Ruger 10/22 Sporter vs Mannlicher

[sendithit]

Assuming its being operated by a competent recreational shooter:

1) Which is more inherently accurate out to 100 yards...Sporter or Mannlicher?

2) How does the Mannlicher's stock affect barrel harmonics?

3) Does the absence of a barrel band on the forend of the Sporter make it shoot differently than the Carbine?

4) Is it possible to build-up a complete auto-loading 10/22-style rifle (with rotary magazine) from strictly aftermarket parts...or is it best to start with a basic Ruger 10/22 Carbine and go from there?

5) I think wood-stocked rifles are sexy. (I have a couple of evil-black-rifles in the AR-platforms in .223/5.56 and they're sexy, too...but sexy in a black leather-clad dominatix sort of way and full of badness...wood-stocked rifles are like the girl-next-door type...full of wholesome goodness)

So....I like the asthetics of the Ruger Mannlicher, but I'd like to be able to mount a bipod, too, which I guess would rule out the Mannlicher and make the Sporter the one to have if I kept things simple. I also like the feel of custom thumb-hole aftermarket stocks when they fit my large right hand. I like the "simplicity" and affordabilty of being able to shoot LOTS of .22LR rounds. I have access to a near-by range that has several 100-yard positions, so I'm really only interested being able to make one ragged hole between 25 and 100 yards.

Comments? Suggestions? Thanks!!!

[Gryff]

In theory, the Mannlicher ("International") stock would have more negative impact on accuracy because of the contact along the entire length of the barrel (I think). I say this because on ARs, a free-floating barrel is the better choice in the accuracy department. Also, as the wood heats, it changes shape, which will change your POI however slightly.

But the other side of the coin is how accurate a basic 10/22 is going to be anyway? I know that you can make them pretty much tack drivers with a replacement bull barrel, but that would preclude the use of the Mannlicher stock anyway.

I have both and International and the basic carbine, and I generally don't see any accuracy differences between them, but I'll admit that I've never benchrested them and compared accuracy. I definitely love the looks of that International model, though.

[sendithit]

I kinda' was thinking along the same lines (re: free-floating forends on ARs)...but yeah, the internationals do look sexy. Maybe they're better off being functional wall-art? Dunno...I just like the looks of them.

So...I'm better off getting the Sporter or a basic Carbine and making it "my own" via aftermarket wood-stocks and other functional aftermarket furniture?

[Jeepers]

i love the looks of a Mannlicher stock , and you could just float the barrel on it not that hard just some work with sandpaper

[Gryff]

but yeah, the internationals do look sexy. Maybe they're better off being functional wall-art? Dunno...I just like the looks of them.

Don't know about being wall art. I have zero complaints about the accuracy of my International. Then again, it is just a casual plinking rifle.

i love the looks of a Mannlicher stock , and you could just float the barrel on it not that hard just some work with sandpaper

Yes, but they'll look a little odd since the end of the stock will no longer touch the barrel.

[ojisan]

If you are going to change the stock, get the cheaper standard carbine as opposed to the Sporter.
Many folks remove the barrel band from the standard carbine to improve accuracy.
The Mannlicher stocks look cool but will not give the same accuracy as a no-barrel-contact-stock as mentioned above.

[sendithit]

Based on the info I'm reading on this thread, it so far looks like I'd be better off getting the Sporter (better stock than the Carbine and no barrel band up front)....maybe even the BSA edition for sentimental reasons since I can honestly say that when I was a Boy Scout back in the late 60s, that was the very first time I shot a real firearm... .22 rifle. I'd probably keep either one (Sporter or BSA) basically stock and build a thumbhole-equiped one later.