October 20, 2010
Upgrading a Ruger Rimfire...
By J. Scott Rupp
Those of you who have checked out our blog at RifleShooterMag.com know I've been customizing a Ruger 10/22 to find a combintation that helps me shoot well in action rimfire competition such as Ruger Rimfire (ruger.com, look under "Links of Interest") and Take-5 Rimfire (take-5rimfire.com). Here's the first in an occasional series on components I'm using.
Ruger 10/22 with Blackhawk Axiom stock and Green Mountain barrel. |
BARREL. I bought a Green Mountain 20-inch, .920-diameter fluted tube from Brownells ($172). The fluting keeps it from being overly heavy, and the barrel is very accurate. Certainly seems to help my transitions. However, as clearly stamped on the barrel, unfired rounds will not always extract due to its tight chamber, so you really have to pay attention when clearing the gun after a stage — especially late in the day when the gun is especially dirty.
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The Clark Custom deluxe trigger/hammer kit and speed release were great additions. |
TRIGGER/SPEED RELEASE. I bought a Clark Custom drop-in trigger/hammer ($67) and speed release ($11), also from Brownells. Wow. The trigger breaks nicely at 31„2 pounds, and I used the overtravel adjustment to get the reset the way I wanted it. The release eliminates the contortions necessary with the factory part, and is a big help over the course of a long day of loading and unloading.
Clark Custom recommends these be installed by a competent gunsmith. I'm hardly that, but I managed to get them in without too much trouble (be sure to capture the trigger plunger spring when you diassemble).
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STOCK. Received an Axiom from Blackhawk for testing (shop around; prices vary from $67 to $90-some). It's a cool-looking black synthetic with a pistol grip and an adjustable length-of-pull buttstock ala today's AR stocks. It's comfortable to shoot, but it's light, so it actually balanced better with the factory barrel. The look definitely attracts some attention.
The Bushnell Red Dot Zoom Dot is a solid sight that allows you to adjust the size of the dot. |
SIGHT. Received a Burris Red Dot Zoom Dot for testing (suggested retail is $395 but you can find it for around $250). This robust unit features the capability to change the size of the dot from 1 m.o.a. to 10 m.o.a. (although the largest it got on my sample was 9 m.o.a.). What makes this nice is you can get a precise zero on paper with the finer dot and then crank it up for speed shooting.
A few criticisms. The dot-size adjustment knob could stand some sort of markings so you know where you are on the dial, and the supplied mount with its see-through window is too high. Also, the dot could stand to be brighter.