Best Ruger 10/22 Magazine: BX-1, BX-15, BX-25 or a Drum?
by Shooting Surplus
The short answer
For most 10/22 owners the best magazine is the one Ruger makes. The BX-1 is the 10 round rotary magazine the rifle was designed around, and it is the one to buy first. If you want more rounds between reloads, Ruger's own BX-15 and BX-25 are the step up, and they are built for the same rifles. Everything else is a specialty item. Here is how we'd sort them, using what we stock in our 10/22 magazines section.
Ruger BX-1: the 10 round rotary
The BX-1 is a flush-fit 10 round rotary magazine for 22 LR. The listing says it fits the Ruger 10/22, SR-22, Charger, American Rimfire and 77/22. It is the magazine to own several of. It sits flush with the stock, so the rifle still rests on a bench or in a case the way it did out of the box, and it is the only one of the bunch that is 10 rounds, which matters in states that cap capacity. We sell it as a 3-pack, which is the right number for a range day with a kid or two.
Ruger BX-15: 15 rounds, still Ruger
The BX-15 holds 15 rounds of 22 LR and the listing says it fits the 10/22, SR-22, Charger, Ruger American and 77/22. It is the middle option: it sticks out of the stock, but not as far as the 25. If you shoot steel or do a lot of plinking and want fewer reloads without a long stick hanging off the rifle, this is the one.
Ruger 10/22 BX-15 22 LR 15 round magazine.
Don't confuse it with the BX-15 Magnum. That magazine is for 17 HMR and 22 WMR rifles, the American Rimfire and 77/17, and it will not work in a 22 LR 10/22. The names are close and the listings look alike, so read the caliber before you add to cart.
Ruger BX-25: 25 rounds for high volume
The BX-25 holds 25 rounds of 22 LR, and the listing says it fits the 10/22, Charger, SR-22 and 77/22. It is the magazine most people picture when they think of a 10/22 extended mag. We stock it as a 2-pack. It is the pick for a full afternoon of plinking, for a Charger pistol, or for anyone who finds reloading a 10 rounder every minute tiresome.
Ruger 10/22 BX-25 22 LR 25 round magazine 2-pack.
Capacity is where state law comes in. Magazines over 10 rounds are restricted in some states and some cities. We can't tell you what applies where you live, so check your state and local laws and read our state restrictions page before ordering a BX-15 or BX-25.
GSG 110 round drum: the range toy
German Sports Guns makes a 110 round drum for the Ruger 10/22 in 22 LR. It is the biggest magazine we stock for the rifle. It is also big and heavy next to a BX magazine, so it is a range day item, not something you hunt with or leave in the rifle in the safe. If your idea of fun is loading once and shooting for a long time, this is the one; if you want reliability and simplicity above all, stay with the Ruger rotary mags.
German Sports Guns Ruger 10/22 22 LR 110 round drum magazine.
Which magazines are not for a 10/22
Search results for Ruger magazines mix in a lot of things that look right and aren't. Mini-14 magazines are 223 Remington and fit a centerfire rifle, not a 10/22. Mark III and Mark IV magazines are 22 LR but fit Ruger's pistols, not the rifle. The BX-15 Magnum is for 17 HMR and 22 WMR. If the title does not say 10/22 or 22 LR, it is not what you are after.
How we'd buy
Start with a BX-1 3-pack. Add a BX-15 or a BX-25 2-pack if your state allows it and you shoot enough to want it. Skip the drum unless you know you want a drum. Every magazine here ships straight to you with no FFL involved, subject to the state limits above.
Products in this post
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best magazine for a Ruger 10/22?
- The Ruger BX-1 10 round rotary magazine. It is the factory design for the rifle, sits flush with the stock, and is legal in every state we ship to. Buy a 3-pack and add a BX-15 or BX-25 if you want more capacity.
- Does the Ruger BX-25 fit every 10/22?
- The BX-25 is made by Ruger and the listing says it fits the 10/22, Charger, SR-22 and 77/22 in 22 LR. It is a 25 round extended magazine, so it will stick out below the stock.
- Will 10/22 magazines fit the Ruger American Rimfire?
- The BX-1 and BX-15 listings say they fit the American Rimfire in 22 LR along with the 10/22, SR-22, Charger and 77/22. The BX-25 listing names the 10/22, Charger, SR-22 and 77/22.
- Does the BX-15 Magnum work in a 10/22?
- No. The BX-15 Magnum is a 15 round magazine for 17 HMR and 22 WMR rifles, the Ruger American Rimfire and 77/17. The 10/22 is a 22 LR rifle, so you want the standard BX-15, not the Magnum.
- Can I buy a 25 round 10/22 magazine in my state?
- Magazines over 10 rounds are restricted in some states and cities. We can't give legal advice, so check your state and local laws and our state restrictions page, which lists what we can ship where.
- Is the 110 round drum worth it?
- If you want to load once and shoot for a long stretch at the range, yes. It is heavier and bulkier than a Ruger BX magazine and is not something you would hunt with. For most owners the BX-1, BX-15 and BX-25 cover everything.
- Do Ruger Mark IV magazines fit a 10/22?
- No. Mark III and Mark IV magazines are 22 LR but they are built for Ruger's pistols. Mini-14 magazines are 223 Remington for a centerfire rifle. Neither fits the 10/22.