Middle-Age Spread Of the 10/22

Guns Magazine, May, 1999 by Clair Rees

Three years ago, Ruger introduced an upgraded, heavy-barreled version of its best-selling Model 10/22 autoloader. Designated the 10/22T Target Model, the rifle was developed to capitalize on the growing demand for bull-barreled 10/22s.

The 10/22T provided a Ruger-made answer to these customized rimfires. Serious rimfire fans no longer needed to visit a gunsmith or buy drop-in stocks, bull barrels and other aftermarket 10/22 accessories.

Custom-barreled 10/22s were first popularized by savvy shooters who used them in Sportsman's Team Challenge competition. Ruger's 10/22 action provided fast-firing reliability, while the heavy bull barrels yielded tack-driving accuracy. The combination proved a real winner, and before long plinkers and rabbit hunters were adding bull barrels to their 10/22s. Now they can simply buy Ruger's 10/22T over the counter at their neighborhood sporting goods store.

What sets the 10/22T Target Model apart from standard 10/22s? The first thing you notice is the beefy, hand-filling stock of laminated American hardwood. Laminated stocks are less likely to swell or warp than those fashioned from a single piece of wood. In addition to increasing stability, lamination creates a handsome grain pattern that gives the 10/22T a distinctive appearance.

The hammer-forged bull barrel is precisely bedded in its stock. Chamber dimensions are tighter than you'll find in standard 10/22 barrels. Spiral flats created by the forging hammers are still evident around the tube's circumference. The heavy, 20" target barrel is highly polished and brightly blued, adding to the autoloader's appeal. The total package tips the scales at a substantial 7 1/2 pounds.

Other improvements? Trigger action has been improved, with the pull weight factory set between 21/2 and 31/2 lbs. The trigger on my rifle broke at an even 4 lbs. No sights are provided. The receiver is drilled and tapped for full-sized scope mounts, and a screw-on base is provided to accommodate rimfire tip-off rings.

At a retail price of $393, the 10/22T costs roughly as much as two standard 10/22 Ruger carbines.

How does Ruger's 10/22T Target Model perform? To find out, I mounted a Burns Compact 3-9x scope, gathered an assortment of .22 LR ammo and headed for the desert. I did my shooting from a solid sitting position at a range of 25 yards. Even without a sandbagged rest, the big little rifle did just fine. Most five-shot groups measured less than 1" across. The best accuracy was delivered by CCI's Green Tag target ammo, which yielded tight 1/2" spreads.

After running the 10/22T through its paces, I was sorry I'd waited nearly three years to shoot one. Ruger's self-loading Target Model rifle isn't cheap. but you get a lot of value for the money.