How to build a custom Ruger 10/22 Rim Fire Rifle

Build your personal one of a kind tack driver. You will discover how easy it is to buy drop in parts and assemble it yourself. Top- Fajen stock, Tactical Solution Barrel w/treaded end and Yukon Night Vision. Middle- same stock and barrel w/ Prairie Master Scope. Bottom- Laminated Boyd Stock, Whistle Pig barrel w/ Whitetail Classic Scope.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A new or used Ruger model 10/22 long rifle 10 shot rotary clip fed semi automatic. Any color.
• Gunsmith screw driver kit (recommened) if not, a couple of slotted screw drivers.
• An allen wrench set.
• A rubber mallet
• Some fine emery cloth, 220 grit works well.
• Some duct tape
• Internet access
• A new stock, bull barrel, and scope w/rings and rail.

1. 
   Ruger 10/22

   To start off with purchase a new or a used 10/22. All you will need is the action. I found some at good prices at my local pawn shop.

2. 
   Stainless Steel Fluted Bull Barrel

   Finding a barrel that you like, be it accuracy, color or both with style. You will be buying a .920 diameter bull barrel to fit the Ruger 10/22 long rifle, replacing the factory tapered barrel. They also come in colors and styles. Accuracy is another thing to look for, competition barrels. Try reading some 22 rim fire blogs, you can get a lot of info from them. Again many to choose from, fluted, ported, steal, carbon, aluminum, colors, and lengths. Price range starts at $99.00 and up.

3. 
   Laminated Thumbhole Stock, Birchel

   Researching and purchase your stock for the Ruger 10/22 .920 dia bull barrel. You may have a local gun dealer order your parts or order them by e-mail and save a few pesos. There are several colors, styles and manufacturers to choose from. They have laminated wood (finished or not), real wood, molded plastic (some fitting may be required), fiberglass and so on. Prices start at $39.95 and go up. I like to bid on e-auction for a better price or I have e-mail alerts telling me when a supplier is having a sell. Also, unfinished stocks usually need some sanding and several coats of a clear finish, saving $$$. Just type in Ruger 10/22 stocks on the net and see what is available. Some sites have pics of several custom built rifles.

4. 

   Scoping it out, many scopes and rings to choose from, I normally buy the larger scopes for looks and magnification when target shooting. Several supplier have sales on scope , rings and mounts I usually find good scopes between $59.99 and $129.99 that work well on these rifles.

5. 
   Stock take down screw

   After you purchase a stock, bull barrel and scope w/mounting hardware you are ready for the disassembly portion. 1st. Place the weapon on safe, remove the magazine, and check and remove any live rounds. Remove the barrel band, this can be done with a screw driver. *Tip, if you don't have a gunsmiths drive set, try to get a driver that fits the screw. A bad fit will distort the screw head. 2nd. Remove the take down screw located on the underside of the stock next to the magazine well. You can then separate the stock from the action and barrel assembly. 3rd. Find the allen wrench that fits the two hex head bolts holding the barrel to the action. Unscrew and separate the barrel from the action. *Tip, some of them slide out with ease and some are stubborn, you can use a rubber mallet to tap around the connection point. You now have disassembled the 10/22. You won't be needing the stock, barrel, or barrel band, just the action.

6. 
   Barrel retaining block with cap screws

   Assembly of your own customized personal piece of art. Take your new barrel and check for fit, you want a snug fit. If it won't go into the action, take some emery cloth and lightly and evenly sand the outer end of the barrel (feed end) a little at a time checking the fit as you go. Careful not to over sand, a loose fit will effect your accuracy *tip, put some duct tape around the finish just above the feed end to protect it from scratches. After you have fitted the barrel, put a little oil or light grease to aid in assembly. Attached the barrel retainer and install the two hex head bolts back in. Remove duct tape. Now you are ready to fit the stock, most stocks are drop ins and some require a little fitting. Replace the take down screw, care should be taken not to over tighten this screw. You can now mount the rail, rings and scope. Check your eye relief and cross hair alignment before tightening down the screws.

7. 
   Tack Driver

   Testing for safety and sight in your scope. Now is a good time to clean your new masterpiece. Go to your favorite shooting spot and try it out. To sight in your scope take a target and shoot 3 rounds before making adjustments, if your group is not tight, it may be the shooter or the ammo. Do this until you can tack ten rounds inside of a dime like a couple of mine. I achieved 10 shots at 50 yards the size of a dime with CCI's Greentag ammo using the camo stock/Tactical Solution barrel.

8. 
   Guide book

   There are some good guides for sale to help you choose the style of rifle you want. Look on the magazine racks or your favorite book store. Try the library as well.

Tips & Warnings

• Check out some of the rim fire forums on the net, you can pick up some good tips from other experienced builders.
• If you are using a used action, after removing the barrel is a good time to clean it up from dirt, grit, unburned powder etc.
• Ammo will make a difference in accuracy, try shooting 25 yards with different types of ammo until you achieve good results. Some of your higher priced target ammo produces good results.
• I now get paid to rid varmits from farms and ranches. That pays for the equipment.
• Always keep a weapon pointed in a safe direction, usually down. Up is not safe, what goes up must come down. When on a range, all ways keep the weapon pointed down range loaded or not. I don't know if your weapon is loaded.
• Never assume a weapon is unloaded, always place the weapon on safe remove the magazine, open the bolt and inspect for ammo. Remove any live rounds at that time.
• Always wear eye and hearing protection when discharging or watching someone shoot. Excuse me! are you talking to me? I can see your lips moving.
• Make sure you have the correct ammunition for the weapon you are shooting.
• Keep your weapon on safe when your not firing.
• Never store loaded weapons.
• When someone hands you a weapon, always check to see if it loaded. Never assume a weapon is unloaded.
• Keep all weapons out of the reach of children. Lock them up if possible.
• Check your back ground when shooting. People or animals may be down range.
• Shooting is fun, Be Safe.

[pappy537]

on 2/21/2009 I have always liked and owned Ruger 22s. I have harvested lots of varmits with them. Nothing bigger than a coon or a beaver. Like all calibers, if you hit the right spot its going down. Now I have a few CZ's that are dead on, so I'm kinda leaning towards them for hunting and the 10/22 for plinking.

[gi-jew]

on 2/19/2009 Ok, thanks for the info, I am American too by the way, 5 years in Army (11B). I came to this site because I am searching for info on 22 rifles. I have fired a 10/22 before and like the low noise, light weight feel to it. I currently own a Robinson Arms XCR in both a heavy 18.6" barrel and light 16" as well. Well, only one rifle but its modular so I can switch barrels in about a minute. Anyways, I am having a hard time finding as well as affording .223 ammo right now and now these fascist democrats are looking like they are going to increase the ammo tax even more. So, I want to buy something that I can shoot all the time and buy thousands of rounds for a reasonable price. 22 LR seems to be the best fit for that experience so that is where I am heading. So if you don't mind, I would like to ask some questions about the round itself, the kill power of it, etc etc. I can find all of this

[pappy537]

on 2/19/2009 I guess there is an echo in here, I hit the button twice myself. sorry.

[pappy537]

on 2/19/2009 Well Mari7402,There are several makers of 17 HMR, I have a CZ 452. The trick is finding the right ammo combination if you desire perfecton.

[pappy537]

on 2/19/2009 Well gi-jew thats what Americans do, we do things out of the ordinary because we can. To answer your question, I purchase the scope from an NRA special, it is a 6x24x50 mil dot verible w/sunshield. This is the best shooter I have in my 22 RIM arsenal. It works very well for me because I use it for spoting and when I'm in the woods after the varmits I can scout with it. I'm not a scope fan, I like my open sights more so on my M1A.