The Ruger 10/22 rimfire rifle is a certified superstar for Sturm, Ruger & Company. Introduced in 1964, the 10/22 has been in production ever since, to the tune of over 7 million rifles manufactured in many, many variations. Currently, Ruger offers nine factory models in the 10/22 line; the gun maker’s newest addition is the Ruger 10/22 Carbon Fiber rifle chambered, of course, in .22 LR.
I shot over 500 rounds of .22 LR through a new 10/22 Carbon Fiber over the last month-and-change. It easily pegged sub-1.0-inch groups at 50 yards, functioned smoothly, and the carbon fiber tensioned barrel actually did what Ruger claimed: cooled off the barrel quickly even with high volume shooting.
Ruger 10/22 Carbon Fiber Features
At its core, the 10/22 Carbon Fiber is a standard 10/22. Ruger’s semi-automatic blowback operation uses the expanding gases of a fired round to cycle the bolt, eject the brass, and load the next round. Ammunition feeds with a standard 10/22 10-round rotary magazine.
Originally, the 10/22 was a wooden stock rifle, and this is still an option, but Ruger also offers composite material stocks. The Carbon Fiber model has several stock options, including a textured Magpul MOE X-22 stock, made of a lightweight and durable composite material — that's what my test rifle was sporting.
The stock is black overlaid with a white speckle pattern and sports M-LOK slots at the 6 o'clock position, as well as Magpul's own TSP texturing on the pistol grip. Integral sling loops are positioned at the front and back end of the stock.
As mentioned, the barrel is carbon fiber “tensioned,” and here’s what that means: The build starts with a thinner, stainless-steel barrel that’s 16.1-inches long and cold hammer forged. A carbon fiber tube is slid over the stainless barrel and is secured to the steel at both ends with a small gap between the materials, the “tension” if you will. Replacing a portion of the barrel steel with carbon fiber reduces weight, and the tensioning creates a more rigid barrel with reduced vibrations.
The air space between the carbon-fiber tube and the barrel allows heat to quickly be pulled away from the steel barrel and dissipated through the carbon fiber material.
I was impressed with how cool to the touch the exterior of the barrel stayed, even when I was shooting magazine after magazine with only a break for loading.
The barrel is also threaded for a suppressor.
Sights, Safeties, and More
The rifle features Ruger’s own BX-Trigger; mine broke at a crisp 1 pounds, 6 ounces, on average.
There are no fixed sights on this rifle, but it sports a factory-installed one-piece aluminum scope rail for easy mounting of a rifle scope or red dot.
The rotary magazine sits flush in the bottom of the receiver and pops out easily with the rifle’s extended mag release, which sits just ahead of the trigger guard. A push-button, cross-bolt safety is also located at the front of the trigger guard.
The 10/22 Carbon Fiber is one light, lithe carbine, too, weighing only 3 pounds, 8 ounces total and boasting an overall length a couple inches shy of a yard stick.
Ruger 10/22 Carbon Fiber + SilencerCo Test Rig
To find out what this 10/22 could do, I first mounted a Trijicon Credo HX 1-8x28 riflescope onto the Ruger. The first-focal-plane Credo HX features .25-MOA elevation and windage adjustments, large tactical-style control knobs, and a red/green illuminated, MOA-segmented reticle. The 34mm tube is Trijicon rugged and crafted from 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum.
Next, I added a SilencerCo Switchback rimfire suppressor. Modular and lightweight, the Switchback offered me three different length options and four possible configurations.
In addition to .22 LR, the Switchback suppressor also works with firearms chambered in .22 WMR, .22 Hornet, .17 HMR, .17 WSM, and 5.7 x 28mm firearms.
This can is optimized for pistols right out of the box. For rifles, flipping the orientation of the internal stainless-steel baffles is recommended and extremely easy to do.
With the 10/22’s barrel threaded at 1/2"-28, the Switchback screwed right into position.
The Ruger 10/22 Carbon Fiber At The Range
I put a variety of .22 LR ammunition through this rifle, including CCI’s sub-sonic Suppressor Max, Remington’s new Standard V, and Winchester Wildcat.
At my outdoor range, I first zeroed the rifle and scope using the Standard V ammunition. The zeroing occurred quickly thanks to the Credo HX and its precise controls.
Once I got comfortable with the rifle and my shooting position, I shot for accuracy. The CCI and Remington made five shot groups of 1.0-inches and under. When shooting Winchester Wildcat, though, I kept pulling on the fifth shot for some reason, resulting in groups of 1.3- to 1.5-inches. But my first four shots came in at under 1.0-inches three separate times.
My best groups:
- CCI Suppressor Max at .70 in
- .80- and .90-inch groups with the Remington
- Winchester Wildcat with four shots at .80 inches.
In all my shooting, I experienced no failures to load rounds or eject spent brass. The barrel never got above warm, cooled very quickly, and the Switchback remained cool enough to remove by hand even after 100 rounds which I partly credit to the rifle’s carbon fiber sleeve.
Social Media to the Rescue, LOL
In the past, I’ve posted to social media my reviews of other rifles chambered in .22 LR that shot similar groups. Some very helpful shooting experts quickly chimed in that my review rifles were not even close to accurate, and their .22’s could make one ragged hole all day long at 50 yards.
My .70-inch groups, these rimfire experts suggested, were pretty much embarrassments.
As much as I truly appreciate all the professionally curated information social media can and will provide (even without asking for it!), I want a rimfire rifle I can use in the field, one that is lightweight enough to carry comfortably and accurate enough to bring down that squirrel at 50 yards.
The Ruger 10/22 Carbon Fiber can do all of the above just fine, plus will do the job for varmint control and is a really fun plinker for adults and children alike. I can’t ask for more in a .22LR rifle.
Ruger 10/22 Carbon Fiber Rifle: Specs
CALIBER: .22 LR
ACTION: Blowback, Semi-Auto
BARREL: 16.10 inches, stainless steel, tensioned in carbon fiber sleeve
OA LENGTH: 34.1 inches
WEIGHT: 3 pounds, 8 ounces
STOCK: Magpul MOE X-22, white speckle on black
SIGHTS: None. One-piece aluminum scope rail.
RECEIVER FINISH: Black
CAPACITY: 10
MSRP: $649.00
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