Ruger is celebrating 50 years of the 10/22 with the 10/22 50th Anniversary Design Contest Winning Rifle.
The contest winning rifle, available only in 2014, takes the action and rotary magazine of the 10/22 and combines them with the best features of other popular Ruger rifles, resulting in a fun, versatile .22 rifle for all enthusiasts.
The 10/22 50th Anniversary Design Contest Winning Rifle is the result of Ruger's Voice of the Customer Program: In late 2013, Ruger invited fans to submit ideas for their ideal 50th Anniversary 10/22. Ten contest finalists were put to a vote on the Ruger website and, after almost 40,000 votes were tallied, the winner emerged!
"For 50 years, the Ruger 10/22 has been America's favorite .22 rifle and this Contest Winning rifle is a great representation of what Ruger is trying to do today-listen to its customers," said Chris Killoy, Ruger president and Chief Operating Officer. "The idea for this gun was submitted by one of our customers, and voted on by many more."
Based on the original 10/22 rifle, this model features the ergonomic, lightweight black composite stock and the Ruger Modular Stock System from the Ruger American Rimfire rifle. It also includes a protected, non-glare post front sight, ghost-ring adjustable rear aperture sight and Picatinny rail from the popular Gunsite Scout Rifle. The special edition rifle is rounded out with a precision-rifled, cold hammer-forged, stainless-steel barrel, which is capped with a blued alloy steel SR-556/Mini-14-style, ½-inch, 28 thread flash suppressor.
To further recognize the 50th Anniversary, this rifle, and all 2014 production Ruger 10/22 rifles, will feature a special, limited-time "50th Anniversary Logo" bolt marking, "The Ruger 10/22 • 22 LR - Fifty • 1964-2014" receiver markings and a commemorative "50th Anniversary Logo" box.