Recently I asked my readers, which gun they would favor in an absolute survival situation.  A large percentage of the answers from the various www.netgunsmith.com social networks was in favor of the Ruger 10-22.  Perhaps one of the most American guns and one which just about everyone in the world knows of.

A recent announcement by Ruger may have a big influence on the same survey question if I ask it again after this article. The Ruger Company announced a “new” 10-22 called the 10-22 Take down rifle.  That’s right, an easily taken apart, easy to operate and highly accurate, simple and rugged Ruger 10-22 made specifically for the purpose of “survival”, hiking, transportation and a whole host of other affiliated actions.

Finally a real Take down rifle from Ruger in .22LR

What’s good for Ruger is good for the gun activists, hunters and outdoors people in America. The Ruger 10-22 take down rifle is good for Ruger. In fact, it’s pretty rare anymore that Ruger makes a product that isn’t good for Ruger.  Call it what you will, Ruger has gotten very good at predicting the next world beater, and then subsequently producing it.  They have become one of the foremost suppliers of firearms to the masses, and are enjoying not only a great financial run, but a very good position in media and the gun community in general.

Ruger does this by providing excellent quality and interesting add-ons for the right price.  The Ruger 10-22 take down rifle is every bit as good as the normal 10-22, but it comes with a stainless steel barrel, a composite stock and the ability to take it apart at the barrel/action area.  The new rifle comes with a cool MOLLE enabled “backpack” that keeps the two sub 21” parts in place after you break down the 37” Ruger.

The beauty to the new rifle from Ruger is that it’s got nothing different in function or reliability, accuracy or appeal.  It takes an inexpensive round, and does good things with it.  It takes the same Ruger magazine, uses the same internal parts on a vast majority of the pieces and it is uniquely suited to a market more interested in shooting small caliber ammunition in the midst of a ridiculous increase of ammunition prices.

The take down rifle is friction fit and utilizes a lever recessed into the stock to facilitate the take down.  Rifle offerings from Ruger are always interesting, but this might just be the one that carries them through another decade. The indexing block is secure and well built and it’s likely Ruger would not introduce the rifle without more than enough testing for the most crucial part in the entire rifle.  This Ruger 10-22 take down rifle looks spectacular from where I’m at; it’s on my top ten list for 2012, and will no doubt serve purposes far beyond what Ruger probably introduced it for.  It’s the answer to a question, sportsmen and women have had for many years.  The proven reliability, ruggedness and ease of use of the Ruger 10-22, in a decently priced and high value design, with a ton of features.  It’s a sub 4 ¾ lb. take down rifle with a price of $389.

Is this take down rifle too pricey?

Ok, I know what you’re thinking: nearly $400 for a Ruger 10-22?  Couldn’t I just buy one of those a year or two ago for around $100?  Sure, you used to be able to get one for about $150 or $175 IF you could find one, except you haven’t been able to, because when you have a nearly perfect design, people want it; furthermore when you have a gun that shoots inexpensive ammunition during a bad administration, people will take a look at (for?) it.  The $389 makes a lot of sense if you think you can use this rifle for what it can be used for.  Remember, this is a basic design that has sold 5 million copies.  It’s a gun that has been passed down in some cases through two or three generations.  This is a gun that has no conceivable competition on the planet and cannot be matched by many on an overall platform.

The Ruger 10-22 take down rifle is finally here and it seems like it is here to stay.