Who didn't have a Ruger 10/22 while growing up?

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rug357

Bearcat
Joined
Dec 18, 2009
Messages
35
While growing up in the 70's most of my cousins and I all had a Ruger 10/22 rifle. Most of our friends had one too. My brother had a Browning 22 Auto but he was always an odd-ball. I believe the local Woolworth store was selling the standard model for $69 or the Delux model for $109 in those days (a box of Federal, Winchester or Remington ammo was $0.59). We usually got it for birthday or Christmas around the time we were about 13 y/o. I got mine from my parents for my 13th birthday... and I still have it. Over the years I think I've owned 8 or 9 different ones and usually have two or three in the safe at all times. I plan on giving mine to my son when he turns 13.

So, who else had one growing up?
 

mattsbox99

Hunter
Joined
Jan 12, 2009
Messages
3,391
Location
Montana 'Merica
If you could wear one out, I would have. I think I may honestly be in the millions of rimfire rounds fired. I grew up on an 80 section cattle and sheep ranch here and ventilated an entire prairie dog town with mine.

I really have no idea how many rounds I shot as a kid, bricks were under $10 and I know I shot at least 2 a week. I'm reasonably confident that when we came to town, we bought a case every time.

I still have that gun, its pretty rough but it still shoots great. I have some newer ones and some tricked out ones now and they are all reliable and accurate. A 10/22 would be the ultimate survival rifle. It would never need parts and if it did, you could probably still find them.
 

CajunBass

Single-Sixer
Joined
Jul 28, 2005
Messages
233
Location
North Chesterfield, Virginia
I didn't have one. As a matter of fact, I didn't have a 22 rifle. My mother was scared to death of rifles. She was convinced that you would kill someone on the other side of the county with a rifle. Shotguns were OK, but not a rifle.

Then when I got grown and out on my own I just didn't want a 10/22. I thought they were rather boring looking little 22 rifles. Kinda small, almost like a BB gun. I wanted a Marlin 39a. Cost about twice what a 10/22 did even then. I got one and just knew that was all the 22 rifle I'd ever need. I was right about that really.

I didn't want a 10/22 until I saw the WWS at Wal-Mart one day in 2006 I guess. Now that looked like a RIFLE. So I got the WWS for my wife. I liked it too, so I looked for one from myself and the rest is history.

I do wish I'd gotten one of those "international" 10/22 I used to see at Wal-Mart "back in the day."
 

Snake45

Hawkeye
Joined
Mar 14, 2009
Messages
9,120
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+4020
I didn't have one as a kid. Didn't get my first one till I was over 30, in fact.
 
Joined
Mar 24, 2002
Messages
6,243
Location
Oregon City, Oregon
I guess I'm and odd duck, too, as I grew up with just my J.C. Higgins, single shot. And, when I got that, 10/22's were not even made, yet. My first 10/22 was as a young adult, after I left the Army. My first .22 Ruger was actually a Standard Auto, while I was still in the Army, in the early seventies.

WAYNO.
 

slowrider

Single-Sixer
Joined
Sep 1, 2007
Messages
102
Location
Cen Tex
Nope, I had a Rem 550. That was 45 yrs ago and it had some age on it when I received it. It's still a fine shooter. I was 10 yrs older than my brother and when he got old enough to shoot I gave him the 550 and bought myself a 10/22. We still have both guns.
 
Joined
Oct 24, 2007
Messages
11,654
Location
Kentucky
I didn't have one, because they were still twenty years or more in the future at the time.

Still have my Mossberg bolt-action though. Dad was another of those "no automatics" guys. Upon reflection, I believe he was right.

:)
 

djw54

Single-Sixer
Joined
Dec 27, 2007
Messages
377
Location
West Michigan
Me. Folks (Mom) wouldn't approve of so much as a cap gun. I had some anyway.

Making up for it now. :twisted:
 

Snake45

Hawkeye
Joined
Mar 14, 2009
Messages
9,120
Location
+4020
djw54":2ijzkfhj said:
Me. Folks (Mom) wouldn't approve of so much as a cap gun. I had some anyway.

Making up for it now. :twisted:
I can relate, Mah Brothah. :wink:
 

SamV

Buckeye
Joined
Mar 15, 2005
Messages
1,017
Location
Missouri
I didn't have one. My best friend did, and I was a little envious. My parents were not anti-gun, as a matter of fact, they taught us to shoot. But we were city dwellers and not the outdoor type. My first .22 came when I was in my early forties! I almost bought a 10/22 several years ago, but purchased a Thompson Center Classic instead. I liked the wood and the finish better. I suppose I still need a 10/22 though.
 

bham shooter

Bearcat
Joined
Jan 20, 2010
Messages
9
Hi all. New member here. Usually post over on the G&A forums under the same name, so if any of y'all in addition to Phil are over here, let me know.

I am going to get a 10-22 very shortly. Just need to make the drive over to the LGS to cash in a gift certificate and pay the rest. I'm a few months shy of 29, and the only 'gun' I had growing up was a pellet handgun my Mom got me for Christmas one year when I was 12 or 13. She said it just wasn't right for a boy to grow up without having a bb gun.

First gun was a .38 snub revolver, that my father in law got for my wife. That was about 4.5 years ago. Had a Ruger P95 before I traded it for an XD. Now I have a few, including my LCP that I got last summer. So I didn't really grow up with guns. I was around them some with my parents both having one, and my various uncles and grandfathers. But I never had any of my own until I was out of college.
 

96/44

Blackhawk
Joined
Mar 23, 2009
Messages
551
Location
Minnesota
I didn't have one, I had a cheap Daisy .22 that they made for a few years in the 80's. I drooled over the Rugers and Marlins that my friends had, but I finally got my own 10/22 two years ago. Now all the cool kids won't make fun of me at the range anymore.
 

jimd441

Blackhawk
Joined
Feb 28, 2009
Messages
684
Location
NC
I didn't have one. I had a single shot as a youth. I acquired my first 1022 last Spring at age 55 :D

Jim
 

5Wire

Single-Sixer
Joined
Oct 25, 2003
Messages
203
Location
Portsmouth NH USA
I didn't have one. I had a Mossberg 46M (bolt) my dad gave me when I was 15 over 50 years ago. I still have it and it still shoots very accurately.
 

Tweety Bird

Single-Sixer
Joined
Dec 31, 2009
Messages
458
Location
Donut Center, CO
Mine was an Ithaca model 49 saddle gun, the 22LR single-shot. I put thousands of rounds through that thing.

Just got my first 10-22 a couple weeks ago and have been gone so much I haven't had much chance to shoot it.
 
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