10/22 Barrel: Worth It, or Not?

[pratchett]

I was considering a match barrel from Lilja or another top manufacturer, but first wanted to ask the assembled masses: is it worth it? Will I see enough improvement to merit the expense?

[hardlyworking]

Compared to what? Stock barrel with the barrel band?

I had a stock barrel that did OK with the right ammo. Put a green mountain semi-bull on it and 7 brands of subsonic all but up nearly indistinguishable kick butt groups from slung up prone (Appleseed style).

GM barrels are nowhere near Lilja and I saw a massive improvement. So my guess is you will too! Question then is how do you intend to capture the accuracy potential?

[jarhead714]

Seems like anything to make a light rifle heavier would be a good thing right?

[snypr]

Seems like anything to make a light rifle heavier would be a good thing right?

That would depend on his use.

[Paperchasin]

Definitely worth it. But don't skimp on ammo either.

[hermosabeach]

Interesting question-

How do you shoot your 10/22?
What type of match ammo doe you shoot in your 10/22?
What type of optic - brand/ magnification?

YEARS ago I picked up a new stock and BULL Barrel for a 10/22

It made it too heavy for kids and the GF at the time to shoot it offhand.

Then you add a scope to squeeze the longer range shooting and you lost the ability of a newer shooter to find a clay at 25 feet on the ground...



So start with the end game- how will you use the 10/22?


The 10/22 is a fun gun to shoot
It's a great gun to start to learn about assembly/ disassembly/ modification

It's the first gun many try a rattle can project/ duracoat/ alumnahyde2 project


So have fun and tell us more?

Groups at 50 yards from bench
Groups at 200 from Prone
Shooting ground squirrels in an orchard

What are you trying to "Fix"?

[NeilMo]

If I was to burn some $$$ on my 10/22 I would buy a lightweight Kidd barrel and a trigger job kit. 100 yard groups with this setup will be about the same or better than the stock 10/22 parts could do at 50 yards. I'd also have the bolt worked to achieve the optimal headspace and clean up the firing pin while I was at it to minimize flyers. Any extra $$$ I'd use toward some better glass and ammo.

[M76]

I put a tac sol match barrel on mine and see a noticeable improvement;
+combined with match ammo as others stated helps (Ely in particular)

[crufflers]

I thought it was worth it for a VQ muzzle-weighted stainless barrel when they were $140... it cost about $20 more than the 10/22 IIRC, and the gun shot a lot better after. I would not want to pay $300 for a 10/22 barrel though. I'd probably try a Green Mountain or similar for $100 if I built another. I might try one of the GM 22" Muzzle-weighted barrels, but I wish they made one in 16" or 17.5". They have a 17.5" that's .920 and 1.06 at muzzle... I like the standard profile to .920.

[crufflers]

http://www.gmriflebarrel.com/901507-18-22lr-10-22-ss-fluted-bull-bbl/

Nice one.

[Dvrjon]

I was considering a match barrel from Lilja or another top manufacturer, but first wanted to ask the assembled masses: is it worth it? Will I see enough improvement to merit the expense?

Not if you maintain the stock trigger...start there.

[FeuerFrei]

Start with a great trigger and equally great ammo and test it first.

From a factory config I started with a Kidd trigger and floated the original barrel in the wood stock.
Printed a little tighter than before.

Then I went nuts on it with a light synthetic stock and a heavy 1/9 twist GM barrel for the Aguila SSS "flying brick" ammo. It shoots great and can eat other subsonic ammos since I had to mod it to cycle that stuff.

It's a mad man now and culls ground squirrels out to 150 yds. That's what I made it for any way.

[alpha_romeo_XV]

I have a few target grade 22's but I only shoot outdoors and I've found that besides good ammo, a varying cross wind makes a big difference in group size at 100 yards.

[Teachu2]

MY OPINION(S): The two biggest improvements you can make to a 10/22s accuracy are trigger and barrel. Check out Rimfirecentral.com for lots of info. Best return on investment is a Kidd Trigger Job. I have two of them, one Kidd single stage complete, and two Kidd two stage triggers. My two ultralight hunters have Trigger Jobs, the three heavy barrels have the rest.
Barrels - there are LOTS of barrels out there that will yield serious improvement in comparison to a factory Ruger carbine barrel. Some shooters send the factory carbine to CPC for trigger and barrel work (~$200 total) and end up with very accurate guns that shoot great and LOOK stock, for less $ than a new trigger and barrel. My next 10/22 will probably be that setup. My ultralights both have Kidd ULW barrels, and Blackhawk Axiom stocks. One of my heavyweights has it's original Ruger factory 10/22T 20" bull barrel, one has a E.R.Shaw 18" stainless bull, and the third is a Kidd Supergrade with a 20" Match stainless bull. No regrets on any of them. The Supergrade is a Kidd barreled Supergrade action, mounted in a Victor Titan stock with the Titan rear mount that is designed for the Kidd action. It is my only non-Ruger receiver and bolt.
A high dollar barrel alone would probably be a waste of money. For the same money (or less), you could have a very good barrel and a great trigger - and a better shooting gun. How you plan to use the rifle will determine barrel configuration and (to some degree) trigger setup.

[Tom-ADC]

When back when probably mid 80’s I sent my 10/22 to Clarke in Louisiana for a trigger/action job and one of their barrels was in a Hogue overmolded stock for many years now in a Boyd laminated wood. Thing was a tack driver, shot Federal match ammo the old stuff rifle really liked it.