Plastic 10/22's are now here!

[Jimbo47]

Don't know if any of you have kept up with this, but Ruger has now started making their 10/22 carbines with plastic barrel bands, and trigger/trigger group housings.

This came as a surprise to most as they seemed to have gone overboard to stay hush, hush, on the switch.

Obviously in an attempt to cut corners, and save on manufacturing cost, but what they have done is tarnished the reputation of a firearm that has been a classic design, and model of American made toughness, and in my personal opinion cheapened what was a classic firearm.

Probably the worst thing was no mention of the switch and a somewhat obvious intent to mask the switch.

Here is a link so you be the Judge!

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220831

[BlkHawk73]

  Oh geezz that just horrible.  Hold the press.  the 10/22 is now junk!    What else in today's time is plastic and no longer metal? Hmmmm maybe vehicles!  Barrl band.  Oh yeah that's a certainly casue for concern.    Trigger.  Yup that too such a hugh stressed part.  Trigger assembly housing.  Again, that takes so much stress...  Seriously.  These are parts that I'm sure won't have issues with thier new material.  Do ppl really think Ruger would change to this material without good reason?  Would they use sub-par quality material?  MI'm guessing it was done because of the contined cost increases of metals.  Some has gone up as much as 51%.  Two chocies...raise costs or change material.  Either will send the criers and whiners to the top of the hill.  The later keeps the item more marketable to a larger consumer base, especially in this current economy.  The 10/22 is a $200 .22lr plinker not a match gun.  Those that buy it as such will be well equipped.  Those that by to rebuild as a target gun, are best off changing those parts out anyways.  Untill they show a pattern of failure, I'm not concerned at all. 

  can't wait for the "rare aluminum trigger housing" to start being sold.  LOL

[Hairtrigger]

PLASTIC!!

That will never sell.....oh wait,

Maybe Ruger thinks this will make them more appealing to Glock owners.

[Jimbo47]

Like I said at the end of the post, you be the judge!

True it's just a cheap .22 so it may or may not hurt their sales!

Time will tell, and just remember not everyone drinks the Kool aid!

[Hairtrigger]

It has really surprised me that Browning fans are buying the T-Bolt with the plastic trigger group.

[GRIMJIM]

Last one I bought I replaced the whole trigger group anyway.

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Guess I'll have to wait and see how well its done before I pass judgement--plastic is actually preferable for some applications.

Ruger will probably go back if sales start to drop----all depends on what the competition is doing.


A lot of times change is good----other times if it ain't broke --don't fix it.

[His lordship.]

I recently bought one, my first 10/22.  The gun really shoots well, trigger is not too bad, a bit heavy but I am used to shooting old military rifles, heavy triggers on those.  Yes, I was concerned about the plastic, but it is on non-critical areas and I don't have to worry about wiping with an oily rag, the trigger area after handling like I do on my steel made guns.  I paid $190.00 NIB, not bad for a reliable and accurate gun that has lots of upgrade parts options.

The finish has a spray on mat black type, I have read that this was done to hide rougher machining work, but overall I have not had complaints with the rifle.  I wonder though, with the increase in plastics, do you guys think we will have a plastic framed Super Red Hawk, or M-77 rifle down the road? 

[His lordship.]

I bought a new 10/22 two weeks ago and I too thought it was plastic.  I took it apart to install a recoil buffer and the trigger receiver assembly/trigger guard seem to be aluminum.  The screw threaded hole showed a metalic appearance, and the barrel band is metal as I dropped it on my bathroom floor and it made a metallic ringing sound.


The rifle has the serial number of 350-xxxx.  I checked with Ruger's website and this is beyond the 2007 period, made in 2008.  I really believed the gun had plastic parts too until I looked into it further.  I think the spray on paint makes it seem to be plastic, while it is still a metal gun.  The butt plate does appear to be plastic though. 

[CajunBass]

My understanding is that the plastic trigger groups didn't start until the 351 S/N range, and not all 351's are plastic.  There are still a lot of metal T/G's in the pipeline of course.

I've seen one with the plastic T/G.  If I hadn't been looking for it, I wouldn't have noticed.  I've got a Remington 597 that I didn't realize had a plastic trigger group until the brouhaha about the Ruger one started.  The gun shoots fine.

Now, I'll admit that I have three 10/22's now, and doubt I'll ever buy another new one.  I've found they're a lot cheaper used but I sure won't let this stop me if I ever do want a new one.  It's not like Ruger hasn't built plastic/polymer framed handguns for years.  They seem to do that pretty well if my 22/45 MK III is any indication.

[thxmrgarand]

I have a Winchester 77, manufactured in the 1950's, that has a plastic trigger housing and magazine well.  It has been a fine gun.  I also have a Nylon 66 that rides beside me in the steering station on my 17 foot aluminum skiff, sometimes in heavy swells and always in salt water.  That old Remington seems to be indestructible, and it remains accurate despite abuse.  So while emotionally I may prefer firearms manufactured (in the USA) of steel and walnut, I try to keep an open mind and evaluate guns as the tools they are; essential to freedom and the American lifestyle so many have died to preserve.  Thanks for your time.