Ruger are now offering a pistol with the 10/22 action! This is big news. Many Ruger 10/22 fans long to be able to create ‘ultimate’ 10/22 pistols but you cannot legally take a rifle and convert it into a pistol.

I predict that within a few months there are going to be hordes of 3rd party accessories to allow anyone to customize the Charger. We will be seeing ‘1911’ Chargers etc. Already you can use the vast quantity of 10/22 accessories.

It will be selling for $ 369.50 which includes the bi-pod, not not the scope. Seems a bit pricy.

Ruger’s press release:

The Ruger 22 Charger™ Pistol delivers the fun, versatility and reliability of the time tested Ruger 10/22® in a handgun. The 22 Charger features a 10-inch precision-rifled barrel mounted in an ergonomically designed, warp-proof, laminated stock. The adjustable bipod that ships with every 22 Charger pistol provides added control and stability on the range or in the field. A new extended magazine release allows easy removal of the legendary Ruger 10-shot rotary magazine.

Whether you prefer a high magnification scope for long-range varmint shooting, or a red dot sight for quick and sure target acquisition, a combination Weaver®-style and “tip-off” sight mount allows your choice of optics. Either way, it is a great new pistol for long-range target shooting.

The Ruger 22 Chargerâ„¢ pistol has an overall length of 19-1/4 inches and weighs 3-1/2 pounds, without the supplied bipod. The matte black finish compliments the black laminate stock and completes the weather-resistant package. It comes with a gun rug bearing the Ruger logo.

More on the pistol (from Ruger):

• Ruger 10/22® action with extended magazine release for easy removal.
• Ergonomically designed, warp-proof, laminated stock maintains accurate zero.
• Precision-rifled barrel for long-range accuracy.
• A manual safety that positively locks the sear.
• All 22 Chargers come with a precision-adjustable bipod for rock-steady sighting.
• Unique combination Weaver®-style and “tip-off” optical sight mount give shooters freedom to use their choice of optics.
• Compact, light weight package with a barrel length of 10″, overall length of 19 1/4″, and weight of only 3.5 lbs (without bipod).

Specs:

Caliber: .22 LR
Capacity: 10 Rounds
Finish: Black Matte
Grip: Black Laminate
Barrel Length: 10″
Groove: 6
Twist: 1:16″ RH
Overall Length: 19 1/4″
Weight: 3 1/2 lbs
California Approved: No
Massachusetts Approved: No
Front Sight(s): N/A
Rear Sight(s): N/A
Other Features: Cross Bolt Safety; Extended Magazine Release
Suggested Retail Price: $ 369.50
Miscellaneous: Black Matte 22 Charger. Bipod included.

A video showing the Charger. It looks like a lot of fun.

Some more photos:


As you can see it is a standard 10/22 action:

UPDATE

GunBlast have written a review on the Charger

With most firearms that come in for review, I pass it around a bit to other shooters to get their opinions. However, promising to keep the Charger hidden until December 17th, I had to keep this one to myself. My wife did catch me playing with the pistol, and stated ; “That’s the coolest thing I’ve ever seen!” That means a lot coming from her, as she is not really into guns, and has become pretty jaded over the past twenty-eight years, seeing a lot of firearms come through here. In fact, for our tenth wedding anniversary, I gave her a brand new Ruger 10/22 rifle. It was our 10th, and we were married on the 22nd, so it seemed like a natural choice to me. She has never fired it. After watching me shoot the Charger, she liked it. She wants to shoot this one.

With the superb pedigree of the famous Ruger 10/22 rifle behind it, I think that the .22 Charger will find a lot of owners. It is a great little plinker, and would just be perfect for shooting the game of rimfire silhouette, or any other animated target game. As a hunting pistol, it should prove to be very successful, as it handles like the good single shot and bolt action pistols on the market, but with the reliable ten-shot semi-auto action of the 10/22 rifle.

UPDATE

It is very similar to Hornet Custom COBRA Pistol which is also based on a 10/22 action.

UPDATE

I have read the reason it is not California legal is because the magazine is outside of the pistol grip. This makes it an AOW (All other weapon) assault weapon under California law, see dogon1013’s comment below.

UPDATE

The, much more expensive, MagnumLite PiCuda Pistols are very similar, based on a 10/22 action, and available in .17 Mach 2

UPDATE

Mr Completely has posted a review:

The trigger pull is a bit heavy but it was quite crisp. It wouldn’t hurt to put in a good trigger kit like a Volquartsen or Jard system. Maybe when we get a warm calm day I’ll get some fresh ammo and try it without handicapping the pistol. If you want to shoot it without the bipod the legs flip forward but it feels kind of awkward. Fortunately the bipod attaches to a sling swivel mount with a pin and comes off with the turn of a thumb screw. My shooting buddy like Mr. C is a lefty and even people who shoot with the wrong hand find the stock comfortable. He didn’t even get hit with the ejected brass. He said that was a plus and claims that brass hitting the forehead is somewhat distracting and affects accuracy.

Both of us were really pleased with the new Charger, and it looks just as good in person as it does in the picture.