(A gently modded 10/22 with IDF forces in 2000)
Posted on 10/19/2015 9:38:32 AM PDT by Perseverando
Ever since their beginnings in 1948, the Israeli Defense Force has had to think outside the box to come up with weapon's systems, therefore it shouldn't surprise you that for the past 20 years the Israelis have used a (much-modified) 10/22 for use in both special operations and in security operations.
(A gently modded 10/22 with IDF forces in 2000)
The background
Going back to 1987, the IDF purchased a quantity of Ruger 10/22s for use by security forces in the Palestinian Intifada, a violent uprising in the West Bank and Gaza Strip that led to a number of deaths on both sides. Hallmarked by rock throwing, molotov cocktails, and slingshots by the Palestinians (backed by the PLO, Fatah, the Popular Front, the Democratic Front and the Palestine Communist Party), no less than 60 Israeli military and police were killed by 1993.
This led the Israelis to go a bit harder from rubber bullets and tear gas-- the traditional less-lethal tools of the age, and use .22LR rifle fire aimed at the legs of armed intifada participants, as a next step. It seems it's hard to keep your motivation to throw rocks with a 40-grain round in your shin.
The guns used by the IDF at the time were standard wooden-stocked 10/22s modified by the Italian firm of Sabatti with a heavy bull barrel encased by an integral suppressor that looks all the world like a 6 D-Cell Maglite. Drilled and tapped for a full-sized Weaver base, the gun was given a 4x optic of various manufacture and a Harris-style adjustable bipod forward.
(Use of the 10/22 always seems to be in conjunction with other soldiers armed with M16, Tavor or Galil rifles)
It's not known just how many of these guns the Israelis picked up, but they have been widely seen in the West Bank and Gaza for the past two decades.
Their use, however, was controversial an in 2001 they were ordered restricted from use as a "less lethal" weapon.
(AP Photo)
"The mistake was that the Ruger came to be seen as a means of dispersing demonstrations, in contrast to its original purpose as a weapon in every respect," said a senior IDF officer at the time. "The ballistics of the bullet are different from those of regular bullets, and as a result, it is liable to cause excessive damage when used indiscriminately."
Then in 2008, the guns were brought back online and have been used extensively since then with a different set of rules of engagement that restrict the use of them in circumstances where lethal force is authorized.
An Israeli border guard aims his 10/22 during clashes with Palestinian protesters following an anti-Israeli protest after the weekly Friday prayers on September 18, 2015 in the Israeli-controlled area called H2, in the West Bank town of Hebron. Note the BX-25, well-worn stock and receiver, and improvised cheek pad. Image by Hazem Bader/AFP
I have a 10/22 stainless with a suppressor and a Leupold FXII handgun scope (long focal point) mounted in a guide forward position and with a TAPCO tactical stock. GREAT gun.
That said, the 25 and 50 round (a double 25) Ruger magazine are a little wieldy. I also have a Marlin 60 tube-fed magazine that functions just as well but isn’t threaded for a suppressor. To tell you the truth, both have their uses and both stack up equally in most accounts, IMO
Subsonic but deadly rounds. And, it can be suppressed to almost silent. With the noise of an uprising, people just seem to fall down until the medics get to them.
I can see where that might be a significant stumbling block for your average rock-throwing "protester"...
Where do you purchase that kind of thing?
I agree. My ONLY complaint about mine (and the weapon in general) is that the action does not remain open after firing the final from a magazine.
I wonder if I can get one of those barrels for mine.
hard to keep your motivation to throw rocks with a 40-grain round in your shin
Same can be said for a 1/4 inch hex nut fired from a wrist rocket. A little harder to aim though.
Personally a 22 cal to the shin will keep them from throwing rocks for a few weeks but I think a 223/5.56 at 28K-30K fps to the chin, oops I meant shin will keep them out of the fight for a long time if not for ever. Oh how political correctness has taken over warfare. Oh, I forgot, that depends on whose side you are on doesn't it.
We used them to shoot out street lights and mirrors in hostage/barricaded situations.
The model 60 tends to be slightly more accurate than the 10/22 and is cheaper.
The 10/22 has a huge number of accessories, I guess more than anything except maybe the AR-15.
Perfect weapon for destroying groundhogs and other vermin ...
.30 to the head will keep them out of action even longer.
I have a Magnum Research .22 Mag 10/22 style rifle with a Leupold 3X9 and it is one of the best rimfire rifles I have ever shot.
My two oldest boys wore there 10/22’s completely out when they were practicing for competition but it must have taken 20-30K rounds.
The suppressed barrels on the Israeli rifles are very very quiet. I am not familiar with that Italian brand but I have heard several others and they all worked great.
**** “I wonder if I can get one of those barrels for mine” ****
Me Too
If you could hit them in the shin, couldn’t you hit them in the knee?
wouldn’t a knee shot be forever?
I can see where that might be a significant stumbling block for your average rock-throwing “protester”....The .223 was designed to cause lots of wounds to tie up the enemy to serve the wounds, which ties up lots of people, and not kill outright.
That’s true.....I’ve looked into getting the barrel threaded but that’s not a simple thing to get done, IMO.
“And, it can be suppressed to almost silent.”
All you hear is the wailing of the widows in the morning.
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