Kidd created and sells the rear tang and many quality stock makers like McMillian and Victor inlet their stocks for the second screw. Some believe this isn’t enough to prevent the action from seesawing in the stock, especially if the barrel is free-floated. Stock Ruger 10/22s and their clones have one takedown screw, located behind the v-block that holds the barrel to the receiver. The rear tang is either the best thing to happen to 10/22s since CCI Standard or an unnecessary waste of money, depending on who you talk to. Many Ruger 10/22 upgrade-nerds are excited about this new company, and my early impressions are A-plus. Their AZTP-22 also has a dual bolt rail-something Ruger discontinued after three years-which Azimuth says eliminates bolt canting under pressure. 7075 is much stronger than the 6061 aluminum, and it doesn’t weigh 1.5 pounds like stainless steel and steel alloys.
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(One workaround here is the Burris Xtreme Tactical rings with the plus 5 to 40 MOA ring inserts.) A brand-new company, Azimuth Precision, is now making 7075-T6 aluminum receivers and barreled actions. Both have machined-in pic rails, which are great unless you want to shoot very long and need an MOA rail. If you’re willing to go through the trouble, consider the steel Elite 22 from Tactical Innovations and the gorgeous but spendy nickel-bronze receiver from Fedderson.
But if you want to swap it out, remember the receiver is the ATF-stamped “firearm,” so they can only be bought through an FFL transaction. Ruger 10/22 receivers do the job, and they can be easily slicked-up internally with a green Scotch-Brite pad and some elbow grease. What You Need to Know About Changing a Ruger 10/22 Receiver Receivers are regulated by the ATF and need to go through an FFL before purchasing. Though many world-class Ruger 10/22s use tuned up stock Ruger bolts, which gunsmith Steel will do for about $50-see below. It comes in a variety of engraving options. (The heavier plus 10-percent spring is a must if you want to regularly shoot high-velocity ammo accurately.) If you need to buy a bolt outright, the KIDD and Volquartsen bolts are excellent, or you can go with the JWH Custom, which Chacon likes. KIDD sells excellent bolt handles and guide rod springs. Volquartsen sells a popular Bolt Tune-Up kit, which includes a wider, hardened firing pin, a much-improved sharper extractor, and springs. Polish those touch points for a slicker action. Pull the bolt out and you’ll see where it rubs the receiver. For starters, put some white grease on the bolt, then run it a few times by hand in the receiver. Sheaīolt tuning for optimal ignition and extraction can get complicated quick, but it’s possible to do some of the work yourself. Ruger 10/22 Upgrades: Bolt Upgraded bolts offer smoother, more reliable cycling. The Victor Titan, which has an anchor for a rear tang and second action screw (more on that later), is easily the most popular NRL22 competition 10/22 stock out there. It says something that Kidd puts most of his rifles in Magpuls.
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(I’ve seen big improvements by simply taking a factory synthetic-stocked Ruger 10/22 and dropping it in a Pro Varmint from Boyds-their most popular 10/22 stock upgrade.) The Magpull Hunter X-22 is an excellent synthetic stock and very light, which can’t be said for wood laminates. It’s hard to beat Boyds Gun Stocks for laminate woods or McMillian for fiberglass. Put that on top of metal, and you have a giant vibrator. Now think about how much vibration happens when a 10/22 fires. “Wood and fiberglass, their hybrids, they all dampen vibration. And beware of the current trend toward ridged aluminum chassis if your goal is ultimate accuracy, Chacon says. The best barrel in the world won’t shoot straight if it’s not in a good stock and correctly bedded. Ruger 10/22 Upgrades: Stocks Stocks are often overlooked, but they play a big part in accuracy. They run $275 to more than $350, and hold a pile. Feddersen is another excellent barrel in the sub-$200 price range, but when it comes to the very best, Shilen stands alone. They run from $175 to $240 depending on length and features like threaded muzzles and fluting. “4140 tool steel heat treats better than stainless, and you can’t rub the throat out with a brush,” Steel says. Stainless barrels typically cost more than blued tool steel, but don’t believe that makes them better. They make affordable barrels that are comparatively very accurate. is the first stop for most Ruger 10/22 builders. 920 profiles in the 18- to 20-inch range. But for benchrest and long-range work, stick to the popular. A squirrel rifle or speed-game build can get away with a short 16.5-inch sporter contour. When shopping for them, it’s best to think in terms of price and end-use.
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No single Ruger 10/22 upgrade will make your gun shoot better than a new barrel.