Advice sought re scoped Ruger 10/22

[DonTron]

Years ago, my Mom won a brand new stainless steel 10/22 in a raffle at an Indian reservation (she was really after the wool blanket), fired it a few times, then put in back in the box, where it remained until the house was destroyed by fire last summer. She’s not interested in replacing it (the rifle, not the house) but I am. The insurance company will pay me $300 when I show them a purchase receipt.

My use will be target shooting and plinking. I’ve never had a scoped rifle but would like one now.

My question: I can get a blued 10/22 for around $200 or a stainless one for $250. Given my budget of $300, which rifle and what scope do you recommend? Are there gun shops that sell combos, or will I want to buy them individually?

I’ve been impressed by the knowlegable advice found on this site and look forward to your comments.

 

[All4eyes]

Go and get the WalMart special, I think is $229.00. Take and find yourself a reasonably priced Simmons 22 mag scope ($33.00 at Natchezs), and a couple 25 rnd mags from Natchezs, and you still will be under your $300 budget.

 

[bannockburn]

DonTron

My vintage 1978 10/22 was far too accurate to leave to just iron sights, so I found an old Weaver K2.5 scope, mounted it on there, and have been happy with the results ever since. If I were to upgrade to a slightly higher magnification, I think I would go for something in a 4X scope. Don't want to make it something too big and heavy; just enough power to get the maximum accuracy that I know my rifle is capable of achieving.

 

[fireman 9731]

I have a cheap Tasco scope on mine that I bought for around 60 bucks I think, added some see through rings and it has been one of my favorite plinkers ever since!

I would use the money saved from a cheaper scope to buy a few extra decent mags too.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I want to know who your insurance co. is. Currentely we have a $500 deductable.

 

[DonTron]

Thanks everybody for your suggestions. I've been researching Simmons 22 mag scopes and they look impressive.

351 Winchester: State Farm. $1000 deductable. House and everything it were a total loss. Chimney fire. The gun claim is just part of the contents coverage of approx 175k. Lost a Kentucky rifle (in the family for 100+ years), a '20's Winchester .30-30 saddle ring carbine, a couple of my great uncle's shotguns ... and a bunch of other irreplaceable family heirlooms. But the dog barked and woke us up and everybody got out unharmed. If you haven't done so already, it's a great idea to photograph the entire contents of your house -- and store a copy of the photos off-site -- for documentation in case of a fire or burglary loss.

 

[cal74]

I think the vast majority of people can learn a lesson here about documenting what they have. Everyone always thinks they'll never have a fire or nothing will happen.

I've been working on a photographs of everything with serial numbers that I store in more than one location off site.

Check out your local gun/pawn shops as well as you might find a decent combo in your price range.



Glad nobody was hurt by the way.

 

[GRIZ22]

If you were going to be out in bad weather or keep it on a boat I'd get the stainless. I'd also forego the scope unless you were buying a scope you can rely on to be weatherproof. I'd get the blued if those aren't the conditions you'd be using the rifle under. There are plenty of decent 22 scopes out there from less than $50 and up. I prefer a fixed 4 power on 22s.