Henry Rifle Forums

Not the best of luck with my recently acquired Blackhawk 41 mag (see my 41 mag post) on our range outing, yesterday, but we had an otherwise enjoyable session shooting our pair of very nice Ruger 10/22s. One dependable thing about shooting a 10/22 is you're guaranteed to have fun. Yesterday was no exception.

Over the winter I upgraded the scopes for our 10/22s because, well, a nice 10/22 deserves a nice scope and these are two exceptionally nice vintage Ruger 10/22 rifles. They both now wear one of my favorite scopes of all time, the Nikon Prostaff EFR 3-9. Yesterday was mostly about getting the scopes sighted in, but first, let me introduce the guns.

The top 10/22 is a 1985 vintage 10/22 SD (Sporter Deluxe). It's one of the first guns Bill and I bought together, so it has a lot of sentimental value. As we shall see, though, it is more than just a pretty face. The bottom gun is one of my grail guns that I found over the winter. It's my 1966 finger groove Sporter.



First up to shoot was the '85 Sporter Deluxe. The only thing I'v e done with this one is to add a BX trigger to improve the trigger pull weight, though the original trigger wasn't too bad. Yeah, pretty good for a stock 10/22, but having shot groups like this many, many times with this 10/22, it was no surprise. In fact, I've done better with this one in the past. Guess my shooting was a bit off or maybe it was the fairly stiff breeze.


Next up, the '66 finger groove Sporter. This is what I regard as more typical 10/22 accuracy, but the real highlight of shooting this one is that wonderfully comfy to shoot stock. Yeah, that's a full blown Kidd trigger in it - very nice - so I think I'll just go for broke at some point and add a Kidd barrel. In the meantime, just a pleasure to shoot.


I'm still on the prowl for an early pre-warning 10-22 carbine to add to this little group, so the hunt continues. Who knows, maybe I'll even find the even rarer first edition 10/22 International (made 1966-71).

That's some great shooting. Always good to see your pictures. I couldn't do that even at 25 yds.

Fantastic shooting the Delux! I am always on the lookout for a pre-warning. Especially an International.

Nice shooting NCG. Nice 10/22s as well.

There’s just something about shooting a 10/22…….

Talking about Ruger 10/22’s, the Kittery Trading Post in Kittery, ME is celebrating their 85th anniversary and they have 85 custom 10/22 TD’s with walnut stock and BX trigger on sale. They also have 85 custom Henry 30-30’s on sale.

Nice NCG. What ammo were you shooting there? I havent done much with my 10/22 lately since I put on the Summit Precision Carbon Fiber barrel. Need to get it out again one of these days. Oh by the way that guy dropped the price on the Senaca.

Great shooting on those 50 yd. targets! Only 22"s I have are the two Henry rifles and may try some 50 yd. targets with open sights to see how they will shoot.

Thanks, guys.

Stock, out of the box 10/22s with the exception of the big Target models vary widely in accuracy, no doubt about it, but that said, I think 10/22s are also underrated for accuracy because so many shooters just use them for plinking and don't get serious about shooting them for accuracy. When I decide to play the accuracy game with 10/22s, then, I use the same techniques and set ups that I use when shooting my high grade Anschutz or CZ bolt guns, meaning good scopes, proper rests, testing for the preferred moo, same trigger and rest techniques and so on. It takes more work to get there with 10/22s because they are not made for bench work the way that heavy barreled bolt guns are, of course, but I do enjoy the challenge.

Oops! Forgot the ammo. This time I was shooting Eley Subsonic HPs. I like this ammo for accuracy testing because it does well in a wide variety of my rifles and is not as expensive as full out competition target ammo. Runs about $8 a box. Yeah, still pricey, but definitely better than the usual SV ammo such as CCI SV, which I also use. No problems at all cycling in the 10/22s, either.

Having some really nice shooting weather, so hope to get again very soon. Still have other guns from my winter splurge that need a workout.