Thirty years ago, when asked what I wanted for my fifteenth birthday, my reply was "A Ruger M 77/22" which was fairly new to the market at the time.
What I got instead was a Ruger 10/22 deluxe with the checkered walnut stock. My dad reasoned that semi-automatic firepower would be more practical for shooting California's high desert cottontails. I guess time proved him right, because other .22 rifles have come (Remington 541-T, Browning A-Bolt .22, CZ 452-2E Lux) and gone, but that little 10/22 has remained my favorite.
I'm on my third barrel. When the accuracy started to wane, I got a factroy replacement blued carbon barrel, but it didn't improve things much. About 10 years ago, a buddy bought a stainless 10/22 for the action alone and he gave me the stainless factory standard-taper barrel that now graces my rifle. Before installing it, I had a gunsmith mill a little off the breech and re-cut the chamber to "match" spec. It shoots better now than when it was new. It looks kind of odd, with its black action, walnut stock, stainless barrel, and blued carbon steel muzzle brake, but the beauty is in the groups, and it groups very well.
So, I like this rifle because of the sentimental value. My dad put a lot of effort into shopping for it, going all over town to find one with the prettiest wood. It was more accurate than I ever imagined and in truth, none of the rimfire bolt guns I've had would beat it on that score, though until recently, they were all easier to shoot accurately because they all had lighter, crisper triggers. I've cured that issue.
It's remained a favorite because its light, compact, accurate, and has rapid firepower that no bolt action can match. It had been very reliable, too. I hope to get another 30 or 40 years of use out of it and as long as it keeps on ticking or I can keep it running, I'll probably not be buying another .22 LR rifle. This one does all I need or want it to do.
-JP