Sturm, Ruger & Co. announced the addition of a new rifle to the 10/22 line: the 10/22 Takedown Lite. The new rifle combines the features of the company’s existing take down rimfire rifle with the company’s modular stock and a lighter weight barrel assembly.
Days ahead of the 2016 SHOT Show, Smith & Wesson announced the return of an affordably-priced, dedicated .22 LR handgun to its line-up: the SW22 Victory. The new gun represents the first sub-$1k .22 LR platform pistol from the company since the Model 22A was discontinued.
As regular shooters will note, Smith & Wesson does make other .22 LR pistols and rifles. With the exception of the Model 41, these guns are essentially centerfire designs that have been reworked for the rimfire cartridge. The new SW22 Victory is truly a dedicated platform.
Last year the Savage model 42 reintroduced the break-open combo gun to the company’s line up. Â It was a .22 LR and .410 combination gun. Â For 2013, Savage brought out a new version of the model 42 chambered in .22 WMR and .410 bore.
Both versions of the model 42 break open at the receiver for chambering and extracting ammunition. Â The top chamber and barrel is for the rimfire round, while the lower chamber and barrel is for the shotshell. Â I should note that the .22 WMR, also known as .22 Magnum, is not capable of safely firing .22 LR ammunition.
The Ruger 10/22 Takedown is a new rifle that allows the shooter to break it down for compact storage with a quick twist of the barrel. Â Take down rifles are simply long guns that are designed to easily come apart and reassemble for compact storage and easy transportation.
Take down .22LR rifles like the AR-7 have been popular with backpackers, outdoorsmen and preppers for a long time. Â Ruger is now throwing their extremely popular 10/22 into the take down mix.
On the new 10/22, disassembly takes mere moments, and reassembly is even easier.  Watch the videos below to see how easy it is in action.
The new 10/22 is weather resistant with a synthetic stock and stainless barrel. It comes with a black backpack (with molle webbing, of course) that can hold the Takedown and extra magazines and accessories. This rifle may wind up being the perfect backpacking gun for many people.
Ahead of the 2012 SHOT Show, Magnum Research announced a new .22 LR rifle called the MLR22AT. Â This rifle is part of the Magnum Lite series of rimfire rifles offered from Magnum Research.
The MLR22AT uses a graphite bull barrel which is supposed to be six times stiffer than steel, up to a pound lighter than steel and dissipates heat up to 43% faster than steel. Â This rifle has a 17″ barrel and synthetic stock, making a total weight of 4.25 pounds.
The MLR22AT uses the Ruger 10/22 trigger group and magazines. Â I admit to not knowing much about the Magnum Lite line of rifles, so I do not know what kind of arrangement Magnum Research (owned by Kahr) has with Ruger for the parts production. Â But, it certainly speaks to the quality of the 10/22 rifle.