Barrel upgrade for Ruger 10/22

[Captianbullseye]

I just started a new Ruger 10/22 build. The gun is second hand and not all that accurate. I am looking to get a nice bull barrel for it but don't know quite which one to get with all of the brands out their. Does anybody have any expirence with 10/22 bull barrels

 

[Bluejeeper]

I've had an 18" Shooters Ridge bull barrel on 2 different 10/22s. Probably not the best, but the ones I had had zero problems and not crazy expensive. As for accuracy, in my experience, it was very accurate. I could consistantly get one hole 5-shot groups at 100 yards. Never tried that with the factory barrel so can't say for sure if it actually was any more accurate than the factory.

JMHO and and all that jazz

 

[Cameramonkey]

I have a Majestic Arms barrel. Love it. Its a tack driver.

 

[1911ly]

I have had excellect luck with my Green Mountain barrels. I have 3. Kidd barrels are great too.

 

[cwillour]

Green Mountain (often considered a best value)
Kidd (new "Kidd" on the block with good reputation for accuracy)
Clark Custom (old favorite for 10/22 aftermarket barrels)
Feddersen (well thought of by owners, but little known to the broader public)
TacSol (light weight, but mixed reports on accuracy)

All have their place and followers.

FWIW, I have been switching to a TacSol or Kidd v-block when I change barrels as they seem to fit the barrels tighter than the factory block (10-12 in-lbs for the v-block bolts, IIRC.) Next up is the trigger and the Kidd triggers are fantastic, but I normally save some $$ and just use their "Trigger Job kit" and bolt release in my factory housing. While I have the rifle apart, I typically pop in a Kidd bolt buffer & the TacSol extended mag release.

When scoping the rifle, I like the EGW extended base (available in 0moa & 20moa.)

 

[451_Detonics]

I am running an ER Shaw barrel on one of my 10/22s and have been very happy with it. They are button rifled with a Bentz chamber both of which lend themselves towards accuracy and reliability in a semi-auto.

 

[lmyer]

I just started a new Ruger 10/22 build. The gun is second hand and not all that accurate. I am looking to get a nice bull barrel for it but don't know quite which one to get with all of the brands out their. Does anybody have any expirence with 10/22 bull barrels

Green Mountain = best value. I like the stainless steel - looks cool. But accuracy has more to do with ammo quality than the brand of barrel (assuming barrels being compared are in good shape). You can fine tune a 10/22 barrel to a particular ammo using an adjustable bedding kit but you have to do it right or you are wasting your time and money. I used to play with the 10/22s a lot, and spent a lot of money on one. Kidd parts and Boyd's stock - etc. In reterospect, although there is a large aftermarket of parts for 10/22s and they can be personalized, made to look really cool, and are good for shooting rodents/small animals - they just aren't that accurate in comparison to a bolt gun (and especially in comparison to a custom benchrest 22). It's the nature of a blow-back semi-auto. I could have bought a used custom benchrest 22 for what I put into my 10/22. Subsequently I bought a Savage MKII with twist fluted barrel and laminated stock from the factory - I just don't shoot the 10/22 anymore as the stock Savage outshoots it and looks just as cool.

Les

 

[lmyer]

I just started a new Ruger 10/22 build. The gun is second hand and not all that accurate. I am looking to get a nice bull barrel for it but don't know quite which one to get with all of the brands out their. Does anybody have any expirence with 10/22 bull barrels

Green Mountain = best value. I like the stainless steel - looks cool. But accuracy for a particular rifle has more to do with ammo quality than the brand of barrel (assuming barrels being compared are all in good shape). You can fine tune a 10/22 barrel to a particular ammo using an adjustable bedding kit but you have to do it right or you are wasting your time, money, and effort. I used to play with the 10/22s a lot, and spent a lot of money on one in particular that I have had since the 1990's. Kidd parts and Boyd's stock - etc. Only thing original now is the empty receiver.

In reterospect, although there is a large aftermarket of parts for 10/22s and they can be personalized, made to look really cool, and are good for shooting rodents/small animals - they just aren't that accurate in comparison to a bolt gun (and especially in comparison to a custom benchrest 22). Don't kid yourself, it's the nature of the blow-back semi-auto mechanism and no barrel will make up for that. I could have bought a used custom benchrest 22 for what I put into my 10/22. Subsequently I bought a Savage MKII with twist fluted barrel and laminated stock from the factory - I just don't shoot the 10/22 anymore as the stock Savage outshoots it a little, looks just as cool, and is not as finnicky regarding ejection.

Moral of this story - 10/22's are a classic and eveyone should own one - but don't put a lot of money into a 10/22 in the name of accuracy. There has to be other reasons to do it! And if you are shooting bargain basement ammo, don't expect accuracy at all.

My definition of accuracy..... I have shot as high as 241 with my 10/22 at a RBA benchrest target at 50 yards. That used to be competitive at my club. Then the guys at my club got into the high dollar custom stuff, and I no longer try to compete with them with either rimfire rifle that I own. Although a 241 is really pretty good, you just can't compete with a $2500 custom benchrest rifles shooting Eley Black Box ammo minimum to a consistent score of 249/250. So I started a vintage bolt action military rifle competition, and as the person starting it I was able to lock out high dollar ringer rifles and just have fun again!!

Les

 

[Deaddogwalkin]

Huntertown arms fusion t22, you will be very happy!!

 

[DRob]

Green Mountain has been widely considered the best value for years on RimfireCentral.com. I have several and have been very happy with them. That said, I also have guns that shoot well with Shaw, Volquartsen, and Clark Custom barrels. Many cost more but few shoot better than Green Mtn.

 

[ol' poke]

I bought the threaded Fedderson. It was the least expensive route to go for a suppressed host. I like it, as it still shoots better than I do for the time being. (I'm catching up!)

 

[BoilerWes]

I have 2 Kidd Ultralights and a Clint Beyer ultralight in a standard taper. All very nice. Whistle Pig barrels have a lot of Rimfire Central street credit I'm sure Volquartsen and TacSol barrels are nice too. I have had several Green Mountain barrels and still have a spare 18" stainless bull that I have kept around. I prefer the lighter weight barrels.

 

[tatters]

When I had my built 10/22 I had a Green Mountain .920 I bought from Boyd's. It was so accurate with Wolf MT it was boring. Too heavy for the woods, I tore it down and sold the parts. Flash forward to last summer...I bought another 10/22 and had the oem sporter barrel reworked by Que over at Rimfire Central. Along with some other stuff done to it, it's a tackdriver and light enough to carry anywhere.

I will agree though.. Sometimes the ammo and barrel combination makes all the difference in the world.

 

[ssdoug]

X2 on the ammo . The best for me has been the Volquartzen stainless fluted.

 

[gregkl]

I bought the threaded Fedderson. It was the least expensive route to go for a suppressed host. I like it, as it still shoots better than I do for the time being. (I'm catching up!)

So, are you saying that the Federson is not going to be accurate enough at some point? I was thinking of going the Federson route, but I don't want to ever have the tool restrict my ability to shoot. I always try to make sure that I am the limiting factor, not the tool.

 

[dross]

So, are you saying that the Federson is not going to be accurate enough at some point? I was thinking of going the Federson route, but I don't want to ever have the tool restrict my ability to shoot. I always try to make sure that I am the limiting factor, not the tool.

I have a Fedderson barrelled 10/22. Don't worry a bit about outshooting it. You can't.

 

[KJW]

I had a Green Mountain bull barrel with the Bentz chamber. It was accurate enough but too heavy, so I went with a Tactical Solutions. Best decision I ever made; every bit as accurate and so lightweight. I don't shoot competitively. My 10/22 is my "go to 22" for squirrels and other property pests. I have an after-market V block, Hogue stock, Volquartsan trigger, and a couple other mods. I have no gunsmithing skills and have been able to do all of this very easily. My gun likes Ely Sport ammo, 5 shots at 50 yds all touching. I have a Mueller APV all purpose 4.5-14x scope. A Huntertown Arms Guardian suppressor rounds it out. This gun puts a never ending smile on my face every time I shoot it.

 

[IndyGlockMan]

any of those barrels will be good.
after that, it's finding the ammo it likes best.
I have a Butler Creek barrel that shoots Federals like a shotgun spray (seems like it anyway), but loves Aguilla in the yellow/blue box.

 

[Psode27]

I have a shaw I think on mine. Its a 16" threaded barrel. Not as cool looking or talked about as much as some of the Kidds and stuff, but I'm very happy with it! I think I paid like 80-90$ for it too....

 

[flightsimmer]

I learned years ago from the Dan Wesson revolvers that a tentioned barrel could be very, very accurate, that is, a barrel that has a tentioning nut on the front end of the barrel.

Having learned that, I bought a light weight carbon fiber barrel from Volquartsen for my Ruger 10/22 and with a good scope I am able to shoot sub-dime sized groups at 75 yds indoors (the longest available to me).
Now it is a light weight carbon fiber sleeve around a tentioned barrel, no need to have all that extra weight lugging you down.
I very pleased with mine.