Author Topic: Ruger 10/22 or Remington 597 (Read 2292 times)

cbourbeau32 · « **on:** February 20, 2009, 03:58:58 PM »

I would like to hear some opinions from those who have owned both of these two rifles as to which they would recommend and why. Thanks for any input. Charlie

bilmac · « **Reply #1 on:** February 20, 2009, 06:53:02 PM »

Beau, maybe you're not getting any answers because very few folks own both. I can say that as a 10-22 guy I would never own any other auto. They are not as accurate as I would hope for, but they are solid and dependable. I think the rotary magazine is what makes them so likable . I don't like tube feeds and I don't like sharp edged clips right where the rifle is supposed to balance in your hand.

There are lots of options to trick them out. I have two . One has a fat barrel and the trigger has been tuned. I can't say the heavy barrel is super accurate, but the added weight does let me shoot better with it. I sent the trigger group to a "specialist" and it was a waste. Can't say the job improved the trigger enough to justify the cost. The standard trigger isn't too bad, for an auto, you just have to accept the fact that most auto's are going to have a bit of creep in the trigger.

The other 10-22 is stock, and I still shoot it as much as the one that I have tricked out. It is a joy to carry, so it gets carried. Also I credit this one for saving my bacon once. I carried a rifle in Viet Nam, and in Alaska for bear protection, and was an armed officer for 20 years, but the only time I ever shot for my life was with the little 10-22

Keith L · « **Reply #2 on:** February 20, 2009, 09:19:58 PM »

I don't know who did your trigger, but I have done a bunch of them using the readily available hammer and sear assemblies with the shims and stuff. All have come out crisp, light and breaking like glass. It is fairly simple to have a great trigger in a 10/22.

bilmac · « **Reply #3 on:** February 21, 2009, 01:46:40 AM »

Mine is still pretty new maybe it will improve a bit as it sees some use. That is one improvement that I would do to my stock rifle .

p15camborne · « **Reply #4 on:** February 21, 2009, 05:59:00 AM »

I've owned both. Modified both with Volquartsen parts. Each for less than $40. Before modification the 597 was a better shooter. After modification the 10/22 was better. The 597 fits better; the 10/22 is shorter. The 597 costs less. The 10/22 has many more parts available. I traded both. I prefer bolts and levers.

Old Fart · « **Reply #5 on:** February 23, 2009, 10:55:45 AM »

I've got two 10-22 and one 597. I like them both just fine.

midwayraider · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2009, 03:54:51 PM »

you can't go wrong with either, i have a 10/22 in satin stainless with black stock and a 597 in blue matt finish with a mossy oak camo stock. the 597 feels better to me , but both guns are super reliable (with quality ammo) and at 25 yards i can shoot nickle size groups with both of them using iron sights. i had the same problem you did , i couldn't decide , so i bought both guns.

nw_hunter · « **Reply #7 on:** February 26, 2009, 07:21:53 PM »

Quote from: bilmac on February 20, 2009, 06:53:02 PM

Beau, maybe you're not getting any answers because very few folks own both. I can say that as a 10-22 guy I would never own any other auto. They are not as accurate as I would hope for, but they are solid and dependable. I think the rotary magazine is what makes them so likable . I don't like tube feeds and I don't like sharp edged clips right where the rifle is supposed to balance in your hand.

I'm with you on the rotary clip. My #1 favorite thing about the 10/22. I have sold Marlins, that I loved , other than that dang clip hanging under it, and tubes are not my pick either. I will never own a banana clip for my 10/22's. Like you! I like the ballance. If I need more fire power, I'll load up more 10 shot rotary clps.

I have a friend that does wonders with the clunky factory trigger

buckweet · « **Reply #8 on:** February 27, 2009, 02:33:18 PM »

10-22 guy here too.... bought mine brand new in 1976 at shriners hardware store, clinton mo.
still haves it.. still shoots great, wishes i had a nickle for every round thats been fired through it.
i could retire !!!

weet

buckweet · « **Reply #9 on:** February 27, 2009, 02:35:54 PM »

p.s. also haves an old marlin model 60.... i've had it about 20 years now.. shoots super fine, loves standard veloicty ammo, has never failed me...
weet

midwayraider · « **Reply #10 on:** March 02, 2009, 01:27:33 PM »

my 597 will out shoot my 10/22

this is right out the box with cheap ammo .....5 shot group , each square is 1 inch.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #11 on:** March 02, 2009, 01:52:16 PM »

I know there are more options available for the 10/22. heck there are more aftermarket parts for 10/22's than any other firearm built.
I have a friend that wanted a 10/22 that had no ruger parts in it at all. Started out with a standard rifle and slowly changed every part, including the reciever. At the end he had a Voquatrzen rifle and a ruger. The ruger was back to a standard model and the Voquartzen was a tricked out target rifle with a bull barrel and target trigger.
You can turn a ruger from a bullpup to a copy of an MG42 for a military look and from the standard hunter to a tricked out target rifle.
If you just want a standard rifle and do not want to change out parts. Flip a coin as the what gun you want.
In general the only thing the Remington has that the Ruger does not is a bolt hold open on the last shot. The ruger has a manual bolt stop.

bilmac · « **Reply #12 on:** March 02, 2009, 06:04:44 PM »

Ah now that midway has finally posted a picture of one so I can remember what they look like. There is one other difference between the two. Remington ugly Ruger purdy.

woodchuckssuck · « **Reply #13 on:** March 04, 2009, 07:28:24 AM »

10/22 are great, but end up being a money pit! I love mine, and I do love the rotary magazine.

the 597 look like a very well built gun, My girlfriend likes the pink laminate "girl edition" that Gander Mountain carries. If I had land to shoot on, Id buy her one. She has only been shooting with me twice, but it changed her outlook on guns. She had fun!

If you dont want to tinker, I would imagine the 597 is gonna be nicer out of the box, and there are replacement hammers, barrels and stocks out there, for the future.

For myself, Id stick with 10/22. But I know a lot of little tricks to get them more accurate and reliable, thanks to www.rimfirecentral.com Check it out

kitchawan kid · « **Reply #14 on:** March 04, 2009, 08:21:09 AM »

own 4 ruger 10/22's,2 stock,1 semi-stock and the other one,the only thing ruger is the mag.Love them all.One has the Fagen left hand stock fits great,shoots perfect.Sold the marlin .22,but have many other marlins,357,45lc,.444.

CajunBass · « **Reply #15 on:** March 07, 2009, 05:32:10 AM »

I've got five 10/22's and one 597. I prefer the 10/22, but maybe only because I like checkered walnut stocks better than I do plastic ones. If one shoots better than the other, I can't tell it. They both kill squirrels just fine, and make cans dance.

I used the 597 in bad weather when I don't want to take a nice walnut stock out.

Which would I recomend? Well, it money was an issue, the 597 is usually less. It has a "big rifle" feel some people like. The 10/22 is "handier" shall we say. Basically it's just which one you like best.

midwayraider · « **Reply #16 on:** March 12, 2009, 03:26:46 PM »

hey BILMAC, beauty is in the eye of the beholder ,personaly i think the 597 looks,feels and shoots better than my 10/22. my 10/22 with synthetic stock feels like a toy after i've been shooting my 597.

jcn59 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 14, 2009, 07:41:50 AM »

I had some Rugers and currently shoot a T/C semi auto, but I'm thinking my favorite is the Henry lever .22. VERY accurate!

midwayraider · « **Reply #18 on:** March 14, 2009, 02:25:34 PM »

yeah i like the Henry too, mine is the short carbine with the big loop lever....nice gun with a super slick action.

jcn59 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 14, 2009, 03:36:43 PM »

That avatar looks alot like a cougar..maybe a bobcat. Can't tell if it has a tail...

midwayraider · « **Reply #20 on:** March 15, 2009, 04:31:32 PM »

22 lb bobcat (a tom) i shot with my 270 while deer hunting behind my house

JPShelton · « **Reply #21 on:** March 17, 2009, 08:55:49 PM »

I don't own both, so I probably shouldn't respond.....

But I've owned a 10/22 Deluxe since 1981. It has been utterly reliable and shockingly accurate. It might not be "match grade" but it shoots CCI Mini Mags under 3/4" at 50 regularly and is plenty accurate enough to bean a squirrel on the noggin as far off as I care to shoot at one. I have shot who knows how many thousands of rounds through it and am on my third barrel. It is scoped with a 4-12 A.0. Bushnell Banner.

As much as I like MY 10/22, the current production leaves me cold. If I were buying today, I'd opt for the Remington 597. It simply seems to me to be the better value, being more carefully made out of better stuff and at a cheaper price. What I would rather have, however, is the T/C semi-auto, but I have yet to see more than one of them in the flesh and I didn't have any jack in my jeans when I did, or it would have come home with me.

While I have not owned a 597, and know that they had feeding issues early on, a pal of mine has a late production 597 that is simply a stellar little semi-auto .22 and edges out my 10/22 in the accuracy department, though not enough to make a squirrel notice. I really like the fit of the stock, which is an admittedly subjective thing. It feels and looks "all grown up," unlike the new 10/22's, which look and feel more like toys, to me.

YMMV, and all of that......

-JP

snapcrackpop · « **Reply #22 on:** March 19, 2009, 10:11:09 AM »

Quote from: bilmac on February 20, 2009, 06:53:02 PM

....Also I credit this one for saving my bacon once. ...but the only time I ever shot for my life was with the little 10-22

What did the .22lr stop? snake, rabid dog, wild hog, criminal....?
Sounds like a good story....

Oh, and I didn't like my 597 so I sold it.

bilmac · « **Reply #23 on:** March 19, 2009, 12:20:59 PM »

A bull ,as in cattle, charged me in a place where I had no room to run or dodge. It was either him or me. I started shooting at the center of his forehead when he was about 10 yards away and shot maybe 4 or 5 rounds before his feet went out from under him and he piled up at my feet. I have no idea why it took that many bullets to dump him, maybe the first one killed him but he didn't know it yet, but I'm sure glad the 10-22 kept spitting them out that day. That is one rifle that will never be sold or traded.

snapcrackpop · « **Reply #24 on:** March 20, 2009, 02:57:05 AM »

That's impressive.
Congrats on shooting straight under pressure, course then again, your a vet. Thanks again!

midwayraider · « **Reply #25 on:** March 20, 2009, 02:40:37 PM »

MAN ! a charging bull and no where to run , i would have probaly forgot to shoot and crapped my pants.

Keith L · « **Reply #26 on:** March 20, 2009, 03:19:21 PM »

You are a very lucky man, being able to aim and shoot 4-5 shots in the time it takes a charging bull to travel 10 yards. Most folks would not be able to do that, much less hit a moving target the size of a bull's skull where it would drop a bull in that time. You should have bought a lottery ticket right after that!

bilmac · « **Reply #27 on:** March 20, 2009, 04:39:41 PM »

I remember reading a story once where a guy was crawling around in some bushes looking for a wounded mt lion. Came upon him nose to nose. When all the shooting stopped his buddy remarked that that was the first time he had ever heard a full auto single action revolver.

deerhuntertyler · « **Reply #28 on:** April 06, 2009, 12:11:56 PM »

I own both unfortunately. I HATE the Remington. The 10/22 is my second fav. and my favorite .22 is my marlin 925. sorry to all the Ruger lovers, but that is just from my experiences.