I'll let someone familiar with the lumber industry try to figure out how many trees had to be felled in order to make all the stocks!I think what has kept the Marlin Model 60, (well over 11 million produced), ahead of the Ruger 10/22, (introduced in 1964, and current running around 5.7 million produced), is the combination of cost vs. accuracy. The Model 60 is substantially cheaper than the Ruger, and it's most always more accurate, as both rifles come from the box.
Ruger's advantage is the seemingly endless supply of aftermarket parts available for it. It is the "350 Chevy" of .22 rifles in that regard. Barrels, triggers, stocks, and on and on are readily available, and easy to install for the "home gunsmith". With that said, it wasn't until the early 90's that these products came available in such quantity, and the 10/22's popularity took off. Volquartsen has built an entire company around the 10/22. Marlin led the way with .22 rifles from the 50's through the late 80's. It's difficult for any manufacturer to make up that kind of ground from a sales standpoint.
I have a Ruger 10/22 I purchased new back in the early 70's, and it's been a excellent performing rifle. Except for a scope, it has remained box stock through the years. All 3 of my Marlin Model 60's will out shoot it with the right ammo. I purposely "over scoped" my first Model 60 with a 6-24X scope for target shooting, and it has out shot several modified Ruger 10/22's over the years.
I think with the addition of the new 25 round magazines from Ruger, it will help the 10/22's popularity even more. Because of worthless, liberal politicians, people will buy anything "Hi-Cap" today. And let's face it, how long does it take to burn through 10 rounds of .22 LR in a semi auto, when you're plinking off a tailgate on a Summer afternoon with friends?
Ruger's advantage is the seemingly endless supply of aftermarket parts available for it. It is the "350 Chevy" of .22 rifles in that regard. Barrels, triggers, stocks, and on and on are readily available, and easy to install for the "home gunsmith". With that said, it wasn't until the early 90's that these products came available in such quantity, and the 10/22's popularity took off. Volquartsen has built an entire company around the 10/22. Marlin led the way with .22 rifles from the 50's through the late 80's. It's difficult for any manufacturer to make up that kind of ground from a sales standpoint.
I have a Ruger 10/22 I purchased new back in the early 70's, and it's been a excellent performing rifle. Except for a scope, it has remained box stock through the years. All 3 of my Marlin Model 60's will out shoot it with the right ammo. I purposely "over scoped" my first Model 60 with a 6-24X scope for target shooting, and it has out shot several modified Ruger 10/22's over the years.
I think with the addition of the new 25 round magazines from Ruger, it will help the 10/22's popularity even more. Because of worthless, liberal politicians, people will buy anything "Hi-Cap" today. And let's face it, how long does it take to burn through 10 rounds of .22 LR in a semi auto, when you're plinking off a tailgate on a Summer afternoon with friends?
