The Ruger 10/22 is one of the most popular .22 rifles in the world and a lot of people have one for small game hunting in a survival situation.
You could use a completely stock 10/22 and be just fine, but to be more prepared here are the top 7 accessories for the Ruger 10/22 in a survival situation and why I think they are important.
1. Sling
A sling is probably the most important after market accessory you could get for your 10/22, or any rifle for that matter. Any time you are doing more than plinking tin cans at the range you are going to need your hands for other things while carrying your rifle.
A sling just makes sense. Think of it as the holster for your rifle. How many pistols will you be taking into a survival situation without a holster?
Amazon has a ton of rifle slings as do most outdoor gear sites. I won’t recommend anything specific because you should get what is comfortable for you.
2. Scope
Rifle scopes are a touchy subject. There is such a huge array of options and everybody has their opinion. Some people reading this will say you don’t even need a scope for a small hunting rifle, and that is a valid opinion.
I say: Buy for the Use.
What is this rifle going to be used for? Small to medium hunting in a survival situation.
Do you really need a $400 scope on a $200 rifle. Personally I don’t think so, but to each his own.
Zack has a Simmons Truplex .22 Mag Riflescope on his 10/22 and I think it is perfect for a survival game gun. It’s has a adjustable power, it’s durable, and is specifically made for rimfire rifles.
However what makes me choose this scope: price. The thing is only $40 dollars. If you don’t know the world of gun optics that is cheeeeaaappp.
A lot of shooters will look down their nose at such a scope, but for the needs of the gun you are building I think it works perfectly. It’s not going to win any competitions hitting tiny holes at 100 yards, but you could definitely knock down some squirrels.
3. Magazines
With the Ruger 10/22 you have two choices for magazines. Standard 10 round rotary magazine, or an after market extended magazine. Either one is fine, it just depends on what type of set up you want.
I will say be careful about after market magazines as many of them are really bad. From what I have read and seen personally the Tactical Inc. TI25 Magazine (pictured right) with steel feed lips seems to be the best. It is adjustable so it will fit your gun exactly (that is huge), you can take it apart to clean it, and it has metal feed lips that will not get worn out.
4. Automatic Bolt Release
If you own a Ruger 10/22 you know exactly what I am talking about. If the bolt is locked back, you have to pull the bolt back and push the bolt release mechanism at the same time to chamber a round. It doesn’t sound that hard, but sometimes it can be a pain.
The automatic bolt release replaces an original part on the gun and allows you to work the bolt without pressing the bolt lock mechanism (i.e. just like any other rifle).
In a survival situation you want everything to be as simple as possible and this is just one of those things. It is a cheap part that could mean the difference between good meat for dinner or canned beans.
MidwayUSA.com is the place to go for Ruger 10/22 parts and they have the Automatic Bolt extractor by Voltquartsen for $11.
The first 4 on this list I would say are probably the important items you want in a Ruger 10/22 for survival situations. The following 4 are certainly not necessary, but if you are planning on using the rifle long term and on a daily basis after the SHTF, you might want to consider them. They are still simple, cheap, common sense upgrades.
Also, if you want to camouflage your 10/22, or any other piece of gear without the pain of painting use CamoForm Camouflage Wraps.
5. Bolt Handle
Some people (like me) feel like the bolt handle on the Ruger 10/22 is a little small. If you want something a little bigger and easier to grab MidwayUSA has the Voltquartsen Extended Bolt handle. It is longer and better shaped than the stock handle for quick and easy use.
6. Magazine Release
Just like the bolt release, Ruger 10/22 owners know that getting the standard magazine out can be a real pain sometimes because the magazine release is awkward.
I haven’t used one of these personally, but this extended mag release on MidwayUSA has more than 50 positive reviews. For only $7 it is probably worth a try.
An new mag release is another one of those things: You don’t have to have it, but in certain situation it would make things a lot easier.
7. Extractor
A lot of people will disagree with this idea because many have had Ruger 10/22′s work flawlessly for decades without so much as a cleaning.
However, 10/22′s to have been known to be somewhat sluggish with extraction, especially if they are heavily used.
A nice aftermarket extractor like the Volquartsen Exact Edge Extractor will blow the casings out of your rifle so fast people beside you will be getting out of the way.
For the more important survival aspect, this will go a long way towards helping cure failures to eject and and stovepipes, which again, in a survival situation could mean dinner.
For more Survival Gear ideas check out our store Forge Survival Supply.
What’s On your Ruger 10/22?
I would like to hear what aftermarket goodies our readers have on their 10/22′s. Comment below and let me know what kind of cool stuff you are running, and why you think it would be useful in a survival situation.
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Excellent article. If one decided to not use a scope, higher visibility sights would be useful.
Nightrunner,
That's a good point.
I don't know much about alternative iron sites for 10/22's.
Know any good ones people should look for?
After a lot of research, I actually found a middle ground other than taking both.http://nwwoodsman.com/Product/Shelter/TarpTent.ht…
& http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzJHuWlEAtk
If I need a real tent, I will geocache one closer to my BOL.
Personally I like moving fast and light. So anything that is a must to have, but makes my pack bigger or heavier is stored in a secret waterproof box, that is hidden in the woods somewhere (geocached ).
This "Tarp Tent" is the best of both worlds. It is light and (when folded) is small, but durable and more impervious to the elements than a traditional tent. I recommend checking it out.
BTW if anyone knows of another product that is just as good but cheaper let me know because this tent is not cheap!
i have that tact 1022 model 1261 i want to put iron sights on it any help in wer n wut to look for?
Tech sights make great replacement irons for 10/22. Bit of a pain to replace the front blade but really great once zeroed
Mags:
- You should mention Butler Creek Steel Lip mags. In general, as reliable as TI's, especially if you give 'em a shot of silicone lube every thousand rounds or so.
- You should also mention the TriMag bracket that hold three factory mags together. Ruger has now taken this product on and it's a great item at only ten bucks
Extended Mag release: All new 10/22 models have a factory extended mag release now, started couple years ago or so.
Scope: Consider see through rings to mount scope, so can immediately use iron sights should scope get broken, or for when close target sighting may be quite different from what you've zeroed on (usually 50 yards).
Good stuff, enjoying your site.
I have heard good things about the Butler Creek mags (the ones with steel feed lips) but I have never seen or used them personally so I didn't mention them. Butler Creek is known for quality products though I know that.
I actually hadn't heard of the Trimag Connector but I googled it and it looks very cool.
And like you mentioned, cheap. Cabella's has them for $10.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/produ…
I didn't know about the extended mag release but good to know! The old kind are a pain.
Definitely agree with the see through scope rings. People might argue it on larger guns but for a .22 it seems like a good idea to me.
See through scope rings are great for shooting at nite and when you or in the fogg .
Auto bolt release can be found on http://www.rimfirecentral.com as a DIY along with other useful mods. polishing and such..
I actually use a TIS mag release it is a long lever type that contours to the trigger guard,.the problem I had with the extended mag release is the way I carry my rifle (holding in front of the TG) would trip said release.not losing mags is good. and I load out with CCI Select very accurate in my rifle and a rated 40gr. @ 1200fps. accuracy will kill quicker than speed
also I use wraparound racquetball goggles with the strap , cheap fog resistant protective eye wear, gotta see to be able to hit..might be good with all sorts of stuff flying around in a survival type situation..
John
John,
I have heard of doing the bolt release mod, but I thought some people might not be comfortable taking a dremmel to internal parts of their gun so I didn't mention it in the article.
If you are comfortable with homemade mods then go for it and save 10 bucks.
I have seen the type of mag release you are talking about I believe.
Like This one: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumb…
I have always kind of thought those were more for competition shooters than anything, at least that is how I have seen them advertised. I can definitely see how you could too easily pull that out in the field.
CCI is good stuff as far a .22 goes. Not competition quality, but much better than bulk Federal.
I hadn't thought of shooting Goggles, nice idea. I have always just worn shooting glasses.
Interesting Site! Best wishes! Spuds!
The most benificial mod made to my 10/22 was a lightened trigger. My trigger pull is reduced from the factoyr 7-9 lbs to 3lbs, it improved my accurcy more than a scope did. I've also got a set screw in the rear of my trigger guard that eleminates overtravel, this helps with rapid follow up shots. I have a bushnell 4X12 power scope on my gun. I've killed too many groundhogs with 1 shot to the head at 150+ yds to count. They might not be your ideal dinner, but in a survivial situation you can't just go to the market and buy tenderloin.
Timmy,
That's a good point. The factory trigger on 10/22's can be pretty heavy. I've never done a full swap myself though so I didn't have anything good to recommend. Did you tweak the trigger yourself or replace the whole system?
Also, I really like the idea of the set screw to reduce overtravel. I can see how that would be great for rapid.
Any yes a groundhog sounds better than going hungry to me.
Thanks for commenting
Did the adjustment myself, with help from a friend. Definitely recommend if you're not hitting your targets everytime!
Timmy,
I'm glad that worked out for you. I'm definitely a novice gun smith to say the least but I might try this one.
I've had no personal experience with them just a lot of research. Any one use a Hammock, these seem to meet every need. water, insects, Cold and lightness. Just curious if any one has partook?
Don
Tech sights are awesome! Once you get them sighted in (which takes 25 yards, a sheet of graph paper, and a few 3 round shots down range) you’ll be driving tacks in no time.
Being that my Bug Out scenario hopefully includes a family (wife and kids), a tent is really the only long term option. For an emergency shelter, I have a tarp and paracord.
The long mags, although look "cool" hang under the weapon in the way! They don't feed well, even the best ones. I have a 37 year old Ruger rotary mag, amongst the dozens and dozens of of newer ones, that came with my original 10/22. I have yet to have a feed problem it or ANY Ruger factory mags.
I own 6 Trimags. Get those and some pouches and they are very convenient and always work!. They sell the pouches (and TriMags) on E-Bay…..well built, American made stuff…..price reflects it, but what do you want? Junk? I hate buying junk and I hate funding my freaking enemys!
So how high does your rifle sit when you are trying to bench shoot at the range because those high caps are in the way? FTF when you bump it? Threw all mine away…….TriMag all the way…..it even holds the rifle upright when I set it down. Can't beat that…….
Listen to an old man…..must have done something right to get this way……
Tent – all the way. The other benefit not mentioned is wind protection. In a cool, blowing (and likely rainy) setting, you can close down a tent and get rather comfortable. You can't with a tarp.
If you plan to take both, make the "tarp" the thickest mil plastic sheet you can find. It can perform all the tasks of a tarp for 1/2 the space and weight.
I concur with the both strategy. Too many options with the combination.
I have TI-25 with the plastic lips. It feeds OK, but the bigger problem is fore-aft slop. if I gently tug the extended mag towards me it can fall out of my receiver. I've experimented with shims and tacky tape, but those solutions make it difficult to release quickly.
At the range a fellow 10/22 shooter was next to me with a Butler Creek. I inserted his and there was not the front to back play as my TI had. I emailed TI and never got a response. I might get a steel lip butler creek, but for the money 3 more 10 rounders might be better served.
Hi, new here, great site, great folks.
About the Ruger, I got mine from a friend for 40 bux about 15 years ago, so I felt justified in spending some money on it so I installed the Tapco collapsable stock kit., "about 80 bux," It installed easily in a few minutes. Now it fits my wife or kid better, packs Great , it's a little more weatherproofed and it's got a rail on it so I've got a light on it for varmints. Plus it looks damn cool. I have a couple "Butler Bananas", they are fun but the I've got 3 Ruger original mags and I like them better from the dependability/survival aspect.. I'll be looking into the Tri-Mag Asap. All that being said, if I'd kept it original I'd be just as happy as it it the most accurate and fun to shoot gun I own and I would recommend it to anybody. I would put it in my 10 most important survival tools list. Just my 2 cents. Y'all take care, Sancho
Not to hijack your 10/22 thread (have one,great 22!) but Im pretty pleased with an impulse purchase I made today. I bought an H&R 22/410 combo. The rifle breaks down and stores nicely in a decently made fabric case. The 22 barrel came with hi vis fiber optic sights. I have 550 rnds of 22 and 25 410 shotshells stored in the case and its still fairly light. All for less than $150 bucks including ammo. Wallyworld of course!
For the weight obsessed: pakrifle. I dont own one but it looks promising.
on newer 10/22s the bolt release is automatic, i didn't know about that until i went shooting with my dads nwere 10/22 and while cleaning it the bolt kept going forwards when the cleaning rod pushed it back
thats newer
yeah…no one said specifically older 10/22s
When did this start? I bought a new 10/22 in Dec 2009 that was on sale. The shop was out of stock and I got a rain check.
Another mods I'd like from the factory:
bore sighting hole at the back of receiver – for cleaning rods and sighting on the bench.
also think the shiny plastic butt stock is silly. I covered mine with an old bike inner tube for traction.
very nice article, on my .22 carbine, ive replaced the factory stock with a Magpul Archangel Stock, added a 4×32 red/green dot scope, with a 1 inch picatinny riser, a 5 position foregrip (UTG), Extended magazine release and auto bolt release. Also i have a detachable bipod. I am also ordering backup front and rear iron rights (flip ups).
Great article. Here's a story of caution I would like to add. I have a stainless model 10/22 with the green laminated stock. I added the bolt release and also changed the bolt buffer for a plastic one (which seemed to quiet the action just a bit). I bought a 25 round extended mag along with an extra 10 rnd mag. I then made a mistake. I installed an extended mag release. I liked it at first. It was handy when I was just plinking. But, the first night I took it out spot-lighting rabbits (which is legal where I am), I had the 25rnd mag in and when I was headed out to pick up a rabbit that I had shot I guess my hand hit the mag release and dropped out my mag. I never found it. I never even realized it until I got back to the truck and we went to the next stand to shoot again. I went back in the morning to where I thought that it may have happened, but with all of the high grass in the area obscuring it from view, I never found it. I then put the stock mag release back in and have not had the problem since. Lesson learned for me and one I hope you hear. If you have an extended release installed be careful of how you carry the rifle in the field….my 2ȼ. Be safe.
First off, great site and article. I have most of the upgrades above, but one thing I haven't seen mentioned (may have overlooked) is a suppressor/silencer. In a survival situation, it would be very handy to be able to take small game and/or defend oneself without drawing any unwanted attention. I have one that I use on my 10/22 and my 22/45. On the rifle, all you hear is the sound of the action. You can actually hear the bullet hit the target with both guns. .22 rimfire suppressors are relatively cheap and most of the rimfire models are made out of aluminum so they are light as a feather. Additionally .22 rimfire subsonic ammo is readily available. In a pinch it will even quieten down hyper velocity rounds but you will still have the sonic "crack" that goes along with breaking the sound barrier.
J
Hogue makes an all weather stock that is larger(for adults)…I've done all the mods and now have a comp 10/22…all I do is take my heavy thumbhole stock out and stick it in my Hogue. And subsonic rounds are quiet and more accurate(more unstable at sound barrier), but, try them out to see if the less powerful round will cycle in your rifle or Ruger pistol (with scope). Oh! Try to change out the terrible Ruger rails for weaver rails that accept all scopes with a more stable configuration(use a dot of blue locktite on all tiny screws on gun or rifle or glasses etc…)
Just a good recommendation on a scope. Crickett makes a 4x 32mm scope with mil dots with 3.5 in of eye relief. Believe me, eye relief is a big help! https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info….
Personally, I have shot a rifleman score on the AQT with one and they are great and cheap
I'm so glad I found this site. I've learned so much all ready. I just bought a new Ruger 10/22 last summer and it's a neat little rifle. It came with an automatic bolt release and the factory magazine never jams. I bought a couple of plastic Butler Creek 25 round mags and I had a few problems with them. Sometimes they don't lock in and just fall out while you are shooting and other times it will jam easy. Instead of buying a strap, I made one with a paracord weave. There is a dude name Stormdrane that makes art out of rope. http://stormdrane.blogspot.com/
There are also these neat little lasers I can't seem to find at the moment. These lasers slide into the end of the barrel and then you can adjust your scope to line up with the laser, instead of wasting rounds to sight in, and potentially giving away your position. They make them in different calibers too. I would say a bipod is an extremely valuable accesory. If you're half frozen or starving to death, you're gonna need all the help you can get holding that gun steady. There is also a huge amount of after market parts for this gun. There's even AR-15 stocks with rail systems for them.
On my 10/22 I have a simmons 4X32 fixed power scope. I like this because theres fewer moving parts, and your target is always in focus.
I mounted this scope on see through scope rings so that I did not lose the ability to use iron sights.
These rings run about 20 bucks.
I also mounted my sling on the side of my stock rather than the bottom so that the rifle would carry better through the woods, and the scope would not bounce off of stuff while carrying the rifle over my shoulder.
I use a Marlin with a tubular mag holding 17 shots. Nothing to break off or catch. Probably just as quick to reload as an empty clip mag. Will hold shorts with no problem. Shorts should be considered as a hunting round.
I love my Marlin Model 60 with 18 in the tube and 1 in the chamber I can hit 2" circles all day long with a cheapy scope and just as good with irons…the make a speede reloader for tube fed lines…they add bulk but reloads in a flash just saying…
Marlin Model 60 = +100 A great rifle, especially in stainless with a polymer stock.
The easiest way I've found to reload tube fed .22LR is to use an old aluminum arrow shaft as my "clip". Measure out the length you need (line up the capacity your rifle will hold and measure it), cap one end and drill a hole through the other end to accept a Hitch Pin Clip to contain the rounds. Simply pull the clip and dump the rounds into the end of the tube, voila… just takes a few seconds.
Love the article!
I would have to say that the ruger 10/22 is one of my all time favorite guns. it is super reliable and in the hands of the right person can be deadly accurate. I just got a new one for christmas this year and it has the extended mag release still havnt made up my mind if i like it or not. I have used the see through scope mounts and love them easy to adjust from open sights to scope and back again. I think that they are a great addition to the weapon I have used butler creek mags my whole life cheap easily obtainable and for the most part they are very reliable of course as with anything sometimes you will get a lemon but if you use your weapon enough you will be able to pick these out and replace with a another. I like how the butler creek mags come ready to snap together add a little ducktape and you got a solid and quick change over for 30 more rounds ready to be put downrange. I would have to say that a ruger 10/22 should be included in everyones survival list it is great for hunting I have seen deer drop after a well placed shot, and great for small game and if needed it can be used for self defence in which case you would be relying on qaunity over quality of stopping power
Exactly right! All my ramline mags are past draft age. The 50 rounders I got from "Frank's Center" when he was still in business. I also have a couple of metal 30 round mags that require an adapter and have never seen them offered anywhere since. None of these magazines have ever failed.
I have an older 1022 with a 16 in barrell, fitted into a Choate side folder stock. I have added the extended bolt handle and mag release, a set of see through weaver mounts and Bushnell 3X9. I use a canvas M1 Carbine sling for its color plus canvas does not slid around as much as nylon. I do have some old ramline 30 and 50 rd mags along with a factory 50 rd teardrop mag and a couple 30 rd all steel stick mags. All of which have performed flawlessly for many years. This little gun is what I call my golf ball gun, right out of the box with open sights. NOTE: for noise reduction try heavy wight balloons. Slip over the muzzel and clip the end off. Not quite a silencer, but very effective especially with low speed ammo. Also, try this tool to improve your 22 ammo, http://www.gunblast.com/Paco2.htm
Great site and article, I am going to get another 10/22, I modded mine with a Butlercreek heavy barrel and synthetic stock with a 4x Bushnell scope.
I haven't put that many rounds through it (my fault) but everything seem to work well.
The problem is that the heavy barrel doesn't have Iron sight's, this could be a problem for a survival gun.
I have decided that I going to find a gunsmith / machinist who can notch the barrel and install the Ruger factory Iron sights. Maybe a set of Williams or Lyman peep's.
I am also going for Extended mag release bolt release and a Picatinny rail on the receiver.
I have (3) three Ruger factory 10 round mags now and I will soon get (3) three more I like factory mags for fit and function.
I use a Uncle Mikes silent sling with quick detach swivel's. I think a lighter trigger is in the work's also.
Well for now this is as far I want to mod my 10/22. I wish Ruger would work out the bugs they had with 10/22 Mag I would like a semi auto 22Mag rifle.
Keep the good stuff coming.
Joe R
Great article! I have been on the market for a 10/22 for a bit, still haven't taken the plunge…I think it's time…not like it's going to get any cheaper…
Tossing in my two cents after carrying a rifle and pistol, including many miles/bunnies/squirrels with a 10/22, for almost 40 years; Cheap scopes can be a great buy, but read the reviews. I’ve had more than one Tasco and Simmons lose their crosshairs to internal failure. Another thing I know for a fact – a variable-power cheap scope *will* change zero if you dial from low to high power and back. Let’s face it – we’re talking .22lr – max range to hold point blank on a one-inch target (think bunny head) with a 50-yard zero is 88 yards. You can read the brand on a soup can with a fixed 4-power scope at 100 yards. Next is the sling – there are several “sticky slings” on the market now, but the original is the “Butler Creek Easy Rider Rifle Sling” Black rubbery neoprene, $14 anywhere – I’ve been using them since the early 90′s. Position the sling once on your shoulder, and it’s stuck there, no sliding down your arm as you’re climbing up that ridge. Last is ammo. The 10/22 will eat most anything, but *stay completely and far away* from high-velocity un-plated lead; Thunderbolts, etc. Bulk Remington “Golden Bullets” and even bulk Winchester “555″s, as filthy dirty as they are, won’t lead your barrel into a smoothbore. They will, however, blow enough gunk into your rotary magazine that the feed tongue will stick occasionally (500-1000 rounds). I use electric contact cleaner on mine – never oil, it grabs and holds dust and gunk. In a pinch a little water and a lot of shaking will clear them without ill effect. One more little tidbit – doesn’t matter who makes the aftermarket mag, as long as it has steel lips. If you have any plastic-lipped Ramlines in your bag, sell them to your enemies…cheap, so they’ll buy them.
I like to toss this into the mix on .22 lr – AR7 – you should have at least one. I would also carry a few boxes of CB cap .22 lr – makes for a very compact and quite .22 lr.
THE LINK FOR THE SCOPE IS DEAD! PLEASE FIND A NEW ONE! Sorry about the caps, I just really need to find a cheap scope.
I bought a stainless 10/22 and wish i still had it but when out of work what can you do. I now have a savage 22lr and i like it its just as nice as the 10/22 but not as fast cause its a bolt action but a good gun.
As far as scopes go, I think the most important thing for any survival rifle is to buy one that does not require you to remove the iron sights. If you do and something goes wrong with the scope, there's nothing you can do, your gun just became useless at ranges exceeding 10 feet.
Check http://www.opsgear.com They have SMG pouches that may fit the bill.
If you do use a scope use one with multiple zoom functions(1x 2x 3x …..25X) This will allow you to both hunt and observe a potential situation closer without the need to pack binoculars.
don't be lazy carry your binoculars. It could mean you could shoot some one.
Being in Arizona , I like Ruger . I just wish they would get more with the program and kill off half their bolt action rifle line and old west 6 shooters and start making more powerful carbines using the mini 14 design and a larger semi auto pistol line .
Bah! Humbug! Don't you DARE tough my Vaquero! That said, I'd love to see Ruger come out with a solid carbine to match their Alaskan in .454 Casull. Ruger makes solid stuff. My one and only complaint about them is that the safeties on their pistols work differently from the ones on my Colt so I can't use them as a conceal carry weapon. I lust in my heart for a mini-30 and I'd really like to see a Ruger .308. in the Mini-30 format.
noone wanted to say a bipod? in a real survival situation you wanna make the prospect of getting food as close to a guarantee as possible and maintaining a better sight picture through the use of a bipod is as important if not more important than the scope or a sling. how is a sling gonna help make food show up on your ahem… plate.
you are right!!! a bipod/sling/shooting stick/shooting position/920 barrel/target hammer sear and trigger/breathing/trigger pull instead of jerk/good ammo/slow is smooth and smooth is fast….everything comes into play. You have a plate in your SHTF bag??
djpipes–A sling is a good adjunct to locking up the rifle firmly to your shoulder, whether shooting offhand, or from the prone, plus it helps a lot with fatigue when carrying for several hours. But I agree that a bipod is a great help, even if it is only one of those spring-loaded ones that clamp onto most barrels.
Because most of my shooting is under 50 yards, I use an inexpensive Bushnell red dot site. It is a much faster way to acquire your target. Whereas a scope limits your field of view. I also replaced the firing pin with a titanium one. The Butler Creek 25 round mag with steel lips has been very reliable. I've had a couple of them for over a year without any feeding problems. They are a little pricey but wort it.
ruger just came out with the bx-25 a 25 rd mag for 10-22
Another very good .22 rifle is the Winchester model 190 semi auto . I have one that was made in the 1970′s and it still works as well as it did new . Just dont loose the loading tube or it will take you awhile to find another . It’s not picky about what ammo you put in it ( .22 short – .22 lr ) never tried the .22 mag . Accuracy is also fantastic . Tube will hold 20 rounds of .22LR . Dirt cheap to buy used .
Good article. I don't care what anyone says, I think a .22 rifle ( or a shotgun…) is the best survival weapon you could have. Its cheap, deadly and you can carry ALOT of ammo. I don't have a 10/22 but am looking into getting one. Currently I have a Henry lever action .22 with a cheap scope meant for an airsoft rifle on it. I am able to shoot a one and half inch group from one hundred yards with it, it holds 16+1 and thats good enough for me.
I'm not sure I'd want a .22 as my only survival weapon (that would be shotgun if I could only have one) but it would sure be the second weapon as soon as possible. If my location/situation demanded something a little stompier for a first weapon then it would be my second rifle – ASAP. For what it's worth, a Remington semi-auto .22 was my first rifle. I also want a 10/22 now that I made the mistake of shooting one. That is a FINE .22.
Just bought my 10-22 a couple weeks ago. So far, I've replaced the steel bolt buffer with a silicone one, put on a Brownell's stock extender/recoil pad to help a bit with the short length of pull for my long arms, and installed a Masden barrel band. The only trouble with the latter–I didn't realize this–is that the swivel loops are 1", and I prefer reproduction leather 1 1/4" Springfield/Garand slings on my rifles.So, I'm going to buy one of these barrel band adapter kits off of e-Bay, which include a stud which the band screw goes through and a conventional sling mounting screw for the buttstock.Then will come a set of Uncle Mike's Q/D swivels in 1 1/4". A scope? Maybe later, but for now, a flash hider.
22s rule ..1000 rounds for $40+- Marlin or Ruger
As for scopes, I can agree with y'all. Some folks will never need or want 'em, while others
consider scopes a necessity. The most popular length we sell, mount, and sight in at our
store would have to be a 3-9X variable with see-through rings ( to maintain use of the stock
iron sights.) If the shooter needs to shoot at distances around 100 yards on average, he'll
need to set the scope to 3X or 4X. Objective sizes sold here mostly run 40MM . We usually
offer to bore-sight the scopes we mount as part of our service. Recently, my son removed
the scope from his 10-22 after 2 years, saying it gets in the way. I know best, however ; it's because it has taken a beating, resulting in hopeless inaccuracy. Funny, though, when he
did use that scope, it was adjusted to 6X — always! Conclusion: he must now be shooting
closer targets. Figure out for yourself what you want the Ruger 10-22 to do, and the answer
is the rifle will be customizable to suit any purpose.
My rule is never add junk to the rifle unless it solves a specific problem as the gun was designed as a unit, and adding or removing parts may have unanticipated affects on the function, but most all of these additions solved problems, and the ones that didn't you at least were upfront about (Like the extractor). Nice blog, I will have to come back and read more of your stuff.
The 10/22 is one of the most versatile 22's I have ever used. I am not a gun smith, but I got on Ebay and ordered some interesting items to make the factory 10/22 perform a lot better. Starting out, I replaced the rear bar that the bolt slams into each shot with a rubberized / silicone buffer. It lightened the recoil somewhat (not much on a 22 to start with) and made less metal to metal noise. I added the extended mag release and the bolt hold open lever. Good mods to say the least. The thing I did that improved the accuracy the most was replace the factory springs with a wolfe spring kit and installed brass shims in the trigger and hammer assembly. This took almost all of the play out of the trigger assembly, lightened the trigger pull, and smoothed out the pull. All of these mods cost me less than $30 on ebay and all of the parts were American made.
Other than a scope and see-through mounts, the only accessory I would want on a stock 10/22 is protective ears for the front sight, which I can't find anywhere,
I disagree witht the comment on placing a expensive scope on a 200 dollar rifle. I try to buy the absolute best optics that I can and then go by the rifle. Most rifles shoot "well enough" for hunting or survival (your not placing 1,000 yard kill shots). When optics work in low light, without fogging, and hold a good zero in sighting, then the shot will be well placed. Quality ammunition would be a tie for second place on the list of important items and a good trigger too.
BamaMan,
I do not buy "cheap" optics no matter what the price. If I need/want optics on a weapon, then I want a solid optic I can depend on and that will do the job. I occasionally blown it by choosing the wrong glass for the application (My .375 H&H Mag shook a decent scope apart – it just was not designed for the recoil – my mistake) but I do my best to not put cheap (regardless of price) glass on anything that can launch a lethal projectile. That is just criminally stupid in my not so humble opinion.
10/22 compact model, BC folding stock w/ storage in the grip for set of replacement sights or tools/parts/cleaning, nylon sling, muzzle brake w/ ears to protect that front sight, 2 x 30-rd compact steel-lip mags from Shooters Ridge, 4 factory mags, compact 4x scope, 500 rds CCI Velocitors and 500 Rem Vipers. All this will grab n' go quickly, lightly, and do the job, from long-term foraging to urban social work.
nice article,and nice subject,i have for a few years shot competitivley,with a ruger 10/22.as here in the u.k we have been subjected to an unfair and unjust banning of all cartridge firing hand guns since 1997,and we genarally shoot the old pistol matches with 10/22s,and centrefire with lever guns,my gun club has some of the top u.k and european champions amoungst us and im personal freinds with the u.k mens and women champion shots,target shooting isnt survival,but heres some advice from the hundreds of rugers ive seen and some of the tips that ive picked up over the years,they are however opinions and are not gospel,based on my expierience i,d like to add the following
whislt not trying to be controvesial or disagreeing in any way,from experience i would say,thesingle most important,component to fit,is the power custom hammer as the will drasticly reduce your trigger pull,and therefore tighten your groups.i would avoid target barrels,apart from the 10/22 T bull barrel made by ruger.as target barrels tend have very tight chambers and tend to be ammo fusy.secondly get an extractror claw,as you need reliable extraction.a spare firing pin may be a long term option too as they can wear with time,also see if you can find some shims from a local hobby store they are often used in radio controlled cars and planes,as ive seen the volquartsen/power custom ones advertised for around £30,which is a total ripp off.the shims just help to give a consitant triger pull.another very easy thing to do is place a washer or even small strip of rubber underneath the main stock fixing screw as this will "float" the barrel and will greatly enhance long range accuracy.barrels shouldnt as a rule touch stocks.get a dollar bill/pound note and see if you can slide it up and down the barrel within the stock,if it catches either add more to the washer or sandpaper out any high spots.
i have a heavily modified 10/22T with a standard bull barrel,cut down to 14,inches and threaded for a supressor,i have only ever had 3 misfeeds,avoid the other target barrels,ive seen to many people lose comps because of misfeeds,the only exception is the kidd diamond match/diamond match hunter/pre threaded barrel,but at £350 your talking alot of money.but the accuracy of these is truly astonishing.i shoot free hand and only ever rest the rifle for sighting or zeroing.i have hunted and taken crows or ravens as they say in the u.s at 150 yards using winchester subsonics.keep to a good brand of ammo avoid the federal bulk and,if possible try to get rws geco or eley club ammo as they are very,very consisntent and reliable.i would also recomend agulia mini mag or standard velocity too.all of the brands are not to expensive,
and whatever you do dont ever get magtech as its complete junk and will jamm your gun within a mag or two.
personaly i would be hesitant to use a bipod in a survival situation as i think one would want to keep weight of the gun to the minumum.if you are weak and tired you can always rest against a tree or a rock to steady your aim.also a sling can be,twisted around your forearm to help staedy your shot.as for scopes,i have had too many budget scopes go wrong,it is a false ecomony in my opiniont even though rugers dont recoil they tend to rattle things apart,so check and threadlock/loctite any screws and or scope bases,
whislt not trying to be controvesial i would recomend good glass such as nikon or leupold,espescially the nikon prostaff if your on a budget get a fixed mag x4 power,as both these brands are designed for centrefire rifles they will be absolutley bomb proof.i belive that nikon may even make the leupolds as they look identical,they never fog and have astonishing clarity,once you look through one you'll never go back to budget stuff,and once fitted they can more or less be forgoten,i would aslo suggest a tactical scope rail such as weaver type as its easy to find quick realease mounts,should you need to revert to open sights,but again avoid cheap quick realease ones.the leapers ones are good for the price,we have a saying in england,if you buy cheap you buy twice.a lesson i wish i had learned long ago,i have tried the bulter creek mags but found them to be unreilable,and not worth it as i could have bought 2 standard mags for the same price,maybe i was unlucky,as for stocks i have a hogue rubberised one wich is very grippy and easy to mount,i also found an airgun adjustable butplate for £15 which lengthened the pull of the stock and it fits me just fine,as for cleaning,run the gun dry,avoid oil use oil only as a cleaning solvent,oil just actracts junk and crud,and occasionally use an ols toothbrush just to clean the bolt face.it isnt always neccasarry to clean the entire barrel just get a bronze brush bent at 90 degrees to clean the chamber as cleaning the whole barrel means it may take up to 50 hots to bed in again,hope you guys find this usefull.
Thank you for your insights, sir. I am truly sorry that my friends in the UK can't own firearms. It does complicate self defense. I agree with you about the need for good glass. If you are going to put it on the rifle, it should be solidly built and do the job you want it for.
Hi,Im new to this.Im going to buy a new 10/22 next month.I plan to buy a barrel,adj stock and add alot of bells an whisles to it when i get the funds to do so.But,It will be hard to replace my 2 Marlins,A 22 Mag bolt action an A 39A Golden Mounty.I have taken so much game and won many shootin events.But,I know i need to add a semi-auto and think this is the best in its class!
I don't have one but I'm now shopping. Made the mistake of shooting one and now it has become a strong want. I don't have a bolt action, I've thought of getting a .22 lever gun (I prefer lever to bolt). I would encourage you to keep the Marlins unless you just have to sell them. I have fired quite a few .22 semi-autos and I do think the 10/22 is a best in class.
I just recently started upgrading my ruger 10/22, along with an extending mag release the biggest thing i did was to replace the iron notch sights with a williams WGRS-RU22 peep sight. (you can find it at midway) the sight has a decent (not great) elevation and windage adjustment but there is a model that is more precise. while the sight does use the same screw holes as the dove tail rail, it only takes up 2 of the 4 and i just cut the rail in half and remounted it so if i want i can still add a scope.
Ruger has recently released the Ruger BX-25 which is their 25 rnd mag, i got several for $25 each at the gun show. Not saying the TI25 is bad, i own 1, just saying that its made by ruger and comes apart for cleaning (also have a butler creek hot lips mag, it is dirty and fails to feed on occasion)
Being that my blood sugar varies some times I see better than other times.
So i put a Simmons scope for a .22 mag with taller rings so I can use both the Iron sights as well as the scope.
I also put a Butler creek stock on to replace the wood grain that was standard with my 10/22.
I also bought the new ruger 25 round magazine ( 3 actually ) and have 6 of the 10 round rotary magazines.
I then bought a Hybrid case that holds the rifle , the magazines as well as 800 rounds of CCI mini mags HP and Stingers.
The quality of this rifle speaks for it self .The Ruger 10/22 truly is the AK of .22s
i love my 10 22 it shoots great but i am looking for a 50 round drum for under 50$ anyone have any ideas?
Never heard of a 50 round drum, But then again nothing suprises me any more,
If you live in one of the Southern states i would check out a gun show , I live in one and there is at least 1 every week end some where in the state.
Secondly check out a good old boy gun store ( stay away from the box stores ), generally the good old boy stores have more connections and also might have a friend that may have something like that for sale. They will go the extra mile to try and get you as a customer.
I have a Butler creek heavy Barrel and a synthetic stock with a Bushnell 4X scope uncle mike's silent sling & three (3) Ruger factory ten (10) round magazine.
Joe-R
Buy the new Ruger BX25 Mags I have 2 and have run over a 1000 rds thur them without a single misfeed just like the 10 rd that came with the 10/22
Check out the Nodak Spud NDS-26 and NDS-40. They provide a rear ghost-ring sight like a military rifle, plus an optics rail for a scope. If anything happens to the scope, you can just remove it and continue using the iron sights. However, cost is an issue at a total of about $105 for the set.
The standard Ruger rail blocks your view of the factory sights. A damaged scope means you have to remove the Ruger rail before you can use the factory sights. I imagine it kinda sucks to do it in the field since most of us locktite the scope rail down, and those screw heads are tiny.
http://www.nodakspud.com/NDS-22.htm
how do you connect a sling to the butler creek folding stock for a ruger 10/22
Has anyone suggested a threaded barrel…aftermarket barrells make this rifle more accurate so less need for follow up shots and a threaded barrell may be useful if the digestive juices fly I find many barrells are 1/2 X 28 and there is a good reason for it. Just saying in a survival situation stealth is important and not using to many shots to get bugs outta a hole or maybe they won't hear it coming and that is even better.
I am still trying to figure out which gun i want to have by my side i love my 10)22 and i can carry lots of ammo with it and its a good small game rifle but i have 2 ruger 22 pistol and ar15 and ak 47 ,45 auto 38 super auto and lots more the ar15 will shoot very well at 400yards and more I gess it depens on what is going on i live in the woods so maybe i want have to bug out very far i know i would chose the ar15 if there a chance that people are going to be shooting at me or takeing my stuff.. and if it come down to close up vombies a 12ga with bird shot would be good just blow them to pieces.
Iron sights are a must and we make custom sights for Ruger 1022, Mini 14 & 30 and also S&S 1522. In a survival situation, you don't want to depend on optics, telescopic, or electronic.
Glass breaks, batterys run down, etc. http://trueshottechnologies.com/RUGER_1022.html
I'd like you opinions. / customerservice@trueshottechnologies.com
nice article ,personally I do not like extended mag releases ,I got a charger and after dropping the stupid mag out on the ground twice I ordered a stock flat ruger mag release and fixed the charger to match my 2 10-22s. Also keep the bolt release and bolt handle just as Bill Ruger designed them, they give me no trouble and I have had one of the 10-22s for over 20years. The triggers have all been stoned and had the sear angle adjusted to give a clean 3# trigger. i have green mountain barrels on both 10-22s and a "tuned up" factory barrel on the charger, all epoxy bedded. The charger shoots 1.5 inches at 100 yards with a 4x Burris rifle scope consistently(it's one a holer at 25) and both 10-22s will hold 1/2 at 50 yards with hunting ammo. They have 2×7 scopes, a leoplod and redfield . For reliability I want to stay close to stock ,that is the configuration that has had the most development and testing. I also use the 10 round mags , I have a ruger 25 round, just because, but rarely use it because it gets in the way. These guns get used for squirrel hunting all fall and winter. My typical hunting shot is 35 to 45 yards due to the mature hardwoods I hunt and I use subsonic ammo. Win 22 sub HP's shoot well and are inexpensive. My slings cost 3 dollars for the 2 , 1 inch web straps from Dunhams and a quick sewing. Charger also has a sling with a second swivel in the base of the grip. Bipod in a drawer somewhere ,no place to use it in the woods! As a SHFT rifle the 1022 is hard to beat ,modular ,cheap, accurate (with a little trigger work and bedding), and common. It is no more complex than my Winchester 67 bolt rifle and parts are way more common.Sorry to be long winded.
Just ran across this nice article. Likely written some time ago because Ruger now sells a 25rd mag for the 10/22. I have several and they work great.
I have a Simmons scope on my carbine, a weaver rail, an extended mag release, and have ordered the edge extractor – not because I've had feed problems, but because I don't want them
I also have a standard military type sling on it. My AR has a two point tactical sling, but I thought it would be overkill for the 10/22.
Keep your powder dry!
Absolute first thing you need to do when you get a 10/22 is install a competition or match grade hammer. The weapons leave the factory with about an 8 pound trigger pull. Aftermarket hammers bring this down to 2 or three pounds and greatly improve accuracy.
Hey, in response to item #4, Ruger now makes a factory high capacity magazine for the 10/22. It's a 25 rounder and definitely worth the price! (Usually around $29)
I cannot agree with the replacement extractor. Aftermarket extractors are searching for problems that do not exist. The 10/22 is blow-back operated. The pressure of the cartridge blows the casing out of the chamber after overcoming to weight of the bolt, recoil spring, and hammer. The extractors job is to remove loaded cartridges when cycling by hand. Your money would be better spent on a replacement hammer, trigger job, or spare magazine.
Other than the extended bolt handle you have described my 10/22. I too went with the Simmons 22 mag scope (3 -9 x40). Add a scope coat fo protection and easy of access. I changed the barrel to a Green Mountain 16" fluted heavy barrel and the stock to a Hogue over molded. The result is a shorter, better balanced carbine with little or no recoil which is essentially wheather proof. Accuracy? Golf balls at 100 yards all day long.
i am a huge ruger fan but the 10/22 would be my last choise.
there are a lot of 22 that work grate out of the box.
10/22, I have a suppressor and a starlight scope on a synthetic stock, got the idea from the IDF…
I worked with my sons building our Ruger 10/22. We shot maybe 50 rounds before buying a bull barrel and a laminated camp stock. It was nice but too heavy. I later found volqaurtsen composite bull barrel. Then we up graded everything else. I did the trigger job myself and enjoyed the 3 lb. pull, but I liked the kidd trigger groups. I just couldn’t justify the price. I ended up buying a timney, after I dropped this group in and got burst. I sent it back and got another. We have a bad a** 22. Our gun is super cool. It has just a cheap redfield scope, but shoots great. Cci stinger ammo is super fast but not accurate. It will void the waranty in these type of barrels. We are going to build another and this next one will be far more simple. A little polishing of internal parts, up grading bolt handle, mag release, bolt release, bolt buffer, exc. Keep the original trigger with just a little work and we’ll have a great bug out gun.
I have over $1,300 in this one, the next one less than $600 including gun,scope and these minor upgrades and a good sling. We built ours for the manly pissing contest and not for servival.
To add to my listing above. The Ruger 10/22 is a very simple easy to take apart and clean. You can have a gunsmith add a hole in the receiver to make barrel cleaning easier. On most models there is one screw holding the gun to the stock. Remove this screw and loosen the band screw, then the stock is off. There is three pins to remove and you can clean everything else. These guns can be taken apart and put back together in minutes. I have other 22s. Marlins, Remingtons, exc. The Ruger is a heck of a lot easier for average person to master the assembly and disassembly than other simiautos.
Good tips. I didn’t know about the bolt release. That’s a good idea. I just bought an Archangel conversion kit, red dot from Walmart, and a foregrip. Got a 25 round magazine. I’m so excited to try it all out. I like the stock 10/22 but tactical is always more fun.
I have a Butler creek rubber overmoulded stock a Green Mountain bull barrel and a Nikon 3×9 Rimfire scope..the rifle is a bit heavy but I can shoot the eyeballs out of a woodchuck at 100yards…waste not want not….the padded cobra sling eases the wieght on the shoulder for those long hikes….Another "must have is a "Tri mag" ..3 10 round rotary mags coupled together..30 rounds in factory flawlessly loading magazines…better than those after market banana mags that get in the way and have a bad habit of getting hung up on stuff and breaking !
i fucking love cottage cheese so fuck you mike
I've seen alot of aftermarket stocks, for 10/22s does anybody have any thoughts on the newest from Red Jacket featured as the ZK10/22? it makes it look like a bullpup design, and shortens the whole rifle for quickclose quarters. It looks neat, but how about reliability? and overall function?
I replaced my front sight with a hiviz fiber optic. Shortly after I was given a nice Simmons scope. I also put in the bolt release(best thing you can do) and put a target stock on it. The stock makes it possible to hold and shoot easily with one hand if you need to, however it did add weight. Other plus to the stock is it can be used as a wicked club if needed.
Glass Bedding the Ruger 10/22 rifle, improving accuracy: http://play.kendincos.com/164973/Whllptxjnjndhvzj…
I don't know if they still make them, but we had a Ramline 30 rd magazine that lasted over 20 years. My Dad had a 10/22 and that is what I "cut my acorns" on squirrel hunting growing up. The only thought I have on the scope, is nothing smaller than a 32mm objective lense, as a moving target is hard to track in the smaller scopes, plus light gathering ability in low light situations.
Ground hog is pretty good table fare, IMO, or at least the way the "hillbillies" showed me to fix it. They cook it just like you would a roast.
I to have the TI metal feed mags. Mine never required any adjusting. Almost 1500 rounds and no feed problems.
well my Ruger is 40yrs old and I got the new Ruger factory mag. and I am sending it back it does not feed the rounds. It seams like the spring is to week. So I used the ammo out of it and put in a after market mag and it worked fine so it was not the ammo.
the laser you're referring to is called a bore sight.
I also have an Archangel Stock and put a 3*9*40 scope and overunder rings with a foregrip with a built in bipod and 25 round mags, this made an awsome riffle out of this world, works great for hunting and will be great for survival.
They are great i have them on my rifle and i saw a significantly tighter grouping
Tech Sights work great and you'll eat more with them in a survival situation I'd imagine.
I also use a Marlin with a 15 shot tube, when firing .22 LR. I have no scope, just irons, and it works great. It is difficult to disassemble for cleaning, and it does take a little longer to reload than a mag fed rifle, but that being said, there is no magazine to lose, or worry about malfunctioning. There are cons obviously, clearing a stoppage is a little bit of a beast, but not impossible. I like it over the Ruger, just on the basis of the bolt catch, and the mag release. My brothers in law both have 10-22, and though they are accurate, I would not want one. In all honesty, if I could get the trigger on my single shot Springfield model 15 working properly, I would prefer that to any semi auto (very light trigger pull, able to snipe shotgun shells at over fifty feet with IRONS, and closer to 70 with a descent scope.) I modified it a little to accept a scope, and it worked better than I thought it would. It is also just a touch lighter, which is a bonus when carrying it around. Some may look at me funny when i say I would rather have a single shot rimfire for survival, over a semi auto, but a hit is always better than a miss followed by a hit, as ammo is a non replenish-able resource. Having only one shot forces you to concentrate on making the shot count, and should reduce wasteful shooting. just a thought.
I only have semi-autos. Since I agree that first round hits are best, I'm looking at some of the .22LR lever guns as lever guns are my weak spot. I've not fired any yet but there are some that look decent and don't cost an arm and a leg.
I also have a 15+ year old Ramline 30 round magazine that still functions beautifully with zero maintenance on my part.
I recently bought a ruger 10/22 (your site helped convince me) and did the lightened trigger mod yesterday. I am a novice, but am not afraid to try mods myself. It was easy. Just follow the directions in this youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF0Oe7WsZUs
I'm going to try the bolt release mod as soon as I can track down a dremel.
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