A Really Disappointing Ruger 10/22 Range Day

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Phydeaux642

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This past weekend I changed the Ruger factory tapered barrel out for a Feddersen 18" bull barrel. I was excited to get to the range today to see how much better it was going to be, but left pretty disappointed.
I started out at 25 yards to get it dialed in and was really starting to get impressed with the new barrel with ragged hole groups.
After I moved out to 50 yards it started looking like I was shooting a shotgun. I had one 1/2" group and the rest I wouldn't call groups at all.
As I was putting things away I noticed that I had grabbed a box of Blazer .22lr along with the normal CCI Standard Velocity that I shoot. I have no idea what groups I shot with the Blazer, but I'm hoping that that is part of the problem. If not, I'm sending this barrel back and putting the factory barrel back on.
I think this may very well have been one of the most frustrating range trips I've had.
 
So, it was really a disappointing Feddersen-barrel day, not a disappointing Ruger 10/22 day?

Did you shoot the gun before altering it? If so, did it shoot better than with the Feddersen in place?

Your headline sounds like the 10/22 let you down, but I'm wondering if it was more the new barrel. I'm not familiar with those barrels.
 
I'm guessing you have an ammo issue.

I have had ammo group really well at 25 and like crap at 50. Then another ammo have so-so groups at 25 and shoot great at 50.

Same with center fire on 100 and 200 yard targets. My .260Rem shoots 140 gr 1" groups at 100 yards, but 4" at 200. Loading 120 gr Nosier, 1 1/2" at 100 yards. But moving to 200 yards, it still shoots 1 1/2" groups.
 
Yes, I did shoot the 10/22 a number of times and it did exactly what it was supposed to do. I just wanted to tighten up the groups for fun. I didn't intend to blame the 10/22 specifically.
Feddersen is not as well known as Kidd and Volquartsen but they have good things said about them.
And, yes, I'm hoping it is an ammo issue...really hoping.
 
It sounds like you are on the right track trying additional ammo. Every rimfire I have shoot some better than others…

The .22 WMR Ruger American is fairly consistent with several plinking and hunting grade loads, but it loves the Federal, Aguilar and Armscor in that order (5 shots, Front rest at 35 yds.)

5865BC05-D2C7-43DC-B2E8-E9D1E4FEEC14.jpeg 17F047B3-27E8-4EDB-8BEF-E560F0B1A0C9.jpeg

The 10/22 International likes the Blazer (10 shots, Same front rest and 35 yard distance).

ACE21EDE-FBE1-4066-A6B2-0EF009662409.jpeg
Give a few more a try, you’ll probably find the gem it loves

Stay safe.
 
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Some folks will say that a new barrel needs a little seasoning before it gets right. That seems to be the case with my Shaw on my 10/22. You most assuredly need to try several more different kinds of ammo before swearing it off. Another thing to consider is that if it was doing well then went to patterns, is that you may have developed a scope issue.
 
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I’d go back and check torque on everything from V-block to scope rings to stock; that barrel should shoot lights out.

While rimfires are ammo sensitive it should not be shooting “patterns”. The problem with most plinking ammo is that few test it beyond 25 yards and once they venture out further, what looked to be great groups become, well, patterns.

The joys of shooting a tuned .22 with ammo it prefers are boundless, but the journey has its lows as well.
 
Riomouse911 said:
It sounds like you are on the right track trying additional ammo. Every rimfire I have shoot some better than others…

The .22 WMR Ruger American is fairly consistent with several plinking and hunting grade loads, but it loves the Federal, Aguilar and Armscor in that order (5 shots, Front rest at 35 yds.)

View attachment 1024392
View attachment 1024393

The 10/22 International likes the Blazer (10 shots, Same test and 35 yard distance).

View attachment 1024394

Give a few more a try, you’ll probably find the gem it loves

Stay safe.
Click to expand...

How are the receiver and barrel bedded? I generally glassbed the receiver and the first couple of inches of barrel, then provide about 6 lbs. epoxy pad uplift on a heavy barrel near the tip of the receiver. This may be the best way to bed a Ruger, due to flexibility of the aluminum receiver.
 
The 10/22 is stock. The RAR is mounted in a Boyd’s laminate stock and the barrel is free floated.

So far no shifting of POI on either rifle. If I start to get a wandering POI I’ll certainly look to your method as a fix :thumbup:.

Stay safe.
 
I’d go back and check torque on everything from V-block to scope rings to stock; that barrel should shoot lights out.
Click to expand...

I've got a torque wrench coming.

How are the receiver and barrel bedded?
Click to expand...

It's a Magpul X-22 Hunter stock. At the front of the forend there is a half circle shaped piece that you can adjust upwards to put pressure on the barrel. That's the only thing I've done to it so far.
 
All of your 25 yard groups show multiple outliers with the ammo you’re using but it also appears that something changed to take 1/2” or smaller groups to multi-inch. I’d suggest that run down on everything and smaller targets along with a change in ammo.
 
I'd try different flavors of ammo like others suggest. CCI Velociter and Stinger, Ely if you can find it also. Those work nicely in my plinkers when I need to get more accurate.
 
Phydeaux642 said:
This past weekend I changed the Ruger factory tapered barrel out for a Feddersen 18" bull barrel. I was excited to get to the range today to see how much better it was going to be, but left pretty disappointed.
I started out at 25 yards to get it dialed in and was really starting to get impressed with the new barrel with ragged hole groups.
After I moved out to 50 yards it started looking like I was shooting a shotgun. I had one 1/2" group and the rest I wouldn't call groups at all.
As I was putting things away I noticed that I had grabbed a box of Blazer .22lr along with the normal CCI Standard Velocity that I shoot. I have no idea what groups I shot with the Blazer, but I'm hoping that that is part of the problem. If not, I'm sending this barrel back and putting the factory barrel back on.
I think this may very well have been one of the most frustrating range trips I've had.
Click to expand...
You need to try different ammo to see what that rifle likes.
 
You need to try different ammo to see what that rifle likes.
Click to expand...

The problem with that for me is I'm not willing to pay $.30 a round for .22lr. If the new barrel can't shoot better groups than the factory barrel with CCI Standard Velocity then I'll just reinstall the Ruger barrel and send this one back. This is turning into a money pit really quickly.
 
Try this: Take the barreled action out of the stock and clamp the action in a padded vise. Then grab the end of the barrel and see if you can move it around. I did it and found that the aluminum action is too flexible to be consistent, especially with ammo that isn't close to perfectly uniform. That's why I recommend bedding the barrel in the forend tip with several pounds of uplift force. A 10-22 will group more consistently with solid contact at both the action and forend tip. A stiff synthetic stock is better for consistency, regardless of humidity and temperature, especially when the barrel is bedded in the forend.
 
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