Ruger 10-22 WMR and 10/17
Why did Ruger cease making the 10/17 after 1 year? Also, where are all the used 10/22 WMRs?
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They were tearing up the aluminum recievers. Ruger doesn't seem to want to make a steel one. 0 -
They stopped because of all the hype from Remingtons 597's blowing up, making the 17 HMR's. When the 17 HMR fouls up, the pressures increase...sometimes to the point in a semi auto, that the bolt opens before the pressure is safe to do so.
As for the rest of it, The 10/22 WMR was a lot more expensive to make than the competitiors versions, which were basically elongated 10/22 recievers with heavier bolts. They didn't sell that well, untill Ruger anounced they were not going to make them anymore, then the price went thru the roof, and they dried up. A lot of guys snatched up several, so they can scalp the price...you will see them let one go here, and one go there...but never all at once...they are scarce collectors pieces now, you know...
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According to this source, the Ruger 10-22 magnum bolts were made of tungsten for increased weight, but this caused poor durability and they eventually failed (or will fail). 10-17 just make the problem that much worse.
Anyway, even though Ruger doesn't make them anymore, if you want a 10/22 magnum, there are several outfits offering aftermarket receivers, and it is possible to build your own. EG:
http://www.ruger1022receiver.com/MAGNUM Page 11.htm
These are top quality, but you're going to pay for it:
https://www.volquartsen.com/category/20-rimfire-rifles/11-10-22-magnum-action0 -
quote:They were tearing up the aluminum recievers. Ruger doesn't seem to want to make a steel one.
A note of correction. This topic often gets convoluted because of the confusion over the 17HMR (17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire) and the 17HM2 (17 Hornady Mach 2) and the Ruger 10/22 WMR (22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire) and the Ruger 10/22 22LR (22 Long Rifle).
First, the Ruger 10/22 22WMR (22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire) rifle from the factory does have a steel receiver and bolt. This rifle can make a donor for conversion to the 17HMR.
The Ruger 10/22 22LR (22 Long Rifle) from the factory does have an aluminum receiver and steel bolt. This rifle can make a donor rifle for conversion to 17HM2.
The above rifles and conversion calibers cannot be reversed.
An after market barrel in 17 HMR could be purchased and easily exchanged for the 22WMR barrel or Ruger could make their own 17HMR barrels and retrofit them to their 22WMR steel receivers. However,the original design of the Ruger 10/22 22WMR was not meant for the 17HMR and the pressures it could generate. It was not a good match and may have been an unsafe combination, even though at first it appeared to be a good fit. I suspect that once the 17HMR after-market barrels were plentifully available, the genie was out of the bottle, and Ruger was more than aware of the liability from over-pressure conditions in their 10/22 22WMR rifles firing 17HRM ammunition. Since Ruger could not control the after-market production of 17HRM barrels which fit their rifle, their solution was to discontinue the donor rifle.
The Ruger 10/22 22LR could be converted to 17HM2 caliber, but required an after-market bolt in combination with an after-market 17HM2 barrel for a successful conversion. The after-market bolt had greater mass than the factory bolt and slowed the blow-back cycling so the chamber would not be opened before pressure went down. Not using the higher mass bolt on this conversion is a disaster waiting to happen.
I have personally had experience with a high quality after-market match 22HMR barrel fitted to a Ruger 10/22 22WMR donor rifle. The system never worked correctly. There were constant FTF/FTE, deformed brass, and finally the chamber opened too soon and I ended up with a small piece of brass of brass embedded in my forehead. I reconverted the rifle back to 22WMR and that is the way it has stayed.
It was a good idea, gone bad in actual practice. I think tsr1965 has some good additional reasons why the 10/22 WMRs disappeared also.
I still have my 10/22 WMR which is almost new with the original box including a match grade 17HMR barrel and I am astounded at the prices being asked for these rifles. I purchased mine new in the mid-2000s and paid about $250. I hope helps to answer your questions.
Best,
Heavyiron0
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