Customize the Ruger 10/22

By James E. House

Your Complete Guide to 10/22 Parts

This is the most complete guide ever on aftermarket parts for the Ruger 10/22. With installation instructions, performance evaluations and advice, the authors lead you step-by-step through the process.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gun Digest Books
• Release date: Jul 6, 2006
• ISBN: 9781440224133

James E. House

J.E. House is Scholar in Residence, Illinois Wesleyan University, and Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, Illinois State University. He received BS and MA degrees from Southern Illinois University and the PhD from the University of Illinois, Urbana. In his 32 years at Illinois State, he taught a variety of courses in inorganic and physical chemistry. He has authored almost 150 publications in chemistry journals, many dealing with reactions in solid materials, as well as books on chemical kinetics, quantum mechanics, and inorganic chemistry. He was elected Professor of the Year in 2011 by the student body at Illinois Wesleyan University. He has also been elected to the Southern Illinois University Chemistry Alumni Hall of Fame. He is the Series Editor for Elsevier's Developments in Physical & Theoretical Chemistry series, and a member of the editorial board of The Chemical Educator.

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©2006 by

Gun Digest Books

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No portion of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form

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or electronically transmitted on radio, television, or the Internet.

CAUTION: Technical data presented here, particularly technical data on firearms adjustment and alteration, inevitably reflects individual experience with particular equipment and components under specific circumstances the reader cannot duplicate exactly. The addition of aftermarket parts may void the warranty of your firearm. Such data presentations therefore should be used for guidance only and with caution. Krause Publications, Inc., the authors and distributors of this book accept no responsibility for results obtained using this data.

Ruger 10/22 is a registered trademark of Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. Southport, Conn. USA

eISBN: 978-1-44022-413-3

Library of Congress Catalog Number: 2005935191

ISBN 13: 978-0-89689-323-8

ISBN 10: 0-89689-323-5

Designed by Patsy Howell

Edited by Kevin Michalowski

Printed in the United States of America

PREFACE

A few firearms have special significance and broad recognition in the shooting sports. Several models would probably appear on almost everyone's list, and the Ruger 10/22 would be one of them. With production being almost 5 million since it was introduced in 1964, the sheer number of rifles would be enough to justify its inclusion. But a casual look at catalogs from suppliers of products for the shooting sports will show that the Ruger 10/22 provides employment and pays bills for a lot of people who do not work for Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.

With such a wealth of accessories produced for the Ruger 10/22, the shooter who wants to customize his or her rifle needs to obtain an overview of the types of products available. This book is intended to provide the owner or prospective owner of a Ruger 10/22 such a guide. Although we have endeavored to produce a book that deals with as much of the aftermarket industry as possible, there are undoubtedly some omissions for which we apologize.

In this book, we discuss the performance of factory Ruger 10/22s, ammunition choices, sights, and ballistics at an elementary level. Chapters are included on these topics as well as barrels, stocks, and components of the trigger group. Detailed instructions are presented on how to install many aftermarket parts.

This book is intended to be a comprehensive guide for the person who has never worked on a Ruger 10/22 rather than a shop manual for the expert. A serious hobbyist who has already spent a lot of time customizing Ruger 10/22s will almost certainly have progressed beyond the level of this book but may still find the chapters on performance of factory rifles, ammunition, and other topics useful. However, it is the amateur and learner that will benefit most from this book.

A book that deals with such an enormous range of products can not be written without the help and support of many individuals and businesses. It is a pleasure to acknowledge the help provided by the following companies.

Advanced Technology

Battenfeld Technologies

Bell & Carlson

Boyds' Gunstock Industries

Brownells

Buffer Technologies

Butler Creek

Cabela's

Choate Machine & Tool, Inc.

E. R. Shaw, Inc.

Graf & Sons, Inc.

Green Mountain Rifle Barrels

Hogue, Inc.

Hornet Products

Jard, Inc.

Jarvis, Inc.

Kidd Innovative Design

Leopold & Stevens, Inc.

Lilja Precision Rifle Barrels, Inc.

Magnum Research, Inc.

Majestic Arms, Ltd.

McMillan Fiberglass Stocks, Inc.

Nostalgia Enterprises Co. (NECO)

Power Custom

Ranch Products

Richards Microfit Gunstocks

Revival Industries

Scheels All Sports

Shilen, Inc.

Sightron, Inc.

Sturm, Ruger & Co.

Tactical Solutions

Volquartsen Custom

Whistle Pig Gun Barrel Co.

Williams Gunsight Co., Inc.

XS Sight Systems

The authors would also acknowledge the help and guidance provided by Kevin Michalowski and Steve Smith of Krause Publications. They have helped to make this an enjoyable project.

CONTENTS

Title Page

Special Offers

About the Covers

1        History and Current Versions of the Ruger 10/22

2        Design Characteristics and Concerns

3        Ammunition

4        Performance of Factory Rifles

5        How the 10/22 Works

6        Some Basic Operations, Tools, and Techniques

7        Stocks for the Ruger 10/22

8        Barrels for the Ruger 10/22

9        Fire Control Parts

10      Sights for the Ruger 10/22

11      Testing Some Custom Rifles

12      The Ruger 10/22 Magnum

13      Sources for the 10/22 Shopper

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

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James E. House and Kathleen A. House are avid shooters who also enjoy travel and photography. Jim was a faculty member at Illinois State University for 32 years and is an emeritus professor of chemistry. In retirement Jim has become an active writer. He has authored American Air Rifles (Krause Publications, 2001), CO2 Pistols & Rifles (Krause Publications, 2003), and The Gun Digest Book of .22 Rimfire (Gun Digest Books, 2005) in addition to books on chemical kinetics, quantum mechanics, and descriptive inorganic chemistry, a book he coauthored with Kathy. He holds B.S and M.A. degrees from Southern Illinois University and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois.

In addition to doing a prodigious amount of shooting and photography while helping Jim with previous books, Kathy is an adjunct faculty member at Illinois Wesleyan University. She holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from Illinois State University and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois.

Jim and Kathy are life members of the National Rifle Association and have coauthored articles for Gun World and The Varmint Hunter. Jim has also written many articles that have appeared in publications such as The Backwoodsman, Small Caliber News, Predator Xtreme, The Illinois Shooter, and Gun List.

ABOUT

THE COVERS

BROWNELLS, A LONG TRADITION IN THE INDUSTRY

Bob Brownell was a gun crank in the 1920s and 1930s and did informal customizing and repair work for himself and friends while running a Shell gas station and Maid Rite restaurant. By 1938, he hung out his shingle as a part-time gunsmith and gun work began taking more of his time. Bob's search for tools in the 30s and 40s led him to realize that others might be having as hard a time as he was finding the right supplies to do their gunsmithing work. When he found those tools, chemicals and supplies, he began buying more than he needed and selling the rest to other gunsmiths. Today, the company carries more than 32,500 products for the gunsmith and hobbyist.

Bob was never afraid to share his knowledge with anyone that wanted to get into the trade. That helpful nature lives on today where virtually every one of thousands of Brownells products includes instructions for use. To further the spirit of customer service Bob started, the company now employs eight technicians to answer customer questions.

Early on Bob realized it might be tough to get people to send him money. He established a money-back guarantee that continues today; customers don't need special authorizations and there aren't any restocking fees, a customer simply sends the product back and receives a refund.

By 1951, Bob closed the gun shop and became a full-time supplier of tools and supplies to the industry. In 1959 he published The Encyclopedia of Modern Firearms a compilation of factory schematics, military instructions, parts lists, assembly/disassembly instructions and more, essentially a giant repair manual covering most of the U.S. firearms available at the time. Today, the Brownells web site, www.brownells.com, has hundreds of schematics of factory guns, with drawing numbers linked to ordering numbers to help folks get their guns repaired.

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In 1964, Bob's son Frank, a University of Iowa graduate and a Lieutenant fresh out of the Navy, joined the company. Frank had grown up in the business, running the printing press, helping assemble catalogs, picking orders, packing them, packaging products, pushing a broom, and whatever else Bob assigned to him. One of his first projects was to put the information from Bob's famous newsletters into the first of a series of Gunsmith Kinks books. The Kinks were how-to tips customers had sent to Bob. They were published to help spread gunsmithing knowledge as far as possible. In the mid 1980s Frank became President and Bob became CEO. Frank led the company through the transition from Bob's administration to his own and grew the company tremendously in the process. Bob died in July of 1991. Frank's middle son, Pete, joined the company in 1998. Pete is also a University of Iowa grad. His first project was to insist on, then oversee the development of, the Brownells Web Site. In 2000, Pete was made Vice President.

While the company has grown, the principles Bob started with still guide his company today. They are: Selection. Service. Satisfaction.

Chapter 1

HISTORY & CURRENT VERSIONS OF THE RUGER 10/22

Some products reflect an excellence of design that becomes synonymous with the company that produced them. Although Sturm, Ruger & Company is a relatively newcomer in the field of firearms manufacturing, it has established itself as a company that produces excellent firearms that are durable and represent good value. One of the products that has gone a long way toward establishing the reputation of Sturm, Ruger & Company is the .22 LR autoloader known as the Model 10/22©. Even though the 10/22 performs well, it is the fact that so much can be done to modify the 10/22 that has helped make it an American icon. It is truly a tinker toy rifle that can be configured to suit almost any taste or purpose. That this is so will be made clear in this book devoted to tinkering with the 10/22.

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The Ruger 10/22 Carbine has resulted in a huge aftermarket industry.

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One of the numerous variants of the Ruger 10/22 Carbine has a synthetic stock and a stainless steel barrel.

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.

From a modest beginning about 60 years ago, Ruger has become the largest manufacturer of firearms in this country. The initial product, a .22 caliber semiautomatic pistol that sold for $37.50, was introduced in 1949. Other manufacturers may produce handguns while others produce rifles and shotguns, but Ruger produces a comprehensive line of firearms that includes all of these types. Moreover, the handguns include numerous models of rimfire semiautomatics but also a wide variety of centerfire semiautos. The Ruger revolvers have from the beginning included both rimfire and centerfire single action models, and the current offerings of this type are numerous. Double action revolvers are also well represented by models that are suitable for sporting and law enforcement uses.

In recent years Ruger has also produced double barrel shotguns in both over and under and side-by-side models. Centerfire rifles are produced in a bewildering array of models that include the bolt action Model 77 Mark II, as well as the single shot No. 1, and several models of semiautomatics. There is even the lever action Model 96/44. Ruger also produces many rifles that are available in rimfire calibers. These include the bolt-action rifles in .22 LR, .22 WMR, .17 HMR, and .17 Mach 2 calibers and the lever action models in .22 WMR and .17 HMR calibers.

While these offerings include something for almost any shooter, it should be made clear that the first rimfire rifle offered by the Sturm, Ruger & Company was the .22 semiautomatic that has arguably become the most successful rimfire rifle of all time. That little rifle is known as the Model 10/22 Carbine, which was introduced in 1964. In the intervening 40 years, over 4 million 10/22s have been produced. Moreover, the 10/22 is produced in numerous versions that span the range from plinking rifles to target models to varmint rifles chambered for the 22 WMR caliber.

With a firearm as long-lived and successful as the Ruger 10/22, there are numerous dates that are significant with regard to the variants produced and when certain changes were made. The accompanying table summarizes some of the most important dates related to events in the life of the Ruger 10/22. In addition to the events listed, there are many others in which minor changes were made in sights, markings, etc., which are too numerous to list in detail in this book.

Ruger 10/22 Versions

Although they are discussed in more detail later in this chapter, this section presents an overview of the several versions of the 10/22 that are available at the present time. The original Ruger 10/22, known as the Carbine, has distinctive styling. Being a true carbine and having a barrel that measures only 18.5 inches, it also sports a stock that has carbine styling. The butt plate is curved, and the forearm is circled with a barrel band. Loosely speaking, a 10/22 carbine bears some resemblance to the military M1 Carbine. However, in addition to the Carbine version of the 10/22, there are also variants known as the Rifle (introduced in 2004), which has a 20-inch barrel and the version with a heavy 20-inch barrel that is known as the 10/22 Target (introduced in 1996). In September 2005, Ruger announced the introduction of yet another version of the 10/22. This version, officially known as the 10/22 Compact Rifle, has a 16.5 inch barrel and a scaled down stock that gives a length of pull of only 12.5 inches. The 10/22 Compact Rifle has a stock that resembles that of the Rifle in that there is no barrel band and the butt plate is flat rather than curved like that on the Carbine.

Although current Ruger 10/22 products include the Carbine, Target, Rifle, and Compact Rifle models, there have been a very large number of small changes over the years. These include changes in sights, stocks, and other parts, but the basic design has remained the same. It is neither possible nor necessary to give a complete description of these variants although that information would certainly be of interest to the serious collector. The most complete catalog of Ruger 10/22 variants in the first 30 years of its production is the book by William E. Workman (1994), The Ruger 10/22, Krause Publications, Iola, WI 54990–0001. A wealth of information on the entire Ruger product line is also presented in R. L. Wilson's Ruger and His Guns (Simon & Schuster, 1996). These books are required reading for collectors and others who are serious about the Ruger 10/22.

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Ruger 10/22 fans will find the books by Workman and Wilson a source of a lot of information.

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The butt plate on the Ruger 10/22 has the unique carbine style.

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At the forward end of the forearm, a barrel band circles the stock and barrel.

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This version of the Ruger 10/22 is widely available through Wal-Mart stores. It has a 22-inch stainless steel barrel and a checkered hardwood stock.

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There are also a number of variants that were prepared specifically for a particular distributor but were never Ruger catalog items. One of these has a 22-inch stainless steel barrel and checkered hardwood stock. Lipsey's, a large firearms distributor in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, marketed this variant through a large number of Wal-Mart stores, and on some internet chat rooms owners refer to it as the Wal-Mart version of the 10/22. As this is being written late in 2005, Lipsey's is marketing a version of the Ruger 10/22 that is finished completely in the camouflage pattern known as hardwoods. Over the years, there have been other short runs of 10/22s produced that had special characteristics. For example, the 40th Anniversary 10/22 that was produced in 2004 had a large medallion embedded in the right hand side of the buttstock to commemorate the event. A brother in law has a Ruger 10/22 with stainless steel barrel and laminated stock that was marketed with a 4X scope and sling with the Ruger logo. Apparently, this package was offered through a large chain of stores but never appeared as a catalog item.

The Carbine and Deluxe Sporter

The original Ruger 10/22, the Carbine, was offered with a walnut stock and 18.5 inch blue steel barrel. Over the many years of its production, it has been produced in many other forms that include some having stainless steel barrels and laminated, composite, or hardwood stocks. One of the most attractive versions is known as the 10/22 International, which has a full-length Mannlicher style stock. A personal favorite of the authors is the version designated as the 10/22 DSP, which is known as the Deluxe Sporter version. It has the same length barrel as the Carbine, but it has a checkered walnut stock that has sling swivels installed. It is not surprising that over the 40 years since it was introduced, the 10/22 has undergone many changes most of which are minor.

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An adjustable folding rear sight is used on most versions of the Ruger 10/22 Carbine.

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With a scope of high magnification attached, the 10/22 Carbine is a versatile rimfire.

Although the Ruger 10/22 broke with tradition in many areas, perhaps the most unique was the fact that it uses a 10-round rotary magazine that is completely enclosed in the action. This results in a clean profile with a magazine that does not protrude from the bottom of the action precisely where it is natural to hold the rifle while it is being carried in one hand. While this cartridge reservoir is novel, this is not sufficient to explain why the 10/22 is held in such high esteem. No, it is the fact that the Ruger rotary magazine enables it to rank among the most reliable .22 autoloaders that has endeared it to many shooters. The action of the 10/22 is legendary for long life and reliability, and the 10/22 also has an excellent reputation for accuracy among rifles of this type. These attributes are responsible for many 10/22s being found in remote areas where the owners need a reliable rifle for pest control and small game hunting.

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The rotary magazine does not protrude from the bottom of the action.

The Ruger 10/22 has always featured a receiver made of an aluminum alloy. While this is true of the 10/22 in .22 LR, those in .22 WMR and .17 HMR (if and when it becomes available) have steel receivers. If you fire both the .22 LR and the .22 WMR rifles, you will quickly see that they are in some respects different rifles. Because of this, they will be considered separately (the magnum will be discussed in Chapters 5 and 12).

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With a checkered walnut stock, the Ruger 10/22 Deluxe Sporter is a handsome rifle.

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For many years, the Ruger scope base accommodated mounts that clamp in the grooves along the sides.

Although the 10/22 comes with excellent open sights, the accuracy of any rifle is easier to demonstrate by adding a scope. However, because the receiver has a slightly rounded profile, it is not possible to have grooves milled in it to accommodate scope mounts. Instead, the top of the receiver has four dummy screws that fill the holes where the screws that attach a scope rail can be fastened. For many years, the standard scope rail had grooves along the sides that resemble those milled into the receivers of most rimfire rifles. Beginning in 2004, all versions of the Ruger 10/22 were shipped with a scope rail that not only has grooves along the sides but also has transverse grooves that enable the enormously popular Weaver-type scope rings to be attached. The new scope rail thus increases the options that are available for the types of mounts that can be used to attach a scope to a 10/22. The steel receivers of the 10/22 in magnum calibers have raised sections that have milled into them the curved notches that are like those found on the centerfire Ruger rifles. Thus, mounting a scope on one of the 10/22 magnums is an entirely different situation.

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The front sight on the Ruger 10/22 Carbine is a bead on a post that is held in a dovetail groove.

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In the last few years, Ruger has supplied a scope base that not only has grooves along the edges but also transverse grooves that accept Weaver-type rings.

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The Ruger 10/22 Magnum has scope bases that are part of the receiver to which Ruger rings can be clamped.

The 10/22 Rifle

Introduced in 2004, the Ruger 10/22 Rifle represents a sort of combination of the Deluxe Sporter and Carbine versions but with some unique features. First, the Rifle has a 20-inch barrel rather than the shorter 18.5-inch barrel used on the Carbine and Deluxe Sporter. Like the Carbine and Deluxe Sporter versions, the barrel of the Rifle is fitted with open sights. Second, the stock is slimmer than those used on either the Carbine or Sporter. One of the esthetic deficiencies of the 10/22 Carbine has always been that the stock is rather fat in cross section. The rotary magazine that is approximately twice as wide as a clip that holds stacked rimfire cartridges necessitates this. However, the stock of the Carbine is fairly thick throughout its entire length. On the Rifle version, the stock is slimmer and especially so in the areas of the grip and the forearm. With its longer barrel and slim stock, we developed a love at first sight relationship with the 10/22 Rifle. It would be some time before we owned one, but it was worth the wait. To date, the 10/22 Rifle is offered only with a hardwood stock and a blued steel barrel.

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The Ruger 10/22 Rifle has a rounded end on the forearm without a barrel band.

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The butt plate on the Ruger 10/22 Rifle is flat and checkered rather than curved and slick as on the Carbine.

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Introduced in 2004, the Ruger 10/22 Rifle has many of the features of the Carbine but has a more slender, better shaped stock.

The 10/22 Target

Rimfire shooting sports such as benchrest and silhouette competition demand a rifle that is much more accurate than the factory produced Ruger 10/22 Carbine. Although many shooters modify their carbines (the reason for this book), Ruger decided to offer a more capable rifle, and the 10/22 Target was the result. It features a 0.920-inch diameter hammer-forged barrel, a heavy target style stock, and an improved trigger. These attributes go a long way toward removing the necessity for adding aftermarket parts for many shooters.

While I never actually thought of the Ruger 10/22 Target as beautiful, it is impressive. With a 20-inch hammer forged barrel measuring almost an inch in diameter and an attractive brown laminated stock, the Target weighs 7.5 pounds. It comes with no sights attached because this rifle begs to have a scope attached and to be challenged. Target versions of the 10/22 are available with either blue or stainless steel barrels, and both come with target type crowns. Functioning of the 10/22 Target is identical to the other forms of the 10/22.

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The Ruger 10/22 Target has a wide forearm, and sling swivels are provided.

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A target crown is used on the 0.920-inch hammer forged barrel of the Ruger 10/22 Target.

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A rubber butt plate is used on the Ruger 10/22 Target that prevents slipping when shooting from a bench.

The Compact Rifle

The newest version of the Ruger 10/22 was announced in September 2005. Recognizing that in many situations a rifle of smaller dimensions is appropriate, Ruger produced a compact rifle by scaling down the Ruger 10/22. The resulting version, known as the 10/22 Compact Rifle, features a blued barrel measuring 16.5 inches and a shortened hardwood stock that gives a 12.5-inch length of pull. The stock has a regular flat butt plate, and gone is the barrel band. In many ways, the Compact resembles the Rifle version with a shorter stock and barrel.

Sights on the Compact consist of a front sight on a low ramp and a blade rear sight. Along the top of the front sight there is a fiber optic insert, and the rear sight has fiber optic inserts on either side of the notch. As with all current 10/22s, Ruger supplies a scope base with the Compact that can accommodate either tip-off or Weaver-type rings.

In 2004 Ruger produced the 10-shot magazines made of clear plastic for the 10/22. These magazines have a red rotor. It is the clear magazine that is standard on the Compact model. Altogether, the 10/22 Compact is a handy, sturdy autoloader that will travel well. It is convenient not only for shooters of small stature, but also anyone who wants a compact rimfire rifle, and that takes in a lot of territory.

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The 10/22 Compact Rifle utilizes a front sight that has a fiber optic insert along the top.

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In late 2005, Ruger introduced the 10/22 Compact Rifle (right), which is a scaled down version of the 10/22 Rifle (left).

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The rear sight on the 10/22 Compact Rifle has a fiber optic insert that gives a green dot on either side of the notch.

Enhancing the 10/22

It is unlikely that there is any machine produced by a factory, even using modern manufacturing techniques, that could not be made better in some way. Manufacturers must make decisions based on availability of materials, cost-related issues, and marketability of the end product. A custom shop may not be forced to operate under all of these constraints, and the owner of a Ruger 10/22 certainly does not have to. Almost everything except the receiver housing is replaceable. Moreover, components are available that exceed the capabilities of the original factory components in many instances. The owner of a Ruger 10/22 can customize his or her rifle to almost any degree desired. As good as the Ruger 10/22 is in factory form, it can be made better. In the following chapters, we will describe many of the aftermarket products available for the 10/22, and describe how you can turn your rifle into an elegant tack-driving machine.

The replacement of barrels and stocks on Ruger 10/22s is so common that several companies offer accessory kits that consist of a stock and barrel combination. Stocks range from elegant sporter type to tactical models with pistol grips, hand guards, and folding buttstocks. Laminated stocks are also available in various color combinations. One popular type of aftermarket stock is known as the thumbhole model, and several styles are produced. In general, stocks are produced with barrel channels that are cut to fit a factory barrel or to fit a heavy barrel having a diameter of 0.920 inch. Stock options for the builder of a custom Ruger 10/22 are discussed in Chapter 7.

When it comes to barrels for the Ruger 10/22, the term smorgasbord comes to mind. Some barrels have contours that match that of the factory Carbine barrel so they can be used with the factory stock. Probably the most popular style of aftermarket barrel is that which is not tapered but rather has a uniform diameter of 0.920 inch. Within this general type, the buyer can choose from those having a blue finish or those made of stainless steel. Another type of barrel has the same configuration as the factory barrel for most of its length but for the last four inches or so the diameter is increased to 0.920 inch. This allows the use of the factory stock or a stock that has a barrel channel of the same size. Finally, there are several barrels available that have an outside diameter of 0.920 inch, but which have an inner sleeve made of steel encased in a sleeve made of aluminum or a carbon fiber composite. These barrels are light in weight, but they can be used with a stock that is designed for use with a heavy barrel. General characteristics of barrels are presented