I was notified of the as-of-then-unannounced new Ruger Collector’s Series addition in July, when one shipped to my licensee. It’s the fourth edition of the series, a 10/22, commemorating “Vote 2020,” celebrating self-government and all the good things that go with it. A “Vote 2020” metal street sign, a pin and a $25 gift certificate from shopruger.com accompanies the gun as well as a commemorative decal.

The bolt has the Collector’s Series marking. The muzzle is threaded for a muzzle device (1/2"-28) and the gun is 10/22 through-and-through; it’s the same down to the rotary 10-shot magazine and the action, as well as a standard barrel length. The synthetic stock is hydro-dipped with a full-length American flag. It has a striking appearance.

The "RCS4" 10/22 is visually appealing and has some unique aspects. Below, the sighting arrangement makes for great shooting - the aperture rear sight at the back of the long 'pic' rail over the receiver.

As for other differences, the front sight has protective wings and the rear sight, at the end of the receiver-length picatinny rail, is an adjustable ghost ring. In addition to commemorative goodies, the gun ships with the aforementioned detachable, 10-round rotary magazine.

Weighing in at just under five pounds empty, the gun is slim and reasonably short at 37” in length. Part of that is taken up with the 18 ½” barrel.

I was able to discreetly take the then-unknown version of the 10/22 to the range to give it a short examination. While it’s a collector’s gun, I’m not a collector – just a shooter.

From a seated rest at the short backstop end of the rimfire/BP range, I first checked zero with Federal excellent Hunter Match ammo. The first five rounds I fired went into 1 ½” right in the middle of an NRA B-8 repair center.

That’s a good start.

The serial number has the "RCS4" prefix, noting it's a collector series gun. Below, with low-cost Blazer ammo, the new 10/22 shoots very well.

I then moved to Geco 22 lr semi-auto, a 40-grain solid. Five bullets went into an inch extreme spread – right in the bull.

Using promotional ammo, this time Blazer 22, I put five of the forty-grain bullets into 1 ½”, just over the sights. Still close enough.

Finally, I tried CCI “Clean-22” 40 grain ammo. Five bullets went into 1 ¼” – remarkable for value priced ammo, with the best three of five (without my shooter induced flyers) crowding into a ½” hole.

The sights are aces all around, though a bit hard to see against the shaded part of the B-8. Some of the tight grouping of the “Clean-22” could be because I used a 6 o’clock hold. Four pills hit the “10” ring at 6 o’clock, centered for windage, with the low flyers in the “9” ring below.

I imagine that younger eyes and hands would keep this thing inside of three inches at fifty yards without an optic. I might be able to make that with a scope.

If you want to buy this to shoot, that’s a great plan. I asked about a similar sighting arrangement for a regular production 10/22 and wasn’t told “no” exactly. It was more implied as a “not yet.”

I’m hoping that’s good information. Another great gun from Ruger – get this one while you can.

-- Rich Grassi