10/22 Upgrade Question
 

Are all 10/22's upgradable?

I got my eyeballs on a Ruger 10/22, it is the plain carbine version with the 18 1/2" barrel and has the barrel band.

Can I get this carbine, enjoy it for 6 to 18 months, then decide to upgrade just because I can?

As far as I know all 10/22s are upgradable. And I can guarantee they are a blast to shoot. I got a bull barrel and camo composite stock on mine and it's accurate as hell. Love shooting it

Ditto on everything that Tater said.

I bought the standard 10/22 with the barrel band and wood stock, and about the only thing remaining from it is the receiver. I replaced the trigger group with a Volquartsen along with the bolt and the spring. The stock was replaced with a Hogue overmolded stock. The barrel was replaced with a Green Mountain Stainless steel, fluted bull barrel. I tried a Butler Creek carbon fiber barrel to start with, but it was terrible for accuracy. I should actually sell that thing.

The next rimfire I get is going to be one of the Volquartsens built on a 10/22 style receiver. Pricey, but nice to look at and shoot.

I believe all 10/22's are upgradeable. The standard carbine with barrel band you're looking at is what everyone upgrades, so no problem there.
Before you sink a buttload of money into upgrades, get a good trigger pull on the standard carbine, put a decent scope on it, and test it. You may find it needs no further upgrading.

Now you are being sensible, what are you thinking. How can we keep these places in business if we don't just throw our hard earned money to them. Plus, what fun is it to buy a gun and keep it stock? All kidding aside, probably some very good sage advice. My spending weaknesses are guns and bicycles. Kind of like a woman with shoes and purses.

Dont forget the custom dyed 10/22 mags and the gold plated reciever :cool:

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...2/PA073583.jpg

Yeah, I was going to bring that up too, but didn't want to overwhelm Jon with the possibilities. I love that gun of yours ..... almost as much as I love mine. LOL

What kind of trigger can I expect out of the box?

As for the scope, I am putting the 3-9x Burris Fullfield II that I just got from SWFA, and Weaver rings and base.

Already getting an itchy trigger finger.

Heck I found a Volquartsen Left hand thumbhole stock the other day. I think I will buy a gun and fix it up a bit. See if I can shoot better left handed..LOL. The Stock I found is under a 100 bucks. That company is spensive

Factory trigger on a 10/22 is crap...I recommed a Volquartsen hammer. Keep the factory spring tho! Its alot crisper and cleaner!

Jon, the factory trigger probably won't be very good on a basic model. There are lots of ways to improve the trigger pull, though.
Improvements can range in price from little to as much as the rifle cost. Captain's recommendation of a Volquartsen hammer is a good start- there are other brands, too. A replacement hammer or sear (or both) is going to be at the low end , price wise. At the high end, Volquartsen and others make an entire replacement trigger assembly, trigger guard and all, that's a drop in- and costs as much as a new rifle.
Consulting your local gunsmith isn't a bad idea- maybe a new sear and a bit of hand fitting would do the job- it did on mine.

I've had one for 35 years and have never wanted anything else. Mine is pretty stock except I put a regulas 1" scope on it. I can remember once in an indoor range(25 yards) and sand bagged putting 14 in the x ring and 1 just outside the xring. You could cover the group with a dime. Granted that was a very controlled conditions. Otherwise mine will stay as is. I see no reason to change it.

I have had absolutely no issues with my trigger on my stock "wal-mart special" Ruger 10/22 carbine. everything on it works like a dream and over the holidays I used it to shoot a mole that had popped his head up from about 30 yards with iron sights. We are talking about a 3/4 inch diameter target and I nailed him dead center with a remington golden bullet hp (most accurate ammo in my ruger so far). I was using the factor iron sights on it. The only thing I am looking to do at the moment is to get a few more of the clear magazines for it. You can't beat them.

GoodOlBoy

I've had my WalMart Special 10-22 Rifle since about 2001. It's got the larger 'rifle' stock with NO band, fits my large frame better, and 22" stainless barrel and silver finish receiver. The Ruger stock finish is crap, so I stripped it and refinished in Honey Maple - she's a 'blonde' now! ;)
Topped with a silver Simmons 3-9X32 scope on silver painter rings and rail mount. Painted the trigger guard silver too.
The only real mod is a polished trigger and sear, and a lighter trigger spring - much better! I actually only modded it because the danged trigger pack fell out when the pins slid out as I was working with it out of the stock! Figured I'd best go ahead and take care od the 'lawyer trigger'.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-...al%2010_22.jpg

Have 3 10-22s all with tuned factory triggers. Break cleanly at 3.5 lbs with no creep. Compenet gunsmith can work wonders with them, they clean up well.