Fifty Years Of The Ruger 10/22

by
posted on October 8, 2013
236.jpg

If you don’t own a Ruger 10/22 in at least one of its many configurations, someone needs to check your pulse. By 2011, when Ruger finally rolled out a 25-round rotary magazine for the rifle, the company estimated more than six million 10/22s were in gun safes, rifle racks and the hands of shooters worldwide. It was introduced in 1964, so some quick math determines that’s 127,659 of the carbines selling every year, 10,638 a month and somewhere around 354 a day.

To celebrate the classic’s 50th birthday the company is holding an Anniversary Design Contest. If you have a 10/22 and haven’t at least thought about modifying it, you also need to check your pulse. Don’t get me wrong, the rimfire semi-automatic is great in its stock configuration, but it begs for a different stock, rails, scope, ghost rings or bipod. An entire cottage industry grew up around 10/22 aftermarket parts. Here’s a nice sample of what’s available right now from Cheaper Than Dirt (Editors Note: Do not visit this page while at work. It will diminish productivity, generate verbal warnings, add trips to human resources, attract snickers from latte-sipping co-workers and soon you and your UPS delivery guy will be on a first-name basis, not that there’s anything wrong with that).

The contest is open now, but closes at noon (Eastern Time), Friday Oct. 18. To enter, submit a photo of your customized Ruger 10/22, along with a description and itemized parts list. The Grand Prize Winner will have his or her design used as the basis for a new, production 10/22. They will also receive one of the rifles, go to the Ruger plant in New Hampshire to watch the rifle being made and cement their relationship with UPS by receiving $5,000 worth of Ruger gear.

Nine other First Prize finishers will receive a Ruger firearm of their choice. Wait, there’s more. You can visit Ruger’s website from Oct. 21 to Nov. 1 to vote for your favorite design among the top-10 finishers. The lawyers, of course, have to eat, so here are the official rules.

It’s pretty awesome that Ruger is celebrating the birthday of the world’s most popular firearm by celebrating home-brewed modifications. Of course, how well you photograph the gun will have an impact. More on that in the next installment, but in the meantime, here’s a pretty cool target version and Thompson mod over which to drool.

Latest

RETAILBI Q1 2025 QUARTERLY REPORT 4 18 25 11
RETAILBI Q1 2025 QUARTERLY REPORT 4 18 25 11

Report Shows Inventory, Prices Have Dropped At Firearm Retailers

Nearly all gun and related gear inventories at retailers dropped in the last 12 months. So have most prices paid at the counter, according to the year-over-year comparison detailed in the latest RetailBI report.

Preview: Fix It Sticks Model 700 Quick Action Brush

For owners of Remington 700-pattern rifles, Fix It Sticks now offers one such specialty tool designed to clean those hard-to-reach recesses of the Remington receiver.

The Return Of The Taurus 58

Taurus has re-introduced its Model 58 semi-automatic handgun in 2025, bringing in a larger, easier-to-shoot defensive handgun chambered for the .380 ACP cartridge.

Preview: Timney Lever Action Trigger

Timney has now brought its trigger-tuning prowess to the resurgent lever gun platform.

Gun Of The Week: Taurus USA GX2

We’re taking a closer look at the budget-priced Taurus GX2, which offers some premium features while giving new or price-conscious gun owners an easy-to-shoot, entry-level, defensive handgun.

The Armed Citizen® May 16, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.