Video: 50 Years of the Ruger 10/22 Rifle

by
posted on March 7, 2016
** 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. **

The Ruger 10/22 rifle, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2014, remains one of the most ubiquitous rifles extant with dozens of variations and endless possibilities for customization.

In his Nov. 2014 American Rifleman feature story, Brian Sheetz wrote that, "according to current company sources, the 10/22 was far from Bill Ruger’s favorite gun. He thought of it more as an understudy for the .44 Mag. Carbine. But when the gun-buying public first laid eyes on the little rimfire it was rewarded with the sight of a firearm that was, on the outside, aesthetically pleasing and comfortably traditional in form. For readers of The American Rifleman who saw the magazine’s Sept. 1964 “Dope Bag” review, however, it was obvious that the gun was just as brilliantly innovative on the inside where it really counted. It seemed that Ruger had managed to do something that is rarely carried off in a commercially successful way even today: Wrap an ingenious design in a classic form, make it function flawlessly and manufacture it with economical processes so that it is available to people of ordinary means."

The 10/22 remains one of the mostly popular rifles today, and is listed as one of Gunbroker.com's top-selling guns. For more, watch this "I Have This Old Gun" segment from a recent episode of American Rifleman TV as editors look back on 50 years of the Ruger 10/22 rifle.



For more, please enjoy the following articles:

Ruger's 10/22: One of the Best Things for 50 Years
Throwback Thursday: Ruger Model 10/22 Carbine--Sept. 1964 The American Rifleman 
Ruger Commemorates 50 Years of the 10/22 With Anniversary Edition 
Gunbroker.com's Top Selling Guns for Dec. 2015
Five Stocks to Spice Up Your Ruger 10/22
Dress Up Your Ruger 10/22 Takedown Rifle
The Ruger 10/22 Takedown: World's Best Survival Gun? 

Latest

smith & wesson performance center model 19 carry comp moss
smith & wesson performance center model 19 carry comp moss

Unlocking The Future: Smith & Wesson's "No Lock" Revolvers

The future is shaping up to be a good one for fans of Smith & Wesson revolvers. The iconic American company had released 14 new models thus far in 2025 at the time this was written mid-year. And, with one exception, they have all shared a common feature—no internal lock.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 6, 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.

FEMA Notes Decline In Disaster Preparedness

A recent report from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) noted a decline in local government preparedness for natural disasters, putting increased pressure on individuals to prepare themselves for emergencies.

Army Announces Type Classification Of New Infantry Rifle, Machine Gun

In May 2025, the U.S. Army’s Soldier Lethality Project at the Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey announced the official type classification of SIG Sauer’s M7 rifle and M250 automatic rifle, previously known as the XM7 and the XM250, respectively.

RXR22: Savage Arms Redefines The Budget Rimfire Rifle

Savage Arms has a long history of producing affordable and accurate rimfire rifles, but with its RXR22, the company is bringing a new level of affordability and modularity to rimfire rifle fans.

SARCO: A Lifetime Covered Up With Surplus Firearm Parts

When it comes to selling gun parts and gun-related military surplus, Charles “Cholly” Steen has been at it for longer than almost anyone. It all started when, as a 5-year-old, he began stashing odds and ends in the drawers of his clothes dresser.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.