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Ruger 10/22 Takedown: Easy to Disassemble Version of America's Favorite .22 Rifle

Ruger 10/22 Takedown: Easy to Disassemble Version of America's Favorite .22 Rifle

The Ruger 10/22 is America’s most popular .22-caliber rimfire rifle. Ruger has sold more than seven million 10/22 rifles in various configurations since 1964.  

In 2012, Ruger introduced the 10/22 Takedown, which allows you to break the rifle down into two subassemblies for transport or storage. This is ideal for hunting, backpacking, camping, or other activities where storage space is limited.

What is a Takedown Gun?

Takedown firearms have been commercially available since the late 19th century. In a takedown firearm, you can separate the barrel from the receiver or stock to reduce the weapon’s overall length. 

While takedown is different from routine disassembly for maintenance, the takedown process does allow you to easily clean the barrel from the breech end using a cleaning rod.  

Ruger 10/22 General Information

The Ruger 10/22 Carbine, the standard model, is a semi-automatic, blowback-operated rifle chambered in .22 Long Rifle. The Ruger 10/22 has an 18.5” barrel, an overall length of 37”, and a weight of 5 lbs. 

The front sight is a golden bead, and the rear sight is an adjustable folding leaf. As with many other sporting rifles and shotguns, the safety catch is a push-button cross-bolt type. Compact, lightweight, and fed from a flush-fit 10-round magazine, the Ruger 10/22 is convenient to carry. 

Ruger 10/22 Takedown

Ruger 10/22 Takedown

The Ruger 10/22 Takedown comprises two primary variants and four subtypes (excluding distributor exclusives). To disassemble the Takedown, remove the magazine and retract the charging handle to verify that the chamber is empty. 

On the bottom of the forend is a recessed lever. Depress the lever with your thumb as you rotate the barrel clockwise (when viewed from behind) to unlock the barrel from the receiver. Separate the two subassemblies by pulling them apart. The weapon is now broken down. 

When you order a Ruger 10/22 Takedown from the manufacturer, the rifle will ship in a ballistic-nylon case containing separate compartments for the two subassemblies.

Ruger 10/22 Takedown (Standard)

The standard Ruger 10/22 Takedown has a stainless-steel 18.5” barrel, an overall length of 37”, and a black synthetic stock. While the 10/22 Carbine and Sporter variants weigh 5 lbs.  and 5.2 lbs., respectively, the Takedown weighs only 4.6 lbs. 

Ruger 10/22 Takedown Threaded Barrel

The standard 10/22 Takedown variant has a barrel with a crowned muzzle. This allows Ruger to sell the rifle in restrictive jurisdictions. For customers in non-restrictive states, Ruger offers a model with a threaded barrel and a flash suppressor. 

This model is also compatible with the company’s Silent-SR sound suppressor for safe, quiet shooting. The threaded-barrel model has a 16.4” alloy-steel barrel and an overall length of 36.75”. The weight is the same as the standard Takedown model. 

Ruger 10/22 w/ .920 Fluted and Threaded Barrel 

This variant has a 16.12” alloy-steel .920” diameter barrel with a threaded muzzle, an overall length of 34.62”, and a weight of 5.3 lbs. The barrel’s diameter increases the rigidity and accuracy of the rifle. Flutes, the lengthwise grooves, reduce the weight, and the muzzle has a threaded protector.

The Ruger® Modular Stock System allows you to change the height of the comb and features a standard length of pull. 

Ruger 10/22 Takedown w/ Magpul® X-22 Backpacker Stock

Ruger also offers a variant with the Magpul® X-22 Backpacker stock. In this configuration, the stock has a QD (quick-detach) sling mount, a storage compartment in the grip, and a storage compartment in the stock. You can store up to three additional 10-round magazines in this compartment, ensuring you’ll always be prepared.

For increased traction when shouldering the rifle, the MOE SL® has a textured butt pad. When broken down, the barrel and forend can attach to the stock for a compact footprint. In this layout, the 10/22 Takedown has a 16.4” stainless steel barrel, an overall length of 35”, and a weight of 4.2 lbs. The fiber-optic front and rear adjustable sights provide increased visibility during the day.

Ruger 10/22 Takedown Lite

Although the Takedown is a lightweight weapon, the Lite variant reduces the weight to 4.5 lbs. using a 16.12” alloy-steel barrel tensioned in an aluminum-alloy sleeve. The overall length is 34.62”.

Ruger 10/22 Takedown Mods

One of the advantages of the Ruger 10/22 platform is that there are a wide variety of aftermarket parts and accessories available. Some of the mods for the Takedown model include:

Sights

In the Ruger 10/22 Takedown, the receiver has four tapped holes for attaching an accessory rail and optical sights. If you’re not interested in buying a factory-upgraded rifle, consider purchasing a standard model and installing an M1913 Picatinny or Weaver rail and an optical sight, such as a rifle scope. 

If you intend to carry your rifle as a wilderness-survival weapon, it should have a high-quality set of iron sights. Glass sights are more fragile. Replacing the rear leaf sight with an aperture or peep sight increases precision for more accurate shooting. 

High-Capacity Magazines

The 10/22 platform isn’t limited to 10-round flush-fit factory magazines. If you’re interested in keeping a Ruger 10/22 for home defense, increased ammunition capacity has practical value. Several companies manufacture curved magazines holding 25 or 30 rounds to meet this need. 

Magazine Bumper Pads

While the 10-round flush-fit magazines don’t provide as many rounds as many aftermarket alternatives, they are compact and preferable for storage, carrying, and shooting from prone (more ground clearance). However, removing flush-fit magazines with heavy winter gloves can be difficult; therefore, consider installing bumper pads. These increase the gripping surface while still keeping a low profile.

QD Sling Swivel

If you’re interested in buying a Ruger 10/22 Takedown with the standard OEM stock but want upgraded sling swivels, you can buy QD sling swivels separately and attach them to the gun yourself.

 

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Carrying a Handgun for Self-Defense

The Ruger 10/22 Takedown is a versatile kit gun — accurate, reliable, and suitable for hunting small game. If you’re planning to hunt, camp, or backpack with a .22 rifle, you may want to pair it with a snugly holstered handgun in a more powerful caliber for self-defense. 

At We The People Holsters, we offer both inside- and outside-the-waistband Kydex and leather holsters for a variety of semi-automatic pistols and revolvers in every major caliber. Check out our line of products and find the best way to carry your weapon in the field.