Custom 10/22 Accuracy

[Rustystud]

I have a 40 year old Ruger 10/22. It use to shoot pretty good for a semi auto sporter. Then it started shooting like crap.I decided to try to revive it. New Kidd two stage trigger, Hogue stock, Dan Muller/MullerWorks barrel. Rim fires are not my forte. This will be a new experience. I want sub .5moa at 50 yards.
Nat Lambeth

 

[stryker60]

There is a guy who posts under the screen name Rambo on Benchrest Central and several other similar sites. He does gunsmithing for his local club as a hobby. He has a stubborn streak when it comes to the 10-22, and is very much self-taught on them. If you like, I will see if I can get word to him to get in touch with you. I am assuming you don't want to wade into Rimfire Central.

James

 

[Fotheringill]

OP-

I am NOT trying to be a wise ass.

Gun used to shoot well but now doesn't.
Thorough cleaning?
Eyesight changes?
Scope or iron sights?
If scope, proper torque on screws and on mounts?

It may not at all be the equipment alone.

 

[George Az]

Ammo, ammo, ammo. Some of your quest will be in finding the ammo your 10/22 will like. Right now that is a tough thing to do. There is a bunch of match ammo and among them, Lapua, Eley, Wolf seems to be well regarded. Then again some guys don't like Wolf at all. .22 ammo is really finicky in some guns. A buddy let me try a really nice CZ and with some older Eley club, it wasn't doing too well. With his stuff, he was on the money with Wolf.

The other thing I will say is 1/2 inch is doable, but you must do your part. I am not trying to tell you how to shoot, but I found changing a rear bag made all the difference for me in my 10/22 especially at 100 yards. I have all the usual parts, Volqui trigger/hammer, good barrel, bedded action. Using a Harris bi-pod with a good bag in the rear, really helped to bring things around. I was chasing things until I got a really decent rear bag.

Lastly, a good scope which will be accurate in the 50 yard range for parralax. Solid mounting system. Parralax will mess with you, especially if you wear corrective lenses.

The only part in your equation I am not fond of is the Hogue stock. I would prefer something a little more solid. I do have a Hogue on a .223 and it is great for coyotes to 2-300, and great in all weather, it would not be my first choice for accuracy.

The Kidd website has some interesting learnign points and videos. Not a fanboy, but he does some neat stuff with a 10/22.

Good luck in your quest. I am still learning myself and having a blast with this thing.

 

[katokoch]

When was the last time you cleaned the barrel?

 

[xs hedspace]

When was the last time you cleaned the boltface and action?

 

[Rustystud]

The barrel has been cleaned twice. Borescope examination shows 1.5" free bore, very poor rifling and lots of tool marks. I free floated the barrel in the stock, some improvement but not acceptable. I have a Muller Works barrel ordered. Nat Lambeth

 

[katokoch]

The barrel has been cleaned twice. Borescope examination shows 1.5" free bore, very poor rifling and lots of tool marks. I free floated the barrel in the stock, some improvement but not acceptable. I have a Muller Works barrel ordered. Nat Lambeth

I'm assuming you're describing the 40 year old OEM barrel there? Hopefully the Muller barrel will be an improvement although it sounds like it won't take much to do that, based on your description. If you want some good rimfire bore cleaning info, check this out: http://www.rrdvegas.com/rimfire-cleaning.html There is a section dedicated to semi-autos.

If you haven't cleaned that original barrel again, I'd give it a try. Can you see a carbon ring built up just ahead of the chamber with the borescope?

 

[Shynloco]

I have a 40 year old Ruger 10/22. It use to shoot pretty good for a semi auto sporter. Then it started shooting like crap.I decided to try to revive it. New Kidd two stage trigger, Hogue stock, Dan Muller/MullerWorks barrel. Rim fires are not my forte. This will be a new experience. I want sub .5moa at 50 yards.
Nat Lambeth

Nat,
Your timing is pretty good as I have a shooting buddy who showed up at the range this morning with his customized 10/22 that he's been playing with for about two years. His son runs a Gun Shop and picked up that used Ruger 10/22 up about 3 yrs ago in a trade deal. We have a monthly local competition of Benchrest .22's with an array of all sorts of makes and models competing on an ARA 50 yd course. When he wasn't shooting his Hall, Turbo or 40x, he's try that 10/22 and was flat getting his tailpipes kicked. So he warned us he'd move heaven and earth to make that rifle shoot. Now he's a pretty handy guy who has clear Gunsmithing abilities (and the equipment) but doesn't work on other people's rifles. So he bought himself that Kidd receiver you listed, a Volquartsen 1:10 that he rechambered and cut that baby down to around 15" or 16". So this morning, he proceeded to shoot foulers and then pulled out some Federal Match ammo and proceeded to put together 5 shots groups that look like they'd been fired from an Anschutz 54 action Match rifle with a 1:17.5 twist barrel or even my 1:18 Anschutz. So I'm here to tell you, your personal goal can be met. Good luck and have fun. BTW, my opinion about 10/22's was changed this morning because I honestly USED TO BELIEVE, you can't make that thing shoot as well as a bolt gun .22. And BTW, we're also a bunch of Old Farts whose eyes aren't what they once were, but that Leupold 36X sure helped him out today.

Alex

 

[MarkS]

Nat,

I have a 10-22 with a Midway barrel and stock, I put together 20 years ago. It will do what you want. It will run 0.50" at 50 yds with about any ammo, It will run 0.1" with BR ammo. I have won my club egg shoot match 2 years in a row. 2012 we shot Quail eggs at 100 yds. Last year we shot hen eggs at 150yds. At 100 yds the Eley Super Silhouex works great( no longer made), but it drops like a rock at 150yds. W/W high vel worked best at 150yds. You will have to find what your gun likes.

Mark Schronce

 

[Rustystud]

I ordered a KIDD two stage trigger and have since found out about their actions, bolts, and barrels. I was told about "MOA 10/22 replacement actions" today. They are Stainless Steel not aluminum and threaded instead of slip fit. I am in a quandary what direction to go. Pros and cons with either action.
Nat Lambeth

 

[moorepower]

The action will need some bedding. Some of the guys on RFC, drill out the stock where the pins that hold the trigger are and use flat head screws with a threaded spacer to clamp it in. A rear lug can be be attached fairly easily if you happen to know a good smith. Don't go too tight on the chamber. Match ammo is a big help on accuracy. 1/2" is very doable.

 

[moorepower]

I ordered a KIDD two stage trigger and have since found out about their actions, bolts, and barrels. I was told about "MOA 10/22 replacement actions" today. They are Stainless Steel not aluminum and threaded instead of slip fit. I am in a quandary what direction to go. Pros and cons with either action.
Nat Lambeth

They are a little better, but it is still a 10/22 with a sloppy bolt.

 

[Unclered]

Rim thickness is key. Buy a gauge and find what your new barrel eats. I e .o39, o40 041 042 043. R I m f I r. e is dirty. Lap your new barrel well. It will reduce buildup of residue. Be careful of where u rest the front, like center fire it makes a difference. With good ammo u can shoot 1 m o a

 

[moorepower]

You will also want to pin the firing pin in the bolt to keep it impacting in the same spot. While you have the bolt apart, true the face and set the headspace to .043. I am sure with a little playing you will get it shooting pretty well. FYI, you can thread a stock 10/22 receiver if you would desire. Remember to heat treat the shank so it will not mushroom from the bolt smacking it. They are a fun little gun and the mag is the best in any rimfire.

 

[searcher]

I had heard the stories at my local range about the "legendary" 1022's shooting 1/2 to 3/4 m.o.a. after the simple application of a good barrel, trigger, bedding job, etc., etc., I have replaced virtually everything - some things twice (except the bare receiver) with custom, "high-end" aftermarket items. My gun still shoots "just so-so" with most brands of ammo tried. I won't disclose what I have spent for fear I will be declared insane and thus no longer fit to own a firearm. I hope you have better luck than I did. My next move is to send it to a 1022 Guru - if I don't lay my sawzall to it first.

 

[DaveC]

First, Ruger barrels are ok but never great, so that’s the easiest change to make.
Second is the trigger, no need for a complete replacement just a VQ hammer/sear.
Third, barrel attachment. The MOA and VQ receiver can be had threaded to solve that problem. Or, the Power Custom 1-Piece Barrel Mount Weaver-Style Base lets yu attach the receiver to the barrel.

Two Charger - 10/22 pistol - both shoot under 1/2 MOA with Fiocci SM320 or other good match ammo.
The action in front is an MOA with threaded Duglas barrel and reworked factory trigger.
The action in the rear is a factory receiver with a Power Custom scope mount and a cap screw added to the rear of the action to keep it from rocking when shot. It has a Jard trigger and 10" VQ barrel

 

[falconpilot]

Kidd Classic 10/22 .. Wolf target ammo..this is what I'd call average grouping at 50 yards. It's definitely a sub 1/2" moa gun.

 

[Trapper243]

I was shooting mine today, 50 yards and cheap ammo as I cannot find the Wolf I was running. 10 shot groups at 50 were running .6 to .8 with a sling and a glove. Kidd barrel. Had a cheap scope on the gun with no parallax adjustment, and I need a better trigger. Going from a Jewel on my center fire to a cleaned up stock trigger is not cutting it. My goal is 1 moa at 100. I bet it can be done, but it is going to cost more money. I also drilled a hole in the back of my action, so I can clean it from the breech and not the muzzle.

 

[DOGCAPPER]

A Ruger 10/22 can be made to shoot 1 MOA by carefully replacing every part except the fine rotary magazine. LT