Global Sports: Is The Ruger 1022 Worth the Hype?

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Is The Ruger 1022 Worth the Hype?

By David Francis


A Little Background

Scent is obviously the sense most strongly linked with memory and past association. A momentary, fleeting whiff of any familiar odor calls to mind dim remembrances of times long past, as bold and also as vivid as if they just happened yesterday. For people who began shooting once we were the right age to tote a gun, such as a Ruger 1022 or Marlin Model 60, I believe the unique scent of the burned powder originating from a .22 Long Rifle cartridge will always recall pleasant memories of the bright glitter of spent brass in the dust, perforated tin cans, and also the nervous adrenaline rush as we approach the still body of that first rabbit or squirrel.

Most shooters are brought to the idea of firearms by way of the ubiquitous .22 Long Rifle cartridge. Once we have moved on to "bigger and better things," we occasionally are likely to regard the lowly .22 as being a kid's gun, little more than a toy. Nothing can be more wrong. For pure versatility and economy, the .22 Long Rifle is unmatched.

Enter the Ruger 1022

Of the a large number of rifles chambered with the .22 Long Rifle cartridge, the Ruger 1022 might well be the most common inside the United States, and with justified reason. Straight from the box, the 1022 is known as a fine, serviceable rifle - accurate, reliable, fast-handling, and downright fun to shoot.

The 1022 is really a light, handy semi-automatic rifle that has a 10-round detachable magazine, but aftermarket magazines with capacities up to 50 rounds are widely available and inexpensive. In reality, the genuine cause for the almost universal use of the 1022 is based on the range of aftermarket accessories and parts, which equals practically endless prospect of customization.

With a wide selection of reputable companies manufacturing affordable Ruger 1022 stocks, magazines, barrels, along with other accessories, the gun as it arrives from the factory is really a solid platform that can be easily built into everything from fierce-looking tactical rimfire to a svelte, racy tackdriver that can send round after round through one ragged hole.

In building a working class arsenal, the 1022 makes an excellent foundation. Price to get a new 1022 in basic configuration is right around $200 at most of the major stores that sell firearms. A previously owned gun can be frequently found for approximately $150, though the savings are hardly justified whenever a completely new rifle can be purchased for only a little more. Another $50 or so will place a solid mid-range rimfire scope on your new 1022, and you're ready for the woods as well as target range.

Practice Makes Perfect

Building a collection, however extensive or costly, can be an exercise in futility unless a shooter develops the skills to make use of his firearms effectively. That means practice, and with most common centerfire cartridges selling for anywhere from thirty cents to a dollar a round, practice could get expensive very quickly.

Luckily, .22 Long Rifle ammunition is available most anywhere for around $15 for a brick of 500 cartridges. At 3 cents a round, someone is able to afford to train all day yet still eat supper at nighttime. The 1022 lends itself well to practice, too. Low noise, low recoil, as well as simple reloads by way of the detachable magazine means you'll spend more time shooting than fooling with your gun, particularly if you spring for some of the high-capacity mags.

With a little work plus some hours at the range, inexperienced shooters can master the basics of firearm safety and handling and also be able to begin mastering bigger and better - or at least louder - things.




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