Most useful 10/22 mod?

[ontarget]

What would you all say is the single most useful or best value mod for a 10/22 carbine? Not including optics. That one is kind of a gimmie.
Just looking for some upgrades for a plinker or tree rat hunter.

 

[entropy]

The modified bolt hold-open. 100 times easier to work with. The second most useful would be an extended mag release. Next would be a different bolt handle. For a raccoon gun, A stock with light rail.
Were I starting out today, I'd buy a Charger and put a brace on it, then all these mods, plus a few others.

 

[rabid wombat]

First, a good trigger....Then I like the bolt hold open....

 

[dieselchief]

it is Friday night and I think I am a comedian, soo use it for a down payment on a cz bolt gun. however next best thing would be rugers' upgraded trigger group. dc

 

[ontarget]

I knew someone would say "use it as a trade in". I know that would have been my reply. LOL.

 

[dak0ta]

Trigger

 

[Skylerbone]

One of my favorites to aid in reliable cycling of standard velocity ammo. Adding a radius to increase the bolt’s leverage when cocking the hammer.

All 4 of my 10/22s get this treatment, a Kidd bolt buffer, bolt hold open modification, stoning of the hammer to neutral, and I break the edges of the hammer main spring head and polish to prevent any binding. Same with the trigger’s return spring detent; round off and polish. One of mine actually has a Kidd replacement spring to reduce weight and it works nicely.


Bottom rear of bolt stoned and sanded to 600 grit.


This starts with a belt sander and 100 grit.


For anyone unfamiliar, that semi-circle is where the bolt stops against the rear pin or buffer if you added one.

 

[greyling22]

1) take off barrel band
2) fix the trigger. either with a vq hammer or by doing it myself.
3) extended mag release
4) replace stock, barrel bolt lock, add optics, add suppressor

 

[GoldieMI]

Where's @Picher at? He has a ton of experience and tricks/tips for this.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Titanium extractor.

 

[WestKentucky]

The quality levels from 10/22 carbine into some of the higher end models is truly unbelievable. The carbines however suck. New barrel for accuracy, new trigger, new stock to go along with barrel, extended bolt hold open, and the internal tricks the other guys have shown. Basically keep the reciever and replace the rest of the gun.

 

[kidneyboy]

Most useful is the bolt hold open. As long as it's taken apart to do that may as well upgrade the trigger and mag release. Pretty sure you can do all that for less than $100

 

[Picher]

Where's @Picher at? He has a ton of experience and tricks/tips for this.

I'm here. Just found this.
Perhaps the most useful mod is the grinding/polishing on the bolt handle, to allow it to slip easily back and forth in the bolt slot. That's what eliminates the dreaded "First Shot Flyer", which is caused by the bolt handle binding the firing pin. This was my favorite discovery/fix and almost anyone can do it.

Other fairly easy fixes are: 1. shimming and gluing-in the barrel, preferably with a new bull-barrel. 2. Glassbedding the action and installing a pressure pad in the forend (stiff stock forend required) with about 7 lbs of uplift. That anchors the rear of the action and makes the barrel-receiver very stable for each shot. (I've never tried the upward pressure trick with a factory plastic stock, but it works well with the target or deluxe wood stocks.)

 

[Sneakshot92]

The modified bolt hold-open. 100 times easier to work with. The second most useful would be an extended mag release. Next would be a different bolt handle. For a raccoon gun, A stock with light rail.
Were I starting out today, I'd buy a Charger and put a brace on it, then all these mods, plus a few others.

+1 on the bolt hold open. That and a drop in trigger group. Funny thing is I've yet do do either to mine. Found a gun I've been wanting so I bought it instead of ordering upgrades.

 

[Dunross]

Better trigger. I went with Brimstone Gunsmithing.

Better sights - aperture.

Extended mag release.

Modified bolt hold-open.

 

[CraigC]

For me it's hands down the auto bolt release. That thing drives me nuts. I can live with a stock 4-5lb trigger much easier than the factory bolt release. The factory part can be modified but I prefer the Power Custom version as it is longer and serrated. An easy trigger fix is the Volquartsen target hammer. Again, I prefer the Power Custom hammer/sear/trigger kit and their extended mag release.

The quality levels from 10/22 carbine into some of the higher end models is truly unbelievable. The carbines however suck. New barrel for accuracy, new trigger, new stock to go along with barrel, extended bolt hold open, and the internal tricks the other guys have shown. Basically keep the reciever and replace the rest of the gun.

There are different configurations but no grades of factory 10/22's. The only quality difference is in the custom shop models.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Ruger's BX trigger module -- nice break, lightweight, cheap (around $60 + postage on Gunbroker, if you shop) and includes extended mag release. There are better triggers, but the BX gives an excellent cost/benefit ratio. Got 2 so far.

Beyond that and the optic choice, most of my 10/22 mods have had to do with handling or special purposes.

 

[Ironicaintit]

Maybe I'm too low brow, but all I did to mine was add a Volquartsen extractor to fix it's occasional extraction problem, and she's good to go.
But after reading through all this... I may have to tinker with it some more. Or at least go fire it some, with a more critical eye

 

[MarshallDodge]

Put a CZ 45X action in it?

I agree with trigger mod/BX modification

 

[greyling22]

I'm here. Just found this.
Perhaps the most useful mod is the grinding/polishing on the bolt handle, to allow it to slip easily back and forth in the bolt slot. That's what eliminates the dreaded "First Shot Flyer", which is caused by the bolt handle binding the firing pin. This was my favorite discovery/fix and almost anyone can do it.

Other fairly easy fixes are: 1. shimming and gluing-in the barrel, preferably with a new bull-barrel. 2. Glassbedding the action and installing a pressure pad in the forend (stiff stock forend required) with about 7 lbs of uplift. That anchors the rear of the action and makes the barrel-receiver very stable for each shot. (I've never tried the upward pressure trick with a factory plastic stock, but it works well with the target or deluxe wood stocks.)

can you expand upon this? are you polishing the rod the spring rides on? the top of the handle where it rides on the top of the receiver? somewhere else?

 

[Riomouse911]

I did the BX trigger on my 1985 model, best mod ever for the heavy factory trigger pull.

Stay safe.

 

[kBob]

Chainsaw file and cut the heart out of the Bolt release
Razor blade, drill bit. vise. & stones trick on the hammer
replace mag release with some el cheapo
make or fake a pillar mount for the stock
fluff and buff anything that slides on something else in the trigger mech

Cost? your time and the cost and postage on the mag release. (someone gave me mine many years ago when they were trying different ones and decided not to keep this on my first mod, can you say "Ramline?" Scary I know but it works)

Nope not as good as the BX trigger group for pull and "weight" and not near as good as some of the pros, but a lot better than when I got them.

-kBob

 

[Old Stumpy]

One of my favorites to aid in reliable cycling of standard velocity ammo. Adding a radius to increase the bolt’s leverage when cocking the hammer.

Absolutely. I learned this with my present 10-22 and Federal blue box bulk.
Polishing the interior of the magazine lips and carefully rewinding the magazine springs to spec also helps.
It's possible that a factory magazine might be wound a bit tight, and it's easy to check.

 

[Picher]

can you expand upon this? are you polishing the rod the spring rides on? the top of the handle where it rides on the top of the receiver? somewhere else?

Honing/polishing the sides of the handle, so it slides in the bolt slot without binding the firing pin. Also the slot in the handle where the firing pin contacts the handle and any rough spots you can see on the bolt, including where the hammer rides on cocking.

The trigger mechanism requires more knowledge and today, I'd just buy an after-market one and not try to make it better myself. I've done a lot of trigger work, so it's not a big deal and I ended up with a very nice, light pull, but probably not as good as a drop-in by Timney, or whomever.

 

[doubleh]

I only have two 10/22s and as they came out of the box neither was accurate enough to be a dependable small game getter. One was bad, the other terrible when it came to accuracy. I went the "let's make a good gun out of these things" route over a period of time. All that remains of either of them that is original are the actions and bolts and the bolts have been modified. Green Mountain barrels, custom stocks I built from scratch, and replacement trigger groups. The BX trigger is quite a bit better than the stock one but seriously pales when compared to a Kidd. A lot of shooters on that rimfire forum will agree with me that Kidd builds the ultimate 10/22 trigger.

I love the 10/22 for it's ability to be turned into a great rifle. If it had to remain as it arrives in it's box I wouldn't own one. I really don't have any love for the Marlin model 60 either but when it comes to box stock 22 rifles I would take one any day over the 10/22.