8 Best Ruger 10/22 Models [Plinking, Hunting, Competition]

The Ruger 10/22 is an iconic rifle and one of the most popular starter platforms for beginner shooters. It’s high-quality but affordable, and the .22 Long Rifle chambering makes it easy (and cheap) for everyone to shoot. 

The 10/22 also enjoys endless aftermarket support, so it’s easy to customize this little rifle to fit your needs and wants. 

But how did the 10/22 reach its current level of popularity in the first place?

We'll talk about that, too! After we break down the best Ruger 10/22 models, let's explore the history of this venerable rifle to see how it went from the new kid on the block to a revered and beloved rifle platform. 

How We Chose the Best Ruger 10/22 Models

For this article, we focused on 10/22 models that balance performance with value and features. Input came from the editorial team, whose experience ranges from retired law enforcement to military to competition shooters.

All models listed have spent hands-on time with someone on our time at the range.

Best Ruger 10/22 Models

1. Ruger 10/22 Carbine - Best Overall

Best Overall

Ruger 10/22 Carbine

$208

at Palmetto State Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$208 at Palmetto State Armory

DE Guns (see price)

Kygunco (see price)

MidwayUSA (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: .22 LR
• Action: Semi-automatic
• Capacity: 10+1
• Sights: Fixed front, adjustable rear 
• Stock: Hardwood
• Barrel Length: 18.5”
• Overall Length: 37” 
• Weight: 5 lbs

The Ruger 10/22 Carbine is the original wonder and we consider it the standard 10/22 variation.

Now, realistically, any of the 10/22 Carbines are great for general purposes and just shooting for fun. They all have the same simple design, an 18.5-inch barrel and 37-inch overall length, and an adjustable rear sight and a gold bead front sight.

I prefer the 1151 over the other variants because of the classic hardwood stock and no-frills iron sights.  

If you want a synthetic stock or a scope, any of the other 10/22 Carbine models will do just fine.

How do you like the most classic Ruger 10/22 model?

2. Ruger 10/22 Sporter - Best Value

Best Value

Ruger 10/22 Sporter

$272

at Classic Firearms

Prices accurate at time of writing

$272 at Classic Firearms

Guns.com (see price)

GrabAGun (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: .22 LR
• Action: Semi-automatic
• Capacity: 10+1
• Sights: Fixed front, adjustable rear 
• Stock: American walnut
• Barrel Length: 18.5”
• Overall Length: 37” 
• Weight: 5.2 lbs

The 10/22 Sporter is another classic model with the wood stock that many of us probably remember as young shooters.

This is the OG model that mimics the original design pretty closely, with a few key changes. 

Compared to the 10/22 Carbine, the Sporter gets a more accurate free-floating barrel and nicer wood in the stock.

And there are enough distributor-exclusive models out there that you can almost certainly find one with the exact features you want.

The Sporter won’t light your world on fire but it' certainly won’t disappoint either, and's a step up from the Carbine and the price difference is minimal. 

3. Ruger 10/22 Target - Best Stock

Best Stock

Ruger 10/22 Target Lite

$586

at Firearms Depot

Prices accurate at time of writing

$586 at Firearms Depot

Guns.com (see price)

GrabAGun (see price)

Kygunco (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: .22 LR
• Action: Semi-automatic
• Capacity: 10+1
• Sights: Picatinny rail
• Stock: Black laminate thumbhole
• Barrel Length: 16.13”
• Overall Length: 35.25” 
• Weight: 5 lbs

The 10/22 Target is, as the name suggests, optimized for target shooting. 

It looks like nothing else in the Ruger 10/22 lineup, which may be good or bad depending on your preferences.

This is one of the more precise auto-loading rimfire rifles out there, especially in this price bracket. If you’re looking to get into say, NRL22 on the cheap, this is a good place to start.

It has a 2- to 3-pound adjustable trigger that's nicer than what you'll fine on the more basic 10/22 models, a laminate stock with a thumbhole, and an aluminum barrel sleeve that keeps the gun nice and light, and should help with cooling during sustained strings of fire.

You thought that was a bull barrel, didn't you?

All in all, this is a great one for a classic target rifle and is a super fun one for shooters of all ages.

4. Ruger 10/22 Compact - Best for Kids

Best for Kids

Ruger 10/22 Compact

$274

at Classic Firearms

Prices accurate at time of writing

$274 at Classic Firearms

GrabAGun (see price)

Palmetto State Armory (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: .22 LR
• Action: Semi-automatic
• Capacity: 10+1
• Sights: Fixed fiber optic front, adjustable fiber optic rear 
• Stock: Synthetic
• Barrel Length: 16.12”
• Overall Length: 34”
• Weight: 4.4 lbs

If you have a youth in the market for their first rifle, the Ruger 10/22 Compact is just what they need. 

It features an overall length of 34 inches and a barrel length of 16.1 inches.

The 10/22 Compact weighs in at just 4.4 pounds, making it easier for little hands to safely and confidently work with.

If you’re looking for little Jack or Jill’s first firearm, you could certainly do worse than the 10/22 Compact...and you’re gonna have to try pretty hard to do any better.

5. Ruger 10/22 Charger - Best Truck Gun

Best Truck Gun

Ruger 10/22 Charger

$299

at GrabAGun

Prices accurate at time of writing

$299 at GrabAGun

Guns.com (see price)

Kygunco (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: .22 LR
• Action: Semi-automatic
• Capacity: 15+1
• Sights: Picatinny rail
• Stock: Polymer
• Barrel Length: 10”
• Overall Length: 19.25” 
• Weight: 51.5 oz

Next, we have something of an odd option, the 10/22 Charger. It's basically just a 10/22 that’s been chopped down into a pistol. 

This is a great choice for a truck gun, a fun range gun, or a backpack insurance policy. It's shorter than 20 inches so it tucks away almost anywhere, especially with a folding pistol brace.

Personally, I love how fun it is to plink with. Dispatch a pesky varmint or take an impromptu trip to the sand pit to blast some soda cans with the Charger.

While you're not legally required to mount a rimfire suppressor on the 10/22 Charger, it is the right thing to do.

Want more deets on the 10/22 Charger? Read our full Ruger 10/22 Charger review or see it in action below!

6. Ruger 10/22 Tactical - Best for Modding

Best for Modding

Ruger 10/22 Tactical

$327

at Classic Firearms

Prices accurate at time of writing

$327 at Classic Firearms

GrabAGun (see price)

Kygunco (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: .22 LR
• Action: Semi-automatic
• Capacity: 10+1
• Sights: Weaver rail
• Stock: Synthetic
• Barrel Length: 16.12”
• Overall Length: 36.25” 
• Weight: 4.3 lbs

The 10/22 Tactical adds a Weaver top rail and an A2-style flash hider to give it a slightly more, well, tactical look. 

I like it just because it’s one of the better models for mounting a red dot or scope right out of the box.

This makes it a superb choice for a cheap entrant into rimfire carbine competition.

Not to mention, it also serves as an immensely fun gun at the range. And if that's not enough, it's pretty decent on the hunt.

7. Ruger 10/22 Takedown - Best Survival Rifle

Best Survival Rifle

Ruger 10/22 Takedown

$418

at Classic Firearms

Prices accurate at time of writing

$418 at Classic Firearms

GrabAGun (see price)

MidwayUSA (see price)

Kygunco (see price)

Show all prices

Specs

• Caliber: .22 LR
• Action: Semi-automatic
• Capacity: 10+1
• Sights: Fixed front, adjustable rear 
• Stock: Synthetic
• Barrel Length: 18.5”
• Overall Length: 37” 
• Weight: 4.6 lbs

Finally, we have my personal favorite, the go-anywhere 10/22 Takedown.

This one, as you probably guessed, breaks down into two halves, making it the ultimate backpacking or camping rifle. 

You’d be hard-pressed to find a better option for a full-size survival rifle or a rimfire rifle that's easier to store, save for maybe the famous AR-7.)

It' basically serves as's effectively a standard 10/22, with all the features and modularity you’ve come to expect from the model, but in a more portable package.

What's not to love? Well, maybe the price. It's considerably more expensive than the non-takedown 10/22 Carbine.

8. Ruger 10/22 Competition - Best Precision

Best Precision

Ruger 10/22 Competition

$732

at Kygunco

Prices accurate at time of writing

$732 at Kygunco

Sportsman's Warehouse (see price)

Palmetto State Armory (see price)

Specs

• Caliber: .22 LR
• Action: Semi-automatic
• Capacity: 10+1
• Sights: Picatinny rail
• Stock: Speckled laminate
• Barrel Length: 16.12”
• Overall Length: 36”
• Weight: 6 lbs

The 10/22 Competition gives Rimfire Challenge competitors a top-of-the-line semi-automatic rimfire platform that's ideal for making shots when prize money is on the line.

Every part of the rifle has been optimized to accomplish that goal.

The aluminum receiver is CNC-machined, hard-coat anodized, heat-treated, and stress-relieved. The action is bedded into the stock, minimizing deviation shot to shot.

The integrated 30-MOA Picatinny rail sets up your preferred optic for maximum elevation adjustment range for those longer shots.

The vertically and horizontally adjustable cheek rest allows you to position the rest in the way that feels best for you.

The heat-treated bull barrel is free-floating for accuracy and fluted for reduced improved heat dissipation.

Not to mention, the threaded barrel comes with a brake which, on a .22, is hilarious. You can keep it or add a suppressor.

Actually, some rimfire competitors like to use subsonic ammo to avoid the instability associated with going trans-sonic (which happens almost immediately with .22LR).

Other Relevant Information

Those are the best Ruger 10/22 models in our book, but where did this amazing rifle come from? What if you want to modify yours?

As usual, we have you covered.

Ruger 10/22 History

When Ruger released the 10/22 in 1964, the firearm manufacturer already had a reputation for high-quality yet cost-effective firearms.

The 10/22, a semi-automatic carbine chambered for .22 LR, was no exception.

From the start, the 10/22 brought an affordable, reliable, lightweight, and easy-to-shoot rifle to consumers.  

It was originally released as a companion to Ruger’s .44 Magnum Carbine, but the 10/22 quickly usurped the .44 Magnum Carbine in popularity.

Ruger stopped producing the larger rifle altogether in 1985. 

The original Ruger 10/22 boasted a walnut carbine stock, aluminum alloy receiver, and 18.5-inch blued barrel. 

In 1965, the walnut stock was ditched favor of cheaper birch and maple stocks. These days, if you see "hardwood" on a Ruger 10/22 spec sheet, you can safely assume it's maple. 

At the same time, the Ruger 10/22 got its Carbine designation, which would become important to differentiate this version from the other 10/22 models that Ruger would produce in the future. 

Part of the immediate popularity of the Ruger 10/22 resulted because of a few different features that made it stand apart from other contemporary .22 rifles of the time. 

Ruger 10/22 Upgrades

Besides the AR-15 and Glocks, you'll be hard-pressed to find another platform with as much aftermarket support as the Ruger 10/22.

There's a bazillion stocks, sights, and accessories to fit your mood.

Plus, what I think is the best mod is a trigger upgrade... there are plenty of those too.

Find out more about our favorite triggers and scopes for the 10/22.

Ruger 10/22 Stand-Out Features

There were three main features that differentiated the Ruger 10/22 from other rifles -- all of which remain hallmarks of the platform today. 

First up is the barrel block. The 10/22 uses a V-block mounting system with two screws.

That makes it easy to attach and remove the barrel with no gun-smithing knowledge needed. Just don't over-torque those action screws! 

While Ruger created this system for easy manufacturing, it also made barrel swaps super simple, and it laid the foundation for the vast availability of 10/22 aftermarket receivers. 

The rotary magazine played another key part in the success of the 10/22.

Before this, box magazines were a little unreliable in the .22 LR world (as many still are), and tube magazines were slow and cumbersome to load. 

This magazine style granted a more reliable feeding of rimfire ammo than most box mags.

It also still gave shooters a detachable mag that could be quickly and easily reloaded or swapped for a fresh one. 

The last feature that made the 10/22 stand out was the breechblock decelerator. 

At the time, a major difficulty that designers of semi-automatic firearms contended with was the speed of the bolt cycle and the magazine cycle. 

They needed to ensure the bolt cycle gave enough time for the magazine to put the next cartridge in position for the bolt to pick it up. Otherwise, the gun would have nothing in the chamber to fire.

That’s where the breechblock decelerator came in. Ruger designers designed a way to slow the rate at which the breechblock moved back. 

They added a cam action to do so with no extra parts needed.

Not only did this change make the 10/22 more reliable, it also kept with the simple design we know and love.

The Ruger 10/22 Today

Today, the Ruger 10/22 is one of the most popular firearms on the planet and is the gold standard for rimfire rifles for most of the world. 

This is going to be many people’s first firearm, and the insane modularity and aftermarket support mean you can build one for just about any use you can imagine.

You can build a 10/22 without using a single Ruger part, which says a lot about how robust the support for this awesome gun is.

Final Thoughts

The Ruger 10/22 is an iconic firearm, and with incredibly good reason. 

This humble rimfire rifle earned its place as one of the best-selling and most beloved guns on the planet thanks to a stellar design, a wide variety of first and third-party support, and a fanatical fan base.

There really is a 10/22 for every occasion. With such a storied history, you can be sure it’ll never let you down.

These were our fave models but what's yours? Let us know in the comments! If you need reccomendations on upgrading your 10/22, see the Best 10/22 Upgrades!