[Hrdnox]

Decided to buy a 10/22 plinker and wanted to see what some of you folks thought about the values of what I've found so far. Went to Walmart today and looked at what they had. Thier carbine was $198. I can get one of these from Academy for $190, but I need to check and see if thiers has the extended mag release like Walmart's does. If not, Walmarts is probably worth the extra $8. Does anyone know if the carbine comes with a scope rail or is that something I'll have to buy separately? If it does, it must be in the box, because it wasn't on the gun and I failed to ask about it.

That brings up another question. Walmart has an exclusive 22" stainless barrel w/poly stock model that they sell for $238. It also has the extended mag release and a scope rail. Those items aren't worth more than about $15 to me, but I'm wondering about your thoughts on whether or not going from an 18.5" barrel to a 22" and the plastic stock would be enough to justify the difference. It has one feature that I didn't think it had that sort of turns me off, though. A barrel band. I think this is a recent change and wish they had left it the way it was. Gonna remove it anyway, but the stock is molded for it and it won't look as good as it could without it.

Anyways, if you were buying, would it be worth an extra $50 for the larger gun or would you just opt for the cheapest version? No right answer, just trying to figure out if I can justify the additional expense for a gun that's gonna be nothing more than a plinker. I know the carbine would serve that purpose just fine, but don't mind spending a little extra, if it will benefit me. I'd appreciate your thoughts.

 

[msredneck]

Don't go cheap...I've always regretted just "getting by" on a gun purchase

why agonize over $50...Buy the best you can afford

a 10/22 is the most customizeable 22 known to man so it aint the end of the world if you add something to it later...

Personally, I prefer walnut stocks on Ruger 10/22's...but that's my personal preference....Go for it...Get two

 

[possum398]

It depends on what you want to do with it. If you are going to leave it stock, spend the extra money. If you are going to want to do the bull barrel thing, go cheap. The reason I say this is almost every 10/22 I have built ended with new everything except the receiver. That $50 will help on buying better parts.

The last Walmart 10/22 I bought did have a scope rail. It was in an envelope in the box.

 

[Doug Bowser]

If you are not going to re-barrel the rifle buy the 20" version. I have a 10/22 with a 20" barrel and it shoots very well. 5/8" 5 shot groups off the bags at 50 yards with Wolf Match Target ammo. My version is the Ranch Rifle. A Model that has been discontinued. If you get the carbine, taker the band off before firing. It usually enhances accuracy.

Doug

 

[Hrdnox]

Thanks for your input and advice. Your thoughts mirror mine. Still haven't decided, but I'm in no hurry. I may ponder this for a while longer, anyway. My physical limitations make it difficult for me to use any rifle, so this would probably wind up being a loaner for my friends at the range when I'm shooting my Charger. I just love tinkering with these things. For some strange reason, everything inside them makes perfectly good sense to my feeble mind and I enjoy improving them. I've done extensive work on my Charger and have made it a lot better without altering it from stock. These actions are a pleasure to tinker with. I think that's as much of a draw for some of us as the gun itself. I need a rifle like I need another hole in my head, but I'm sure I'll own one soon. Thanks again for your advice.

 

[chestnut]

I have two 10/22 rifles,one blued w/folding bultercreek stock, one stainless with laminated gray stock. Personally I would go with the stainless, but that is my humble opinion, but I do feel You can not go wrong with either one. Good Luck on Your Choice :sunny:

 

[msredneck]

"I need a rifle like I need another hole in my head, but I'm sure I'll own one soon."

Me too....

Got a chuckle on that one

Good Luck Tinkering!

 

[jbpmidas]

A friend of mine had the "rifle" version. Mine is a carbine. Mine handles better for me but his shoots better. Of course, mine is from '79 or '80. His is post 2000.

 

[captain-03]

I have the "rifle" and 2 of the carbine 10/22s. The rifle is much more accurate than the 2 carbines .. all are still factory configuration with the exception of the rifle where I add the extended mag release .... they are really fun 22s to shoot.

 

[Hrdnox]

I wonder if the 22"er from walmart is considered the rifle version. I would have thought so, except that they added the little barrel band. I had a carbine years ago that was the most accurate gun I've ever held. I've heard that it's sort of a crap shoot with the carbines, in that some are really accurate and others are just good plinkers. I suppose accuracy is somewhat subjective, though. Some are satisfied with a decent plinker and some will never be satisfied. I'll bet I killed close to a thousand squirrels with that old carbine from ranges of 40 to 70 yards and never had anything less than a clean head shot. I used to amaze myself, because I'm usually not that good a shot. It was certainly a case of the gun outshooting the shooter. I've always loved shooting a .22, though. My brother and I used to shoot a thousand rounds a apiece a weekend at the sand pits at bottle caps stuck in the wall. When that got boring, we'd strike kitchen matches. Things must have changed a lot as far as accuracy goes, though, because we used to do that with cheap Marlin Model 60's. There's no telling how many thousands of rounds went through those two guns and the only cleaning they ever got was a wipe down with an oily rag. If they started jamming, a quick squirt of WD-40 squared them right away. Funny, I wouldn't spray that crap on anything I own today, but it sure seemed to work well back then as long as you didn't get too carried away.

 

[Hrdnox]

Found a nice one, thanks to Stryker6, and I think I did better than either of the Walley World models, for less cash, as well. Got a 20" blued RR model with a nice Hogue Overmolded stock without the barrel band. I didn't see the stainless as being much of an upgrade and something about a 22" barrel with a barrel band just didn't strike me as being right. He said it's a nice shooter, so I'm looking for good things from it, especially considering what good things you guys had to say about the rifle models you have. Just got to figure out how to scope it now and I've gotten some good ideas from you guys on another thread here. Saved enough to buy a nicer scope, too. I think I'm gonna enjoy this one. BTW, didn't notice this when I bought the gun, but it's old enough to have the metal trigger housing and parts which I've been told is a real plus. Detail stripped it this weekend and all the internal parts look pristine. Got out my file and converted the bolt release to automatic and ordered an extended mag release, along with a modest scope and rings, so I should be good to go for my next range trip.

See Neck, I told ya so. We must share some of the same genes, huh? Not sure that's a good thing, but we do make ourselves happy, don't we?

 

[DEADEYE 1]

RUGER 10/22

Some carbine barrels shoot as good or better than longer barrels. I did not always believe that but I have been enlightened to that fact in the last few years. One theory is that a shorter barrel is less prone to bend and is stiffer. I have always had the carbine models with the barrel band. They are fine for plinking or an occasional squirrel hunt. But I want to one day build one with a bull barrel or buy one of the target models. One thing about it, you have made a good investment. You will never have any problem selling or trading the Ruger if you ever want to.
Thinking about the older Marlins and Winchester 22s, they were accurate. I bought a used Marlin 75 carbine earlier this year. Both me and my son took that little Marlin and were busting hickory nuts in the backyard with open sights with it, and it has a barrel band with a 18 inch barrel. Good luck.