Wanting to make an Uber accurate squrriel getter 10-22

[horsemen61]

Thoughts on the above statement guys I am wanting to make an Uber accurate squirrel 10-22 nothing to light or to heavy it’ll be scoped and I want it to be accurate so ideas?


I am starting with a basic 10-22 carbine model

 

[Barbaroja]

I find the 10-22 to be a really good squirrel gun right out of the box. I would take my trigger group out and send it to brimstone gunsmithing In camas,wa. They do really great trigger jobs ate low prices.
http://brimstonegunsmithing.com/shop/ruger-10-22/
After that just a good scope.

before you go nuts with other parts I’d recommend trying as many types of ammo as you can through it. The accuracy of my 10/22 depends a lot on the type of ammo I’m using.

 

[horsemen61]

I find the 10-22 to be a really good squirrel gun right out of the box. I would take my trigger group out and send it to brimstone gunsmithing In camas,wa. They do really great trigger jobs ate low prices.
http://brimstonegunsmithing.com/shop/ruger-10-22/
After that just a good scope.

before you go nuts with other parts I’d recommend trying as many types of ammo as you can through it. The accuracy of my 10/22 depends a lot on the type of ammo I’m using.

good thoughts thank you

 

[jmr40]

To paraphrase Forrest Gump, "buying a 10/22 is like opening a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get." I've found some to be plenty accurate out of the box, others needed work. Some lots of work.

I wouldn't start with the basic standard carbine unless I just had one and was prepared to replace the stock, barrel and trigger. Which with the 10/22 is easy enough for a home DIY project. Ruger offers around 80 different versions of the 10/22 if you check out their website. I'd start with one of the Sporter models to get a better stock and have better odds of a more accurate rifle out of the box.

Ruger® 10/22® Autoloading Rifle

The factory trigger can be worked on, and the factory BX trigger is a big improvement. Either way, whichever is easier for you and less expensive.

There are lots of options for aftermarket barrels. They don't have to be a heavy barrel to be accurate. I put one of these on one of my rifles and accuracy improved dramatically while maintaining the factory barrel contour.

E. R. Shaw Barrel Ruger 10/22 22 Long Rifle Sporter Contour 1 16 Twist (midwayusa.com)

Of course a heavier barrel will help steady the rifle and it isn't hard to keep weight to around 7 1/2 lbs even with a heavier barrel. That is about the same as a factory centerfire big game hunting rifle.

There are lots of options ranging from about $100 to over $300. Of course with a heavier barrel you'll have to either modify the factory stock or buy a new one.

ruger 10/22 barrels - MidwayUSA

 

[horsemen61]

To paraphrase Forrest Gump, "buying a 10/22 is like opening a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get." I've found some to be plenty accurate out of the box, others needed work. Some lots of work.

I wouldn't start with the basic standard carbine unless I just had one and was prepared to replace the stock, barrel and trigger. Which with the 10/22 is easy enough for a home DIY project. Ruger offers around 80 different versions of the 10/22 if you check out their website. I'd start with one of the Sporter models to get a better stock and have better odds of a more accurate rifle out of the box.

Ruger® 10/22® Autoloading Rifle

The factory trigger can be worked on, and the factory BX trigger is a big improvement. Either way, whichever is easier for you and less expensive.

There are lots of options for aftermarket barrels. They don't have to be a heavy barrel to be accurate. I put one of these on one of my rifles and accuracy improved dramatically while maintaining the factory barrel contour.

E. R. Shaw Barrel Ruger 10/22 22 Long Rifle Sporter Contour 1 16 Twist (midwayusa.com)

Of course a heavier barrel will help steady the rifle and it isn't hard to keep weight to around 7 1/2 lbs even with a heavier barrel. That is about the same as a factory centerfire big game hunting rifle.

There are lots of options ranging from about $100 to over $300. Of course with a heavier barrel you'll have to either modify the factory stock or buy a new one.

ruger 10/22 barrels - MidwayUSA

all good info but the reason I am starting with this one is it’s the one my wife got me and I want to make a really really nice little .22 that will get her hunting with me more it’s something she enjoys so why not make it even more enjoyable with a semi custom 10-22 that I can say I helped make better!

 

[Howland937]

You can go as crazy expensive or relatively cheap as you like. Not sure what the Butler Creek combo stock/barrels go for but IIRC, you can probably get it for around $200. A lot of folks turn their nose up at them, but squirrels will never know the difference. Trigger work ,a scope, and finding the right ammo should get you on your way. If you decide you want different (or better) later on, there's always a market for 10/22 stuff. Sell your old and put the money toward what you want.

 

[greyling22]

If you're searching for accuracy, the first thing to do is to stop shooting cheap bulk ammo and get a bare minimum for CCI standard velocity. Wolf match Target is even better, but you may want to supersonic hollow point for squirrels. I had decent luck with the Remington cyclones.
But:
I took the barrel band off mine and it cut the group size in half. then I replaced the barrel with a kidd barrel because it wasn't much more to buy a threaded barrel than to have my factory barrel threaded. I also did my own trigger job per the instructions I found on rimfire central. It required some JB weld, a set screw, a belt sander, and some 400 grit wet dry sandpaper. If you don't have those things in a steady hand, just send it to brimstone. Then I put the whole thing in one of those hoag nylon stocks. Not the flexible over mold, the hard nylon one. It shoots as well as my CZ bolt gun now

 

[Barbaroja]

but you may want to supersonic hollow point for squirrels.

Very good note! I’ve switched to subsonic hollowpoints for small game myself. Check out fiocchi subsonic hp, aguila subsonic hollowpoint, and as greyling mentioned Remington makes some also. All have given me good hunting accuracy from my 10/22 and cycle without issue.

 

[johnmcl]

My second best squirrel destroyer is a 70's vintage 10/22 with a VQ trigger upgrade, a Green Mountain barrel, and a Leupold 2-7x rim fire scope firing CCI Mini-Mags.

My first best squirrel destroyer? A Marlin 39A....

 

[Howland937]

My first best squirrel destroyer? A Marlin 39A....

When my dad and I shoot together, I don't worry which custom 10/22 he brings. Niether of my TC 22 Classics have much trouble outshooting them. When he brings his 39A, I know I've got my work cut out for me.

On another note, finding one of the old Butler Creek combos may be more trouble than I realized.

 

[CapnMac]

A good trigger is its own reward.
Good glass will help, too.
The stock barrel will be good to minute-of-squirrel.

Best will be in getting several brands of ammo and find which one groups best with your 10/22. A mere quarter inch in group size is a significant radius of squirrel.

If you line in/near town,you may need to see what results you get with subsonic loads, or primer only loads.

 

[ontarget]

I was just testing some ammo with my stock 10/22 carbine the other day.
It didn't seem to care a whole lot about which brand I shot but bullet weight.....oh yeah. All of my different 40gn loads grouped half the size of all of my 36gn loads. Ammo definitely matters.

 

[Risky buisness]

Humm....after all the suggested mods count up $$$, a guy could probably go buy 2 nice old pawn shop Marlins

 

[Risky buisness]

Edited ....double post

 

[Howland937]

Humm....after all the suggested mods count up $$$, a guy could probably go buy 2 nice old pawn shop Marlins

And miss out on all the fun the 10/22 rabbit holes can be?

 

[jag1954]

My Ruger does just fine right out of the box.

 

[jmorris]

What does “accurate” mean to you, as far as a “x” number of shots, inside “y” diameter at “z” distance?

 

[amd6547]

My stock 1965 10/22 with a Barska 4x rimfire scope shoots dime-sized 10 shot groups with Blazer bulk at 80yds.

 

[Jeff olson]

Thoughts on the above statement guys I am wanting to make an Uber accurate squirrel 10-22 nothing to light or to heavy it’ll be scoped and I want it to be accurate so ideas?


I am starting with a basic 10-22 carbine model

Start by selling your 10/22 and then getting an Anschutz or Sako. The money you save in ammo is justification enough.

 

[Riomouse911]

As the guys said above, ammo selection has been my biggest accuracy changer in both of my 10/22 rifles.

The stainless 10/22 RSI doesn’t like 36 gr HP .22 ammo, in this case Armscor, but other HP loads do the same. But it likes 40 gr RNL like the Blazer or Sterling Cross loads I was shooting this day.



My 1985 vintage 10/22 is similar, but it shoots the HP bullets a bit better than this gun does.

As for the triggers, if the OP’s 10/22 has the metal trigger guard that came on older guns I’d send it out to be improved. If it’s one with a newer plastic trigger guard, I’d say just go with the factory BX trigger. My RSI had a plastic guard, so I got my BX trigger for 50 bucks on sale. It took me about ten-fifteen minutes to take the gun down, install the trigger and reassemble. The trigger pull is worlds better than the factory ones and it really makes a difference .

Good luck putting together the gun you want. Once you do, post dome targets and let us know how it shoots for you.

Stay safe.

 

[milsurpguy]

Stay away from the take down.

 

[Armored farmer]

I was on tha

Thoughts on the above statement guys I am wanting to make an Uber accurate squirrel 10-22 nothing to light or to heavy it’ll be scoped and I want it to be accurate so ideas?


I am starting with a basic 10-22 carbine model

I went on that quest last year. It was a short trip!
My lgs had a Thompson / Center performance center 10/22 clone.
Fluted, threaded match barrel
Hogue overmolded stock
Adjustable trigger....
I've been well pleased with it.

 

[jmorris]

Looks like 5 years ago an out of the box 10/22 with scope averaged 1.259” for 3 consecutive 5 shot groups at 60 yards.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/side-by-side-597-10-22-model-60.811602/

With Aguilla rifle match my Clark custom one shot a .275” 5 shot group, at the same distance.

If “Uber” accurate is minute of car, either would work.

 

[George P]

The most accurate 10/22 I saw had everything replaced except the Ruger housing; so it really wasn't a 10/22 by the time the owner got done with it - but it could shoot 1hole groups

 

[entropy]

Thoughts on the above statement guys I am wanting to make an Uber accurate squirrel 10-22 nothing to light or to heavy it’ll be scoped and I want it to be accurate so ideas?


I am starting with a basic 10-22 carbine model

And ending up like George P. says. Before you go down that rabbit hole, be prepared to spend $$$. My Dad went on the same quest a few years ago, put almost $2000 into a basic 10/22 before he was done.

I'd research that T/C Performance Center clone Armored Farmer mentioned. You might save some money.

The stock 10/22 I bought for my son shoots more than adequate squirrel-head sized groups, even from the Tapco stock it's in. As others have mentioned, ammo is key. Try some premium stuff through it before giving it a facelift.