Ruger Carbon Fiber 10/22 Review: Ultra-Light Rimfire

Ruger’s 10/22 is one of the overwhelming success stories in the world of firearms. As of 2020, they had made right at eight million of them… that puts the 10/22 in some pretty prestigious company. Variations abound. Here is a listing of the different model categories and variations within those categories they make, as of this writing…

• Carbine 17
• Carbon Fiber   6
• Takedown   7
• Sporter 13
• Takedown Lite   2
• Competition   4
• Target   2
• Tactical   4
• Compact   1

That makes a total of 56 models. That’s a lot of production to keep track of!

You can get the original wood-stocked version, or synthetic stocks (or a folding wire stock, for that matter). Thumbhole or other variations abound. Need to put it in a backpack? Grab a takedown, or takedown lite, model. How about a regular version, but just a bit shorter? There’s the compact. Need one set up for competition? They make that. Let’s just say that they most likely make what will turn your crank in terms of a semi-auto rimfire rifle.

There are tons of aftermarket parts that will help you convert your 10/22 into what really works for you. The gun is an overwhelming success.

Our Rifle

 I have to be honest. One of our sons and our oldest granddaughter (a seventh grader) is really getting into Steel Challenge competition. We have a local club that sponsors them twice monthly when the weather permits.

I reviewed, earlier, a Ruger Mk IV pistol that he is outfitting for this competition, and now we have this 10/22 to add things to. The granddie will be the beneficiary of these efforts… she’s really getting good! Needless to say, neither of these will go back to Ruger.

So, let’s look at the stock version. All I’ve done here is mount a Gideon Mediator red dot on it to do some simple range work. In terms of the sight, I’ve reviewed Gideon optics before (read it here)… they are primo.

Here’s the rifle…

The extended mag release is great! It saves a lot of fumbling.

Why Would You Want A Carbon Fiber 10/22?

Out of the dozens of variations on this 10/22 theme, why would you spring for the carbon fiber-barreled version? To answer that succinctly, it is extremely light. Another reason is that it comes in a Custom Shop version with a fancier, adjustable stock, in left-hand. Being a lefty, I would love to try one. The only stopper is that it costs almost $500 more than the one we have here.

Let’s look at its specs…

Ruger Carbon Fiber 10/22 Specifications

• Stock: Textured White Speckle Black Magpul MOE X-22
• Capacity: 10 (there are many 25- and 30-round magazines available)
• Barrel Material: Stainless Steel Tensioned with Carbon Fiber Sleeve
• Barrel Finish: Clear Satin
• Threaded Barrel: Yes
• Sights: None (Picatinny rail is installed, though)
• Weight: 3.5 lb. (that’s what I’m talking about… light!)
• Twist: 1:16″ RH
• Overall Length: 34.10″
• Barrel Length: 16.10″
• Length of Pull: 13.50″
• Grooves: 6
• Suggested Retail $649.00

And, now for the features list, from the rifle’s web page…

1. The lightweight Magpul MOE X-22 Stock features M-LOK slots at the 6 o’clock position, as well as Magpul’s own exclusive TSP texture on the pistol grip, making it an ideal alternative to the standard Ruger 10/22 stock.
2. Cold hammer-forged barrel tensioned in carbon fiber sleeve features a 1/2″-28 threaded muzzle and is fitted with a thread cap which can be removed to allow for the use of muzzle accessories.
3. BX-Trigger® with a light, crisp 2.5 – 3 pound trigger pull weight with minimal overtravel and a positive reset.
4. The detachable 10-round rotary magazine features a unique rotor to separate cartridges and provide reliable feeding.
5. Easy-to-use, extended magazine release provides smooth, no-fuss removal of flush-mounted magazine.
6. Positive, push-button, cross-bolt manual safety.
7. Factory-installed, one-piece aluminum scope rail.
8. Heat-stabilized, glass-filled, polymer trigger housing assembly is precision-made of high-tech material for improved manufacturing tolerances, impact and abrasion-resistance, and an unmatched ability to withstand the elements.
9. This legendary action is a tried and true Ruger design that ensures consistent, reliable performance.

There you have it. I’m sure you knew about some of these features, while others may be new to you. It was that way with me. What strikes me mostly about this rifle is what I mentioned above… its weight (or lack of). At three and a half pounds, you’re almost getting into heavy-duty revolver territory. For a .22 rifle to weigh that much is amazing. Unless the optic that you add is a scope that can focus on the craters of the moon, you should still have a rifle that weighs around four pounds, and that would be extremely easy to maneuver. 

Ah… but does that minuscule weight exact a penalty at the range? Let’s see.

Range Time

I grabbed an assortment of .22 LR ammo and headed to my backyard range. Let’s be honest… the 10/22 is one of the most accurate semi-auto rimfire rifles going, and has been for decades. The only reason I even bothered to shoot it for this review is that I’ve never shot a carbon fiber-barreled version before, and it was a novelty. 

So, after making sure the red dot was close to being zeroed, I set some targets up at 50 yards and let fly.

Here are some results…

A couple of representative targets… left, from CCI Mini-Mag and right, Aguila Super. The dot wasn’t quite zeroed, but it’s close enough for this. Slap a scope on the rifle, and these holes would be much closer together, but that’s not the purpose of this particular rifle… for Steel Challenge, it will work just fine. 

Summing Up

I love the 10/22 platform. I’ve owned a few of them over the past four decades or so, and they always perform. Even with the “normal” ones, you can add a sling and a scope or red dot and be good to go. Grab a 25-round magazine or a couple more ten-rounders and head to the range or the squirrel woods. 

But this under-four-pounds wonder is a game changer. Even when you add an optic and maybe a sling, you’re still looking at an extremely light rifle. This would be perfect for what I call a “trek or truck” gun… something very light that you could carry on a hike, or in your truck. Even with an added optic, you’re still in that easy-to-carry zone. 

Another use is competition, as we are finding out. 10/22s have many aftermarket parts available. You could build your perfect Steel Challenge rifle, or just take it as-is and do very well. I am anxious to get this one going… this is going to be a fun adventure! 

Links To Items Used In This Review