I’m getting ready for the Manchester, TN Appleseed shoot September 20-21. I bought a 10/22 a few weeks ago. On Friday I went shooting at Dave D’s. He let me try a couple of his 10/22 builds to see what I liked.
I definitely dug the Tech-Sight. I liked the aperture rear sight which is what I expected and also really liked the tall, skinny AR-15 front sight included with the Tech-Sight kit. I’m definitely buying a TSR100 and a sight adjustment tool.
I shot one of Dave’s 10/22s with a Volquartsen hammer that lowered the trigger pull to around 2.5 pounds. That’s definitely on the list. I liked it much better than the factory trigger pull, which wasn’t terrible to begin with.
I didn’t have any extraction problems Friday but I’m taking his advice and picking up a Volquartsen Clean Edge extractor. Even if I don’t install it right away I figure it’s good to have a spare extractor around. They’re one of the most-broken parts on an autoloader. Along that same line of thought I’m ordering a spare Ruger factory steel firing pin. At $2.99 it’s cheap insurance.
From everything I’v read slings are a big part of Appleseed training. I’ve found a couple of slings at Cheaper Than Dirt and Midway USA. I can’t tell from the pictures or description if they’ll work in the hasty sling configuration. I’d really appreciate it if anyone can point me to slings on either of those sites that would work well for Appleseed.
Dave showed me auto bolt releases and extended magazine releases. They were kind of cool, but I may wait on those for now. I’m starting to get the hang of the 10/22′s funky bolt release, which requires you to press it and release it while holding the bolt to the rear. It’s odd from a UI point of view, but it works.
Magazine-wise I’m buying a couple Butler Creek Steel Lips 25 rounders and some Ruger clear factory 10 rounders.
Anything else I should get while I’m shopping?
RSS Posts Feed
after a few range trips, you’ll find the extended mag release a must. Also, the improved bolt buffer makes it more more pleasant. People swear by the better extractor but my factory one works so i’ve not swapped them out and won’t until it’s a problem.
http://www.gunlocators.com/Ruger_1022.html
My Walmart 10/22 came with an extended mag release so I never had to mess with mine.
As for the auto bolt release, it takes about 2 minutes with a file to turn the factory release into an auto. I’ve done this mod to a few 10/22′s and it works great.
.22 cal boresnake. Turns cleaning the barrel from a tense, tedious chore into a 30 second job.
Slingwise, I’ve actually had good luck with the cheap Butler Creek leather 1907 slings, despite the poor reviews at Midway. The leather is stiff and cardboard like, but that’s somewhat ideal in a shooting sling. If your 10/22 has studs and not built in loops, get a set of 1 1/4″ loops and a matching sling. I find it much more comfortable than a 1″ version.
At the moment, though, I’m partial to the green canvas USGI web sling as a shooting sling. It’s cheaper, less fiddly to adjust and is a better carrying sling. All you need to do to convert it to a shooting sling is unclip the sling from the rear swivel loop. “Sproinging” out the rear clip with a screwdriver makes this easier.
Check your Ruger’s stock to see if applying side pressure to the front sling loop causes the stock to contact the barrel. This can happen with synthetic stocks and throw your groups around. If you’ve installed an aftermarket barrel and stock combo this probably isn’t an issue.
Ammunition, I prefer Winchester T-22 as cheap, accurate, and generally more consistent than Remington, but any standard velocity lead ammo should be fine.
Zero your sights before going and do not let anyone mess with them.
Pingback: SayUncle » 10/22 Accessories
Get an allen wrench to fit the fasteners that hold the barrel in place. Every now and again they can work loose, and your point of aim will start to wander.
Thanks for the advice, all.
I think I’ve found an appropriate sling at Midway here. I’m a cheap bastard so I’m trying to cut down on the number of shipping fees I have to pay.
I’ll probably pick up the buffer for eight bucks.
Here’s what I did to mine:
Volquartsen trigger group including auto bolt release.
Adams & Bennett target barrel.
Fajen laminated thumbhole stock.
Extended bolt handle.
Extended magazine release.
Recoil buffer (clear)
Titanium extractor.
Rock Mount bipod (Harris clone) and stud.
Bushnell 3-9 scope.
Additional factory 10 rnd mag and Butler Creek 25 rnd mag.
There may be others, but that’s all I can think of at the moment. It’ll shoot better than I can, but I can put consistently hit quarter at 100 yards if I do my part.
I use only Federal Gold Medal Premium .22lr. 40gn round nose coated lead. 1,050 FPS and have really good luck with that. Correct lubrication is critical, too much or two little and I get stovepipes. I get good results with a very light coating of Tetra white lithium grease on the top and sides of the bolt. It hates the bulk Federal blue box ammo for some reason. I get a buckshot pattern with it.
Here’s a picture of it if you’re interested.
Here in Israel, we can’t own more then one gun.
But if I could, I would do this to a Ruger 10/22.
DoubleTapper
DoubleTapper@gmail.com
DoubleTapper, blogging on Guns Politics Defense from Israel
I’m in the same boat, I just picked up a 10/22 for an October Appleseed. I’ll likely mirror your additions. The sights are a must, and it comes with an extended magazine release. If the trigger turns out to be terrible I’ll probably get an aftermarket one, but if it’s not too bad, I’ll just use it as a training aid.
+1 on the GI web sling. I bought two at a gun show for cheap, and they work great as a basic loop sling. I haven’t seen the sling mounts, but aftermarket ones are recommended for sling usage. I’ll see how the GI web sling fits the factory mounts.
Interested to see how you build it.
Pingback: Pictures and Ruger 10/22 notes from the Manchester, TN Appleseed shoot | Les Jones
I started on my Ruger by replacing the sights with the tech sight. The original front sight was a bear to remove. The new one slipped in easily. I bought a new hammer to reduce the trigger pull and found that my Ruger has a new hammer with the bushings built in so I have to get after market bushings to put on the replacement. A better magazine release is needed so get one.
I attended an Appleseed event a few weeks ago.
I have a ruger 10/22, but didn’t use it, since it had the stock sights, which are a pain to “sight in” with. Great for plinking, once set for 25-50 yards, but not for target work.
So on the hunch left it home and brought my Garand and m1 carbine.
After shooting all weekend, and seeing what it’s about, I went after setting up my 10/22 for it..
#1 thing needed is a Garand style web sling.
The course is designed around it, since the entire course is the AQT, designed around the Garand – modified from the original Qual for the 03a3 bolt action rifle.
So,Need to change to 1.25″ sling swivel. I used a fixed swivel on on the butt since the garand sling has a slip on/off clasp for the standard sling swivels. I bought a 1.25″ quick discount for the front. I already had a 1″ QD up there, so I already had the band lug for it. This makes it easier to sling and unsling from the rifle between shoots. With my Garand, the front part of the sling is fixed, so I had to keep taking the sling loop off my bicep, put it back on and readjust. Have the front QD, means, leaving the sling hanging from your arm.
You can do a hasty sling or a full arm loop sling hold with the garand web sling, and you can get them for about $10 at e-gunparts.com and elsewhere.
Cotton is best, nylon ok with long sleeves.
And the Garand web sling is probably one of the easiest to adjust with it’s quick lock.
#2, “Tech Sights”… must have…. Far FAR, FAR, better than the stock sights. Very close to the Garand sights, but still nothing beats the Garand’s rear sight.
To me the Tech sights are like the mini14 sight, but I have to admit, the Tech Sights are better than the stock mini14 sights.
I found them easy to do. I made a brass bunch from some brass rod I bought locally, and the front sight came right out. Need to drive from the left side of the barrel.
Then in no particular order…
-extended mag release, since mine is almost 30 years old. The new ones from ruger and aftermarket are far better than the original recessed mag release, which is almost counter intuitive. If your “meaty” finger is a bit to forward you block the mag from dropping.
-after market cnc ejector with better spring, since one jam can mean you wont qualify. Cheap insurance, great tune up part, very easy to do.
-Auto bolt release, it makes it like how the service rifles work. Pull back and let go after inserting the mag, and your in battery. I have always hated the bolt lock on the 10/22.
-synthetic bolt stop,cheap, easy, and makes it nicer. no more “clanking”.
Trigger job seems like a nice to have but should be able to qualify without it , I would think. But the better the trigger, less influence on the shot, better the scores….
If you get a chance to do an Appleseed event, it’s a must do. Great people.. great course.
Pingback: Natural point of aim - aiming with your feet instead of your hands | Les Jones