10/22 Gopher Rigs let's see 'em!

.22LRGUY

.22LRGUY

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Covid weirdness has kept me from getting out west to shoot gophers since that all started, which means I've spent too much thinking about it/not enough time doing it. Naturally, lots of time to consider 22 alternatives, my main go-to has been a CZ452 Varmint...and that gun is no friend to the gophers, I can assure you. lol It is a bit heavy, I'm a big guy-no issue for bench shooting or short shoots...but those days are long, and about 1/2 way through the day..I'm wishing I had something lighter. Most memorable days/memorable shoots saw us plucking them off of distant hills where a steady/heavy bolt gun shines. However, if you've been in a target rich environment on a property where the owner is hoping for #s...I'm dialing down the scope to under 50 yards allot of the time. In those instances, a semi would probably shine if the accuracy was good. The only 10/22 I've ever owned, bought new, had trouble hitting a pop can @ 40 yards, off a rest, scoped.

These days, I've been paying a little more attention to some 10/22 builds, Dlask, etc...and if I had faith it could keep in side 3/4" @ 50 yards, I could possibly be convinced. If there was a model with a 16" fluted barrel, built-in 0MOA pic rail, simple stock=sort of what I imagine I'd want to own/shoot. Trigger would have to be respectable, which they just aren't on stock 10/22s.

I think I think I might be describing a Thompson T/CR22! lol (light weight, rail, etc.)

Would really like to see your 10/22 gopher gun, and hear why you like it/how it works for you. Pics welcome! Seems a thread about gopher shooting/gopher guns doesn't exist without 10/22s being mentioned. Has to be a reason, just love for the gun in spite of the drawbacks?

Thanks for taking a moment to reply.
 
From reading other posts you've written, I doubt you'd be satisfied with any of the stock 10/22's. I'm not really a semi-auto guy, but I have a few, an HK 270, Brno 581, Browning SA22 and a couple 10/22's. One 10/22 is a deluxe, but with a Green mountain sporter profile barrel and a Volquartsen trigger kit, plus a few other goodies. It shoots quite well, holding ammo it likes close to the 1/2 inch mark, and that's with an old Leupold m8 4x. The other has a Kidd single stage trigger, Kidd light weight, carbon fiber, fluted barrel, Dlask bolt, in a Hogue stock. It's kinda my truck gun. It shoots very well, again, holding close to the 1/2 inch mark at 50 yards, and for the most part, under 1/2 inch. Like I said, I'm more of a bolt guy, but it's the 10/22 that stays handy around the farm or in the truck, that or an old Brno model 1. You might consider a Bergara BXR carbon, I've heard some good things about them, I've handled them, both the steel and carbon fiber and they feel pretty good. The carbon fiber feels very similar to my Ruger/Kidd/Dlask/Hogue, which I built specifically to be a light weight truck/field gun.
 
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jes said:
From reading other posts you've written, I doubt you'd be satisfied with any of the stock 10/22's. I'm not really a semi-auto guy, but I have a few, an HK 270, Brno 581, Browning SA22 and a couple 10/22's. One 10/22 is a deluxe, but with a Green mountain sporter profile barrel and a Volquartsen trigger kit, plus a few other goodies. It shoots quite well, holding ammo it likes close to the 1/2 inch mark, and that's with an old Leupold m8 4x. The other has a Kidd single stage trigger, Kidd light weight, carbon fiber, fluted barrel, Dlask bolt, in a Hogue stock. It's kinda my truck gun. It shoots very well, again, holding close to the 1/2 inch mark at 50 yards, and for the most part, under 1/2 inch. Like I said, I'm more of a bolt guy, but it's the 10/22 that stays handy around the farm or in the truck, that or an old Brno model 1. You might consider a Bergara BXR carbon, I've heard some good things about them, I've handled them, both the steel and carbon fiber and they feel pretty good. The carbon fiber feels very similar to my Ruger/Kidd/Dlask/Hogue, which I built specifically to be a light weight truck/field gun.
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Thanks for chiming-in, I've often considered a BRNO 581, and almost bought one about a month back. Very little online about their accuracy, and I've heard the triggers aren't great. Thoughts?
 
The 581 is probably my favourite semi-auto, they are just beautiful little rifles. I’ve had a few, all were very accurate. In my mind they have three problems, 1, triggers are usually heavy and not much can be done about it. 2, magazines & parts in general are hard to find, 3;they don’t like being dry fired but since they don’t have last shot hold open, unless you count your rounds, that’s hard to avoid. I use mine for casual walks around the property, but prefer the 10/22’s for the gopher patch. If I was going to take a vintage semi for gophers, it would be the HK, decent trigger, good accuracy, pretty bulletproof all round.
 
20191208_090956.jpg

Equally effective on sw ontario groundhogs. 17mh2.

Although ive been looking into higher end options my 3 savage bolt action rimfires all shoot very well

For a semi auto look at the X-cellent x ring vr by tactical solutions

For a bolt gun the christensen arms ranger 22 has really caught my eye
 

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This 10/22 was purchased when I was 16 years old. First purchase I made after I received my paper FAC... ahh the good old days. So It's year of manufacture is probably 88-89. It has served me well, always reliable and quite accurate even with its original parts and barrel and low end scope. About 18 years ago (back when you could order directly from Rimfire Sports) I added the Tactical Solutions fluted barrel with their matching compensator, a VQ extractor and VQ Target hammer, and a Hogue Overmolded stock. It didn't need any of those things, but it did shoot better with the barrel and better trigger pull from replacing the hammer. I shot a pile of gophers with it it over the years never letting me down and always hitting what I wanted at reasonable ranges. I eventually moved on to .22 mag for a number of years for gopher hunting then a couple years ago acquired my T1X in 22lr and have been favoring it as it is fantastic. The poor old 10/22 must have sat idle for 10 years.

Just a few months ago I decided it is too good of a rifle just to sit, and recently have been starting to look at a few changes and getting it ready for next summer and get some sunshine on it once again. I recently sold the Hogue stock and got a great deal on the Magpul stock on it now. I want to change the scope base, upgrade the scope, mag release and add an auto bolt release. Hopefully if I have dropped enough hints around the house Ol' Santa Claus might help me out with some of that stuff. I can't quantify how well it shoots as I never really shot it for groups as it was a field gun but I never felt it limited my success using in the gopher patch. I'll put a variety of ammo through it soon and see what the old thing can do.

I think between my T1X and my re-discovered 10/22 I'll have all the bases covered for gopher season.

Maybe you might want to consider buying an older 10/22 and adding a few items to it. I have read lots of complaints about newer 10/22s but I have not experienced any of that with mine from stock to how it sits now. I know costs can get out of control but if you keep it practical it might be kind of fun and put together exactly what you want. Or just get that T/CR22 as I think that's pretty darn close to what I'll have by the time I'M done with mine...;)

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I have never had a factory 10/22 shoot worth a dang. I had given up on them as I like the accuracy of my anschutz and tikka bolts. That being said I recently decided to give the 10/22 another shot and ordered a match, barrel, stock and a trigger kit. We will see how that goes. Interested to see others builds.

SCG
 
Thanks for all the posts guys, greatly appreciated. Not sure if I'm closer to, or further away from a semi for this job. Some good inspiration here though.


brybenn said:
View attachment 540336

Equally effective on sw ontario groundhogs. 17mh2.

Although ive been looking into higher end options my 3 savage bolt action rimfires all shoot very well

For a semi auto look at the X-cellent x ring vr by tactical solutions

For a bolt gun the christensen arms ranger 22 has really caught my eye
Click to expand...

^thanks for chiming in brybenn-I have my only 17M2 in the EE, just reach for the 22s 99% of the time, and now flirting with the unthinkable-a semi. lol I've shot plenty of groundhogs with 17HMR, 17 Hornet, but not with 17M2. I was never thrilled with the 17HMR results, perhaps the shots were too long. 22WMR dropped them every time.
 
The 10/22 will never be on par with a bolt gun for accuracy. That being said I love the 10/22 and think they still have their place and that place can be in a gopher field too. Some upgrades are nice but not warranted and it's just a nice overall gun to shoot gophers with. I have a basic 10/22 as well as one that I converted to 17 Mach 2 for the gopher patch,

Try some different ammo and see what your rifle likes. And just enjoy the day with the sun at your back and a light breeze.
 
.22LRGUY said:
Thanks for all the posts guys, greatly appreciated. Not sure if I'm closer to, or further away from a semi for this job. Some good inspiration here though.




^thanks for chiming in brybenn-I have my only 17M2 in the EE, just reach for the 22s 99% of the time, and now flirting with the unthinkable-a semi. lol I've shot plenty of groundhogs with 17HMR, 17 Hornet, but not with 17M2. I was never thrilled with the 17HMR results, perhaps the shots were too long. 22WMR dropped them every time.
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Ive dropped some big ground hogs and coons with my lil 17hm2. Coons at 70 to 90 yards roll over just like they do when hit with the 22 mag i usd to have. I miss my 22 mag. Lately ive taken up the joy of squirrel hunting again and the 17hm2 is awesome. But im on a quest for an accurate 22 to use with quiets and subsonics for sniping the lil tree rats. I looked into the vudoo rifles but i think they end up to heavy for my purposes
 
One of the gun I take for gophers is a Valquartsen 10-22, with target ammo. I like to be able to double tap. It gets used much less than the 452 one Rem 541. A bolt just seems to feel right LOL. For longer shots and if we get a badger that gives us time to change guns, a hornet is the cats as$. I have most of the cf 22 and a 17 Rem but the hornet gets to go most often. When looking at the possibility of 1000+ round days the 22 is by far the cost winner.
 
My 10/22 just never comes close to my bolt guns.

And .22 rimfire will never come close to .17 HMR.

I have my 10/22 for plinking, but bring out my rimfire bolts when I want to get serious.

My first gun from my Dad from the 70s, CIL Model 310 in .22 rimfire.


My .17HMR Savage shortie, daughter has now taken it and she is deadly with it!


The 10/22 is just a 10/22 but I don't have any pics, but I am partial SBR builds myself, as shorter barrels don't always mine less accuracy.

My shooting sticks, and a gopher field.



Not going to post any gopher .17 HMR hits as they may upset some. :)
 
They don't look like much, but my 10/22's for gophers do the deed out to 150 yds or so. I tweeked the actions and stuck with the factory barrels.

This be the rig I used in the 80's & early 90's. This rifle accounted for thousands of gophers back then.(The big mags were left home for ergonomic reasons.)
Me 1st 1022 Black Gun.jpg

My latest 10/22 do-up. Ready fer another gopher mission hopefully.
Me Current 10-22 Black Gun.jpg
 

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