I like the wood on yours but I'm with you, too light. I have two Sporter stocks, one a DSP both have nice grain. One is walnut the other birch stained walnut.

 

I added the base stock for comparison. It’s just disappointing a little.

All the online photos looked really nice, like a normal rifle stock.

maybe this is the norm for Ruger. Even my Henry looks nicer.

 

Eye of the beholder....I think it's a beauty. We should all have a blond, a redhead and a brunet... right?

 

I suppose…

 

I am probably in the minority on this but I agree with you, I think it’s pretty dull for a supposedly upgraded piece of wood. To be somewhat fair I’ve seen CZ stocks run the gamut too, though only on base factory models.

 

Maybe Ruger gets everyone else’s left over scrap wood?🤣

 

There's only so much they can do when building rifles down to a price. Having written that I did see one listed on the Ruger website for $1000 with an anodized receiver and other quality items. So they can actually build a better 10/22.

That stock might be French walnut.... maybe sapwood that no one else wanted and they got for cheap.

I had to chuckle the other day. I wrote much the same (about Ruger quality or lack of it) And someone responded that I didn't get it, that Ruger 10/22s were purchased (paraphrased and I'm exaggerating) so that every part on them could be replaced. I'm pretty sure they were serious.

There are multiple schools of thought. I think some people buy a cheap rifle hoping they'll get the one diamond out of 100,000 made, and another that says Ruger can keep their garbage and they spend decent money to get quality right out of the box. At one time I bought Ruger also. My first was a sporter 50ish years ago. I recently sold it and the stock had some nice tiger stripe figure. It shot just OK, nothing to write home about and I changed very little in it. My last (really it's my last) I bought with the knowledge that Ruger didn't make what I wanted (at the time) and yes, I'd be manufacturing it (ATFs words) into what I wanted. Then I had to change more parts to make it really great. Eventually I had what I wanted. My last (again, really my last!) 10/22 pattern rifle I spent serious money for right up front so that I'd have a much better chance of getting what I wanted right out of the box. Turns out that it's exactly what I wanted but pretty it is not. It's functional and was purchased to be functional and not for it's looks.

Anyway, that's the world according to me.

 

I guess. It was only $466.56. Even at an equal price, Henry stocks look notably better than Ruger.

 

I think it’s a good looking rifle, and prefer the blued over the SS. I got the blonde/stainless model for $329. Mine even came with a canted barrel for free. When it warms up we’ll have to compare groups.

 

Definitely

 

I like it. I tied to get one but their "not available" in my area.

 

My 21196 is an outstanding example of a French walnut stocked 10/22. I made sure to check it out firsthand though. Since then I have seen some that are very nice, and others that were much more plain.

 

That looks really nice! That’s what I was hoping for.

 

These French Walnut Sporter stocks with the schanble fore end are made by Altamont for Ruger and the various versions like Talo. Seems like you get what you get. Perhaps Talo gets the prime #1 and so on down the line. There is a French Walnut and a Fancy French Walnut with the Fancy looking a bit darker in the Talo versions. Just some info.

Here are a couple for comparison:

 

When I ordered, I was specifically ordering this one.

 

I bought it from online. It wasn’t that expensive at Bud’s Gun Shop. I used electronic check as well and saved a little more.

 

RobHersh25

Did you have to adjust scope very much to right?
Rounds hitting Left initially.

 

I just picked the rifle up this morning and already had the Kidd trigger and scope, so I just put it on today.

I haven’t taken the rifle out yet. It’s pretty lousy weather where I go shooting, so I’ll have to wait a little bit to try it out.

 

I sure do like your t-bolt, 🤤
tell me it’s a shooter plz!

 

Mailorder is often disappointing. I like your stock. But you may not. Heres my Depardieu

 

That looks really nice!

 

221Fireball2021

It shoots as accurate as my CZ457 out to 150yds. Each need the ammunition that works the best with each rifle, obviously.

If I could only keep the Browning or CZ, I’d keep the Browning.

The Browning has a Jard 16oz trigger that I installed. I love that rifle!

The CZ has a 12oz Timney trigger that I installed.

This is how the CZ looks now.

 

Nice stuff you got. That ruger ain’t that bad. Keep it and drive it like it’s stolen / park it like a rent a car🤣

 

I like it.
It looks a lot like mine.

 

What are some of your thoughts on Ruger 10/22 rifles? Particularly the wood.

I have a 31157 I bought a few years ago and it's a lot darker wood than yours, like in Robhersh25's post. Mine looks almost exactly like his photos. It makes me wonder if they reuse their part numbers with Talo. Mine has a nice satin finish, and the checkering is decent. It's a fine stock for a $450 rifle, but nothing like my shiny Grade II BL22. Ruger wood is nothing special, but neither is CZ, Henry or most mass-market non-heirloom weapons. You can get lucky with good wood, but generally it's a crapshoot unless you pay a lot more for the fancy stuff. No question the quality of wood from the suppliers has gone down over the years. I'm not surprised. OTOH, I like my 31157 and have decided to keep the French Walnut stock on this rifle. I think I got a bit lucky. It's a nice shape too.

Generally I'm not a huge fan of 10/22 wood or hardware, but I love the format and the aftermarket. I think a little more finish work would make each Ruger a lot smoother and feel less cheap, but I guess it's their calculated tradeoff. My biggest gripe with the 10/22 is the bolt and bolt assembly which could be so much better with just a little effort. It would be really cool for Ruger to collab with Kidd on a line of high-end 10/22 models.

I have one totally modified 10/22,and one mostly stock 10/22 (the Talo), and my standard move is to send the bolt to CPC for their treatment, and to replace the bolt buffer, charging handle, rod and spring with a Kidd version. The Kidd bolt handle assembly is made of different material and is much stiffer and smoother than the factory version; and the cushioned bolt buffer makes a big difference in how the rifle cycles and sounds. The action runs 100% better. And regarding the trigger, it's hard to resist swapping them out when there are so many excellent alternatives, including Ruger's own. The problem with the 10/22 is that the aftermarket makes everything for the 10/22 and does it better.

 

Ruger has some good wood. IMO

 

If I ever buy another one, I’ll buy it in person vs online.

I definitely wasn’t expecting a bone stock, given the item photo was a pretty brown with nicer grain.

Even though I was disappointed initially, it’s growing on me and I’m looking forward to using that Kidd trigger soon. Just gotta wait on the weather.

 

I like the blonde wood, makes a sexy rifle.

 

just one question for ya...

How much do you want for that stock?
I'm serious.
Sell yours to me, get another one (and look at it before you pull the trigger) and everybody's happy
unless you want too much.

You can communicate with me by PM
if you want to make a deal.

 

I have never seen walnut that color. Are you sure it is walnut and they sent you the right rifle?

 

My presumption is that Buds Gun Shop sent the correct item. I expected a darker finish. Style wise, it looks like the correct stock shape and has matching checkering. Bud’s has the same item description.

The box has Model 31157 on it. It’s listed as this on the a Ruger website:

• MODEL NUMBER: 31157
• CALIBER: 22 LR
• StockFrench Walnut
• Capacity10
• Front SightGold Bead
• Rear SightAdjustable
• Barrel MaterialAlloy Steel
• Barrel FinishSatin Black
• Overall Length37"
• Barrel Length18.50"
• Weight4.9 lb.
• Twist1:16" RH
• Grooves6
• UPC7-36676-31157-6

 

What they don't tell you upfront is that French Walnut has a wide range of colors- dark brown to orange and everything in-between. Check with Bud's or your LGS and see if you can order one pending a yay or nay color choice on arrival.

 

I’ve gotten used to the color of it. It’s not terrible looking. I’ll just keep it.

To be fair, I’m not a 10/22 fan at all. I was hoping that one with nicer wood would change that for me. In my opinion, they’re still a bottom rung product in the .22lr rifle world.

There are many other rifles that are far nicer and excellent quality. Of all my .22lr rifles, my Rugers are my least favorite. I’ve got a Wildcat that I like far better than the Rugers.

None of this is a dig on Ruger rifles. I’m basing my opinion on comparison of the 10/22 rifles that I have to the other rifles that I own. Winchester, Browning, Marlin… they all are much better rifles in appearance and out of the box accuracy. The Wildcat looks fine for hunting, shoots as accurate as the 10/22, but has better controls and disassembly than the Ruger.

 

FWIW, there are 10/22s made that are not bottom rung. But buying a Ruger which IMO is made down to a price and not up to a quality standard and then complaining about it is just well...

It's like a coyote sitting on a cactus and howling at full volume 'cause it hurts.

Does Ruger make higher quality 10/22s? I saw one the other day with an anodized receiver and other characteristics that told me that it was something special. It also cost $1k.

 

FWIW, there are 10/22s made that are not bottom rung. But buying a Ruger which IMO is made down to a price and not up to a quality standard and then complaining about it is just well...

It's like a coyote sitting on a cactus and howling at full volume 'cause it hurts.

Does Ruger make higher quality 10/22s? I saw one the other day with an anodized receiver and other characteristics that told me that it was something special. It also cost $1k.

I figured that it was fine through Talo, and the online photos looked great. However it’s not that nice in person.

I’ll keep it and use it.

I looked at some of the $1,000 Rugers as well, but that price is hard to justify for a 10/22. I’ve got a few .22lr rifles that surpass that price and they are nice.

Price isn’t the primary factor for firearms that I buy.