Ruger 10/22 accuracy

[Pinkycatcher]

Or you could just buy a Marlin and get an accurate gun out of the box.

I personally don't understand the desire to play tinker toys with one's own gun. If you're looking for ways to blow money, then whatever floats your boat. I'd think that "more guns" would be a better use for the money, personally.

This is we we economists call "taste"

[Rex B]

I understand the single biggest problem with 10/22 accuracy is the chamber.
There are gunsmiths who will rechamber your stock barrel and it will hold better groups.
There is a point of diminishing return, as tighter chambers are pickier about ammo.
Still, for about $50 I think it's worth it.

Now that I think of it, that is also said to be true of the Mini-14. Perhaps Rugers design team at that period chose to give up some accuracy to make them dead reliable.

Also, you can easily float your stock barrel. Just wrap some sandpaper around a 1/2" dowel and enlarge the stock so the barrel doesn't touch it.
About 1/6" gap.

Or you could just buy a Marlin and get an accurate gun out of the box.

I agree there. My Marlin 60 was cheaper, the stock fits a grown man better, and it's as accurate as anything under $300

[lrb111]

Or you could just buy a Marlin and get an accurate gun out of the box.

I agree there. My Marlin 60 was cheaper, the stock fits a grown man better, and it's as accurate as anything under $300

I also agree. I have 2 Marlin 60s, and love em. Added a new in box 10/22, no thrill for accuracy. Even though it did get me a marksman rating at the Appleseed shoot.

[PeteCamp]

I have to echo the trigger thought. I went way over what some here did though. I bought a Kidd. Wouldn't have gotten that except I was upgrading a Magnum Research model that already had custom everything and stock Ruger trigger. I have to say the Kidd was the best money I have ever spent on a 10/22.

Then I bought a CZ 452 Varmit. With Ely Match that crazy thing just makes everything else look like it is in granny gear!

[MechAg94]

Or you could just buy a Marlin and get an accurate gun out of the box.

I personally don't understand the desire to play tinker toys with one's own gun. If you're looking for ways to blow money, then whatever floats your boat. I'd think that "more guns" would be a better use for the money, personally.

I tend to agree but I bought a 10/22 as an impulse buy. I normally shot my Marlin 39A and a single shot Savage I have. I wasn't using it so recently I upgraded my 10/22 to shoot 17 HMII or Mach II ammo. In some stiff winds, I got under 2" at 100 yards the first time out. I plan to work that down some more. I ended up getting a new barrel, bolt, stock, and trigger parts. Now a 50 yard rifle is a 100 yard or more rifle using the same magazines, etc. The price may or may not be worth it to you. I have only shot it once since the mod so I have some more shooting to do to see how good my groups can get. I've gotten down to 1/2" with a match AR of mine so I hope to at least get down to 1". We'll see.

I don't always like modifying my guns, but it is fun and educational to pull it apart and put it back together again. In the same vain, I have changed out the extractor in a 1911. Working on guns can be fun if you have the time.

The only issue with getting a bull barrel for a 10/22 is you might need a new stock to go with it.

[Dusty Harry]

I caught a sale on 10/22 heavy barrel/laminated stock combinations from Midway a few years ago. $100 made a lot of difference in performance.

Trade up to one with the factory 'twizzler' barrel - mine will shoot close to a moa (topped w/Leupold 3x9). All factory stock, no muss, no fuss.

[Tregs]

I'm the OP, so here's an update after going to the range several times and talking to owners of stock rugers, stock Marlins, and modified Rugers.

After a few weeks of wondering whether to start dumping money into my 10/22, I stumbled across a used stock on Ebay last night. One thing led to another, and before my paypal account had a chance to breathe, I bought a nutmeg Barracuda stock, a 3-9x40 rimfire scope, a bolt buffer, and a extended mag release. I decided to build the Ruger rather than buy a Marlin for a couple of reasons:
- I already have a Ruger
- I like to tinker with stuff. Guns, trucks, whatever....and there is a HUGE aftermarket for 10/22

In the end, I decided it would be more a lot fun (and only slightly more expensive) to upgrade the Ruger rather than buy a Marlin (everyone I talked to who owned a Marlin and a Ruger agreed that the Marlin was more accurate out of the box). I'll let you know how it goes.
I'll clean up the trigger while I'm putting these parts on, then take it to the range and decide whether if anything else is needed. I'm looking for a good deal on a 16-18" bull barrel now. Back to Ebay and Rimfirecentral.com........

[Griz44]

Has anyone tried moving the optics to the barrel? Getting the optics off the receiver vastly improve the repeatability. No barrel float should be needed.
I say this because of my experience with the TCA Encore line. The scopes mount on the barrels, and every one of mine stays dead on accurate.

[Purplehood]

Wow. My sons stock Marlin out of the box including scope was $149. I just can't imagine getting a new barrel for it that costs nearly as much as the entire weapon. If I was really going for extreme accuracy I would probably have bought him a more expensive weapon in the first place.
As mentioned previously, the Marlin is already pretty darn good.

[Oldgringo]

I just sawed off the tip of my 10/22 walnut carbine stock and routed out the barrel grove to accept the .920 E&B bull barrel using a 7/8" dowel wrapped with #50 grit sandpaper followed by 100 grit. That only took a few minutes.

Today, I'm going to order a 4.5-14x40 Mueller APV scope and come to some sort of decision on the abominable trigger inherent to 10/22's. I'm also going to take the stock down to bare wood for a new Tru-Oil finish and ponder pillar bedding.

If this 10/22 "build" shoots any better than my stock 10/22 Deluxe (1 MOA) with its .22 Simmons Mag scope, I won't be able to stand it.

[Tregs]

Oldgringo,
What is pillar bedding? I've seen this mentioned several times as I peruse the 10/22 sites.

[Oldgringo]

Oldgringo,
What is pillar bedding? I've seen this mentioned several times as I peruse the 10/22 sites.

Well, it ain't a Doris Day and Rock Hudson movie. (There may be a half dozen on here who will get this stab at humor).

It's a method of taking the peculiarities of wood out of play between the action screws and the receiver by using metal to metal contact surfaces. Czech out the Rimfire Central Forum ,there is so much information thereon as to boggle the mind.

[blackdog8200]

For what it is worth, my 1981 10/22 is fussy with the type of ammo. It will shoot anything reliably but for tack driving the "subsonic" stuff works the best. The CCI stingers and Vipers etc hit hard but the groups are inconsistant to say the least. However the slower lead ammo works great.

Having said all that i do want a bull barrel, tricky stock newer one....one can never have too many guns