Almost bought a 10/22 today, but was put off by the plastic trigger/housing.

Numerous tests have proven that the plastic trigger group is much stronger than the cheap cast aluminum parts they replaced. Buy the new gun. It is an improvement.
 
The 10/22 is the best squirrel rifle I've ever used. I never worry about the trigger guard, I think if you dropped it with enough force to break the plastic guard, you'd also bend the metal guard to the point it would need to be replaced.
 
Plastics have come such a long way I don't hesitate when I see them. If it was just a trigger and a guard on a rifle I wouldn't think too much of it. Unless you've got primate strength in your fingers the trigger shouldn't break. Likewise, if your not swinging it like a club and using the guard as a crushing point, it shouldn't break... Who knows, it might even last a couple good hits.
 
Are they cheaper made and still good enough? YES

By my measure, the newer generation of 10/22's are not as good as the older ones and if you can find an older used one, then go for it. .... :cool:

That being said, the current generation is still good enough for me to recommend buying, that is as long as you can live with the trade-offs and are aware of what you are getting. I use to work in the plastic's industry am a Ruger 10/22 fan.

Consider;
There are quite a few contract shops that refuse to do any trigger work, on the new ones. There claim is that the sythetic housings, are just to unpredictable to work on as far as performance.

Sythetics (plastics) are more suseptible to temperature changes, hot and cold limitations that the alum. alloys are not. Not fair but the alum. and steel parts have a proven record, that the sythetics do not.

The new powder coats finishes, are flaking off starting from the inside and propogating out. These powder coats are even applied over the scope base blind screws or some come with mouted bases and then powder coated.

The new triggers, housings and barrel bands are sythetic. The hammer is now a skeletonized, cast, one piece with intragal bushings.

Be Safe !!!
 
Last edited:
I was ready to lay my money down...

then got to looking closer and thought "what the heck! it's all plastic!".

Finding a used 10/22 stainless without tons of rounds through it may be tough but I'll look.

Otherwise, may get the new 10/22 and some replacement parts, either in plastic or metal.
 
the alum. and steel parts have a proven record, that the sythetics do not.
Click to expand...

Synthetic, plastics, have been around for 60-70 years now. They have proven without any doubt to be stronger and more durable than cast aluminum. Just look at handguns. The life expectancy of aluminum alloy pistol frames is around 30,000 rounds. Plastic guns such as Glock have gone over 300,000 rounds and are still functioning.

Steel is still better, but very few would be willing to pay what it would cost for an all forged steel 22 rifle.
 
Handled a couple of Marlin 60's today. Considered trading for one. They seemed nice. Much more substantial than the Ruger 10/22 in stainless/synthetic I'm considering. Prefer the 10 round mag over the tube fed. If the tube gets messed up, I'm out of luck and the gun needs repair. With the 10/22, I just change magazines.
 
Last time I shopped for a 10/22 I chose to look for a used one with the metal trigger assembly. For all I know the plastic ones may be better, but I'll stick with what has always worked for me. Besides, I ended finding this 10 year old Walmart Special with the 22" barrel in stainless and couldn't be happier.
RugerSSDSP_left.jpg
 
You can always buy an aftermarket trigger assembly if you don't like the plastic one.
10/22's are just an adult lego set,if you don't like it,change it into what you want.
 
I don't like the trigger at all on a Ruger 10/22 unless you get the target unit that comes on the target rifles or the LVT models. I had the Wal Mart 22" rifle too.
My current one is the LVT these were a distributor special and were sold at Buds Gun shop

As far as the stock rifles I don't view them as very good rifles. I like to have a decent trigger in my rifles, and a rifle that sets off the ammo reliably. I need to be able to go through a whole box of ammo with no duds and I buy the best ammo to start off with. And be carefull not to strip those threads on that soft aluminum receiver.

So basically I think the 10/22 is a decent rifle if you completely replace the trigger group, have the bolt face work done, new extractor, and with a roll pin to prevent the firing pin from riding up. That would be a good start.
The rotary mag is cool until it gets dirty.
 
Plastic is fine. It looks better than the pot-metal crap it replaced.
However, it may require more break-in time, to get some parts moving smoothly (safety, mag release, etc).

If you want metal, you have two choices:
1. Go old; buy used.
2. Go new; buy stupidly expensive aftermarket parts, that provide no real benefit.


Your choice.;)
 
It's a trigger guard. My god if you break that you need to be A LOT more carefull with your firearms. I have 2 of them (old ones). Went to go look at trigger guard when i first read this post. They are as shinny as new.Not even a nick in them. Thats from 15 years of running around in the woods,resting them on tree branches,benches,car hoods,and rocks. The stock has taken a beating,but the trigger guard??? How do you break that.
 
FYI, the Marlin 60 has a plastic trigger guard as well. In fact, I used the wrong solvent cleaning mine and it started to melt the trigger guard and now the trigger pull is pretty bad. The nice thing about the 10/22 is that you can find several aftermarket parts to make it just how you want it. Not that there is anything wrong with plastic. In fact I like the use of plastic in guns, it keeps weight down and is strong and corrosion proof.
-Dan
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top