No, not another cliche, big game season opening day photo, but certainly a photo representative of our local public enemies one through ten thousand. You’d think these little guys are harmless and enhance country scenic appeal, but they are self centered survivalists that will stop at nothing when in pursuit of a meal. This guy was spotted outside of the shop, several times, eating baby mice. In this case, Bob couldn’t resist a trail of pumpkin seeds and a blob of peanut butter, thereby violating at least two of the Deadly Sins, Greed and Gluttony. Charged up with all of that energy, I am quite sure he would have gone out and violated at least one other.

Actually, these little buggers dig tunnels up to thirty feet deep to stash their harvests, procreate like crazy, dig many more tunnels around structures, until buildings collapse into sink holes and their occupants burn in the black depths of hell… or at least their porches list in an unattractive way.

So I catch them and… parole them to a faraway chipmunk park, a pond area at the bottom of our hill, where they are free to frolic all day and practice identity politics as they choose. Since yesterday, twelve chipmunks have been sent packing with many more to follow. Now, onto a solution for larger vermin and other assorted pests…

More than a rifle, I like to think of the Ruger 10/22 Target Lite rifle as an employer paid, exceptional vacation. My job at Real Guns pays squat, but shooting the Target Lite is like a day off. If asked for comment, I’m sure Real Guns would say, “We pay you more than what you’re worth” and Ruger would say, “Of course the Target Lite is fun to shoot. What other type of firearm is there?”. Both fair points.

The Ruger 10/22 Target Lite is made in Newport New Hampshire with American produced materials and with American labor, including the laminated hardwood stock, metal castings and plastic molded parts. This means increasingly more to me these days.

The barrel is comprised of a hammer forged barrel, sleeved in aluminum and capped with a 1/2″x28 thread to facilitate the use of muzzle end accessories. I have found a Ruger Silent-SR is one of the most rewarding accessories to affix. The aluminum sleeve makes for a very light, but very rigid assembly that dissipates heat rapidly, even during extended shooting sessions. The result is a rimfire of exceptional accuracy.

The BX-Trigger…

The BX-Trigger is installed on select Ruger 10/22 models, which includes the Target Lite, and it is available as a drop in upgrade for all of the other models. The Ruger BX-Trigger has a light, crisp pull, reducing standard trigger pull from a 6 poundish pull to 2.4 to 3 Lbs. In this case, pull measured 3 lbs 6 Oz right out of the box and lightened in use. As an accessory it is priced at $89.95 so its presence in the Ruger 10/22 Target Lite is a thoughtful inclusion.

The Ruger 10/22 Target Lite utilizes Ruger’s BX rotary magazines. A ten round is supplied, however, single round, 15 and 25 round versions are available from The Ruger Shop.The single round magazine is useful when training new shooters. The magazine packaged with the Target Lite is opaque black. I inserted a picture of my clear magazine to illustrate its internal construction. How did I get a clear magazine? I know a guy… he answers the phone at the Ruger Shop. I slipped him $24.95 plus shipping and he sent an Item # 90223 to me.

The 10 round magazine tucks in close to the stock and out of the way, its insertion and removal made easy with an extended magazine release. Despite its light weight and compact form, the little rifle is hand filling at both the forearm and at the palm swelled pistol grip. These types of features makes the Target Lite easy to shoot accurately.

Both the stock’s comb and cheekpiece appear on both sides of the stock… which is a nice accommodation for those left handed shooters who whine that no one ever thinks of them. My words, certainly not Ruger’s words. Recoil pad spacers can be removed or added to give a shooter an optimal length of pull. The thumbhole stock gives a generous… thumbhole to allow even people with huge thumbs a steadying grip. The laminate is a nice alternative to a synthetic stock as it is more rigid, more stable and, within my sense of aesthetics, nicer looking.

The target rifle style stock is broad at the forearm and the barrel floats 1/4″+ above the barrel channel. Forearm side slots provide significant cooling. The muzzle is threaded a standard 1/2″-28 and a thread protector, pictured removed, is supplied with the rifle.

The smooth top receiver is drilled and tapped for scope mounts, a Weaver standard rail is in the box with the rifle. In this case, a set of Leopold PRW steel rings were used to mount a moderate magnification Leopold scope. The rings are secured longitudinally with steel cross bars so they stay put even in heavy use.

Yeah, yeah. Blah, blah… did you ever actually shoot the Target Lite…

Yes, I did, and thank you for tweeting @scooterking922. Four ammo types were selected at random and, with what should offer little surprise, they were shot through the Ruger Target Lite. Ammunition below, from left to right, is listed on the table top to bottom.