Project Appleseed

I picked up a 50th anniversary contest 10/22, and I really like it a lot. The only two issues I really have are the drift adjustable windage (which shouldn't be a problem once it's dialed in), and the flash hider. For some reason that oversized black hunk of metal just doesn't look right to me. Definitely want the threaded barrel though.

So I found that the diameter of the barrel at the end for the sight is .625. I also found that there aren't a lot of muzzle brakes or compensators out there that have that same OD. But I did find one, the Shrewd ready-to-fit brake. The way it comes it needs to be bored out at the muzzle regardless of what caliber it's attached to, but it does have the correct OD. It's really meant to be custom fit to a tapered hunting rifle barrel by a gunsmith, but it will work for my needs. Brownell's sells them for $60, but if you have a dealer account (C&R FFL works to get dealer status), it's only about $35.

Just to clarify; the rear sight is not adjusted by drifting it.  It has two socket-head set screws, one on each side.  Loosen one, tighten the other for windage adjustments.

I made the hole in the peep smaller by gluing a piece of brass tubing inside that measures 3/32" OD x .14" wall x .19" long.  It makes it less ghosty, but it is still not quite small enough ID for my liking.  But it is better.

UL

Picked up mine a few days ago and I love it.  Ordered a scope for it, but it has to go back (Windage adjustment is broken)... so a few more days before I can get it sighted in.  Love Love Love the balance of it and the choice of cheek rests!  Stellar idea.    Took a couple more girls to the indoor range and everyone had fun shooting her.  Looking forward to the next event where I can put her through her paces!

Quote from: Unbridled Liberty on July 11, 2014, 07:09:36 PM

I made the hole in the peep smaller by gluing a piece of brass tubing inside that measures 3/32" OD x .14" wall x .19" long.  It makes it less ghosty, but it is still not quite small enough ID for my liking.  But it is better.

UL

You did you find brass tubing that small?

Very nice jwebster.  My thoughts upon seeing the rear sight for the first time was to drill it out and thread it for some William aparture inserts. When I get mine, one will probably done that way.  Love the FH as well.

One of our Michigan instructors cuts and threads 10/22 barrels for us to make small kid size rifles for loaners. He is the inspiration for the threaded barrel and FH (actaully called a "mud guard" for our purposes) for the Contest winner. Been trying to get him to make a mud guard out of aluminum or aluminum tubing to replace that ugly Ruger thing 

As far as adding an aperture insert, I was looking into that as well. Tech-Sights makes a replacement aperture and inserts for the TS200 series. The replacement aperture screws into the sight base to replace the factory TS200 tech sights aperture. The factory TS200 aperture is .062, and the replacement has inserts at .042, .062, and .086. The TS200 replacement aperture that holds the inserts is .125.

The 10/22 aperture looks to be about .090. It also threads into the sight base, but has different thread specs than the tech-sights aperture. The 10/22 aperture could be drilled out to 1/8 (.125) and the TS inserts could be used. If the .042, .062, and .086 inserts were enough, that would probably be simpler than threading for the Williams (any idea what the Williams thread specs are anyway?). The TS inserts probably aren't as nice as the Williams and don't have as many options, but I'll bet it's easier and less expensive.

Sooo......

Who's going to write up a range report and review for the Appleseed newsletter?  Next deadline is September 8th.   

PM me!   

Quote from: scuzzy on July 12, 2014, 11:26:47 AM

Quote from: Unbridled Liberty on July 11, 2014, 07:09:36 PM

I made the hole in the peep smaller by gluing a piece of brass tubing inside that measures 3/32" OD x .14" wall x .19" long.  It makes it less ghosty, but it is still not quite small enough ID for my liking.  But it is better.

UL

You did you find brass tubing that small?

Hobby shop.

UL

A couple note on the sights. The rear sight appears to be the same as the Mini-14. Instructions on adjusting it can be found in the Mini-14 manual. The Mini-14 manual shows that one 360 turn of a windage screw will adjust the sight 5 MOA. One 180 turn of the aperture for elevation will adjust the sight 1.25 MOA. Not sure of the sight radius on the Mini-14 vs. the 10/22, so it may not translate over directly, but it is a good starting point.

There is a good chance (but not yet confirmed) that the Tech-Sights Mini200 will be a direct bolt on replacement that will give click adjustable and more consistent/repeatable adjustment.

EDIT:

Tech-Sights confirmed the Mini200 will work on the 50th Contest 10/22. Borrowed this image that was sent by Tech-Sights and posted on RimfireCentral:


There's a little more overhang, and you have to use the screw from the 10/22.

Local gun shop had 2 in stock the other day - the owner and I talk a lot about AS, and he remembered that I was talking about the rifle, so he gave me a call to let me know he had some.   Picked it up a couple days ago, but haven't had a chance to put rounds through her yet.  First impression is pretty nice though, not thrilled about the mini-14 style sight adjustment, but it's miles ahead of the standard 10/22 sights.  Balance felt good, love the other improvements Gary put into the design. 

Ruger 10-22 50th rifle... On sale July 25 - Aug 3, 2014 $299 at Sportsman's Warehouse (in-stores only).
http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/

First range report.  I was SBing and asked 3.dogs to sight in my NEW Mac rifle.  BTW, there was a bit of pressure having Mac watching.  He has a commanding presence. 

3.dogs ran out of windage.  Sadly, he could not get it sighted in.  At night we took the rifle out of the stock and discovered the problem.  The barrel is not coming out of the receiver straight.  I measured it to be 5/32 out of 'true' at the muzzle.  This would account for the windage issue. 

I spoke to Ruger and the nice gentleman on the phone said I could try remounting the barrel.  Obviously, if that didn't fix it they would be glad to fix it or replace it.

The short stock combs came in the mail yesterday. 

Anyone else experiencing this?

This is late to the party, but here is my "range report"

"One" of the two sighted in with nearly no adjustment.  "The Other One" maxed out windage in the rear and only a punch and hammer to drift the front sight about (3/64") would allow me to put the rear back near center.

Caliper and I were discussing this, and we noticed that in the "entry-level" .22lr market. almost everyone puts their sights on the barrel.  Marlin 60 & 795, Remington 597, Mossberg 702, Ruger 10/22.

We hypothesized that because of the nature of the economies required for the entry level rifles, compromises had to be made, and it is substantially easier to add sights to a barrel and maintain accuracy.  This negates the need for a difficult to maintain set of tolerances in the barrel / receiver mounting or the utilization of additional machine operations (threading) to mount the barrel.

But what about scopes....  Well even the lowest cost scopes adjust more easily and most also adjust further than stock sights.  Additionally you have a number of mechanical fasteners in the rail/rings that can make up for some of the needed adjustment.

So Mac66's design, moving the rear sight onto the receiver could amplify any misalignment in the barrel/receiver fit. 

Once again Project Appleseed tests rifles (and riflemen/women) in ways never thought of before.

number6

So this last weekend I went to the local range where we host AS events, they had a Rimfire Challenge event (thanks KimberCustom!)....   The rifle itself ran fine mechanically.....  But after less than 200 rounds, just about every screw on that gun was loose.  The action screw, the rear sight mounting screw, *AND* the two windage adjustment screws.....

Some blue loctite will help solve some of the problems, but I can't exactly loctite the sight adjustment screws....

So a little disappointed that after spending $330 on this rifle, I'm gonna have to drop another $65 or so on the mini200 sight from TechSights.   

One positive is that the trigger seems a bit better than the standard factory trigger on the 10/22....  Or maybe I got lucky in that regard.  I haven't measured it, but it seems to break at about 6 lbs as opposed to the "oh-my-goodness-is-the-safety-still-on?" of the standard 10/22 trigger. 

And I guess from reading some of these reviews, I guess I should consider myself lucky that my barrel was in there straight....

I've got a range report as well.  I have loaned it at two events so far, and it probably has about 300-400 rounds through it.  Problems:
1. Windage is maxed out to get it zeroed.
2. In order to change elevation, you must loosen the windage screws a LOT to free up the post, then tighten them down and hope that you turned them both equally.
3. Repeated failures to fire.
4. Repeated failures to eject.

I could buy Tech Sights and an extra magazine, and fiddle and fool with it to fix the FTF and FTE, but I don't want to spend more money on it and still have an eternal project rifle.  This is my first and last 10/22.  Anybody want to buy this from me?  I will also consider a trade for a 795 LTR.

UL

Quote from: Unbridled Liberty on July 28, 2014, 06:06:24 PM
I've got a range report as well.  I have loaned it at two events so far, and it probably has about 300-400 rounds through it.  Problems:
1. Windage is maxed out to get it zeroed.
2. In order to change elevation, you must loosen the windage screws a LOT to free up the post, then tighten them down and hope that you turned them both equally.
3. Repeated failures to fire.
4. Repeated failures to eject.

I could buy Tech Sights and an extra magazine, and fiddle and fool with it to fix the FTF and FTE, but I don't want to spend more money on it and still have an eternal project rifle.  This is my first and last 10/22.  Anybody want to buy this from me?  I will also consider a trade for a 795 LTR.

UL

Send it back. Ruger needs to know that there are problems with these things.

I have one of the Marlin LTR's, and I had the same issue with the windage being maxed out for zero.  This past weekend my son was shooting it at Ramseur and one of the other instructors was trying to help him get the elevation dialed in, and the rear sight locked up solid.  It won't turn at all.  I've taken it off, and will have a careful look at it when I get a chance, to see what's going on.   But the upshot is that I had to throw a cheap 4x scope on it and go pay for range time today to get it zeroed, because I need the rifle as a loaner this Saturday. 

So don't be too quick to trade off the 10-22 for a 795.  They've both got their problems.  I've decided my next 22, if I ever get some money freed up, will be an older 10-22 with a metal trigger housing.  Got to buy the classics to get something decent, it seems like.     (Although I will say that the Marlin has been excellent on feeding.  No issues there.  Knock on wood.)

This is slightly off topic, but rather than using loctite try a product called Vibra-TITE VC-3. Unlike Loctite, this stuff dose not get brittle, and is great to use on adjustment screws. Loctite is really only good for one use. After being unscrewed, a new application should be applied. Vibra-TITE can withstand many trips in and out of the screw hole. I dont use Loctite on any of my rifles anymore. 

Quote from: General Stuart on July 30, 2014, 08:04:33 PM
This is slightly off topic, but rather than using loctite try a product called Vibra-TITE VC-3. Unlike Loctite, this stuff dose not get brittle, and is great to use on adjustment screws. Loctite is really only good for one use. After being unscrewed, a new application should be applied. Vibra-TITE can withstand many trips in and out of the screw hole. I dont use Loctite on any of my rifles anymore.

That sounds excellent.  Thank you for mentioning this.  I found the 5 mL tube on Amazon for $5.99 and eligible for Amazon prime (free shipping).  Use Amazon Smile and some money goes to RWVA.   .  I will pick some up.

UL

Mac- I called them today and they are supposed to send me a FedEx label to return it.  We shall see.

Moylan- Understood.  But I already have two 795's (1 LTR and 1 standard) which have many thousands of rounds through them, and I have very few issues with them.  I will see if Ruger can make the 10/22 run properly before I get rid of it.

UL

Quote from: Unbridled Liberty on July 30, 2014, 09:29:55 PM
Mac- I called them today and they are supposed to send me a FedEx label to return it.  We shall see.

Moylan- Understood.  But I already have two 795's (1 LTR and 1 standard) which have many thousands of rounds through them, and I have very few issues with them.  I will see if Ruger can make the 10/22 run properly before I get rid of it.

UL

I don't have the new Contest winning rifle yet, my trip to Ruger is next week but I think Ruger needs to know that these rifles have problems. The only way to do that is to tell them and make them fix them.

MAC hopefully you've got more clout with Ruger and can influence their process.  In my experience Ruger's customer service is poor to abysmal, to the point that I won't buy Ruger period.  Not too many years ago I picked up a really nice "stainless" 10/22.  Ultimately it became apparent that the receiver was spray painted silver, inside and out.  That paint created a lot of friction when it got hot.  Liquid paint remover and a lot of polishing cleared up the receiver.  For some reason it liked to fire multiple rounds with a single trigger pull.  Add Volquartsen trigger assembly.  Also found the v-block wasn't properly torqued and the barrel drooped.  Add ED Shaw barrel.  Over the course of several years I've replaced everything Ruger, except the receiver.  It's a great rifle now, but it's a Ruger in name only.  It's also like an $800 rifle, which hurts my head to think about.

Still no Fedex return label.  Nothing in my spam folder.  No phone call from them.  I have heard nothing from them.  Now I have to spend more time following up.  Anybody want to buy this rifle from me?

UL

Quote from: Unbridled Liberty on August 04, 2014, 05:25:37 PM
Still no Fedex return label.  Nothing in my spam folder.  No phone call from them.  I have heard nothing from them.  Now I have to spend more time following up.  Anybody want to buy this rifle from me?

UL

If you're coming through NC anytime soon, I would be happy to trade my Marlin LTR for your Ruger Anniversary!  :-) 

As a general observation, I'm very surprised at the comments about Ruger's poor customer service.  I bought a Single Ten a couple of years ago and it had a little problem.  I called them up and they had the Fed Ex guy standing at my door the next morning.  My revolver was returned within something like two weeks, working perfectly.  I was extremely impressed.  I'm sad to hear they've slipped. 

Just got back from New Hampshire visiting the Ruger plant a couple hours ago.   Spent all day yesterday there and got the grand tour.  Saw every aspect of their operation and actually built my own rifle. Pretty amazing experience including having lunch and dinner with Ruger's Vice President and management team. Got a chance to tell them some AS history at dinner.

And yes, I did tell the VP and his 10/22 engineers about the problem with the rear sight alignment.

Photo taking was limited but my wife got a few. More later.

Nice. Sounds like a neat trip.

I put an AAR of my visit to Ruger in the Michigan forum.

See the Michigan forum for aar