Ruger 10/22 Custom Range Report

[cslinger]

Well I recently put this together as my first 10/22 project.

I am happy to report that without any tweaking or changes whatsoever it was 100% reliable with 400 rounds of mini mags and cheap Federal 550 Bulk pack.

I am also very happy with the way it shoots. My problem however is I am not a good rifle shot and don't have any kind of good mechanical rest so it's hard for me to really ring out a rifle but here is what I was able to do at 50 yards.

All groups were shot into the black shoot and see mini dots that are used to cover up the holes in the bigger targets. They are about the size of a quarter or so.

This first group was shot with the CCI Mini Mags and can be covered with a dime with the edges just sneaking out from under the dime. This was 10 rounds.

All of the next groups were shot with crappy Federal 550 Bulk pack.
6 shot group.

9 or 10 shot group.

10 shot group.

I am very happy with this and I am glad I didn't screw anything up.

 

[Sactown]

Try some more ammo. Wally World Win Dynapoint shoots the best outta my rig. Nice little clover leafs at 50yards.

 

[Sisco]

Good lookin' gun!
My custom 10/22 is the most fun gun I own. Try the dynapoints, good stuff, good price. My best groups came with Eley Match Target.

 

[Gewehr98]

If you're looking for the best group sizes...

Get one box each:

1. PMC Scoremaster
2. Winchester T-22
3. CCI Green Tag
4. Remington Target
5. Wolf Match
6. Wolf Match Extra
7. Remington/Eley Target
8. Aguila SE
9. Aguila Golden Eagle Target
10. Eley Tenex
11. Lapua Midas
12. RWS R-25 Match

There's several more, but that's a quick dozen that will probably give you some seriously tight 5 and 10-round groups.

 

[admar2]

sweet lookin gun chris, and seems to shoot pretty well too. need to get ya a rest to shoot it off of and see what it'll do.

now ya had to go and make me want a "pretty" 10/22. guess I'll be building another one soon.


could ya give everyone here a rundown on what ya got in her, and how much it cost?

 

[cslinger]

Fajen Stock and A&B barrel combo about $190
VQ TG2000 Trigger group about $150
Sightron SII 3-9x36 AO scope about $220
Butler Creek scope covers about $8
Doner Ruger 10/22 about $139

So basically way more money than any 10/22 should rightfully have dumped into it.

 

[BryanP]

Geez Chris, you spent about as much building that 10/22 as I did to build my AR.

OTOH that thing looks like a lot of fun. Congrats on your new toy.

 

[cslinger]

Yeah, well ask Admar2 how much he spent and you will get this forlorn look and a simple "We don't discuss how much money we have put into the 10/22."

One of the funniest comments I have ever heard.

All things considered I got really good deals on all the components and the scope was really the only big ticket item that drove the price up substantially. I had originally thought about an $80 Nikon fixed power scope but just came into a little money so I figured what the hell and bought an adjustable objective scope.

I have wanted to "build" a gun for quite some time now and kept going back an forth between picking up a C&R item and buidling something different out of it or building a 10/22. Basically I just couldn't bring myself to bubbaize a C&R firearm and I figured I would shoot .22 a lot more.

The thing I was most worried about was reliability. My stock 10/22 only tends to like hotter ammo and I was figuring that between a tighter chambered new barrel combined with the monkey installing it I would have problems. The reliability of the new rifle is what thrills me the most.

After shooting both of my 10/22s back to back I can now whole heartedly agree that every Ruger 10/22 should have at the very least their hammer replaced with either the VQ or Power Custom hammer. It really is amazing just how bad that stock Ruger trigger is. I had really wanted to keep my stainless 10/22 bone stock but I may just have to replace the hammer. Course that extended magazine release is very nice too.

Funny thing about .22LR. It is extremely cheap to shoot but my two favorite platforms to shoot it from are comparitively expensive. The new Ruger build, and my DPMS/Bushmaster dedicated .22LR AR15.

I cannot wait to get out to the range this weekend.

I wish I could say I had more money than brains but the truth of the matter is I really don't have much of either.

 

[twoblink]

It has little to do with the 10/22 I shot when I went for a visit..

Nice..

Would have preferred to buy an M1A with the money, but hey, to each his own..

 

[BryanP]

I've been reading on RimfireCentral and it looks like the most common initial upgrade is the Volquartsen target hammer, followed by the extractor. Having just picked up a 10/22 I think I'll leave it stock for at least a little while and then maybe try the hammer & extractor upgrade.

 

[cslinger]

Twoblink,

I actually still have my bone stock stainless 10/22 that you remember. I just couldn't get rid of that little guy.

Chris

 

[twoblink]

Chris,

drop a new hammer and sear combo, and get some williams firesights peep rears, and you will have a great little gun..

I love mine.. so has everybody who's ever shot it..

 

[admar2]

BryanP,

Believe me, the hammer upgrade is the most worthwile alteration you could ever make to your 10/22.


and yes, I've spent ALOT on my 10/22, and yet haven't spent anywhere near what some people do.

 

[yesterdaysyouth]

there's this old smih at a local shop that builds high dollar 10/22's (2-3K).. we were talking about one of his builds and he hands it to me and says "there's only one part that's still made by ruger... turn it over..."

i hardly see how it's still a 10/22 when the only ruger part is the mag....

the hammer is the first thing i did on mine, you won't regret it...

 

[cslinger]

Well I got the best group of my life today with this 10/22. Three shots of Remington/Eley Rifle Match ammo put into the same hole at 50 yards. It was basically one hole a little bigger then say what a .25 caliber round would make. I will probably never be able to do it again but it was cool to be able to do it once.

Chris

 

[Roland of Gilead]

I went a different route with my 10/22. I mostly assasinate tree dwelling rodents with mine. They don't co-operate well enough to stand there holding a heavy target barrel aimed at a limb where the SOB just flattened out while
the clock ticks. I'd get shaky after a minute even with my standard barrel.

So:
I started with a standard carbine: blue/wood $130
Then came <a href="butler%20creek" onmouseover="window.status='Butler Creek'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">Butler Creek</a> .920 co-Polymer and stock combo $180
Then it weighed 5 pounds and the trigger broke at 6, so I got a Volqartsen Grand Master Action kit and install for about $260. Dropped the pull to 2 pounds, no over-travel.
Swift 2-7X40mm scope.
And I need a new extractor. I hear get a volquartsen?


Personally I have the best groups when shooting outdoors with Federal Lightning ammo. It is currently being changed to Federal Champion High Velocity, but its the same ammo. Even in a stiff breeze it holds on.

10/22 are great.

 

[mtnbkr]

You've done the expensive stuff, now here's a couple of low cost items that will enhance your gun even further:

Bolt Buffer: will reduce the noise and "vibration" of the bolt hitting the factory steel "buffer". A Dakotsin buffer is $6 shipped (there are others, all work fine).

Volquartsen Extractor: Ensures proper extraction. Installs easily. Cost: $14

CPC Bolt Mods: Send your bolt to Connecticut Precision Chamberingto have the following done:
Bolt is disassembled, cleaned and polished. Headspace is surface ground and squared to a .0425 rim depth, the same as a bolt action rifle to tweak in a little accuracy. A hole is E.D.M'ed and a hardened stainless dowel pin is pressed in over the top of the front of the firing pin. This new dowel pin keeps the front of the firing pin from raising up and causing flyers and gives more consistant firing pin strikes. Rear/bottom of bolt body is heavily radiused for smoother bolt function with standard velocity ammo. The exposed side of the bolt is beautifully prism jeweled as a finishing touch. Cost: $50 shipped

Taken together, these mods will make your gun more reliable, more consistent, and smoother operating.

Sactown's advice on Dynapoints is good too. It's the best bulkpack 22lr out there (clean, accurate, consistent). That's all I run through my 10/22.

Chris

 

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

cslinger, that's one great looking and shooting fahr arrum.

Watch this space Christmas week for news of The OgRifle.


- pdmoderator

 

[CB900F]

Cslinger;

Another ammo you may find worth trying are the Winchester PowerPoints. They are extremely accurate in my Volquartsen 10/22.

900F