I’ve wanted to fall head-over-heels in love with Ruger’s 10/22 for as long as I can remember. It’s one of the best-shooting, most reliable little rimfire rifles in history. It’s as modular as a box of Legos and just about as bulletproof as a roofing nail. But no matter how many times I picked one up, I always ended up putting it back down, shaking my head like a disappointed parent at a PTA meeting.
Why? Simple. I’m a stubborn, unrepentant lefty. And shooting a standard 10/22 means I’m about one mag dump away from a brass-and-gas facial that makes it look like I lost a bar fight with a toaster. Every time I shouldered a right-hand-only 10/22, a small, nervous twitch would start in my left eye, because deep down I knew what was coming: a face full of spent shells and hot ejection gases.
Now, I’m used to the indignities of being a left-handed shooter in a world built by and for righties. We southpaws are a tough bunch. But Ruger’s refusal to offer a left-hand 10/22 all these years has been a personal betrayal right up there with New Coke and the Star Wars prequels. I even avoided using those tempting 30-round banana mags because dumping 30 rounds straight into my own cheekbone just didn’t seem like the best way to end an afternoon at the range.
Enter Redemption: Ruger’s Custom Shop has finally come to its senses and delivered the goods—a dedicated left-handed 10/22, purpose-built for us oddballs. And folks, it’s not just a cheap mirrored version of the base model. This bad boy is a full-blown Competition rifle, dressed to the nines, complete with an adjustable laminate stock, threaded and ported barrel, excellent trigger, and all the bells and whistles a southpaw could ask for. It retails for around $1,000—which, yes, will make you wince a little—but hear me out.
This isn’t just a pretty face either. The 10/22 Competition Left-Hand Model is spooky accurate. It shoots like a dream, handles like it was built specifically for your hands (because it was), and sports an optics-ready 30 MOA Picatinny rail to stretch out your shots farther than you probably should admit you’re attempting with a .22 LR. Whether you’re gearing up for NRL22 matches, Precision Rimfire Challenges, or just want to show the local rabbit population who’s boss, this thing is ready to roll.
First Impressions: Built Like a Brick Outhouse
The rifle tips the scales at about 6 pounds, making it feel like a “real gun” instead of a featherweight plinker. Ruger blessed it with a slick gray-speckled laminate stock, an aggressive semi-beavertail forend, and a nicely adjustable cheek riser that can jack your face up nearly two inches above the bore—essential for those of us who slap 50mm or 56mm objective scopes on everything like they’re going out of style.
The 13.5-inch length of pull feels just right, and the wide forend balances the gun beautifully. Whether you’re slapping plates at 50 yards or reaching out to 200+ (because why not?), it stays planted and steady like it’s bolted to the bench.
The barrel? Ruger wasn’t fooling around here either. The cold hammer-forged bull barrel has a 1:16 right-hand twist, is fluted to shave some weight, and is topped with a ½-28 threaded muzzle for either the included brake or your favorite suppressor.
I tested both, and while the suppressor made it movie-quiet and adorable, the brake actually kept the handling livelier for walking and hunting. Unless you’re committed to sneaky backyard pest control, I’d lean brake for everyday fun.
Trigger Time: Oh Yeah, It’s Good
The BX-Trigger is a massive upgrade over Ruger’s standard offering. It breaks at around 2.5 pounds with a short take-up and a crisp, clean release. Reset is short and positive. If you’ve spent any time gritting your teeth over the heavy, gritty triggers of budget 10/22s, this will feel like someone opened a window and let fresh air into your soul.
The 30 MOA rail might frustrate casual plinkers who aren’t running scopes with a boatload of internal elevation adjustment, but for those of us who actually intend to stretch our .22s past spitting distance, it’s a blessing. Dial up, dial down—it’s all within reach.
Lefty Love: Genuine Southpaw Engineering
Here’s where things really get good: Ruger didn’t half-bake the southpaw conversion. The left-ejecting receiver and new rotary magazine were built from scratch to be mirror-images of the originals. Yes, it requires lefty-specific mags (no, your old right-hand ones won’t work). But Ruger and aftermarket folks have plenty available, running around $60 a pop. Easy to identify too, thanks to the green follower and big “10SHOTLH” marking.
The magazine release is oversized and intuitive, and the mag catch is strong enough to survive even the most violent tactical mag drops your inner child can dream up.
Safety? Properly reversed. Cross-bolt, push-through, no more awkward hand gymnastics to engage or disengage like a circus seal.
The receiver is CNC machined from stress-relieved 6061-T6511 aluminum, while the match bolt is heat-treated and nitrided for longevity. Throw in an oversized charging handle you can find with winter gloves, and you’ve got a rifle that’s built to run hard and long.
Range Results: Half-Inch Smiles
I wasn’t trying to set world records, but my informal testing showed this rifle will absolutely print if you do your part. Best results came with CCI Green Tag 40-grain loads (shocker), followed closely by Federal Small Game 25-grainers and trusty old Winchester Super-X hollow points.
At 50 yards, my groups hovered between half an inch and 0.7 inches across a half-dozen brands. That’s solid real-world performance without even dipping into the fancy $20-a-box boutique match ammo.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth the Grand?
Look, $1,000 for a .22 might seem like Ruger’s lost their marbles. I get it. But if you want a true left-handed, semi-auto rimfire rifle that’s built to win matches and still durable enough to ride around the back of your truck during rabbit season, this is the ticket.
Sure, there are other lefty-friendly bolt guns out there—Savage’s B22 and Mark II lines are great, and CZ’s 457 Varmint is a classic—but if you want semi-auto speed and modularity, Ruger’s 10/22 Competition Left-Hand Model is the only real game in town.
I ended up buying my test rifle. It wasn’t even a tough decision. The fit, the feel, the easy scope swaps with the Pic rail… it just makes sense. Plus, finally being able to blast away without catching brass in the face? Priceless.
