Ruger
10/22-TD Take-Down 22 Semi-Automatic
Rifle

by Jeff Quinn

photography by Jeff Quinn & Boge Quinn

March 28th, 2012

Click pictures for a larger version.

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.

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.

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.