Ruger 10/ 22 or Marlin 795- Accuracy, reliability? Cost difference justified?

[norcalcook]

So I've got the bug to get a .22lr and these two seem like the go-to options. From what I've seen, the Ruger 10/22 base model is being sold for $299 up here in NorCal (if you know of somewhere cheaper, let me know), while the Marlin lists for $179 (yet I can't find any in stock remotely close to me).

While I don't plan on modding the crap out of the gun, I would like to be able to add a scope and bipod with relative ease. From that perspective I've heard the Ruger is the way to go. I'd also want a fairly accurate OTB gun with no reliability issues.

Any thoughts or recommendations? And is the price difference with the Ruger justified?

P.S. I realize this topic has been covered before, but my search turned up a gazzillion various threads, so I thought I'd add to it by posting a new one.

Thanks in advance.

[blkops]

Sacramento black rifle has the ruger for 199

[JNunez23]

What do you plan on doing with the rifle??

Are you shooting short distance, plinking? Or are you looking for a long distance rifle?

Both are reliable out the box, and the Marlin might be more accurate depending on what your usage will be. Marlin feels like a toy btw...

[Super Spy]

Big 5 has 10/22's on sale for $229 frequently, I found a coupon someone posted here and got it down to $206 + Tax & DROS

[DinoPJR]

I have a marlin 795 i carry around with me on the ranch, and i shoot at least 3 squirrels daily from up to 25 yards up to probably 75 yards no problem. They are nice guns but i just purchased two 1022 takedowns so one of those might be my new .22 to carry around. But i got my 795 for i think 150 plus a 25 dollar mail in rebate. So if you look around you can get the Marlin real cheap. Hope that might help. The 10/22's are way more customizable too so if you want to trick your .22 out I would probably go that route but if you just want a bipod and scope you can do that on the marlin 795 with a swivel stud bipod and the scope mounts easily too. Happy shooting!

[ham]

Iv'e had both and I prefered the Marlin. both have crappy stock sights if you want to stick with irons, go with the tech sights.

[DinoPJR]

I think the sights are decent unless you wanna get fancy. Just get one of them and enjoy it, they are both fun.

[Excaliburr]

The company I use in Paradise, CA is CW Enterprises 530-877-7907 and he has a basic blued carbine for $229.99 + dros & tax. So $299 is definitely high. People are buying the take down version for that price. Accuracy is great on the Marlin 60's and 795. I guess with what you have said, I would go with the Marlin 795 or the 60. I personally like the 60's because you get a tube fed mag (14 rounds) and then I buy the tube speedloaders. You can load the speedloader while you are at home and when it is time to shoot, go for it and you don't have to reload a 10 round mag all the time. Trust me when I say that sux. The marlin come with a 3/8 dovetail set up for .22 type rings. You have to purchase that seperately (Wal-Mart even has them). So a $40 scope from Wally world, $9 rings and a box of Federal bulk pack $20 and you are ready for some fun! Neither the ruger or the Marlin is easy for the sling because neither come with the studs that are ready for sling swivels. So you will have to install them yourself first and with the Marlin 60, you will have to pull the action out of the stock to install the front one correctly.(Not hard to do) I installed the screw in type on my wood stock Marlin 60 ( I like the wood, not synthetic, but that is just me). You have to make sure the screw in type isn't too long or it will interfere with the tube magazine. I had to cut 1/4" off of the screw end. In the synthetic stock you may have to use the machine screw type with a nut and I am not sure if that will work with the tube mag. I would probably still use the screw type and maybe put some epoxy on the inside of the stock to give it some more strength. It all depends on the room before the tube mag. Anyway, those mounts are not expensive and you should be able to get a sling for $20. Better yet, I made my own sling out of Parachute cord using the king cobra weave pattern and after that I have about 60' of survival cord if need be. Plus it looks cool and you can make it out of any color you want. A local surplus store sells the cord for .08 per foot. The rest is just time. The Marlin 60 is probably a little more expensive than the 795, but then again you don't have something hanging down that just always gets in the way. Plus when you are hiking, it could fall out and then you got a useless tool. That is what is nice about ruger. Their clips are flush (the legal ones at least.) I set my distance at 75' for iron sites and 75 yards for 4 power weaver scope. Works grreat!

[Excaliburr]

OK maybe the 795 comes with the sling mounts, but my 60 did not. Just check into it first.

[norcalcook]

@blkops- looking for more of a long range plinker- some I can toss a scope on and hit decent groups at 100 yards (my mosin has a little difficulty with that). The fact that .22lr ammo doesn't require me to sell any organs is also appealing. I live in Sonoma County and if I could find a ruger for $200 or close I'd be all over it. Unfortunately everything seems to be closer to $300, which seems a bit much for .22.

How hard is it to mOunt a scope or optics to either of these? And how about bipod? I don't need to make it look like an mp5 or anything. Just a functional, efficient shooter.

Thanks for all the replies!

[DinoPJR]

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTVUVB0z_5xQIgHSc9PVkKppfSAbw2y1aryRA1DGzdgjHxA3hidaywJLxxgGg

lets see if that works that is a marlin

[Ron-Solo]

The newer Rugers come with a scope rail. You should be able to find one on sale for $200-225 without too much difficulty. Both are good guns and you can't go wrong with either.

The Ruger magazines can be quickly loaded with the Butler Creek speed loader. It works on the factory mags as well as most aftermarket ones too.

Try gungenie.com for good prices. They work with local dealers where the dealer lists all their fees before you make the purchase. I've bought several from them and been very happy each time.

There are 5 10/22's and two Marlins in my safes. I like both, but prefer the Rugers. I bought two dozen 25 round mags before I retired from LE, just to make sure I had enough to last until I am no longer able to shoot. I don't know as much about the Marlin 795. I have a Model 60 and 75c, which is a short version of the 60. One of my Marlins is 30 years old and still going strong.

The .22 is a great platform for having a good time shooting.

[DinoPJR]

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=171319

check this thread out. it is for the 795 here on calguns. you can get a lot of answers there. I totally recommend the 795. here is a bipod that would mount to the swivel sling stud for the 795 http://www.amazon.com/UTG-Low-Profil...3610374&sr=8-2

[DinoPJR]

Ron- Solo you are a cool dude!

[Excaliburr]

The problem is you are a couple of weeks late to the table for a 10/22. Ruger announced that they are not taking new orders because they cannot keep up with production. That led people to make purchases perhaps a little before they were ready. Varmint eradication is about to start up here in the north once the Weather cooperates. I did a Gun Genie search in your area and found none available. You would probably have to do a stock watch on the model you want and wait for the e-mail when one comes in to Davidsons. When it does, you will have to react fast. Wish you the best of luck catching one on sale these days. I have been to big 5 when they had the sale and an extra 10% off and they do not have any in stock. May as well not have a sale if they cannot get stock. Fact is, it is just a ploy to get you in the door these days. Gun sales are hotter than they ever have been. Marlin 795 probably will be easier to procure as less varmint shooters buy them. Most like the accessories available for the Ruger.