Ruger has finally officially announced the availability of the Ruger 50th Anniversary 10/22. The final production version of the rifle looks identical to the prototype we saw at SHOT Show earlier this year. The design was thought up by a TFB reader, Gary, who entered it into a competition Ruger ran and won. The MSRP is $379.

The rifle features a Ruger American-style interchangeable stock system, allowing the rifle to be customized for both length of pull (youth, full size) and comb height (an iron sight comb height and a optics height).

It has a low profile adjustable ghost-ring sight that sits to the rear of the picatinny rail. In their marketing material Ruger describes the rail and sight as “Scout Rifle-style accurate sighting system” and “Scout Rifle-style Picatinny rail”. Scout Rifle-style in gun literature usually refers to Col. Cooper’s scout rifle concept, in this case it refers to the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle. The sight, rail design and flash hider are very similar to what was used for the Ruger Gunsite rifle (one of my favorite Ruger rifle designs of all time).

Specifications:

Model Number: 11173
Caliber: 22 LR
Capacity: 10
Finish: Stainless
Sights: Non-Glare Post Front, Ghost Ring Adjustable Rear
Barrel Length: 18.50
Overall Length: 37.00
Weight: 5.00
Length of Pull: 13.50
Twist: 1:16″

From the press release …

Sturm, Ruger && Company, Inc. (NYSE-RGR), in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 10/22®, is proud to announce the 10/22® 50th Anniversary Design Contest Winning Rifle. The contest winning rifle, available only in 2014, takes the legendary action and renowned, reliable rotary magazine of the 10/22® and combines them with the best features of other popular Ruger® rifles. The result is a fun, versatile .22 rifle that enthusiasts of all ages are sure to enjoy.

The 10/22® 50th Anniversary Design Contest Winning Rifle is the result of Ruger’s most extensive Voice of the Customer Program ever: In late 2013, Ruger invited fans to submit ideas for their ideal 50th Anniversary 10/22®. Ten contest finalists were put to a vote on the Ruger website and, after almost 40,000 votes were tallied, the winner emerged!

“For 50 years, the Ruger 10/22® has been America’s favorite .22 rifle and this Contest Winning rifle is a great representation of what Ruger is trying to do today – listen to its customers,” said Chris Killoy, Ruger President and Chief Operating Officer. “The idea for this gun was submitted by one of our customers, and voted on by many more.

Based on the original 10/22® rifle, this model features the ergonomic, lightweight black composite stock and the Ruger® Modular Stock System from the Ruger American Rimfire™ rifle. It also includes a protected, non-glare post front sight, ghost ring adjustable rear aperture sight, and Picatinny rail from the popular Gunsite Scout Rifle. The special edition rifle is rounded out with a precision-rifled, cold hammer-forged, stainless steel barrel, which is capped with a blued alloy steel SR-556®/Mini-14®-style, 1/2”-28 thread flash suppressor

To further recognize the 50th Anniversary, this rifle and all 2014 production Ruger® 10/22® rifles will feature a special, limited-time “50th Anniversary Logo” bolt marking, “The Ruger 10/22 • 22 LR – Fifty • 1964-2014” receiver markings and a commemorative “50th Anniversary Logo” box.