Ruger 10/22 or Remington 597?

[Jeremy1066]

I was given a Marlin tube-fed .22 for my 13th birthday, and now it's time to get a rimfire for my 13 yr old son. I know the 10/22 has been around forever (I think that's what Noah kept on the Arc) and the 597 is fairly new. I have heard the 597 has improved over the 10/22 in "out of the box" accuracy, but the 10/22 offers way more upgrades and options. It will only need to be mildly upgradable (i.e. low power scope, sling, etc) and used for beginning marksmanship (although that's not entirely true seeing the fun he has with my AR) and small game hunting. So for those that have experience with both, what's your opinion?

 

[hotfarmboy1]

10/22 all the way!

My 10/22 has been totally reliable, while the 597 I had for a while had problems with jamming issues.

Out of the box the Rugers are very accurate too, you just gotta learn and use the basic fundamentals of being a rifleman. Check out an Appleseed if you wanna find out what I'm talking about.

 

[indygunguy]

I have both. I like my 597 better simply because it fits me better. I'm 6'2" and the 10/22 has always felt way too short to me... it feels like a kids gun. The 597 has a nice full size stock that its me perfectly. My 597 was plenty accurate with the stock sights, but I just put a low power scope on it and hope to get a chance to sight it in this weekend.

Edit: as far as reliability, my 10/22 is picky about ammo, but my 597 eats whatever cheap crap I feed it.

 

[singlesix]

Both will meet your needs (I disagree the the 597 is more accurate out of the box). The 10/22 gets my vote because of the upgrades! .. I upgraded my 35 yo 10/22 (not because anything broke); the 10/22 will be able to grow with your son.

Both my 10/22's (one mod and the other standard) will eat any ammo using factor 10 rd mags. I've had issue with after market mags.

 

[Titanium_Frost]

My basically stock 597 scored a Rifleman patch my first time out. 4x scope, USGI sling, reversed trigger spring and free floated barrel. Shoots like a dream.

 

[gunman41mag]

My REMINGTON 597 is a tack driver

 

[24Carat]

A little OT but I will never sell my 597 in .22 magnum.

 

[netsecurity]

For me, it is all about magazine capacity. Accuracy is "good enough" with about any long gun, and is probably more dependent on ammo than anything else, of which I am simply not going to spend a lot for 22LR. The Ruger 10/22 has 25 round magazines for about $15 each. So if the Remington 597 has magazines like that, then I'd maybe change my vote, because it does look to be higher quality.

 

[iamaclone45]

I own a Remington 597 and my brother and dad each own Ruger 10/22's.

I voted for Ruger 10/22.

I haven't had any trouble with my 597 but the 10/22 is a more solid rifle with higher resale value.

My 597 is a 20" Heavy Barrel model and my brother's 10/22 is a Target Tactical model. Both are extremely accurate out to 100 yards.

 

[stack23]

10/22, the possibilities are endless

 

[sprint395]

It really depends on what you want to do with it. The remington is usually about 30-40 dollars cheaper and comes with a scope. If you want a nice .22 out of the box and have no intentions on modification I say go with the remington. I own both and they each have their good and bad. Both have high capacity mags available. The newer rugers feel like toys compared to the remington and the remington just fits my hands. On the other hand the Ruger is the most customizable .22 you will ever find. My ruger has been really reliable and the remington (with an extractor upgrade) has also been great.

 

[Bap1911]

My first was the Marlin as well. It didn't seem to eat anything that I fed it. I will likely go 10/22 when it comes time to introduce my son to the mechanical wonders of the world.

 

[Drakkule]

You really need to ask, 10/22 for sure.

 

[04DarkShadowGT]

For a gun you only want to add a scope and sling to I would get a Marlin 795. I had one and sold it to put towards my 10/22 build and my $400 10/22 does nto shoot as well as my $100 795 did. That thing with a walmart scope would put out amazing groups with bulk ammo at 50 yds.

If you want to add a bunch of parts and upragde barrels, stocks, etc then 10/22 is your gun. I like the looks of my 10/22 just wish it shot as good as my 795.

 

[Roscoe38]

Accurate

I own a Remington 597 and my brother and dad each own Ruger 10/22's.

I voted for Ruger 10/22.

I haven't had any trouble with my 597 but the 10/22 is a more solid rifle with higher resale value.

My 597 is a 20" Heavy Barrel model and my brother's 10/22 is a Target Tactical model. Both are extremely accurate out to 100 yards.

How high is your hold at 100 yards? The bullet drop can be as much a 6 inches, This is not accuracy this shot with a 22 is lunacy.

 

[Titanium_Frost]

How high is your hold at 100 yards? The bullet drop can be as much a 6 inches, This is not accuracy this shot with a 22 is lunacy.

Lunacy? Really? Dude if you can't shoot a .22lr reasonably accurate at only 100 yards I think you need some more trigger time or learn from someone who can actually shoot. There is no reason you cannot make hits on steel with a .22 out to several hundred yards with a scope. Know what your bullet drop is and adjust accordingly, there is no need to 'hold high' when you know the distance.

 

[rockhopper46038]

For a gun you only want to add a scope and sling to I would get a Marlin 795. I had one and sold it to put towards my 10/22 build and my $400 10/22 does nto shoot as well as my $100 795 did. That thing with a walmart scope would put out amazing groups with bulk ammo at 50 yds.

If you want to add a bunch of parts and upragde barrels, stocks, etc then 10/22 is your gun. I like the looks of my 10/22 just wish it shot as good as my 795.

Spot on. The Marlin 795 is a steal in this category. If your intent is to trick your rifle out to high heaven (and there's nothing wrong with that) the Marlin 795 is going to fall short on aftermarket gewgaws; but for accuracy it outshoots it's competitors that cost 2-3x as much.

 

[lowendgenerator]

I've had no issues with the 597, zero malfunctions. It's way more accurate than I am. I'm not looking to trick it out, so the aftermarket point is moot for me. A nice scope, and maybe a bipod and I'm set.

 

[Roscoe38]

Lunacy? Really? Dude if you can't shoot a .22lr reasonably accurate at only 100 yards I think you need some more trigger time or learn from someone who can actually shoot. There is no reason you cannot make hits on steel with a .22 out to several hundred yards with a scope. Know what your bullet drop is and adjust accordingly, there is no need to 'hold high' when you know the distance.

Is that what you call pray and spray. Hit the "1" X ring" at 100 with one shot, Ain't going to happen. Too many factors involved, wind speed, wind direction, bullet drop and Old Mr. Wiggle.

I recently read an article to Zero a .22, 3" high at 25 yards to hit the X at 100 yards. That didn't work for me either. too much wind.

I stay with in the 50 tp 75 yards suggested by the manufacturer and enjoy hitting my target every shot.

 

[knoxace]

I voted for the 597 , both are fun to shoot . My first was my dads browning 22lr , it is almost 75 years old now . still works like a dream .