Ruger 10/22 after market barrel

[Dama Dama 6.5]

After recently upgraded the stock and trigger on my 10/22, It has not had the desired effect on the accuracy of the rifle which I was hoping for. Although the rifle is far more comfortable to shoot, the group sizes at 50 yards are still around 1.5- 2 inches. I have tried a number of different brands of ammo through it and the Winchester subs seem to be the best. Before I go spending more money on fitting an aftermarket barrel, has anyone had any experience of an aftermarket barrel greatly improving the group sizes of the 10/22 or is 1.5-2 inch groups as good as it gets with the rugers?
thanks in advance

 

[Benji53]

Tactical solutions barrel may fit

 

[Muir]

After recently upgraded the stock and trigger on my 10/22, It has not had the desired effect on the accuracy of the rifle which I was hoping for. Although the rifle is far more comfortable to shoot, the group sizes at 50 yards are still around 1.5- 2 inches. I have tried a number of different brands of ammo through it and the Winchester subs seem to be the best. Before I go spending more money on fitting an aftermarket barrel, has anyone had any experience of an aftermarket barrel greatly improving the group sizes of the 10/22 or is 1.5-2 inch groups as good as it gets with the rugers?
thanks in advance

Do you have a barrel band on it? If so, pitch it.~Muir

 

[Dama Dama 6.5]

Do you have a barrel band on it? If so, pitch it.~Muir

No the new stock does not have a barrel band fitted on it, it's a hogue thumb hole with the barrel free floating.

 

[Effnjeff]

Have you tried lots of ammo types?
Try a box of each of the branded budget end target ammo. Stuff like Eley Sport, RWS Club, SK Magazine, Geco etc. You may find your rifle likes one of those much better and it will give you an idea of what it is capable of. Generally I find that standard velocity target ammo shoots much better than hunting hollow point type stuff, but it isn't worth paying extra for expensive target ammo for a 10/22.
If that doesn't help then it might be time to look at a new barrel.
I have experience of Green Mountain and Kidd barrels and they are great, though a buddy's standard Ruger target barrel isn't that far behind.

 

[C.J]

No the new stock does not have a barrel band fitted on it, it's a hogue thumb hole with the barrel free floating.

I free floated mine and made it worse.Apparently there needs to be 2 points of contact with the stock either side of the takedown screw.Your after market stock maybe different.Try a google search of "free floating 10/22 "


Found this extract.

"Due to the fact that the 10/22 barrel is bolted to the receiver via a barrel block rather than screwed into the receiver, the 10/22 barrel cannot be left free floating as its loose fitting allows the barrel to move under vibrational forces. To remedy this, the barrel must be pressure point bedded to create a fixed point of tension for consistant accuracy."

However your Hogue stock may have been designed for use with a heavy "bull" barrel.​

 

[Dama Dama 6.5]

Have you tried lots of ammo types?
Try a box of each of the branded budget end target ammo. Stuff like Eley Sport, RWS Club, SK Magazine, Geco etc. You may find your rifle likes one of those much better and it will give you an idea of what it is capable of. Generally I find that standard velocity target ammo shoots much better than hunting hollow point type stuff, but it isn't worth paying extra for expensive target ammo for a 10/22.
If that doesn't help then it might be time to look at a new barrel.
I have experience of Green Mountain and Kidd barrels and they are great, though a buddy's standard Ruger target barrel isn't that far behind.

thanks for the advice, I have tried 5 different types of ammo but could see much of a difference if I'm honest. I would like to get the groups down to an inch or better if possible, have you managed this with the types of barrels you've mentioned above?

 

[Effnjeff]

thanks for the advice, I have tried 5 different types of ammo but could see much of a difference if I'm honest. I would like to get the groups down to an inch or better if possible, have you managed this with the types of barrels you've mentioned above?

Yes the aftermarket barrels will certainly group tighter than an inch at 50 yards, and with favoured ammo they'll shoot even better.
I just sold my Rimfiremagic with a Green Mountain sporter barrel, but that shot regular 1/2" at 50 yards with RWS Club. This was fully floated in a Boyds Blaster stock.
I have replaced it with a Rude Fat Dog build with a Kidd heavy barrel in the same Boyds stock. The barrel is not free floated where it has a strip of bicycle inner tube as a pressure pad up near the tip of the fore end. This seems to shoot best with SK Rifle Match.
Have a look at the 10/22 Section of Rimfirecentral.com as there is loads of great knowledge and advice.

 

[Dama Dama 6.5]

I free floated mine and made it worse.Apparently there needs to be 2 points of contact with the stock either side of the takedown screw.Your after market stock maybe different.Try a google search of "free floating 10/22 "


Found this extract.

"Due to the fact that the 10/22 barrel is bolted to the receiver via a barrel block rather than screwed into the receiver, the 10/22 barrel cannot be left free floating as its loose fitting allows the barrel to move under vibrational forces. To remedy this, the barrel must be pressure point bedded to create a fixed point of tension for consistant accuracy."

However your Hogue stock may have been designed for use with a heavy "bull" barrel.
​

I think your right about the hogue stock being designed for use with a bull barrel as there is no contact anywhere from about half inch in front for the receiver to the end of the stock with the standard barrel. Any ideas of the cost of a bull barrel fitted?

 

[C.J]

I think your right about the hogue stock being designed for use with a bull barrel as there is no contact anywhere from about half inch in front for the receiver to the end of the stock with the standard barrel. Any ideas of the cost of a bull barrel fitted?

Try Guesty's trick of a piece of inner tube or similar but place it nearer the takedown screw.If your stock was designed to take say an 1" barrel and you're using a standard barrel , that is only 3/4" at that point,then you're going to need some packing.