Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

I have been looking very carefully over .22 Long Rifles. I am really having problems. I am already stocking the ammo but the rifle is harder to come by. Wally World can't keep the Ruger 10/22 with 22 inch barrel in stock. It's been 4 months and I haven't seen one. They DO have the Ruger Carbine and plenty of Marlin .22's.

Should I wait for the Ruger 10/22 with the 22 inch barrel? Otherwise all the other rifles they have are a little cheaper. I like the idea of the carbine but with the shorter barrel I am guessing it's a little more inaccurate. It would be used for small game hunting. What are the pros and cons of the Ruger Carbine vs Ruger 22inch barrel? I also have heard good things about Marlin Rifles as well.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

Either of the Ruger 10-22s will work fine. Accuracy should be the same. Mount an inexpensive 4X scope and you are in business. My standard 10-22 carbine, with a 4x scope, is capable of 5-shot groups around .6 inches @ 50 yards...more than accurate enough for small game. I recommend CCI Mini-mag hollow points or solids. Also, there is a ton of after-market accessories for the 10-22, if you are so inclined.

BTW, I also own a Marlin bolt 22 which is also a fine shooter. But, I think everyone should own at least one 10-22 rifle for plinking, hunting, etc.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

22 inch? IIRC the .22 reaches max potential within 14 or so inches of barrel. Could be +/- some, but I stand on the point.
I have both, with a full compliment of spares for the Marlin. The ruger has the parts I tore out (not too many) when I massaged it.
My experience doesn't lead me to a particular preference between the two. I believe the Marlin can usually be found cheaper. And the dovetail is built in to the Marlin receiver. 3/8" for .22 scope mounts.
For accuracy past 50 or so yards, the Ruger will allow you to mod it for theoretically better shooting. My 1022 has a bull barrel that'll pop chucks at 90 yards using cheap Rem Goldens with regularity. Can't say for the Marlin, as it was the subject of tinkering for subsonic use.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

Can your local WallyWorld special order you a 22" 10/22 rifle? If not, there are 6 pages of 10/22 barrels available on www.midwayusa.com . Barrels on the 10/22 are very easy to swap out - the only issue would be the price of the replacement barrel. The cheapest stainless barrel from Midway is ~$72, but that's only a 18.5" barrel.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

I can easily pick off feral cats at 100 yards with my Marlin .22 and cheap 4x scope. Nice rifle.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

I think the Ruger 10-22 is the most popular gun ever made. I own two of them. Spend the extra 20 bucks or so, and get a stainless. There are tons of goodies available for the Ruger as well. Like the 870 Remington, a 10-22 is a staple for WTSHTF!

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

I've had a Marlin Model 60 for over 20 years and never had a problem with it. It is also extremely accurate with the standard iron sights.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

IMO, the Marlin 60 is the best .22 for the money. Very reliable, inexpensive and super accurate. You won't be able to find all the aftermarket doodads and geegaws, but for a good plinker/small game rifle on a budget it would be my choice.

PS, the nondetachable magazine may be a drawback for some. But I'm of the opinion that if you are in a situation where you need to reload in a hurry, you needed something other than a .22 to begin with.

PPS, the Marlin 60 hold 16-17 rounds anyway, so it's not like it lacks capacity.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

Check out this site http://www.appleseedinfo.org/ where 10/22s are recommended for Liberty Training Rifles. One thing to keep in mind is that the 10/22 has a detachable magazine. The Marlin, if memory serves, has a tube magazine. With a number of loaded magazines on hand, the 10/22 is quicker to reload after running empty than the Marlin. That is one consideration to keep in mind. Plus, if you like to tinker, there are many, many after market products to trick out a 10/22.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

My Stainless Steel Ruger "AK-22":

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

+1 on that! Sounds like the same set up I went with. I'm using the carbine model with a cheap scope and it is great. 50 yards it is plenty accurate, even carbine. I worried a bit about that when I bought mine but it doesn't seem to matter much. Very tight groups on a base, non-upgraded carbine model.

I've tried a bunch of different 22 long rounds through it and the gun and I prefer the CCI mini mag hp. They cost more than the brick ammo but are still relatively cheap compared to larger calibers.

And for the OP, don't try just Walmart. Look at local gun shops. ALL of the gun shops here have new and used 10/22s all the time. One shop had like 15 of them the other day. There are tons of them in circulation and you can find one base model, or totally tricked out, second hand very often.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

Owning both a Ruger 10/22 carbine and a Marlin 925 bolt action rifle, I have to say they are both very good quality firearms, but with different uses (at least for me). My 10/22 is a general purpose, plinker and fun gun, while the Marlin is primarily for hunting. I like the feel of the Marlin, it feels more like a centerfire rifle than the Ruger.

I had a Glenfield .22LR semiauto (tubular mag) many years ago. This is the cheap version of the Marlin 60. It was a jam-o-matic, the Marlin would have been better, I assume. I've heard the Marlin 60 has the highest sales of any .22LR semiauto, as it has been in production forever!

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

I have both the ruger and the marlin, i like the ruger as i can get 50 round magazines, the marlin is tube fed.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

I like the 22" model that ruger supplies Walmart exclusivley. Walmart should have a special order catalog. You should be able to get them to order you one, and have it reserved for you.

Liked them so much I bought 2. At 50 yards, very accurate.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

This was my primary decision in getting the 10/22. Switching tubes in the Marlin? You might as well be feeding a muzzleloader. I wanted something where I could intentionally put a lot of lead downrange quickly and switch out the magazines on the fly.

My buddy has a Marlin .22. The lock mechanism and bullet feed on it seems overly complex compared to my Ruger 10/22. I tore it down for him one night to show him how to do a complete cleaning on it and thought, "There sure are a lot of little parts on this to either break or lose." The pin that attached the trigger group to the receiver was plastic... NOT A GOOD SIGN.

I like the Ruger's simplicity of action. It's a lot sloppier than my milsurp firearms from a tolerance point of view, but still is something that that I would trust more in a TSHTF scenario than the tube fed Marlin.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

I just bought one of the Wal-Mart 22" specials last night. I need to find a scope for it so I can get it sighted in. Where do you guys get extra mags? I will probably get some Ruger 10 rd. mags and also some higher cap mags.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

Here is a comparison video of the two:

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

www.midwayusa.com

I stuck with factory mags only.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

I already have a ruger 10/22 with a scope and I use it for training on the bigger rifles. It has helped me learn accuracy and is a pleasure to shoot. However I have a synthetic stock and the scope is very heavy.

I've very much like to get a second .22 rifle with just iron sights; something a little more old-school, a nice wood grain. Considering the Marlin 60. I like that Marlin's can be reloaded on the fly...

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

I just picked up the same one. They finally got it in stock. Thanks for the help everyone!!!

Also I pulled the sling off of my SKS and put it on the Ruger. It looks good so I am definitely buying another sling.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

I recently bought 2 Ruger 10-22 in stainless and synthetic just to rat hole away for the future (I have 2 kids).

Would not mind getting a 3rd 10-22.

Tell me more on the Wal-Mart 22" special.....again would prefer stainless....wood or synthetic is fine.

Is there an advantage to the 22".....thought a short bbl was optimal on a 22 rifle....also what was the WalMart Price?

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

The 22'' looks pretty slick IMO. If you go to the Walmart online catalog you can see a review of all of their rifles. Ruger 10/22 22'' has a 5 star rating and a lot of reviews. It has a very nice looking wood stock and is stainless steel.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

BullionVince....do you recall the price? Do they typically stock in store?

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

Yeah they do stock in store and it was $238 if I recall.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

Agent Smith,

My dog chased a cat tonight. It was rather entertaining to watch, but he did not kill the cat.

You are a cat killer.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

Aurum, I am guilty as charged. Feral cats bad in my sheep pastures, they carry Toxoplasmosis transmissible to sheep (and humans):

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/toxo.html

City folks dump unwanted cats in farm country, farmers dispose of cats. I like one or two neutered cats around for vermin control OK, others serve as target practice.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

I understand these feral cats do not belong in nature.....I'm all about the balance of nature...and I'm a hunter....

But we have a cat ....had 2 .....(just had to put down "Fat Bastard" a few months ago....broke my heart...)... I just can't bring myself to shoot wild cats....keep thinking is is someones pet just out for a a little fun in nature.....

Someone else will have to do the cat control with the 22LR....I just can't do it...

I see them where I deer hunt ...stalking the woods....

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

$238 is what I paid for both of mine last summer. I found both in stock at Super Walmarts that were 25 miles from each other.

I don't mind buying at Walmart when it is made in the USA.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

The Marlin's tubular magazine isn't a big deal to load, you can get a speed loader for it like this: Spee-D-Loader

It would be pretty easy to make something like this I would think.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

I just bought one last week. Local Pawn/Gunshop had the stainless with synthetic stock, but I wanted a wood stock (heh heh, he said woodstock) so I told him to look for one coming in. He did and called me... It doesn't look like it was fired much.

$220 out the door, no registration. Now I just need the 4x scope.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

I don't own any Ruger 10/22's but I have owned 2 Marlin 60's for the past 10 years or so and they are both tack drivers. If I remember correctly, they were like $89 or so. One of them has a cheap tasco scope on it and I can pick off the staples on targets 25-50 yards out. Kinda' picky w/ the ammo it likes to eat. No hollowpoints. It seems to like Federal Auto Match Bulkpack Round nosed stuff the best...I love these rifle's!!!

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

Even after my experience with the Glenfield, I might give the Marlin 60 a try, if I could find one cheap enough. The Glenfield was accurate enough, but I sure didn't like the jamming! It was so long ago, I don't recall if the jamming was ammo-specific or not. Those tubular mag speed loaders look like a great idea.

Quick question, is the Marlin 60 made in the USA?

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

Marlin 60's manufactured in New Haven, CT. Can't say if any of the parts are made elsewhere though. Dead accurate rifle with their unique Microgroove rifling. Slower to load than clip fed though.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

Ruger 10/22 is THE gold standard in 22-semi. I have 50-round steel lip pre-ban Condor mags that are great, but love the machined aluminum mags from Tactical Innovations too.

We also have a few tube fed rifles. In particular I wanted my left-handed son to start with a manual feed 22, so I bought him a Henry Youth lever gun and I usually plink with him using a Winchester 9422 or older Marlin Golden.

With these tube fed rifles we've constructed our own speed loaders. We take a tube with proper I.D. and cut the length to hold just the right number of 22LR's (no more, no less). We use vinyl end-caps that can be popped off for loading. I found some clear plastic tubes that are the best because you can see the load, but we've also made some with aluminum or copper tubes that are a little easier to find. Those you can buy at the hardware store or hobby shop. The easiest end-caps to find are actually made to cap the cut ends on wire closet shelving... again, easily found at most big hardware stores. I tape the cap on one end with bright colored tape so we don't accidentally load rifles with cartridges facing the wrong way. So, you uncap the other end, fill it with cartridges going in point first (would be the opposite for rifles with magazine tube in the stock). When we get to the range we have a quiver full of pre-loaded speed tubes and plink away all day without having to futz with loading rounds one at a time. Works kinda' like those old pneumatic pellet guns we used to see at carnival shooting galleries. It's not quite as conveinient as mags like the 10/22 uses, but it's close enough since filling the speed tubes is a little easier in the first place.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

I get too many misfires with those cheapo Federal 22s.

For buying bricks of 22s I prefer Remmington.

CCIs are for black-op recon missions ...

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

I really like the Marlin and Henry lever action .22LR.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

Thanks! I just ordered 3 mags from them. Looks like a good price. I may stick with the factory mags also.

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

Thats odd...My Marlins love that el -cheapo federal bulk pack stuff. VD51

Re: Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin .22 Rifles
 

Take a non-threaded barrel, press it into an aluminum receiver and pin it. Then mount a scope to the aluminum receiver with tiny screws and voila! You have all the ingredients of a rifle that won't stay zeroed!
Although some of these 10/22's and Model 60's are capable of accuracy, don't expect to buy one and get better than 2" groups at 50 yards unless you shoot several before picking one.
If I was in a survival situation, I would want to get the most squirrels or rabbits for the least amount of noise. If a .22 rifle won't even group 1" in 50 yards I'll dump it. Same with a rifle that won't stay zeroed.
You get what you pay for.