10/22 Conversion to smooth bore
- Thread starter Freedom95
- Start date
Blastattack
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Winnipeg MB
Why on earth would you do that?
Probably will improve the accuracy of a stock 10/22 
I have a smoothbore Savage that patterns really well with the Federal crimped loads. I wish it was at least a magazine fed rifle instead of single shot. If you can get a smoothbore 10/22 to cycle, that would be a fun project!
I have a smoothbore Savage that patterns really well with the Federal crimped loads. I wish it was at least a magazine fed rifle instead of single shot. If you can get a smoothbore 10/22 to cycle, that would be a fun project!
I'm going to guess 22 shotshells.
Mostly a 22 for shooting grasshoppers. Some guys will convert rifles to purely shoot the 22LR shotshells available. My favorite is the CCI load, but I think those work best with a bit of rifling as they have a plastic capsule the shot is supposed to ride in then brake away similar to a shot wad. Federal and Winchester make a crimped load which is basically a brass shotshell.
I think it could be done especially on the 10/22 there are so many ways you can go about making the action reliably cycle low speed ammo shotshells. I think the biggest issue would be making the magazine function correctly with crimped shells. CCI wouldn't be an issue.
For sure the stock setup wouldn't cycle with the federals, no experience on whether the cci pack a bit more punch.
I do know a fella who just got an old bolt action 22 and it has a routledge bore which he says works just fantastic for shot, but semi accurate with a regular bullet still.
Maybe worth looking into for a dual purpose garden gun?
I do know a fella who just got an old bolt action 22 and it has a routledge bore which he says works just fantastic for shot, but semi accurate with a regular bullet still.
Maybe worth looking into for a dual purpose garden gun?
A 22lr smoothbore used to shoot flying grasshoppers. Its alot of fun and keeps your reflexs sharp.
I use cci shot. Under 10 yards it will kill a sparrow. Its a close range game. Very close. Rifled barrels spread out the shot rapidly. A smoothbore keeps a tighter pattern
#12 shot doesnt carry much energy and can be used insidr barns shooting pigeons without shooting holes thru the roof
I love it. It’s different and a reason to own another rifle. I can see it now, you say to your buddy “that’s my moose rifle and that’s my squirrel gun and over here is my grasshopper gun and oh yeah don’t forget the zombies”. He says man you have a gun for everything
What I want to do is make a garden gun for chipmunks and a platform I can use for my youngest granddaughter to learn to shoot a shotgun. I have a single shot Savage smooth bore which is left handed. My granddaughter is left eye dominant and will be shooting left handed. However I want a repeater. A company called Urban Tactical used to convert 10/22 barrels but does not anymore. The patterns from smooth bore barrels are better than rifled even when using encapsulated shot shells. Remington and Winchester used to make pumps that were smooth bored. I have a machinist who is going to ream the rifling out after the chamber to the end of the barrel and we will see how it patterns. Worst case scenario the cost of labour, reamer and a barrel. The second challenge is making the 10/22 function with shot shells. There have been excellent suggestions on how to set that up.
What about the Volquartsen “Firefly” Bolt and springs for 22 short. An aluminum bolt, just have to have a polywally buffer to take the stress off the bolt. There was a used one for sale in the EE a while ago.
A side note...cci shot shells have nickel cases and a blue plastic cap showing the shot. They look futuristically badass
