Ruger 10/22 - Magazines

Magazines

There are many types of magazines for the Ruger 10/22. The standard 10/22 ships with a black 10 round rotary magazine. Ruger has also produced a clear, polycarbonate 40th anniversary edition 10 round magazine as well as a five round rotary magazine (for states that restrict magazine capacities). In 2011-2012 Ruger came out with the Ruger BX-25, a 25 round box magazine with a black composite frame and steel feed lips. Aftermarket options include 25, 30, and 50 round box magazines; 50 round tear-drop-shaped rotary magazines, and a 50 round drum magazines.

The standard 10-round 10/22 magazine stores the cartridges in a rotary fashion, rather than stacked, as seen in a box magazine. This allows the magazine to fit flush into the rifle without protruding from the stock at the natural balance point for one handed carry. The action of the rifle strips a cartridge from the magazine with each shot, allowing the next cartridge to feed into place.

Care should be taken not to use all magazines interchangeably. The owners manual for the 10/22 Magnum model states, "Do not attempt to use standard 10/22 magazines in the 10/22 Magnum rifles or load 22 short, long, or long rifle ammunition into the 22 magnum. They will not function correctly and are unsafe to use in 22 Magnum rifles." It goes on to say, "Never attempt to use 22 Long Rifle ammunition in Ruger 10/22 Magnum rifle magazines. The cartridges have a smaller case diameter and can split or burst when fired in the larger magnum chamber, releasing hot powder gasses and particle fragments out of the action at high speed, possibly resulting in injury to the shooter or bystanders."