Ruger 10/22, opinions and advice.?

If you get a base model, then you have thousands of upgrade paths you can take with aftermarket products and you can upgrade based on your time and budget and maintain shootable rifle all along the way.

The ones with a scope generally have a basic scope that should do fine for most purposes and can be a good deal. However, if there is a specific scope that you want and plan to mount, then it might be better just to get the base model, use the iron sights until you can afford the scope you want.

Why would you want quad rails on a 10/22? Mostly will add unnecessary weight. In any case there are enough aftermarket stocks and parts to do almost anything you want with it.

A longer barrel does not mean more accuracy. 10/22s are pretty accurate out of the box, even with the basic 18.5" barrel. A longer barrel may mean slightly higher velocity for a little extra range. On the other hand heavier barrels dissipate heat to reduce changes in accuracy as more rounds are pumped through it during a shooting session. There are dozens of heavy barrels on the market (that will cost as much as the original gun) and the barrel is easy to change on a 10/22.

10/22s come with a to receiver rail to mount whatever optics you want.

I have six Ruger 10/22's. Damn things are like cats - you cant own just one. When you only own one or two you get tired of putting a barrel or accessory on and sighting it in - only to take it off a month later.

The only problem with buying a base model and upgrading - you end up with a whole drawer full of used parts that nobody wants to buy - because - there are already a million people with a drawer full of the exact same parts. Best bang for buck - go find a trashed 10/22 with lots and lots of rust on the barrel, dinged to hell to stock - and pay $100 or less. This way you wont feel the pain of having the stock and barrel sitting in a drawer.

You can offset some of the pain by buying a synthetic stock and stainless barrel. That stock looks really nice when camo painted or Duracoated. And that 18" standard stainless barrel makes a great hunting barrel when cut back to 16" and threaded for a suppressor or other muzzle accessory.

Shame Ruger does not sell the receiver separatly. However www.valquartsen.com does. If you have no intentions of shooting your base model until it is totally mod'd out - starting with a nice Valquartsen receiver makes a sweet rifle - and being a Valquartsen receiver you should be able to get more for the rifle if you have to sell it.

Good Luck

Hogue overmolded stocks are a good alternative, but if what you're after is added weight an aftermarket composite stock will not get you there. If that is your goal i would don't forget first including a .920 heavy barrel first along with the stock that accommodates it. Or if weight is all you need that you may drill holes within the stock under the barrel or at the back of the butt plate and add result in bump up the total weight. You would wish to do a bit of both to maintain from throwing the stability too a long way off. That you would be able to both pour molten lead into those places or simply use lead shot held in location with a little of epoxy glue.

Forget tactical rails and all that decorative trash.

You want accuracy, get the target model with the bull barrel,

and have a Volquartsen hammer trigger and sear kit installed by

somebody who knows what he's doing.

* With a scope, barrel length does nothing for accuracy, it's barrel mass,

and a .22 LR gets max velocity at ~16" of barrel length, so any extra length just

throws away hitting power.

* At 50 Yd.s + accept the extra drop and shoot sub-sonic for accuracy.

High Vel. stuff 'transitions to sub-sonic at about 60-70 Yd.s and the collapse

of the shock wave really degrades accuracy.

If you are not wanting to break the bank...buy a base model and upgrade it as money becomes available. The Ruger 10/22 Tactical Autoloading model would serve as a great platform to build on.

http://www.ruger.com/products/1022Tactical/models....

It looks like the 20 inch barrel on their Target model is the longest:

http://www.ruger.com/products/1022Target/models.ht...

Good luck!

20 years ago I was in your spot. I bought the base model and then added extras as I could afford them. The 10/22 is a great little gun and I still enjoy shooting mine. Unless you're shooting over 100 yds or have bad eyesight, a scope is not necesary on a .22. I added a fiber optic sight set to replace the iron sights from the factory.

Good luck and be safe!

I'm looking to get one too. I was wanting the Takedown until I saw the Tactical that Cabela's is selling....drool.....