Ruger 10/22 Takedown Lite reliable and convenient.

I met with some friends at the 2016 NRA show and learned about some very cool new Ruger firearms. One that really struck my attention was the 10/22 takedown Lite model. The Ruger 10/22 is the quintessential .22 rifle, and if you don’t have one you should. With the 10/22 being fine as it is, I am glad to see Ruger continue to develop enhancements to the platform.

First Impressions 

The Ruger 10/22 is one of the, if not the, most popular  .22 rifle in America, and for good reason. Like everything else I have reviewed and owned from Ruger, the 10/22 is a fine rifle that is affordable.

The 10/22 Takedown Lite ships in this carrying case measures about 25″x10″

If you arrange the Takedown correctly it can fit in the carrying case even with an optic installed.

The carbine as it is taken down.

The take down system works well but to maximize accuracy the barrel must be set up using a tensioning cup, the silver part you see in the photo.

You can see the lever used to take the carbine down. It is just past the split, it is pushed toward the muzzle and the barrel is rotated about a 1/8 turn and it separates from the receiver.

The trigger breaks at 5 1/2 pounds with just a bit of take up and some overtravel.  Not a bad trigger at all especially for a factory trigger. A crossbolt push button safety is located just in front of the trigger, in the trigger guard.  The magazine release is just past the trigger guard, pushes in and releases the magazine.

Ruger includes a stock insert with a higher comb, if you were to install optics with higher rings say to help clear a large silencer, it would be used so you would be able to get correct eye relief and cheek weld.

The heat shield helps dissipate heat from the barrel while protecting your hands. Factory threaded barrel in 1/2″ x 28, which is the most common thread pitch for muzzle devices and silencers for .22 caliber firearms. If you have a can for your 9mm it should also thread onto this barrel. The forearm was nicely textured.

The pistol grip area is also nicely textured for a positive purchase. Here you can also see the magazine release in front of the trigger guard.

Using factory Ruger magazines as well as 30 round aftermarket magazines, through just over 500 rounds there were no malfunctions.

Breaking out the 10/22, installing the included rail, and mounting a Riton Mod 5 4x16x40 scope I was ready to sight it in and and see how well the Ruger would run. After about 25 rounds the scope was sighted in at twenty five yards, and then 150 more rounds of super and subsonic, and the only trouble I got was the 10/22 was unreliable with subsonic ammunition listed at 750 fps. This ammunition also proved to be unreliable in other autoloading .22 LR carbines, so this is not an issue with this Ruger. If you choose to shoot subs, be sure they are over 1000 fps to ensure reliability. Two other things that need to be noted, the threaded fasteners that ship in the drilled receiver are small and are flat head so care must be used when removing them to install the Weaver style rail, which also uses flat head threaded fasteners.  I would liked to see these fasteners as hex or Torx head instead of flat head. Be sure to read the instructions when setting this up initially. Don’t get me wrong, so far I like the new 10/22 Lite take down but I am being 100% unbiased.

Please click on the accuracy chart for a larger version.

At the Range

Conclusions 

The take down 10/22 Lite carbine is an excellent performer. Comparing the accuracy to a standard 10/22 there was little to no difference.  The Lite model saves you about a half of a pound over the standard model. That may not sound like an awful lot but ounces equal pounds and pounds equal pain. I know that is an overused cliché but that does not make it any less true. The take down feature is really what sits this little carbine apart from most .22 carbines. Such a feature aids in easy and inconspicuous transport. Ruger was good enough to thread the barrel with 1/2×28 threads and include a thread protector. That is perfect for adding any sort of muzzle device but truthfully pairing it with the Ruger Silent-SR and some subsonic ammunition is perfect. You can see my review of that silencer by following this link.  I would have liked to see some sort of front sight, or at least provision for a front sight but that is not a real deal breaker. I did run the gun with a Redfield Accelerator red dot as well as the Riton optics. The red dot was a lot of fun and provided quick target acquisition but truthfully I prefered the scope. It worked well from five yards to 100 yards. As you can see from the 100 yard groups, this carbine is very well suited for serious target work. From training, to small game hunting, plinking, and target shooting you would be well covered with any 10/22 but I like the convenience of the take down option and factory Ruger carrying case. Aside from a couple of things I was satisfied with the Ruger 10/22 Takedown Lite and those few things were very minor and none were a deal breaker. I believe I will be buying the test rifle and will do my best to wear it out, now that .22 Long Rifle is easy to find and prices are almost normal.

Acknowledgments 

Ruger 

Specifications

• Easy-to-use extended magazine release provides smooth, no-fuss removal of flush-mounted magazine.
• Positive, push-button, cross-bolt manual safety.

• Combination scope base adapter for both Weaver-style and .22 tip-off scope mounts included.
• Cold hammer-forged barrel tensioned in aluminum alloy barrel sleeve features a 1/2″-28 threaded muzzle and is fitted with a thread cap which can be removed to allow for the use of muzzle accessories.
• Heat-stabilized, glass-filled, polymer trigger housing assembly is precision made of high-tech material for improved manufacturing tolerances, impact and abrasion-resistance and an unmatched ability to withstand the elements.

• Also includes: Convenient carry-case, which provides ample storage room for magazines and accessories.
• Easy takedown enables quick separation of the barrel from the action for ease of transportation and storage. Takedown is as simple as locking the bolt back and verifying that the rifle is unloaded, pushing a recessed lever, twisting the subassemblies and pulling them apart.
• Features the Ruger® Modular Stock System with a low comb, standard length of pull (ships with an additional high comb, standard length of pull stock module).