My First Rifle (Ruger 10/22) Could Use Your Help
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dalegribble
New member
i have 2 of them, when i got mine they came with bases and a cheap 22 scope. i like the open sights but i do have a cheap 4x scope on one. i would get used to shooting it without a scope first, when you get a scope buy a full sized one and not the small 22 scopes you see around. sportsmans guide has alot of scopes to choose from at reasonable prices. i have a fixed power scope but a 2x7 or 3x9 would work well too.
i like having extra mags. you can find ruger rotery mags, 25 round banana mags, 50 round drum mags. i have a variety of these and all work well with my guns. pick up some extra mags, you won't be sorry.
my 10/22's work well with just about any ammo but i prefer jacketed ammo because it runs cleaner. my favorite is just about anything from cci. i am not a big fan of cheap bulk ammo especially the lead bullets, the bulk jacketed are a little better.
i like having extra mags. you can find ruger rotery mags, 25 round banana mags, 50 round drum mags. i have a variety of these and all work well with my guns. pick up some extra mags, you won't be sorry.
my 10/22's work well with just about any ammo but i prefer jacketed ammo because it runs cleaner. my favorite is just about anything from cci. i am not a big fan of cheap bulk ammo especially the lead bullets, the bulk jacketed are a little better.
I like the 10-22 models without the barrel band (Deluxe and Target models) because they're easier to modify and length of pull is a bit longer.
I believe that it's easier to learn how to shoot well with a scope than with iron sights. Set it on low power to start and set it up the proper height and eye distance to make the exit pupil where you can look through without moving your head off the stock or feel tension in the neck. If you want to learn shooting with irons, it will be easier after you have muscle memory for holding on target and trigger squeeze. Remember to keep both eyes open and look at the target; the crosshairs will naturally drift toward the bull. Practice a deliberate press, but not a grab or jerk.
For scopes, the Bushnell Banner 4-12X AO works pretty well for under $100. The Mueller 4.5-14X is way better and can be had for under $150.
Drop-in hammers and sears are available that will improve triggers quite a bit. If you want to do an accuracy job, there are plenty of instructions to do it without spending a fortune (Rimfirecentral.com - Tips and Tricks Forum).
I was recently very impressed by the accuracy of a particular batch of CCI Mini-Mags. From my accurized 10-22, they grouped 1/2" at 50 yards from the bench; and I was just trying to sight-in for that distance.
I believe that it's easier to learn how to shoot well with a scope than with iron sights. Set it on low power to start and set it up the proper height and eye distance to make the exit pupil where you can look through without moving your head off the stock or feel tension in the neck. If you want to learn shooting with irons, it will be easier after you have muscle memory for holding on target and trigger squeeze. Remember to keep both eyes open and look at the target; the crosshairs will naturally drift toward the bull. Practice a deliberate press, but not a grab or jerk.
For scopes, the Bushnell Banner 4-12X AO works pretty well for under $100. The Mueller 4.5-14X is way better and can be had for under $150.
Drop-in hammers and sears are available that will improve triggers quite a bit. If you want to do an accuracy job, there are plenty of instructions to do it without spending a fortune (Rimfirecentral.com - Tips and Tricks Forum).
I was recently very impressed by the accuracy of a particular batch of CCI Mini-Mags. From my accurized 10-22, they grouped 1/2" at 50 yards from the bench; and I was just trying to sight-in for that distance.
smoakingun
New member
stopped at the gun shop today. I bought a used, completly stock 10/22 today for $150. I am an appleseed insructor, this rifle is going to be a rifle for me to loan to students at events. Mods are as follows: tech sights $75, hogue stock, on sale at midway, $80, automatic bolt release, free mod, just need a dremel or file. trigger job, $75 at the local gunsmith. total cost $380.
A scope does not make anyone a marksman. At .22lr ranges, the scope doesn't make a real difference if you know how to use iron sights.
A word about magazines. The only mags I have seen, (and I see dozens every weekend) that work consistently come from the ruger factory, or hold only 10 rounds
A scope does not make anyone a marksman. At .22lr ranges, the scope doesn't make a real difference if you know how to use iron sights.
A word about magazines. The only mags I have seen, (and I see dozens every weekend) that work consistently come from the ruger factory, or hold only 10 rounds
go over to www.rimfirecentral.com for all thinks rinfire. Plus about 50% is devoted to the 10-22. Also links to sponsers that do suctom 10-22 work, like brimstone gunsmiths, specializing on the trigger.
Thanks me later. LOTS of just good and informative reading on all brands and models of rimfires.
Thanks me later. LOTS of just good and informative reading on all brands and models of rimfires.
I would recommend putting at least 500 rounds through it before you do anything to it. Get to where you are good with it as is and then decide what changes you would like to make. The stock trigger and open sights are just fine for someone to learn on. Unless of course you are going to go right out and immediately take the Appleseed course then I would do what the instructor recommends.
I beg to differ on the scope question. One of the best reasons to have a .22LR rifle is to initiate people to the shooting sports and hunting. Hunters often have scoped rifles and need practice using them before taking them out in the field. Shooting with iron sights doesn't help people to get used to scopes.
Scopes, hologram, and red-dot sights are faster than irons. Scopes help in game identification and shot placement. When hunting, they make it easier to see twigs in the way of a shot and improve accuracy, especially in dim light. They also place sights and target on the same focal plane, something that becomes more important with age, due to loss of eye accomodation. When I was 12, I could see both sights and target in perfect focus. Now, I can't see the front sight on a rifle and the target in perfect focus, especially in dim light.
Appleseed is a great starter program, but there's so much more to learn. A really good shooter should experienced in every sighting system used in sports and hunting, and many are skilled in rifle, shotgun, and handgun shooting. Competition of many types can further add skills and condition shooters to handle stress, which can be helpful in both hunting and self-defense.
Most folks who shoot a lot and participate on these boards know this, but there are may who are beginners and they need to understand that this can be a lifetime hobby and it can be taken in many different directions. Viva la difference!
Scopes, hologram, and red-dot sights are faster than irons. Scopes help in game identification and shot placement. When hunting, they make it easier to see twigs in the way of a shot and improve accuracy, especially in dim light. They also place sights and target on the same focal plane, something that becomes more important with age, due to loss of eye accomodation. When I was 12, I could see both sights and target in perfect focus. Now, I can't see the front sight on a rifle and the target in perfect focus, especially in dim light.
Appleseed is a great starter program, but there's so much more to learn. A really good shooter should experienced in every sighting system used in sports and hunting, and many are skilled in rifle, shotgun, and handgun shooting. Competition of many types can further add skills and condition shooters to handle stress, which can be helpful in both hunting and self-defense.
Most folks who shoot a lot and participate on these boards know this, but there are may who are beginners and they need to understand that this can be a lifetime hobby and it can be taken in many different directions. Viva la difference!
Ammo: I shoot mostly Federal bulk with good reliability, but my customized10/22 loves the Mini Mags for accuracy. Try a bunch of different ammo and see what your 10/22 likes since every gun is different.
Scope: I bought a cheap 4-16x40 Crossman Center Point scope from Walmarts for $70 with no regrets. I didn't use the rings that came with it though since they were too tall. I bought some Weaver Grand Slam rings for around $20.
Advice: checkout rimfire central it's the best place on the web for 10/22 info.
Scope: I bought a cheap 4-16x40 Crossman Center Point scope from Walmarts for $70 with no regrets. I didn't use the rings that came with it though since they were too tall. I bought some Weaver Grand Slam rings for around $20.
Advice: checkout rimfire central it's the best place on the web for 10/22 info.
chucknbach
New member
Quite true. A scope does not make one a marksman but If they are going to be, the scope will teach it faster than irons will.
I hear it over and over. "Teach them irons first." This thought process is left over from a by gone time when scopes first came out and people were unsure and didn't trust them. So they taught irons first.
Set down behind a high powered scope and if your just right you can see your heart beat on the cross hairs. same with your breathing or any movement. Irons just can't teach the fundementals as well as a scope!
Don't get me wrong I like to shoot junk with irons as well as any one but the things a scope has taught me I employ because I know they're there even though it's not apparent when using irons.
Here's a good low cost scope, glass is every bit as good as a prostaff. The BDC turrent is fun to use and the price is right.
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=simmons+pro+target+scope&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7GGHP_enUS473&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=12087729013167746087&sa=X&ei=gOx1T8jTBqqsiQLD4LynDg&ved=0CF8Q8wIwAg#
My first rifle was a 10-22 purchased decades ago. I've still got it and 3 more like it and all are set up the same way. My kids have shot them and some day grandkids will too.
I recommend the following:
This scope base
These rings
This scope
Shop around, you could find the stuff a few bucks cheaper elsewhere.
I recommend the following:
This scope base
These rings
This scope
Shop around, you could find the stuff a few bucks cheaper elsewhere.
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TriumphGuy
New member
I agree. Nothing wrong with a scope, but it's best to learn to walk before you fly.
paraprepper
Inactive
I just bought one of the Strikeforce stocks. The installation was much easier than I thought it would be. I was really impressed by the overall look, feel and handling of the 10/22 in this stock. Now it will fit, folded, in my backpack. I wish I had bought it sooner. That's a good price at Amazon too.
break it in with standard- high velocity ammo. Most that i've heard say to break in in with copper washed CCI mini mags for the first few hundred rounds, but I've broken mine in with plain lead bulk CCI Blzrs. I wouldn't recommend breaking it in with any hyper velocity ammo for that matter.
Get a good bore snake and do a thorough cleaning after every session, especially with the plain lead ammo.
Funny thing on mine that I purchased a few months ago was that I ended up putting a pistol scope for my Ruger 22/45 pistol on to the rifle. "It's an Nc Star 40 dollar 2.5x30" Had to adjust the rings and place it the farthest forward on the 10/22 scope rail to accomadate for the eye relief. But the beauty is that it actually shoots good considering the low magnification.
50 yard group measured 7/8ths inch! Not too shabby for bulk ammo and a 40 dollar scope
Bought the 10/22 carbine-what-a-beauty....
The second & 3rd photo is a 10 shot group (excluding 1 flyer) at 50 yards with CCI Blazers
Get a good bore snake and do a thorough cleaning after every session, especially with the plain lead ammo.
Funny thing on mine that I purchased a few months ago was that I ended up putting a pistol scope for my Ruger 22/45 pistol on to the rifle. "It's an Nc Star 40 dollar 2.5x30" Had to adjust the rings and place it the farthest forward on the 10/22 scope rail to accomadate for the eye relief. But the beauty is that it actually shoots good considering the low magnification.
50 yard group measured 7/8ths inch! Not too shabby for bulk ammo and a 40 dollar scope
Bought the 10/22 carbine-what-a-beauty....
The second & 3rd photo is a 10 shot group (excluding 1 flyer) at 50 yards with CCI Blazers
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smoakingun
New member
I teach this stuff to people of all ages and experience levels. I can honestly say scopes are harder to teach to a new shooter. Let me explain. The shooter can see more, that gives him more to process. Magnification exagerates pulse, and body movement. This causes the student to attempt to steady the rifle by tensing their bodies, muscle input is bad for accuracy. The scope also allows the shooter to see his hits, as a result, the shooter often "chases the shot". In an effort to hit the bullseye, the shooter will correct his point of aim to improve his impact, resulting in poor groups. A shooter with an iron sighted rifle,very often learns faster, and does better sooner.
The group shot on the target with the one flyer is typical of many 10-22 groups. I was among the first to discover the cause of the "first-shot flyer," which is a tight operating handle that binds the firing pin, due to the angled finger pull on it when chambering the first round.
The operating handle needs to be filed or sanded, so the sides move freely in the bolt slot! Afterwards, the flyers disappear, but most of us still wiggle the handle a bit before firing that first shot.
Rugers 10-22s, like most semi-autos, have a fairly weak ignition system that can be improved by honing moving surfaces, grinding the firing pin nose to deepen the strike and lower the impact off the rim fold. Reducing headspace by milling the bolt, and staking the firing pin to reduce vertical movement are also good ideas. Heavier mainsprings can also be purchased, but may interfere with bolt movement unless the rear of the bolt is slightly rounded and smoothed where the hammer slides.
The operating handle needs to be filed or sanded, so the sides move freely in the bolt slot! Afterwards, the flyers disappear, but most of us still wiggle the handle a bit before firing that first shot.
Rugers 10-22s, like most semi-autos, have a fairly weak ignition system that can be improved by honing moving surfaces, grinding the firing pin nose to deepen the strike and lower the impact off the rim fold. Reducing headspace by milling the bolt, and staking the firing pin to reduce vertical movement are also good ideas. Heavier mainsprings can also be purchased, but may interfere with bolt movement unless the rear of the bolt is slightly rounded and smoothed where the hammer slides.
hmmm thanks for the info Picher
I'll have to try a little sanding. Though I haven't had any problems with the ignition-( 2000 rounds equaling no duds)- though I haven't been shooting any dirty unreliable ammo in par with remington bulk crap.
Might you be saying that the ignition system does not ignite the primer to its full potential ( week primer inition or variations causing different gas pressures) - is that possible?
Was wondering if anyone knows what to expect in terms of accuracy for the out of the box 10 22 carbine " no mods"... I thought that what I attained was impressive, for what I payed
I'll have to try a little sanding.
Though I haven't had any problems with the ignition-( 2000 rounds equaling no duds)- though I haven't been shooting any dirty unreliable ammo in par with remington bulk crap.Might you be saying that the ignition system does not ignite the primer to its full potential ( week primer inition or variations causing different gas pressures) - is that possible?
Was wondering if anyone knows what to expect in terms of accuracy for the out of the box 10 22 carbine " no mods"... I thought that what I attained was impressive, for what I payed
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Ignition is extremely important with .22LRs. Believe that there are significant variations in velocity due to inconsistencies in firing pin energy, even misfires, but mostly first-shot flyers. Harder cases in some brands can further increase the number of flyers, but it's hard to tell whether it's due to inconsistencies in the ammo or the rifle.
Factory rifles may group in the 1 1/2-2" range at 50 yards. At that group size, small variations due to firing pin strike are difficult to distinguish. After the rifle is improved to shoot under 3/4", such inconsistencies in ignition are quite noticeable.
(My B-I-L bought a 10-22 from Walmart a couple of years ago and despite my best efforts, I couldn't get it to group under 1" at 50 yards, until he got a Green Mountain barrel. It now shoots about 1/2" groups and he's very happy with it.)
Factory rifles may group in the 1 1/2-2" range at 50 yards. At that group size, small variations due to firing pin strike are difficult to distinguish. After the rifle is improved to shoot under 3/4", such inconsistencies in ignition are quite noticeable.
(My B-I-L bought a 10-22 from Walmart a couple of years ago and despite my best efforts, I couldn't get it to group under 1" at 50 yards, until he got a Green Mountain barrel. It now shoots about 1/2" groups and he's very happy with it.)
I would learn with iron sights, if you are a beginner. Then, you can put a scope on it later. My deluxe 10/22 wears a 4X Leupold FX1, but my old eyes have trouble with iron sights (63 years will do that to you). It can be a pain to twist my head around to get the right part of the trifocals onto the sight. A scope will eliminate that.
You will be able to see the target better with glass than iron, but my preference is still iron for starting out.
Of course, I had some problems with iron even as a young man. I could always shoot my Colt Woodsman pistol better than my 10/22. Go figure.
You will be able to see the target better with glass than iron, but my preference is still iron for starting out.
Of course, I had some problems with iron even as a young man. I could always shoot my Colt Woodsman pistol better than my 10/22. Go figure.