UPDATE: Ruger 10/22TD-NRA "Take-Down" Special NRA Edition 22 Carbine, Available Exclusively from Davidson's

by Jeff Quinn

photography by Jeff Quinn & Boge Quinn

March 28th, 2012

UPDATED December 2nd, 2014

 

 

 

Click pictures for a larger version.

 

Ruger 10/22TD -NRA "Take-Down" Special NRA Edition 22 Carbine, available exclusively through Davidson's.

 

 

 

 



The take-down system is rugged, solid, easy-to-use, and adjustable.

 

 

 

 

 

 



Pad lock.

 

 

 

 



Magazine release.

 

 



Rifle comes with a compact, reliable 10-shot rotary magazine.

 

 



The Takedown 10/22 also worked perfectly with the Ruger BX-25 twenty-five round magazine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It has been two and one-half years ago now that Ruger introduced their 10/22TD rimfire carbine. The 10/22TD is a handy little take-down version of the extremely popular 10/22 Carbine. Since that first model was introduced, Ruger has produced different variants; one of the most-significant being the catalog number 11153 special NRA Edition 10/22TD. The NRA version has a synthetic stock of Natural Gear camouflage pattern, and has a NRA-logo brown Cordura carry case.

This is one of the best-looking 10/22TD packages to date, but most importantly, for every gun sold, Ruger and Davidson's will each donate $10 US to the NRA. Ruger and Davidson's have always been generous supporters of the National Rifle Association, and with this special edition of the 10/22TD, they are again generating more money for the NRA to use to fight intrusive gun laws, and to help support political candidates who support gun owners and our Constitution.

The 10/22TD NRA Special Edition carbine has all the features of the 10/22TD reviewed here before, but the pictures here show the features of the Davidson's-exclusive NRA version. The 10/22TD is an excellent rifle, and when considering the purchase of one, have a look at the special NRA version. The special serial number (NRA2xxx), stock finish, and carry case are great reasons to choose this version, but supporting the NRA, especially now, is an even better reason to buy the  catalog number 11153 10/22-TD-NRA Ruger carbine. Doing so, you will not only be getting one of the very best 22 rifles ever made, you will be supporting the fight for our gun rights and the preservation of our Constitution.

The 10/22TD-NRA is available only from Davidson's-affiliated dealers, so check them out at your local gun dealer, or order directly from Davidson's online by clicking on the Gun Genie at www.galleryofguns.com.

Jeff Quinn

The Ruger 10/22 rifle has been in constant production for almost five decades now, with millions of them produced to date, and no signs of production slowing down. I have watched the production cell at the New Hampshire factory, and was amazed at how often a new 10/22 rifle hit the “finished” rack. There are at least thirty different variations of the 10/22 rifle, with other variations added often as distributor exclusives or special production runs. Shown here is the latest version of the 10/22, the 10/22-TD.

The 10/22-TD is a take-down version of the basic synthetic-stocked 10/22 Stainless Carbine. The Take-Down splits right in front of the receiver, allowing the user to remove the barrel and forend for compact transport and storage. Many decades ago, when lots of people traveled by stage coach or train, take-down rifles were popular for easy transport on such public conveyance, and even today, having a firearm that separates into halves is a convenient way of packing a rifle into a suitcase, or for storing in the trunk of a car or under the seat of a boat.

Some take-down rifle designs have a tendency to wear at the take-down mechanism, resulting in a degradation of accuracy. Ruger has an adjustment on the 10/22, to eliminate play between the halves, very similar to the adjustment used on the classic Browning 22 Auto. This system works very well, and will keep the rifle shooting accurately until several decades of use wears it out, or until the end of the world, whichever comes first. I am betting on the world ending before the rifle wears out. I have never seen a worn-out 10/22.

The Ruger 10/22 Take-Down carbine comes with a padded soft nylon carry case. The case has compartments for the two halves, plus other compartments for a scope or cleaning kit inside the pack, with additional compartments on the outside for storage of ammunition or extra magazines. There are also numerous webbing loops to attach other items, if desired. The outside compartments are large enough to hold several fully-loaded BX-25 high-capacity Ruger magazines.

The 10/22-TD weighs in at 4.67 pounds. The barrel measures eighteen and one-half inches in length, and tapers from .91 inch in front of the receiver to .553 at the muzzle. Both front and rear sights are set into dovetails. The front wears a brass bead. The rear is adjustable for windage by drifting in its dovetail, and for elevation by loosening two screws and sliding the blade up or down.

I tested the 10/22-TD rifle with several brands of 22 Long Rifle ammunition for velocity and function. The results with each brand and type of ammunition are listed in the chart below. HP is a lead hollowpoint bullet. Solid is a lead roundnose bullet. Velocity readings were taken at an elevation of 541 feet above sea level, with an air temperature of 74 degrees Fahrenheit, with humidity in the forty-nine percent range. Velocities are listed in feet-per-second (FPS), and were recorded ten feet from the muzzle of the 10/22-TD. Bullet weights are listed in grains.

Ammunition Bullet Weight Velocity
Federal Bulk HP 36 1211
Winchester DynaPoint HP 40 1125
PMC Match Solid 40 1041
Wolf Match Solid 40 1031
CCI Mini-Mag HP 36 1224
CCI Mini-Mag Solid 40 1212
CCI Velocitor HP 40 1361
Remington Yellow Jacket HP 33 1403
Remington Hi-Speed Solid 40 1239
American Eagle HP 36 1113
PMC Zapper HP 38 1222
Olin Solid 40 1011
Winchester XPert HP 36 1178
Hansen Solid 40 1096
CCI Blazer Solid 40 1206
CCI Stinger HP 32 1514

Using the sixteen types of 22 Long Rifle ammunition listed above, functioning was one hundred percent reliable, as expected. There were no failures of any kind, with any ammunition tested in the 10/22-TD. For accuracy testing, I mounted a Leupold 4.5 to 14 power Mark 4 scope using an AccuShot one-piece Picatinny scope mount atop the Ruger base. Accuracy was impressive. I experimented with different amounts of tension on the take-down mechanism, from rather loose to as tight as I could get it to lock together. Accuracy was very good, no matter the tension on the take-down mechanism, but I found that accuracy was more consistent when assembled with the device rather snug. It does not have to be so tight that it requires a lot of effort to assemble, but tight enough to feel good resistance and lockup. Set like that, accuracy remained consistent, and pressure upon the forend did not change the point of impact.

I was concerned that removing the barrel, and then reattaching, would change the point of impact. To check that, I set the target at fifty yards, and proceeded to fire five, five-shot groups. Twenty-five rounds total, removing and reinstalling the barrel after each five-shot group. The results can be seen in the picture. The resulting twenty-five shot group measured only five-eighths of an inch. That group would be superb for a five shot group from a fixed-barrel semi-automatic 22 rifle, but is amazing for a take-down that was dismantled every five shots! One important tip, and it is noted in the owner’s manual; after attaching the barrel, allow the bolt to slam shut a couple of times. This “seats” the assembly together, preventing a first-shot flier. I also found that the little Ruger displayed excellent accuracy using bulk ammo. The CCI Blazer has proven to be one-hundred percent reliable, and very accurate, in several 22 pistols and rifles. I recently got in 21,000 rounds of that ammo from Luckygunner.com at an excellent price, and it is now my favorite bulk 22 LR ammo, after Winchester DynaPoint. The Blazer functions just as well, and is very accurate, but I like the slight hollowpoint on the Winchester ammo for game.

For general use, such as hunting and plinking, I removed the large scope and mounted one that is more in line with the svelte dimensions of this dandy little carbine; the Leupold 1.5 to 5 power VX-III. This scope has superb optical clarity, and enough magnification for hunting within the range of the 22 Long Rifle cartridge. It fit’s the 10/22-TD well, measuring only ten inches in length, and with the scope attached, the rifle will still fit into the carry case. Perfect.

The 10/22-TD is a welcome addition to the extensive line of Ruger 10/22 rifles. Stowed into the padded case, it makes for a lightweight, handy package under two feet in length, that assembles quickly with no loss of sight setting. It is reliable, handy, and made in the USA.

As of the date of this writing, Ruger has several thousand of these new 10/22-TD rifles in stock with distributors all over the U.S. No waiting, they are in stock now!

Check out the entire line of Ruger firearms and accessories online at www.ruger.com.

For the location of a Ruger dealer near you, click on the DEALER FINDER at www.lipseys.com.

To order a Ruger rifle online, go to www.galleryofguns.com.

To order quality ammunition, go to www.luckygunner.com.

For a look at the extensive line of quality Leupold optics, go to www.leupold.com.

Jeff Quinn

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Click pictures for a larger version.

 

Ruger 10/22TD -NRA "Take-Down" Special NRA Edition 22 Carbine, available exclusively through Davidson's.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10/22-TD comes with a handy, well-made padded carry case with a shoulder strap, compartments for extra magazines, and heavy-duty zippers.

 

 



Sights are easy to use, adjustable, and the rear folds for scope clearance.

 

 


Rifle comes with scope base which will accommodate Weaver-style or rimfire tip-off rings.

 

 



The compact, handy Leupold 1.5 to 5 variable VX-III scope is an excellent choice for the 10/22 Take-Down rifle.

 

 



Accuracy testing was done from the bench using a Target Shooting, Inc. Model 500 rifle rest and a Leupold Mark 4 4.5 to 14 power scope.

 

 



Group fired at fifty yards, firing five shots, removing barrel, reassembling, and firing five more, with all twenty-five shots going into this small cluster.

 

 



Accuracy of various ammunition at 50 yards.