Ruger 10/22 customizing Big $$, but is it Worth it?

[mike in CA]

I just started to think about a custom Ruger 10/22. First i thought I would buy a used one and then customize it. I talked to some people and they said why buy a whole gun when you will only use the receiver and trigger mechanisms. So I started to check online. I found that just buying a receiver is a minimum of$110 more then a whole brand new gun. And since it would then have to be shipped to a local FFL which then tacks on another $100, I could just about buy 2 brand new 10/22's for the price of the receiver. Now i realize that after market parts are better than the original, but REALLY should one part cost more then two complete new guns. Even just a better barrel is more than the price of one new gun and that is without all the other parts needed to finish. I finally realize why I have seen some used 10/22's for over $700. By the time you are finished customizing it could easily break $1000. I am sorry, but my stock 10/22 is pretty darn accurate, so how much improvement do you really get for those prices? From what I can tell, you get a lot of cosmetic improvement, but minimal performance improvement, for spending a ton of money.

Now that I have played Devils advocate, I expect a good old fashion Hatfield and McCoy discussion to commence. At least i hope it will spark a good discussion on this subject.

[Merc1138]

A better barrel is more than the cost of a new 10/22?

http://www.gmriflebarrel.com/rugertargetbarrels/10-22920sporterdiameterbarrels/ruger-10-22-920-bull-barrels-page

You're also assuming that an FFL can't order a receiver and avoid the crappy transfer fees.

Different aftermarket receivers have different features. Some have a rear tang, some have integral rails, some have different bolts(not all of them include the internals), others use different spring mechanisms,
A new stock will get you the benefit of better ergonomics(possibly). There are debates about bedding, a factory stock can be bedded if you care.
A new barrel will get you better accuracy. Some look nicer/crazier and cost more(whistle pig barrels), others are known for really awesome accuracy(kidd).
A new trigger will help your gun do better, because you're doing less that can screw up the shot.

The question should really be, for the money you're spending, are you going to see a difference? If you're just shooting tin cans at 50 yards, probably not. If you're trying to put 10 shots in the same hole, maybe.

[sonnyt650]

The Tactical Machining 10/22 receiver is $129 from their website, read a while ago that Eddy's here in Mountain View sells them too. I bought the 80% variety during a Calguns group buy and cut the barrel hole and others myself, though I'd advise against it unless you have a full-sized mill.

The upgrades were worth it to me: my factory Ruger 10/22 couldn't shoot well where even with match quality 22LR I'd get 2-3" groups at 50 yards, using bulk ammo was just plain sad. With a barrel and stock swap the match ammo got down into the area of 1"-1.5" group at 50 yards. Since then I've pretty much put together my own 10/22 based on a TM receiver which will shoot Federal Champion value pack ammo into 2-3" masses at 100 yards.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I've seen many examples of a 10/22 turned into a magnificent, match grade target shooter.

However, for the great unwashed masses, including myself, the 10/22 is simply a fun plinker that is cheap to buy and cheap to shoot, endearing it unto hearts everywhere.

[bsg]

in my mind's eye, the 10/22 is just fine as it comes from the factory. yet, the options for the 10/22 have proven to please those who have differing opinions of what is desirable or needed for the rifle; aftermarket support is ever present.

[Caribouriver]

It was worth it to me to spend $100 on an M1 Carbine stock and Tech front and rear adjustable sights ($70) on my 10/22. The real M1 carbine is not cheap to shoot, the 10/22 is. It feels very much like the real deal and amusingly fools some folks at the range until they hear it. I don't know if it shoots any better - but I seem to do better with the peep sight from Tech. Plus, the sight radius with the Tech sights is substantially greater than the stock sights which contributes to accuracy.

[sholling]

Is it worth it? That just depends on your goals. If all you want is a fun little plinker then a factory 10/22 is perfectly fine as-is. If you want a squirrel or rabbit hunter a factory 10/22 is just fine as is. If you feel that a factory 10/22's 2-3MOA out of the box accuracy equals "pretty darn accurate" I'd say leave it as is.

On the other hand if you were looking to get into even semi-serious target shooting you'll need to get your groups under 1MOA (hopefully well under 1MOA) and you can get under 1MOA (with match ammo) by buying an off the shelf CZ455 for $400 or better yet a $500 CZ453 and avoid tinkering. But if you enjoy tinkering and don't mind investing $300-600 into a $200 10/22 you can have the personal satisfaction of building your own match-grade sub-MOA (with match ammo) target rifle that is at least as accurate as a factory CZ. But just throwing money and parts at it won't necessarily make it shoot one-ragged-hole 50yd groups. It can take a lot of patience and tuning and will take a lot of practice on your part but in the end you'll have learned a lot about turning for accuracy.

[bsg]

Is it worth it? That just depends on your goals.

+1.

[mike in CA]

Well just to clarify my gun is 40 years old and perhaps they were built better then than they are now. I can easly see that quality sometime needs to be comprimised to keep the cost down. Since 10/22's have not significantly increased in price over the last 40 years then quality must be less then it was back in the day. At the very least, my stock puts to shame the stocks coming from Ruger today. I have a nice scope on my rifle and like i said it does pretty well at 100 yrds. I am no expert shooter and certainly have no need to place 10 bullits in the same hole at 100 yrds, which I would say apllies to the vast majority of people who own 10/22's. For the small minority that feel that they need hyper accuracy, then perhaps spending $1000 on a $239 rifle is practical. For me, and my 40 year old 10/22, just putting a scope on it was all i needed.

[sholling]

Well just to clarify my gun is 40 years old and perhaps they were built better then than they are now. I can easly see that quality sometime needs to be comprimised to keep the cost down. Since 10/22's have not significantly increased in price over the last 40 years then quality must be less then it was back in the day. At the very least, my stock puts to shame the stocks coming from Ruger today. I have a nice scope on my rifle and like i said it does pretty well at 100 yrds. I am no expert shooter and certainly have no need to place 10 bullits in the same hole at 100 yrds, which I would say apllies to the vast majority of people who own 10/22's. For the small minority that feel that they need hyper accuracy, then perhaps spending $1000 on a $239 rifle is practical. For me, and my 40 year old 10/22, just putting a scope on it was all i needed.

You answered your own question - it's not worth it to you and that's a perfectly legitimate point of view. But that begs the question of why ask a question that you already knew the answer to? It sounds like you're looking for validation for you choice that shouldn't need validating. The fact is that different people have different tastes and while some folks are perfectly happy to drive an Oldsmobile there are others that like to build hotrods. The Olds will get you to where you want to go in comfort but building your own hotrod and getting there in style in your own creation puts a huge grin on DIYer's faces. That pride of DIY accomplishment is an equally valid point of view. Neither choice is "better" than the other just differences in individual taste. Personally I enjoy the challenge of making teeny-tiny 10 shot 50yd groups and seeing just how small I can shrink those groups - but that's my taste.

[cudakidd]

Yes it's worth it for me...smoother trigger pull, better ergonomics, better accuracy. All were accomplished by aftermaket parts.

The OP needs to try a Kidd trigger drop in to really appreciate the difference.

Try a stock that you can adjust to fit YOU, not a factory generic fit that doesn't really fit anyone to see it's worth it.

[Dont_Shoot_im_Chinese]

Much like everything else...its a matter of taste. Whats worth something to you may not mean anything to someone else. How much you intend on spending or what you what to do with your own stuff is up to you

[Dont_Shoot_im_Chinese]

as we all know....research is expensive and this hobby is just so damn addicting

[mike in CA]

You answered your own question - it's not worth it to you and that's a perfectly legitimate point of view. But that begs the question of why ask a question that you already knew the answer to? It sounds like you're looking for validation for you choice that shouldn't need validating. The fact is that different people have different tastes and while some folks are perfectly happy to drive an Oldsmobile there are others that like to build hotrods. The Olds will get you to where you want to go in comfort but building your own hotrod and getting there in style in your own creation puts a huge grin on DIYer's faces. That pride of DIY accomplishment is an equally valid point of view. Neither choice is "better" than the other just differences in individual taste. Personally I enjoy the challenge of making teeny-tiny 10 shot 50yd groups and seeing just how small I can shrink those groups - but that's my taste.

As a matter of fact, I drive a 1965 Shelby 427 Cobra S/C replica that I in fact did build myself. It is better in every way than an original except one. That being that it is not worth over a million dollars. However it will out perform an original in every way and is a heck of a lot more comfortable to drive. So I am not a person that shies away from tinkering. Now being able to beat virtually every car on the road 0-60 really does put a smile on my face! Especially since I built the car. I shoot to relieve stress and blow off steam, so how small a group I can make at 100 yrds is a little tame and certainly lacks the excitement of blowing the doors off every kid that has not grasped the understanding of power to weight ratio and "thinks" they have a hot car. I still think that to spend a grand just to make a smaller group is really only necessary if you are a competative shooter. I have also found shooting at paper targets pretty boring. There is no spectacular effect of a bullit passing through a sheet of paper. Even shooting a can is more exciting to me. At least it falls over when you hit it.

[cudakidd]

Mike then try our .22 falling plate matches! 75, 125, 175 yards. 6" steel knockdown plates. 12 shots possible at each range to hit 10 plates. Sight in period allowed.

Any sight, scope, bipod, sandbags allowed.

Very Challenging, you need to read mirage, hold over, call wind, etc. And I have shot 30 for 30 in it!

And that's why I have a customized 10/22, a factory ruger just won't keep the group small enough to stay on a 6" plate at 175 yards!

Plus the fun of watching a hit either knock the plate over (good) or just spin it in place (bad)!