22rifle

I have enjoyed shooting .22s since I was 8 years old. Always wanted a 10/22 but somehow never got one. After some life changing events recently I decided the time has come to get myself a 10/22. I am not getting any younger.

I want to do this "right" but am having a bit of trouble sorting out what to get. I am not interested in a lot of customization. I am looking for a classy gun to plink and squirrel hunt with. One I can pass to my son someday. (He is 13, has a single shot .22 and in a couple years will be getting a larger .22) I have pretty much settled on a stainless barrel version.

Here are my questions:

1. I think I want a 22" barrel. Mostly for looks. Am I kidding myself here? Am I going to regret not just going with an 18 1/2" barrel? (Lipsey has a nice stainless 10/22 with a 22" barrel. I can wait a few months if I have to.)

2. If I do go with a 18 1/2" barrel, the only ones I can find have the barrel band. That's a no go for me. Can I simply take that band off and restock the gun? Will there be a mark left on the barrel if I do that?

3. I am thinking I want a nice walnut stock and a decent synthetic stock. Ruger's walnut stock would be good but their synthetic stock doesn't cut it for me. I would put a leather sling on the walnut stock and a nylon sling on the synthetic stock. Am I wasting my money with the two stock idea? Is it feasible to swap stocks on a whim?

4. I want to put a silver scope base, rings, and scope on it. I want to keep the cost down but not go so cheap I end up with crap. Any suggestions.

Thanks and I look forward to someday soon letting you know what I ended up with.

bearcatter

If you look here at Ruger's distributor exclusives, several have checkered Sporter stocks and stainless actions. Ruger does not have a wood stocked stainless in their regular line-up right now.

Ruger® 10/22® Distributor Exclusives Autoloading Rifle Models

As you scroll down the list, their photos will come up.

Unless the heavy barreled Target model with a black laminate stock would fit the bill?

Ruger® 10/22® Target Autoloading Rifle Model 1262

arg0naut22

if you're willing to spend a fair amount of time doing this, i saw a youtube video where somebody stripped and refinished a factory 10/22. came out beautiful-- really deep, lustrous glossy finish. gave it an almost antique look for the price of some stripping solvent, lacquer/finish, and sandpaper. i'll see if i can find the link again. also, if you were willing to go this far, another thought occurs to me: you could probably buy the carbine, take the barrel band off, and sand down the stock until the 'notch' for the band fades away.

22rifle

But will the barrel band leave a mark on the barrel itself? Anyone know?

TMB

I have two no marks on the barrel of either one.

arg0naut22

no barrel marks on either of mine. granted, i've only put a thousand or two rounds through, but i don't think it ever will. the barrel band is composite-- i don't see it marring the steel surface of a barrel.

Mikeyd555

Believe it or not you can put some fine scratches in the barrel if you're not careful when removing the band. Mine has them to prove it. I've taken it apart so many times for mods and cleaning I just never noticed it was happening until it was too late.

To clarify, it's not a scratch in the barrel, just in the bluing. Stainless I'm sure would be fine but like with many things, just take your time. Miinimize the contact as you remove it if you're concerned about it. You can take the band off and shoot without it too, some replacement stocks you can purchase require that you do so as there's no inlet in the forearm to allow for it.

Redleg

You say that you don't want a lot of customization but it sounds like maybe you do.

I would go with the standard 10/22 with wood stock and live with the barrel band. What is so bad about a barrel band? Takes a few seconds to remove.

The 10/22 comes with a nice Weaver rail and is pre-tapped. Put on your scope or red dot and you are ready to go.

Lots of aftermarket stocks out there if the Ruger wood stock is not to your liking.

Ruger makes a gorgeous 10/22 with a composite wood stock; it also comes with pre-installed sling swivels.

Have fun.

Sham357

Check Rugers website and take a look at the Lipsey distributor exclusive model #1149. I think this model is worth looking into. I gave up waiting for the call from my local gun shop after a few months. Let me know what you think.

David B53

Yes, my advice is if you're dead set against the barrel band then go to Ruger's website and check out their distributor exclusives....you're bound to find a combination you like there. As far as a scope goes, I bought a relatively inexpensive Bushnell Sportview for mine. It's a decent quality scope and it was less than 50 bucks. Granted that was 11 years ago but there's bound to be something comparable today. Hope this helps, and welcome to the forum!

BlkHawk73

1. I think I want a 22" barrel. Mostly for looks. Am I kidding myself here? Am I going to regret not just going with an 18 1/2" barrel? (Lipsey has a nice stainless 10/22 with a 22" barrel. I can wait a few months if I have to.)

You might find the balance a bit different with the longer barrel but other than that, you won't notice the performance differences. Typically the cartridge reaches max performance at 18 1/2". What ever so minute differences you won't notice.

2. If I do go with a 18 1/2" barrel, the only ones I can find have the barrel band. That's a no go for me. Can I simply take that band off and restock the gun? Will there be a mark left on the barrel if I do that?

The mark all depends on how careful you are in removing it. Now if you're plan is as stated below to change back and forth between stocks, you're obviously gonna use this gun so it's gonna get wear. What mark a barrel band would leave shouldn't be a worry. If you gotta have a model w/o one, try and look for the stainless Sporter that was once available. No barrel band and a nicer walnut stock compared to the standard carbine. If you like the longer models, by all means... The barrel band does nothing really, it's all looks.

3. I am thinking I want a nice walnut stock and a decent synthetic stock. Ruger's walnut stock would be good but their synthetic stock doesn't cut it for me. I would put a leather sling on the walnut stock and a nylon sling on the synthetic stock. Am I wasting my money with the two stock idea? Is it feasible to swap stocks on a whim?

It's yours so wasting the money is entirely subjective. Stocks will change out with a single bolt so it's not a difficult task. For a common synthetic stock, look at the Houge Overmolded ones.


4. I want to put a silver scope base, rings, and scope on it. I want to keep the cost down but not go so cheap I end up with crap. Any suggestions.

It'll come with a base so get yourself a set of Weaver style rings. Height would depend on the objective see of the scope you choose. Personally I'd look at Mueller or Nikon as a minimum usually but since it seems it's the look that is more important than the performance (no mention of any performance enhancing changes), you probably be fine with a Bushnell. Even then, I certainly wouldn't look at their lower level models. Scopes...you spend a little, you get a little...little optical quality.




I gotta admit what made me think for a second was reading that you wanted a "classy gun to plink and squirrel hunt with." Just me perhaps but stainless just doesn't have the "class" as a nice blued/walnut one does. Were I to go for a one with class for informal shooting, I'd have one of the international models in mind. While I generally prefer to rebuild all mine from end to end, the RSI's are one model that are fine as they are (trigger feel excluded of course)

David B53

Oh I don't know, I think Stainless Steel looks very classy. And it's more durable in the long run too!

BlkHawk73

Only those that don't properly care for their firearms need worry about durability, by which I'm guessing you're referring to rust. Take proper care and it's a non-issue.

bullbill

BlkHawk73:

You should consider the distributer exclusive LVT models from Acusport (1234, 1235, 1237). Two of the three models have stainless barrels. All are heavy 20" tapered. All have the same checkered stock as the DSP but in walnut stained birch instead of walnut. No barrel band! Comes with the Target trigger from the target model. See Gunblast review and also go to rimfirecentral.com to see a currently running thread (First 10/22 ... LVTSS) in the Factory/Stock Forum. Gunblast and an owner were shooting 1/2 to 1/4 groups @ 50 yds with the LVT which may be the most accurate 10/22 out of the box. Great gun if you don't want to do mods.

BlkHawk73

Thanx BulBill but not the one in the market. Know about these Acusport models but didn't suggest them as if this is to be shot by a youth, the longer barrels and their profile can make them difficult for off-hand shooting for him. The "target trigger" still leaves a lot to be desired. For someone that wishes to do little to nothing to it after the sale, these would be great choices. I prefer very "non-stock".