10/22 Noob questions - Help please

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Credo

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Where to start....

I've recently joined the forum as I was looking for a good community to ask questions and learn about firearms and firearms related subjects - happily this forum has been a great resource with very friendly and knowledgable people.

I have a big question for you now as this is all fairly new to me.

I've been creeping the rimfire section for a while and have come across many posts about the 10/22 rifles with many images of customized rifles. This is something that's really piqued my interest and would love to learn more about them. I hope you don't mind if I ask a few "noob" questions about them?

  1. Which rifle are we starting with? Is there a base that's purchased, then modified - a la Ruger 10/22? Is there a brand that's more customizable/better than another?
  2. I see a lot of "laminated" stocks of varying colours being installed? Are they custom made? Where would I start looking for stuff like this?
  3. Bipods, Barrels, Optics, larger magazines... These all look like neat things to add to the gun - Again, sourcing stuff like this - Is it difficult? Where should I start?
  4. Lastly/most importantly - are these modifications something I could do myself, being farily technical and proficient?

These 10/22's look like a lot of fun. Almost like the "chopper" of the gun world. I'm very interested in this and I would really appreciate some insight, and a brief explanation as I would like to get started on a project such as this!!

Thank you very much in advance and I appreciate all your help with this. :cheers:
 
The 10/22 is incredibly popular, both because it's basically a great gun (reasonably accurate, reliable, etc.), and because there are so many aftermarket accessories and parts for them that you can build virtually any kind of firearm you can imagine. You don't even have to do it all at once - you can add, say, a fancy barrel, then a different stock, then some action parts, etc., and do it as you go along.

Right out of the box, a 10/22 is quite accurate, and very reliable. If you want, you can make it a competition-level "tack driver". Or, you can build a scary, evil-looking tactical gun out of it. Or, you could put a hot pink stock with sparkles on it, if you really wanted to. You can get laminated stocks, for example, in any color of the rainbow. The point is, there is no end to what you can do with it.

As far as "tacticool" is concerned, there is the SR-22 (ready-made by Ruger, using the 10/22 action), or you could slide your action & barrel assembly into a kit, like the "Marauder" (google Marauder 10/22 - you'll find a ton of pics, videos, etc. - I have one of these kits, and I love it!!) among others.

"Tacticool" parts, like bipods, foregrips, etc. can be purchased online. You can spend a fair bit of money and buy the very best, if you choose (like Harris bipods, for example - considered to be the best), or you could check out the UTG brand of stuff available through Amazon.ca (inexpensive, quality stuff - hugely positive reviews).

Aside from building your own stock, everything else is "bolt-on" simple. No mechanical skills beyond the use of a screwdriver is required.

Finally, almost nothing you do to a 10/22 can't be reversed in a few minutes. You can even have several different sets of "apparel" for it, depending on what you want for the range that day.

Tons 'o fun!!
 
Thanks mh!

Sounds really exciting! Do you have any links for these accessories? Particularly the barrels and stocks?

Thanks again! Waiting for my PAL to come is taking EONS to get here! GRRRR...
 
A good place to start is to browse the sponsors websites for the forum. If you look at the top of the page you will see a bunch of advertisements for the sponsors. Just click on every single one of them and see what they have for 10/22 (usually an entire section for 10/22 parts/accessories). Some places I have purchased from are:
Hical.ca
ca.wholesalesports.com
shopquestar.com
tacticool22.com - They will make a custom barrel shroud or fake suppressor for any sized barrel. You just have to speak with the sales team (shipping cost sucks :().
dlaskarms.com
tactical-mod.ca
and Ebay/Amazon sometimes have those hard to find items.

I would recommend dreaming up what you specifically want your gun to look like. A good place start are the two picture threads for 10/22's
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=695507&page=16
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=294679&page=105
Also check the Tips and tricks section

Once you know what you want your gun to look like (and maybe found a pic of what it looks like), just start a thread saying "What do I need to build this gun" and I am sure people will give you a shopping list for all the parts they can visually see on the 10/22.
 
Ruger makes quite a few models of 10/22s from the basic carbine to different stock and barrel combinations. Dlask arms makes their own recievers, barrels and a few other bits and also builds complete rifles for sale. They can build you damn near anything you want. As for difficulty I cant think of an easier rifle to work with for modifying. I just bought a brand new carbine to tear down for a custom build which is the way most guys go.
 
Thanks gump,

Do you know where to get the laminated stocks? I checked all the sites you posted, none of them seem to list them...
 
Heres a couple of websites that can do custom laminate stocks (if you want something special that is not on the website just contact them and I am sure they can work something out for you):

boydsgunstocks.com
rifle-stocks.com
 
If you were in the US, then the cheapest route for a custom 10/22 would probably be to buy every part and build the gun from scratch, probably without any parts made by Ruger. Up here, you're probaby best to start with the cheapest new model, or a used one. Just pick the colour of receiver you want to end up with and go to town.

Bits of Pieces has Green Mountain barrels, which would be the value leader for good barrels, and have the largest selection. Dlask makes good stuff right here in Canada.

Boyd's Gunstocks offers several styles, pretty much everything for $99 or less before shipping. I have a Blaster, but the Evo(lution) is probably the most popular.

Trigger work can be DIY with stock parts, drop in parts, sent away, or complete drop-in groups including the housing. If you're a handy guy, I recommend trying a DIY stone and polish to see what you can do. Then send it to a pro to see how much better it can be.

Bolt work can also be DIY, sent away, or purchased complete.

If you really want to see what's possible, head over to rimfirecentral.com. Lots of pics, DIY tutorials, advice, info, etc. And keep an eye out for posts by Hoytcanon. I'd say he's the resident Canuck 10/22 expert and will have a lot of info that applies to us particularly.
 
I bought mine at Canadian Tire Southland store for $243.
I've already modified the bolt release (very easy to do), replaced the metal bolt buffer with a polyurethane one (a couple of minutes to do) and installed sling attachment studs that I can also attach a bipod to.
I'd be happy to let you know how to do these things and there are lots of great videos on YouTube as well:cheers:
 
fraser2 said:
I bought mine at Canadian Tire Southland store for $243.
Click to expand...

You can buy these at Canadian Tire???? I didn't even think of that - I'll check out the one at Signal Hill near me.

I was at the Calgary Shooting Centre today, they had a 10/22 Tactical with the thick barrel, and the bi-pod - looks really slick just under 500 bones. Once I get used to the rifle, I'd probably only add a laminated stock, maybe some upgraded action parts. Does anyone know if a simple paint strip will make this one a stainless, or should I purchase an aftermarket stainless barrel/action???

1230.jpg


Thanks for the heads up though, I think I'll check Crappy Tire soon!
 
Credo said:
You can buy these at Canadian Tire???? I didn't even think of that - I'll check out the one at Signal Hill near me.

I was at the Calgary Shooting Centre today, they had a 10/22 Tactical with the thick barrel, and the bi-pod - looks really slick just under 500 bones. Once I get used to the rifle, I'd probably only add a laminated stock, maybe some upgraded action parts. Does anyone know if a simple paint strip will make this one a stainless, or should I purchase an aftermarket stainless barrel/action???

1230.jpg


Thanks for the heads up though, I think I'll check Crappy Tire soon!
Click to expand...

You can strip and polish the aluminum reciever but the trigger housing is plastic and the barrel on that one is carbon steel. You could try and find an earlier aluminum trigger housing and swap in a stainless barrel
 
supernova said:
You can strip and polish the aluminum reciever but the trigger housing is plastic and the barrel on that one is carbon steel. You could try and find an earlier aluminum trigger housing and swap in a stainless barrel
Click to expand...

Can you get the thick barrels like this one (possibly shorter in length) in stainless fairly easily???
 
Credo said:
Can you get the thick barrels like this one (possibly shorter in length) in stainless fairly easily???
Click to expand...

You should be able to source a stainless Green Mountain barrel from Bits of Pieces in BC, Fabsports also sells them. 16" is the shortest common length from an American manufacturer. It's been a while since I've tried to source a barrel, so many of the usual channels have dried up.

ALL of the Ruger 10/22 (in long rifle chambering) had aluminum recievers. They were painted or anodized (depending on vintage) to their finished color. They are all the same underneath. Furthermore, the cheapest carbine can be turned into the VLEH, or the Target, or even the SR-22 by changing out parts.

Those .920 barrels look ###y and work well for bench shooting, but they get heavy if you plan to carry it in the field for a day. My favorite guns are usually the lightest ones.

The best advice I can give you is just buy one and start shooting it. You will quickly see what short-comings it actually has. The premium of ~$250 for a high end model will buy ALOT of .22LR ammo!
 
Thanks Jahred, Some great advise - and yes, those .920 barrels look awesome! Lucky for me, I won't be carrying it in the field. I'm using it for target practice. Which reminds me. What would be the most effective and affordable scope for .22 shooting?

Geez, I'm going to keep asking questions as long as people keep providing great advice!
 
Credo said:
Thanks Jahred, Some great advise - and yes, those .920 barrels look awesome! Lucky for me, I won't be carrying it in the field. I'm using it for target practice. Which reminds me. What would be the most effective and affordable scope for .22 shooting?

Geez, I'm going to keep asking questions as long as people keep providing great advice!
Click to expand...

Geez, there's a loaded question!

You'll have to balance your budget with your performance expectations, they are pretty much polar opposites.

What distance will you be shooting, and what price point are you comfortable with?

This is a topic you'll probably want to take to the optics forum, this thread will be overrun with optics opinions and info before you know it.

Here's a good quick article on the subject: http://www.shootingtimes.com/2010/09/23/optics_st_cheapscopes_200903/
 
Dlask has a stainless production model in 16.5" I think and can undoubtedly do custom lengths too. As far as a scope there are tons of options out there but the best advice I can give is 1. buy quality, cheap scopes are rarely worth while and 2. make sure it has an adjustable parrallax for shooting at different ranges. this will let you stretch things out as your skills progress. Just search rimfire scopes in the optics forum for some good ideas
 
I have had a 10/22 for 30+ years. I have added all sorts of parts and tactical upgrades but the best upgrade I ever made was a Timney trigger I bought from Mystic. I have since put the gun back into a wood stock and just kept the trigger. I really love this gun as it shoots 1.25 POA at 100m and NEVER fails to fire, load or eject.

I will never part with it...
 
I'm looking to start at about 100m - which, from what I've seen, seems to be the starting point/standard for this caliber.

I'll do some research on scopes. Thanks though...
 
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