decisions, decisions

things sure are "loony" at times.

i have a Ruger 10/22, no doubt one of the most popular .22 caliber, rimfire carbines ever built in this country for the last sixty years or so.

it's a really good firearm "as is" from the factory and is quite capable of doing almost anything asked of it, with in reason, of course. i would not make it the carbine of my choice to take into a combat engagement...but of course, if i had no choice but it, i would take it.

there is almost any accessory available on the market today to change/enhance this fine little carbine that one could imagine; at reasonable to extravagant costs, i might add. there are even kits available to make it appear like the mind-boggling WWII German machine gun, the M39 and the legendary M1 Garand. expensive? yes...but hey...if that's what you want and are willing to pony-up the $$$$ for it...more power to you.

over a period of time, I've accumulated two different stock variations for it. the Choate pistol grip and the Dragunov.

my preference is for the Dragunov, but...the particular stock i have is not as well fitting as it should be in order to give a good, secure fit for the action as is needed; it, in fact, moves about freely in the stock even when fully tightened after assembly; an intolerable condition, to say the least.

i suppose some day i may get some bedding epoxy and actually do some fill work on it so i can use it but until then, i suppose I'll stick with the Choate or the standard stock for it.

i prefer the pistol grip style grip for this particular .22 as i use it around the homestead for "protection" and it makes it easier to wield.

wait a minute, you say, you just said you wouldn't choose this carbine in a combat engagement...that i did.

however..."protection", in this case, is against four-legged marauders such as the coyote and the bobcat. we have an abundance of them here where i live and they are AGGRESSIVE. it's not unusual to see a pack of four or more coyotes around here. i once counted a pack of nine of them along our fence line.

now, some of you will, indeed, question the .22 rimfires ability to take out a coyote or bobcat.

i assure you...it will...it does. but what you must do is keep shots well within it's range capability. it will NOT work well at ranges over 100 yards unless there is PERFECT shot placement. i would never try a shot on living game with a .22 rimfire over 100 yards larger than a cottontail rabbit, (and i would still have second thoughts about it)

you see, we have a puppy that must routinely be taken out before bedtime and it's up to me to "stand guard" over the puppy and my wife while they tend to business.

now, at ranges of less than twenty yards, the .22 long rifle, high velocity cartridge, is quite capable.

we also have to consider neighbors...where i live rurally, we still have neighbors that are around one-hundred yards close to us an all four sides. something like an AR-15 in 5.56 would constitute a hazard to them as well if not fired judiciously and my air rifles could not be operated quickly enough to be effective; hence, the selection of the 10/22.

it's semi-automatic, very accurate, light and easy to handle and capable of taking down a coyote or bobcat in short order...as i said...i know that to be FACT, not speculation.

where i have bolt action .22's that are "four leaf clover" accurate, they will not get onto target as quickly, dispense or deliver as many on target as fast as will the 10/22...period.

the 10/22 is also capable of "one hole" groups, too. with the selection and application of select accessories and some "tuning", you'll have a.22 rimfire that will put bullet after bullet into the same hole at fifty yards.

what more could a person ask of a firearm?

so...overall the 10/22 is a good choice.