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.
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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.
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