The need for a Suppressed 0.22 Sniper Rifle rose up when the Intifada (the Palestinian uprising against the Israeli regime in the occupied territories) broke out in 1987.
The Israeli security forces needed a weapon with more firepower then the standard riot control rubber/plastic rounds, but at the same time less lethal then the 5.56
M193/M855 rounds of the M16/IMI Galil family of assault rifles. The Ruger 10/22, a 0.22 caliber semi auto sniper rifle (with 10 round rotary magazine), fitted with a X4
day optic, a full length suppressor and a Harris bipod, was selected and was supposed to be issued to all units, both Special Forces and regular ones. But like often happen
in the shoe-string budget IDF, budget cuts prevent the weapon from being distributed in mass numbers and it was mainly given to Special Forces units. In fact, the Israeli
special forces used the Ruger 10/22 more as a "Hush Puppy" weapon design to silently and effectively eliminate disturbing dogs prior to operations, then as a riot control
weapon, as originally intended.
http://www.isayeret.com/sniping/gallery2.htm
The Israeli security forces needed a weapon with more firepower then the standard riot control rubber/plastic rounds, but at the same time less lethal then the 5.56
M193/M855 rounds of the M16/IMI Galil family of assault rifles. The Ruger 10/22, a 0.22 caliber semi auto sniper rifle (with 10 round rotary magazine), fitted with a X4
day optic, a full length suppressor and a Harris bipod, was selected and was supposed to be issued to all units, both Special Forces and regular ones. But like often happen
in the shoe-string budget IDF, budget cuts prevent the weapon from being distributed in mass numbers and it was mainly given to Special Forces units. In fact, the Israeli
special forces used the Ruger 10/22 more as a "Hush Puppy" weapon design to silently and effectively eliminate disturbing dogs prior to operations, then as a riot control
weapon, as originally intended.
http://www.isayeret.com/sniping/gallery2.htm