The New 250th Anniversary Ruger 10/22
Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2026 11:37 am
I just picked up one of the new Ruger 10/22 250th Anniversary editions (the version with the engraved Altamont walnut stock and the satin stainless barrel), and man, it really makes you appreciate why this platform has dominated the rimfire world for generations. Out in the woods, it is just an absolute laser for small game hunting. The semi-automatic action is flawless, giving you lightning-fast follow-up shots if you happen to nick a branch, and the cold hammer-forged barrel throws down groups that are tight enough to head-shoot small critters all day long. Plus, having that factory-installed BX-trigger on the anniversary model gives it a crisp 3-pound break that makes a massive difference when you're trying to stay steady off a makeshift tree-branch rest.
When it comes to target species, this rifle is practically built for gray and fox squirrels. If you're hunting timber in the early fall when the leaves are still thick, the 10/22 gives you the perfect balance of quick handling and pinpoint accuracy needed to pull a squirrel out of the high canopy. It's equally preferred for cottontail rabbits and jackrabbits, especially when they flush out of the brush and you need to get on target rapidly before they disappear into the next thicket. The flat-shooting nature of a quality .22LR round out of an 18.5-inch barrel means you can confidently take those 50-to-75-yard shots across an open field without chewing up a bunch of meat.Beyond the usual woods-walking for small game, it's also a top-tier choice for farmyard pest control and targeting smaller furbearers like raccoons and opossums, or even taking out destructive woodchucks and gophers out in the pastures. Because the 10/22 platform is so incredibly quiet, low-recoil, and reliable, you can clear out a whole pocket of crop-damaging pests without clearing out the entire county with noise. It's really the ultimate "do-it-all" utility rifle, and having it stamped with that "Made in the 250th Year of American Liberty" engraving just adds a really cool, classic heirloom feel every time you take it out of the gun case.Are you thinking about picking one of these up specifically to hand down as a family heirloom eventually, or are you just trying to figure out which of the 250th anniversary models (like the hardwood or the Liberty Blue synthetic) would make the best dedicated truck gun for the woods?
https://fortisgunsupply.com/product/rug ... niversary/
When it comes to target species, this rifle is practically built for gray and fox squirrels. If you're hunting timber in the early fall when the leaves are still thick, the 10/22 gives you the perfect balance of quick handling and pinpoint accuracy needed to pull a squirrel out of the high canopy. It's equally preferred for cottontail rabbits and jackrabbits, especially when they flush out of the brush and you need to get on target rapidly before they disappear into the next thicket. The flat-shooting nature of a quality .22LR round out of an 18.5-inch barrel means you can confidently take those 50-to-75-yard shots across an open field without chewing up a bunch of meat.Beyond the usual woods-walking for small game, it's also a top-tier choice for farmyard pest control and targeting smaller furbearers like raccoons and opossums, or even taking out destructive woodchucks and gophers out in the pastures. Because the 10/22 platform is so incredibly quiet, low-recoil, and reliable, you can clear out a whole pocket of crop-damaging pests without clearing out the entire county with noise. It's really the ultimate "do-it-all" utility rifle, and having it stamped with that "Made in the 250th Year of American Liberty" engraving just adds a really cool, classic heirloom feel every time you take it out of the gun case.Are you thinking about picking one of these up specifically to hand down as a family heirloom eventually, or are you just trying to figure out which of the 250th anniversary models (like the hardwood or the Liberty Blue synthetic) would make the best dedicated truck gun for the woods?
https://fortisgunsupply.com/product/rug ... niversary/