Photos by the writer
Ahh… 1964. I bear in mind it properly. The Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan present for the primary time on February ninth, 4 days earlier than my twelfth birthday, and I had by no means seen something like them… America was nonetheless in mourning after the JFK assassination the earlier November… the Civil Rights Act was handed in July… Vietnam was escalating… and Ruger launched its iconic .22 semi-auto rifle, the ten/22.
The autoloading 10/22 took place when bolt-action rifles have been a factor… There had been semi-autos, after all, however the Ruger captured shooters’ collective consideration when it was unveiled. Its rotary journal was progressive, and its compact measurement was well-liked with shooters who carried it. The rifle was correct and dependable from the get-go.
It grew to become the go-to rimfire autoloader, with over ten million produced. Ten million… 1,000,000 of one thing is spectacular, so once we say ten million, that signifies that an entire lot of shooters on the market like(d) this rifle.
The rifle was just about unchanged, aside from cosmetics, from its introduction till this previous December. The fundamental motion, receiver, barrel, and so forth., have been as that they had been since 1964.
On December seventeenth, 2025, Ruger introduced the introduction of the redesigned 10/22 line. Up to date options included:
a 2.5- to 3-pound BX set off, beforehand after-market solely;
a light-weight, composite inventory;
a match bolt launch;
a receiver with a rear cleansing port so you possibly can clear issues from the rear.
Different modifications embrace an M-LOK slot at 6:00 on the inventory for a bipod or gentle, and textured panels on the pistol grip and forend.
There’s yet one more “function” I’d like to incorporate: the modifications in manufacturing we’ve seen through the years. As we speak’s firearms manufacturing facility has little or no to match with that of 1964. Methods, equipment, automation, supplies, and so forth., have been improved time and time once more.
There have been many modifications, most for the higher. High quality and consistency are the hallmarks of Ruger manufacturing. That’s one thing a press launch gained’t let you know. I’ve owned Ruger merchandise for the reason that Nineteen Seventies, and I preserve coming again to them… they only work, and in the event that they don’t, they’ve a few of the finest customer support within the trade.
Present 10/22 Fashions
The Ruger 10/22 net web page reveals the next fashions of the rifle:
Commonplace, with 18 variations;
Carbon Fiber, 7 variations;
Competitors, 4 variations;
Scoped, 2 variations;
250th Anniversary, 3 variations;
SBR, 2 variations (NFA merchandise)
That’s 36 whole variations on the ten/22 theme. You may get a pleasant wooden-stocked mannequin, or adjustable polymer-stocked rifles, or competition-ready weapons, or short-barrel rifle variations, and so forth. In case you go to the hyperlink above, you’ll be directed to those pages. I gained’t go too far into the weeds right here, for the reason that pages can clarify every variation higher than I can.
This Rifle
I used to be despatched a scoped (Viridian Eon 3-9×40) model of the brand new 10/22 for this evaluation. I’ve used Viridian Eon scopes earlier than… this 3-9×40 is an effective, fundamental, cheap scope that actually delivers. I’ve owned multiple of them. I’m glad they selected a name-brand scope for the 2 scoped rifle variants. That provides to the gun’s worth.
Let’s have a look at some pictures I took, then we’ll record the specs.
A brass bead decorates the entrance sight. I’ve shot many 10/22s with their open sights.
The bigger magazine launch is an effective contact.
I caught an affordable Allen sling on the rifle to assist carry and regular it. That was a well-spent twenty bucks,
Specs
Inventory: Black Polymer
Capability: 10
Entrance Sight: Gold Bead
Rear Sight: Adjustable
Total Size: 36.50″
Barrel Size: 18.50″
Barrel Materials: Alloy Metal
Barrel End: Satin Black
Size of Pull: 13.50″
Weight: 4.2 lb.
Twist 1:16″ RH
Grooves: 6
Urged Retail: $419.00
Vary Time
What’s extra enjoyable than taking a scoped 10/22 to the vary? Why, a newly-redesigned 10/22, after all! From the light-weight inventory to the BX set off, this rifle is about as much as succeed. I made certain the scope was near zero, after which caught some targets up at 50 yards.
I shot three hundreds that have been helpful…
Listed here are some consultant targets…
Winchester
Fiocchi
Federal. Of the three, the Federal will get the cigar…
I additionally simply obtained some optics from Vortex. A kind of was a recognizing scope. As you possibly can see within the photograph above, I had it on the bench, as properly. Search for a separate evaluation herein, later.
Are The Modifications Value It?
The rifle in entrance of us has a listing worth of $419. That features the $139 Viridian scope, which brings the rifle-only value all the way down to $280.
Let’s do some math.
In 1964, the ten/22 bought for $54.50, adjusted for inflation, and so forth., that equates to $571.80 in present 2026 shopping for energy. So, yup, I’d say the modifications will not be solely welcome, however additionally they don’t break the financial institution. So, the adjusted value of a ten/22 has come down since its introduction, except you’re looking at a specialised mannequin. For a plain-Jane Commonplace mannequin comparable to this, the $419 full record worth just isn’t dangerous. When you think about {that a} real-world worth might be much less, it turns into a fair higher purchase.
Summing Up
The .22 rifle has at all times been one of many top-selling classes within the universe of rimfire rifles. There are, and have been, dozens of nice rifles revamped the a long time which have introduced a lot pleasure to their house owners, and I daresay the ten/22 is in direction of the highest of that record. From the competitors vary to the squirrel woods, an correct, dependable .22 is a factor of magnificence, and the ten/22 fulfills that function.
The brand new Ruger 10/22 redesigned fashions have taken that to the subsequent stage. For not some huge cash, you may get a .22 that might be good for no matter want you have got. It doesn’t matter what number of fancy weapons an individual has within the gun secure; a plain ol’ .22 is at all times welcome. I do know that this one is not going to return!
Hyperlinks To Gadgets Used In This Overview
Birchwood Casey Crammed Capturing Baggage, $40
Birchwood Casey Tango Entrance Mount Rifle/Pistol Capturing Relaxation, $43
Birchwood Casey Eze-Scorer 8 Inch Bull’s-Eye Goal, 26 Targets, $9
Caldwell Final Goal Stand, $33
MTM Case Gard 4-Pistol Case, $30
Walker Recreation Ear Firemax Energetic Listening to Safety, $160
Wheeler Spacesaver Screwdriver Set, $22
Wheeler Purple Laser Bore Sighter, $193 (obtainable in inexperienced, additionally)
