Gun of the Week: Davidson’s Exclusive Ruger 10/22 Compact Leopard

by
posted on July 21, 2023
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

This Ruger 10/22 Leopard is another exclusive from Davidson’s, which means that this particular setup can only be had through Davidson’s Gallery of Guns. The company is one of the world’s biggest firearm distributors, and because of that, it develops unique designs you won’t find anywhere else. Davidson’s works with manufacturers across the world, but when it comes to Ruger, the collaboration between the two has produced dozens of unique options for today’s shooters. Watch the video above to see this Davidson's Exclusive in use on the NRA Tech Range.

GUN OF THE WEEK title screen words on image Ruger 10/22 rifle .22 LR leopard print compact carbine background

The Ruger 10/22 is one of those guns that, for most enthusiasts, needs no introduction. Without doubt, it’s one of the world’s most popular rimfire rifles, with millions made over the course of more than 50 years. Unsurprisingly, Ruger offers dozens of variations on the design, ranging from your basic wood-stocked carbine to tricked-out competition models. But this particular Davidson’s Exclusive is built on the Compact version of the 10/22. This variant is just a little handier than the original carbine, having a barrel length of just over 16” long instead of the 18.5” barrel found on the original. The overall length of the Compact model is about 3” shorter than the standard carbine, yet they both still weigh in right around 4.5 lbs.

Video screenshot of vintage Ruger artwork gun rifle 10/22 carbine magazine line drawing cutaway cartridges ammo bullets mag red background

Obviously, the stand-out feature in the Davidson’s Exclusive is the Leopard-print finish on the polymer stock, which adds an entirely new dimension to this handy, little carbine. Because it’s exactly that, handy and little, it’s the perfect platform for a new shooter, and with many women and children learning the ropes of basic firearm handling, this Leopard-print pattern adds a personal touch that can allow them to personally connect with their rimfire rifle.

AMERICAN RIFLEMAN logo NRA logo center tiles 9 images stack mosaic men shooting leopard print ruger 10/22 rifle carbine gun .22LR rimfire semi-automatic

This Davidson’s Exclusive Ruger 10/22 is equipped with Ruger’s Modular Stock System, so the low comb and adjustable length of pull allow even small-statured shooters to get a perfect fit. The gun comes with an easily seen set of fiber-optic sights, and the rear sight is adjustable. This makes it a great option for dialing in the fundamentals of open-sight shooting, but the top of the receiver is also drilled and tapped, so owners can mount an optic for an easier way to dial-in on a target.

Ruger website screenshot guns 10/22 rifle carbine .22 LR man holding presenting men

Shooting the Ruger 10/22 is one of the classic range experiences. With more than half a century of history and development behind it, the gun just runs. The magazines load and unload easily, and the design is safe and intuitive to operate. We appreciate the bright fiber-optic sights, and the magazine-release latch, bolt handle and cross-bolt safety operated seamlessly and easily. When it comes to training and plinking, it’s hard to beat a solid 10/22, and this Davidson’s Exclusive 10/22 Compact Leopard is designed to be someone’s favorite range companion.

Specifications:
Manufacturer: Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.
Distributor: GalleryofGuns.com
Action Type: blowback-operated, semi-automatic, rimfire rifle
Chambering: .22 LR
Barrel: 16.12" blued-steel
Receiver: aluminum, black powdercoat finish
Magazine: rotary, 10-round detachable
Sights: fully adjustable fiber-optic rear, fiber-optic post front
Stock: compact synthetic, Leopard-print finish
Overall Length: 34"
Weight: 4 lbs., 6.4 ozs.
MSRP: $419

Latest

Federal 7Mm Backcountry Rifleman Review 1
Federal 7Mm Backcountry Rifleman Review 1

Rifleman Review: Federal 7 mm Backcountry

Unlike other recent cartridge launches, the key to Federal Ammunition's 7 mm Backcountry wasn't just in the design of the cartridge but also the type of material used in its case construction.

Big Bite in a Small Package: The Henry Repeating Arms Bear's Leg

Henry Repeating Arms is stepping up its lever-action game with the addition of its Bear's Leg design, a tactical lever-action that provides power and versatility in a compact platform.

I Have This Old Gun: French Model 1777 An IX

French Charleville muskets are a fascinating study in improvement, having evolved from a loosely uniform pattern to what was likely the first military longarm with truly interchangeable parts.

NRA CEO/EVP Doug Hamlin Talks Politics, the NRA, and the Future of Our Freedom

In this interview with The Armed Citizen Podcast at the 155th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Houston, Texas, NRA Executive Vice President and CEO Doug Hamlin talks about what is going on with the NRA, the many battles for our freedom around this nation the NRA is involved in, and what’s to come.

Best of the Best: American Rifleman's 2026 Golden Bullseye Award Winners

From firearms to accessories to optics to ammo and suppressors, we’ve determined these to be the stand-out products from the last year, providing firearm enthusiasts with innovation, value, utility and performance.

Review: Diamondback 9 mm SDR

Folks might be a bit surprised that Diamondback would choose 9 mm as the second caliber for its SDR revolver, but a closer look reveals why 9 mm is a solid caliber option for the platform.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.