Does the Ruger 10/22 Takedown the Competition? – There’s always something fun about shooting a 10/22 because they’re usually lightweight and have practically no kick. While the Ruger 10/22 Takedown had almost no recoil and some other positives, it wasn’t my favorite.
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Ruger 10/22: A 2 Minute Review
The first thing I noticed was that the Takedown was about 5 pounds when I loaded the 10-round magazine. That’s not even close to heavy for someone used to shooting an AR, but it’s got more heft than a lot of the 10/22 rifles out there.
On the other hand, one of the best features of this Ruger was that it can break down almost in half for easier carrying. The full length is about 3 feet long, but it can fit in my backpack and those 5 pounds don’t make much of a difference when I’m walking.
As for shooting, it didn’t blow me away. I know that .22LR is cheaper ammo, so it does jam and dirty the rifling more. Because of that, my spreads ranged from reasonable to as much as 5” apart. My best shot patterns came from higher-end rounds like CCI and Federal Target.
I did like that the manufacturer stock is textured to keep the recoil pad in place, so the Takedown didn’t move when I fired. It also helps that the .22LR is already a low-recoil bullet. However, the trigger left something to be desired with 6 pounds of tension and a hard reset.
That brings me to how customizable the Takedown is. Like most Ruger 10/22’s, you can swap out a lot of parts and I strongly recommend going with a trigger you’re comfortable with. I also had trouble seeing the front sight, so I ended up using an optic to help my precision.
One thing that did stand out for me was the magazine release. A lot of the rifles I’ve fired in that caliber have sticky mag wells, but the Takedown smoothly released and I had no issues with the feed. It also doesn’t seem to matter what magazine brand I go with, so that’s a plus.
Ruger 10/22: The Bottomline
Overall, the Ruger 10/22 Takedown rifle wasn’t my favorite for accuracy or weight but it does fire a lot better once I switched the trigger and mounted a scope.
Still, for less than $400, the Takedown is solid in a pinch and extremely portable in case of an emergency.
Bonus Photo Essay: Meet the M16 Rifle
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Noah Larose, motor transportation operator, Combat Logistics Battalion 6, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, fires an M16A4 rifle during a rifle marksmanship qualification on Alpha Range at Stone Bay on Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Oct. 3, 2019. Marksmanship qualification is required once a year for all Marines and consists of two tables that test the individual’s knowledge and skills while operating the M16A4 rifle or the M4 carbine in order to maintain mission readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ginnie Lee)
M16A2. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
M16A2 rifle. Image Credit: US Army Creative Commons.
Sgt. Marco Gutierrez, a public affairs specialist from Indianapolis, Indiana assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve’s 350th Public Affairs Detachment, fires his M-16A2 at the range on Camp Atterbury, Indiana Nov. 3. Army Reserve Soldiers qualify on their individual assigned weapon once a year in order to be “mission capable” should they need to deploy.
Richard Douglas writes on firearms, defense, and security issues. He is the founder and editor of Scopes Field, and a columnist at the National Interest, 1945, Daily Caller, and other publications.
