paid for, and sometimes you get less.
The Rossi RS22 is pretty cheap, but it is also a really handy little lightweight rifle. Mine has been great so far.
I’ve always liked the cheap Marlin 60 better than the slightly more expensive 10/22.
Hey Ruger! Start making model 60’s again now that you own Marlin.
I’m an old fart. The 60 in the day was a longer barreled rifle than the newer ones. Those longer tubes were a shooting rifle. Loved mine. The last new production 60’s I saw had the shorter barrel and the over all quality was lacking.
My 10/22 was not as accurate as my 60 was. But it was good enough for its purpose. And it was a more compact package. With a detachable mag. Trade offs.
I’ll keep my old reliable wood stock 1022. It makes a great low cost home defense tool.
… or do like a lot of 10.22 fans do. Change out the stock, barrel, trigger, charging handle and custom bolt, add a scope mount to barrel, add a 25 power scope, oops – change out heavy barrel for a carbon fiber one and then deciding to buy a stainless receiver with integral scopemount….
then assembling the leftover parts into – – – –
wait for it – – – –
an old reliable wood stock 1022
My 1022 came from the factory with a plastic stock. Very durable. At the time I paid 169 for it. Or was it 149? Been a while.
With form 4 wait times of about a week, why they didn’t offer an integrally-suppressed version is beyond me…
Geoff PR,
I imagine that the logistical coordination aspect of trying to sell an integrally suppressed rimfire rifle is not worth the hassle.
I imagine that most people simply want a rimfire suppressor which they can move from firearm to firearm. Thus I believe that most people just want a rifle with a threaded barrel rather than an integrally suppressed barrel.
I also have to wonder if integrally suppressed for rimfire is a really bad idea:
1) Rimfire ammunition typically leaves a LOT of crud in the action/barrel/suppressor and it is critical to be able to clean said crud often.
2) It may not be possible to clean the suppressor section of a barrel on an integrally suppressed barrel–or at least it may not be possible to clean it adequately.
Geoff PR,
Since my first attempt to respond to you went to moderation limbo, I will try a short version which loses some of the meaning of my original comment:
Manufacturers and/or distributors may not want the hassle of selling a rifle with an integrally suppressed barrel which requires a Form 4.
Many/most people just want a supre$$or that they can move to and use on multiple firearms so an integrally suppressed rifle is less desirable.
Rimfire ammunition is typically very dirty and it may not be possible to adequately clean an integrally suppressed barrel.
Mr. Geoff
I tried responding to your question several times and this site keeps censoring my responses.
They offer a takedown barrel suppressed for about 700 USD, I do believe…
I like that tacticool folder. I could really be an operator with that i bet
I thought the phone company no longer used operators. It’s all computers these days.
Believe it or not, I think live people are still doing ‘operator’ things, jwm.
I could be wrong, tho…
Why did not they extend the carbon fiber effect all the way back to the reciever. I suppose there is a reason however it looks odd with the stainless showing.