Thanks for watching! I have done some other work on the gun in the 2 years since this video came out. Stand by for that one, and if you have any specific questions about the 10/22 just post a comment and I will respond.
Thanks, it really is. Sometime in the next 2 weeks I will be posting a new video showing 2 new variations that I created. One of them is probably the lightest one on the planet, weighing in at only 2 lbs. 12 ounces, and another at 3 lbs. 8 ounces. If you subscribed you will get notified.
Thanks Clay. I see a ton of videos from people who make "competition" guns, and it's no more than buying parts and slapping then onto an otherwise stock gun. I get a great feeling of pride from knowing that I did all the work on the guns myself, and they work as good, and sometimes better, than the custom guns. Keep an eye out for my other videos, and if you have any questions, please ask.
..in the late 80s/early 90s I used'ta go-to n the Steel Challenges at Msrkham Park in Ft Lauderdale..was always impressed with the super lightweight 19/22s the shooters used
Thanks for watching! If you saw my newest video, " The lightest 10/22 on the planet" I got really creating and made a sleeved barrel by machining the stock Ruger barrel to 6" long, turned the OD to a half inch, and permanently installed a 16" sleeve. That's the gun I'm shooting now and am shooting GM times with it. I'm like Tim The Toolman Taylor of guns, I can't leave well enough alone.
Thanks, I'm still shooting it in that current form. I just won another match with it today! I don't think there is much more I can do it to gain any advantage, now it's just up to me to shoot it better. But at 68 years old I feel that I could start slowing down.
Thanks for the comment, and you are correct. I see so many shooters throw tons of money into guns to think that it will make them a champion. Well it won't. I believe that in any given division that you shoot, giving every shooter the same gun, the better shooter will always win of course. What that expensive gun gets you that extra 5% that a stock gun was holding you back from. BUT....when everyone in that division buys an expensive gun, it goes back to the shooter. I shoot with people that have unlimited funds and go through hundreds of rounds every week and never get better because they are not practicing correctly. Once again it's the shooter, not the money.
@@CompShooter54 I’m an instructor for Project Appleseed and invariably the person that brings 3 rifles and or the most gadgets is one of the people with the most bad habits. You cant buy Marksmanship. Have you tried the Mantis system for tracking your practice, live and dry fire? I’m considering it and the Mantis Blackbeard to get more out of my dry fire practice. Thank you.
Thanks Mike, welcome aboard. I did a major makeover to this gun that I will post shortly. It involves me making a "sleeved" barrel to reduce weight and make it swing faster.
Thanks! I'm still shooting it, just put on a lighter dot (Vortex Viper) and thinned out the stock a bit more, now the weight is down to 3.5 lbs. Any lighter and it will float away when I let go of it.
Excellent job, this was my first video of you, it was very informative and loved your no nonsence approach to the facts, its a sign of professionalism....Many many years ago I was an avid smallbore competitor, 10/22 builder and shooter but was never able to get my trigger below the 1.5lb mark... I'm curious how you did it. These days I hang my hat at the Trap and Skeet range but you relit the rimfire/10/22 fire in me:). Stay safe my friend!
I'm glad to see that there is someone else out there that actually works on their own guns instead of just throwing parts at them that they bought off the internet. In my younger days I shot 3 position smallbore with an Anchutz 1813 free rifle. There was nothing that had to be done to those guns except shoot them! I started having kids and it slowed down my competition shooting, as the involvement was just too much. I foolishly sold the gun for a dirt bike. Big mistake. I sold the bike and wish I had the gun, as they are unaffordable now. But to address your question, the 1.25 # pull was an accident. I cut a coil off the sear spring, and maybe 2 off the trigger return spring. I polished the contact surfaces of the disconnector and the sear, but did not touch the surface of the sear that engages the hammer. The rest of the rework was done on the hammer, my thought being that if I screwed it up I could always get another hammer, but sears are tougher to find. On the hammer notch I reduced the engagement by using a stone on the rounded face until I got it to about 1.75 pounds. I then changed the angle on the notch so instead of the sear dragging along a flat surface in was riding on a downward slope. My first intention was to try to get to 1.75 pounds but I thought 1.5 was achievable. This is where I screwed up. It only took 3 more passes with the 600 grit diamond stone and I was at 1.25. I thought I ruined it, because the triggers usually get lighter with use. Well it worked for over 3,000 rounds, then went full auto. But I think it was a combination of things. My stoning was done by hand and was not very square, and only a small portion of the hammer notch was contacting the sear. That and me changing lube made the difference. If you haven't seen my video about gun lube, check it out. All 3 of my competition guns went full auto within 2 weeks, so I am blaming it on the lube. I did fix the trigger to bring back some of the engagement and it is back to 1.75 now, but I really liked 1.25. I live in MA and we will not start shooting again until April, so I will revisit the trigger before then. If you subscribe to me, I am coming out with a video of a sleeved barrel that I made for the 10/22 that I think you will find interesting. I could not find one so I made one from a stock Ruger barrel, and it didn't cost me anything. Nice talking to you, and be safe as well. I almost forgot, I got into skeet after the smallbore stuff, and got hooked really bad. I bought a Browning Citori Skeet back in about 1984, and still have it, and will never sell it. I've learned my lesson about selling guns. I've only shot it a few times in the last 20 years, as I got into USPSA pistol and PCC about 10 years ago and now I'm hooked on that, and Steel Challenge. It never ends, but it keeps me off the streets!
Thanks for the question. As I said in the video, the only part that is not stock Ruger components is the barrel. It is a Tactical Solutions aluminum barrel with a steel liner. The entire trigger group is stock Ruger parts that have been reworked by me to get a lighter trigger pull. There are other videos out there that show how this is done, ore you can buy a complete drop in trigger group that will give you a 1.5 pound pull. The red dot is a NC Star brand that cost me $39 on Amazon. A dot on a .22 rifle does not need to cost hundreds of dollars, as long as it holds zero. The stock is Ruger as well that I just removed material from to make it lighter. I still use this rifle as you see it and just won 2 out of my last 3 matches in the past 2 weeks. Are you interested in Steel Challenge or do you just want your rifle to perform better?
Thanks! I just did a full makeover on the rifle. I slimmed down the stock and took about 6 more ounces out of it and gave it a new paint job. The big improvement is the new barrel. I made (not bought) a sleeved barrel, which is a short steel barrel with an aluminum sleeve. I took the stock barrel and cut it down to 6" long and turned the diameter down too a half inch. I then heat shrank a 1" aluminum tube to it so it will be permanently attached and legal. The remake started with the gun weighing right at 4 pounds, now it is at under 3.5. Makes a huge difference in the way the gun handles. My times have improved dramatically because of the change. I will post a video shortly.
Thanks Justin. I always get great satisfaction from creating and customizing my own guns. Every gun I own has been modified in some way to enhance its performance, or to make it more user friendly. The white rifle got a lot of attention when I started bringing it to matches. Several of the other competitors said that they had stocks laying around that they would modify, one of those was a Grand Master with a very beautiful custom rifle that he had purchased. If there is anything specific that you would like to discuss, don't hesitate to ask. I have not revealed the iron sight rifle yet, but I'm expecting rave reviews on that one as well. Stay tuned for my video on my Ruger PCC rifle. Not very radical, but impressive how it performed beside the AR-15 based rifles.
Al Frangipane .. so I wanted to get into the steel challenge .. I have a 10/22 ruger open sights .. but I only have one 10 round mag for it at the moment. How many mags would I need to compete with. I have a Glock 44 pistol as well as my Glock 19 I want to shoot the steel challenge with also
@@justinl8455 Ideally you would need a minimum of 5 mags, as each stage requires shooting 5 strings. You can get by with 3 if you have someone loading for you while you are shooting. I go with 7 just in case you need to do a re-shoot due to a malfunction of the timer, or some other reason. You can certainly start with a stock rifle and update, as I did, when you begin to feel that it is the gun that is holding you back from moving up in the rankings. Unfortunately, there are only 2 classes for rifles; iron sights and optics. Regardless of the modifications, all of the guns are lumped together, both stock and modified. In the order of equipment mods you need to do three things in this order, 1) make sure the gun fits you so that when the timer goes off you can snap the gun up quickly and be on target, as I described. 2) get a good trigger, either buy one or modify what you have, and 3), get a lighter barrel. As far as your Glocks go, you would shoot in the Production class. There is a class for anything that shoots. My reason for shooting .22 is that 1) it is cheap (each match is usually a minimum of 125 rounds, more if you miss), and 2) you do not have to draw from a holster, which you must do in any centerfire division. All .22 divisions, rifle and pistol, start at the low ready position with gun in hand. Most .22 pistol shooters use the Ruger MK series, the Browning Buckmark, or the S & W Victory. All of these have the potential of being upgraded as you get better. Go to USPSA.org and click on the Steel Challenge section you will find the rules and other good stuff. But most of all, in my 55 years of shooting, this is the most fun of any shooting sport I have ever done, no moving, no reloading, just plain fun. Give it a try!!
really liked your video and look forward to getting more information from you. what about some pointers on shooting. Thinking about trying steel challenge myself.
Thanks Dan for the kind comments. How can I help you? Do you already have a rifle/pistol and needing some shooting tips? Did you view my shooting videos? Looks like I have more questions than you LOL. Let me know what you would like to discuss, I'm home because of the virus so I have the time. I'm really into the Steel Challenge so can absolutely get you going in the right direction.
Good job this is something I have been thinking about doing I can't afford those custom rifles. I'm currently using a S&W victory pistol but I want to get a rifle.
Scott, thanks for the comment. I don’t know how serious you are about this sport, if you are doing it for fun or you want to be a competitor. Either way, the most important thing is to have a reliable combination that goes “bang” every time you pull the trigger. This includes the gun, ammo, and the magazines. When I started shooting there was no internet, and no way to know if there were custom guns out there. If you wanted a match grade rifle or pistol you went to a gunsmith, told him what you wanted, and he built it for you. This is how I would go about it. Start with a used 10-22, for maybe around $200, because you will be throwing away the barrel anyway. Next work on the trigger. I would buy a Volquartsen hammer, which should get the trigger pull down to about 2.5 pounds, and they cost $35 on Ebay. Next will be a lightweight barrel. I got both of mine on Ebay for under $200 from a seller called Racerrifle22, or something like that. Look through all of his postings, as every once in a while he will have a Tactical Solutions barrel for cheap money. Both of mine had a list price of over $300. Next you need a red dot. The one in the video cost me $39 on Ebay and has been working for 3 years without a problem. There is no reason to buy a combat ready Eotech for $600 when you are just shooting .22 at steel plates. Make sure the one you select is not too heavy, no sense in making a lightweight rifle and putting a 6 ounce sight on it. Now we can talk about the stock. It has to fit you so that when the buzzer goes off and you bring it up to your face, the dot has to be on the target. You may have to raise it up some, like I did with an old mouse pad, or shave down the stock, depending on the dot you choose. Shorten the forend, drill holes in it, whatever you like to make it lighter. That’s about it to get started, and you can be competitive to a certain degree. There is no substitute for practice, and with the ammo shortage and high cost of .22 ammo, you need to dry fire as much as you can. OR you can try to find the Ruger Competition rifle already made for this sport, with a lightweight barrel and stock for about $600-if you can find one. Good luck.
@@CompShooter54 I’m 61 so it’s for fun only. My serious competition days ended a while ago. And even when I was serious about it I still was about having fun I don’t do it if it’s not fun.
@@umami0247 That's how it starts! I shot my first steel challenge 3 years ago just for fun. I'm hooked now, and if I win, great, if not I still go home with a big smile! I'm drifting away from the action shooting game, because the stages are becoming too complicated for me to remember. At 67, that tends to happen. Nice to see that we are never too old to try something new.
Hi. It is a 3M brand, 1" wide x 6" diameter with a 1" arbor hole. It is marked "8S FIN". New it was about $45, 10 years ago. I use it all the time, and for all kinds of stuff, including polishing, rust removal, paint removal, you name it, and it is only down to 5 -3/4" diameter. I use it more than any other grinding/polishing tool that I own and can't believe how durable it is. I had to buy a plastic adapter to make it fit my 1/2" arbor on the grinder. The adapter came from McMaster-Carr, forgot where I got the wheel. Oh, and thanks for subscribing!
Thanks for the sub! I check all of my subscribers, and see that you are into bikes. I also have that sickness!! I started with dirtbikes and eventually got into street bikes. My biggest was a 1998 Suzuki Bandit 1200, which was outfitted for long distance riding. My current bike is a 2007 BMW F650GS that takes me anywhere I need to go. Both I bought new. Between me and my kids, we went through about 20 dirtbikes, them starting at age 7, me at 40. I have one dual sport left, a Suzuki 650 SE. One son has a Kawasaki 250 dual sport, maybe 2008? I don't know if I like bikes more than guns, or the other way around. That's why I have both.
Being new to the 10/22, your build and modifications were done for speed and quick target acquisition during competition, correct? I'm just learning, watching reviews, & reading everything about the 10/22. While staying on an under ~$800 budget, I decided to forgo the cool factor of the Takedown model for more perceived accuracy of a standard model. I'd like to get/mod a standard 10/22 for bench shooting, but would really only be plinking 100-150yds max. Any advice for long range 10/22 set up?
Sure. There are some really good target barrels out there that will give you 1/4 to 3/8" groups at 50 yards with the right ammo. Also you need to have a good trigger and a good scope. I have a Butler Creek heavy steel barrel that weighs about 3 pounds, and can get 1/4" groups all day with RWS Rifle Match. However it is very expensive. I have a Savage bolt action that thankfully HATES that ammo and will not group at all with it. But with CCI Standard velocity will group under 3/8", for a tenth of the ammo price. The Butler Creek is so accurate that from a rest I can hit the heads of push pins at 50 yards without a problem. Think about getting a trigger with at least a 2 pound pull, that breaks really clean. There are many out there for under $150. Barrels can be had for about the same. I would start with a used gun, because they are cheaper and you are going to throw away the barrel and trigger group anyway. This will leave you room for a really nice custom stock. Have you looked at the Ruger factory 10/22 Competition rifle, or the Thompson Center target rifles? That may be an option without you having to do anything except soot it!
@@CompShooter54 Thank you for the advice. Went ahead and picked up a 1103 model for the looks. Will plan on upgrading over the years as money allows. Might keep my 1st OEM for nostalgia and pick up an used project model.
I want to build my own Long Barreled 10/22. Where in the world do can I find either a stock used receiver or a new stock receiver? Some of the aftermarket receivers are way overpriced.
Keith. The expensive receivers that you are seeing are machined from solid billet aluminum, not cast. It is not worth it for the aftermarket to invest in the casting tooling to make a receiver, because you still have to machine it after making the casting. I tell people just to buy the the cheapest beat up complete used rifle and throw away the barrel, stock, and maybe the bolt. Then start your build from there, that's what I would do.
Yes, it still works. I bought a second one that has both red and green, and I don't think it is built as good as the just red one, which this is. I think the problem with some of these inexpensive dots is that they can change from one lot to another because they can be made in different countries and different factories. But mine has been going strong for almost 4 years now and has never lost zero.
@@CompShooter54 thank you, sir. My daughter and I are starting out and I really don't want to spend >$1,000 right now. I've always appreciated the blue collar side of stuff (kinda reminds me of lil league baseball where we'd beat the rich kids with their high dollar bats n uniforms 😀 )
@@deasttn If your plan is to shoot Steel Challenge you can start with any off the shelf gun and upgrade as time goes on. You can see what I did for under $300, and I am still shooting it. I made Master rating with that gun, and if I was 40 years younger I could have made Grand Master 🤣
Kevin. I got these about 30 years ago from a close friend, so the price was right. Today, given the current situation, good luck finding one for even $250.
Actually, I have a TacSol iron sight barrel that I bought for the same reason. I figured that if you have a quick disconnect mount for the dot, you could shoot 2 divisions in the same squad, IF the mount kept the same zero after going on and off. Maybe some day I'll give it a try.
Brian. I just used 3 different hole saws that I had laying around my basement. I put them in a drill press and drilled through from one side to the other. I actually just did more mods to the stock by thinning down the section behind the grip to about 3/4" of an inch. It took another 5 ounces off. The stock alone now weighs 17 ounces. I also created a new barrel that took another 3 ounces off the assembly. The whole gun weighs just under 3.5 pounds now and swings really fast.
There are a lot of different ones out there, but this one dropped right in. I bought the similar looking one for the iron sight rifle but had to do a lot of hand fitting to get it to fit properly. So ever though they may look the same, they don't always look the same. Glad you got a good one.
Awesome video but there is no need to show viewers on UA-cam that your weapons are clear. If you are showing your weapons to a live crowd then yes absolutely.
I DO agree, BUT since it was my first video, having watched others show it, I thought, what the heck. Also, what the viewers don't know is whether or not there is someone behind the camera. In my case there is not, but someday there might be.
@@CompShooter54 LOL, AL, if when making a video, lets say the cameraman actually does get shot. It would never make it to utube anyway. So, when watching a gun vid nobody is gonna get shot. I think it's ridiculous folks have to show the gun is safe. Of course it is! Oh yeah, thanks for all your great videos!😁
Newly interested in the 10/22, thank you so much for your work! This was extremely informative and I appreciate it immensely!
Thanks for watching! I have done some other work on the gun in the 2 years since this video came out. Stand by for that one, and if you have any specific questions about the 10/22 just post a comment and I will respond.
Nice! The 10/22 is a tinkerers dream.
Thanks, it really is. Sometime in the next 2 weeks I will be posting a new video showing 2 new variations that I created. One of them is probably the lightest one on the planet, weighing in at only 2 lbs. 12 ounces, and another at 3 lbs. 8 ounces. If you subscribed you will get notified.
Love the idea on this build, its like a run and gun setup.
It is really light, and you sure can "run and gun" with it. Handles like a toy. Now if I can only get my PCC rifle this light....
Good looking rifles and very informative. Thank you.
Thanks Clay. I see a ton of videos from people who make "competition" guns, and it's no more than buying parts and slapping then onto an otherwise stock gun. I get a great feeling of pride from knowing that I did all the work on the guns myself, and they work as good, and sometimes better, than the custom guns. Keep an eye out for my other videos, and if you have any questions, please ask.
..in the late 80s/early 90s I used'ta go-to n the Steel Challenges at Msrkham Park in Ft Lauderdale..was always impressed with the super lightweight 19/22s the shooters used
...I love the 10/22...it's iike 'Barbie' for straight men...just stumbled onto your channel...rally good stuff
The gunsmith with extensive experience and has a machine shop turn a RCBS die locking ring. Nice
Thanks for watching! If you saw my newest video, " The lightest 10/22 on the planet" I got really creating and made a sleeved barrel by machining the stock Ruger barrel to 6" long, turned the OD to a half inch, and permanently installed a 16" sleeve. That's the gun I'm shooting now and am shooting GM times with it. I'm like Tim The Toolman Taylor of guns, I can't leave well enough alone.
Nice work!
Thanks, I'm still shooting it in that current form. I just won another match with it today! I don't think there is much more I can do it to gain any advantage, now it's just up to me to shoot it better. But at 68 years old I feel that I could start slowing down.
Great work. You are proof that the shooter is more important than dumping a ton in f money on equipment!
Thanks for the comment, and you are correct. I see so many shooters throw tons of money into guns to think that it will make them a champion. Well it won't. I believe that in any given division that you shoot, giving every shooter the same gun, the better shooter will always win of course. What that expensive gun gets you that extra 5% that a stock gun was holding you back from. BUT....when everyone in that division buys an expensive gun, it goes back to the shooter. I shoot with people that have unlimited funds and go through hundreds of rounds every week and never get better because they are not practicing correctly. Once again it's the shooter, not the money.
@@CompShooter54 I’m an instructor for Project Appleseed and invariably the person that brings 3 rifles and or the most gadgets is one of the people with the most bad habits. You cant buy Marksmanship.
Have you tried the Mantis system for tracking your practice, live and dry fire? I’m considering it and the Mantis Blackbeard to get more out of my dry fire practice. Thank you.
@@charlesmckinley29 I do not have a Mantis, but I have tried a friends for a few live fire shots. I may consider one someday.
Nice video, thanks! I'll take a peek at your other videos too.
Thanks Mike, welcome aboard. I did a major makeover to this gun that I will post shortly. It involves me making a "sleeved" barrel to reduce weight and make it swing faster.
That’s a cool build!
Thanks! I'm still shooting it, just put on a lighter dot (Vortex Viper) and thinned out the stock a bit more, now the weight is down to 3.5 lbs. Any lighter and it will float away when I let go of it.
Excellent job, this was my first video of you, it was very informative and loved your no nonsence approach to the facts, its a sign of professionalism....Many many years ago I was an avid smallbore competitor, 10/22 builder and shooter but was never able to get my trigger below the 1.5lb mark... I'm curious how you did it. These days I hang my hat at the Trap and Skeet range but you relit the rimfire/10/22 fire in me:). Stay safe my friend!
I'm glad to see that there is someone else out there that actually works on their own guns instead of just throwing parts at them that they bought off the internet. In my younger days I shot 3 position smallbore with an Anchutz 1813 free rifle. There was nothing that had to be done to those guns except shoot them! I started having kids and it slowed down my competition shooting, as the involvement was just too much. I foolishly sold the gun for a dirt bike. Big mistake. I sold the bike and wish I had the gun, as they are unaffordable now. But to address your question, the 1.25 # pull was an accident. I cut a coil off the sear spring, and maybe 2 off the trigger return spring. I polished the contact surfaces of the disconnector and the sear, but did not touch the surface of the sear that engages the hammer. The rest of the rework was done on the hammer, my thought being that if I screwed it up I could always get another hammer, but sears are tougher to find. On the hammer notch I reduced the engagement by using a stone on the rounded face until I got it to about 1.75 pounds. I then changed the angle on the notch so instead of the sear dragging along a flat surface in was riding on a downward slope. My first intention was to try to get to 1.75 pounds but I thought 1.5 was achievable. This is where I screwed up. It only took 3 more passes with the 600 grit diamond stone and I was at 1.25. I thought I ruined it, because the triggers usually get lighter with use. Well it worked for over 3,000 rounds, then went full auto. But I think it was a combination of things. My stoning was done by hand and was not very square, and only a small portion of the hammer notch was contacting the sear. That and me changing lube made the difference. If you haven't seen my video about gun lube, check it out. All 3 of my competition guns went full auto within 2 weeks, so I am blaming it on the lube. I did fix the trigger to bring back some of the engagement and it is back to 1.75 now, but I really liked 1.25. I live in MA and we will not start shooting again until April, so I will revisit the trigger before then. If you subscribe to me, I am coming out with a video of a sleeved barrel that I made for the 10/22 that I think you will find interesting. I could not find one so I made one from a stock Ruger barrel, and it didn't cost me anything. Nice talking to you, and be safe as well. I almost forgot, I got into skeet after the smallbore stuff, and got hooked really bad. I bought a Browning Citori Skeet back in about 1984, and still have it, and will never sell it. I've learned my lesson about selling guns. I've only shot it a few times in the last 20 years, as I got into USPSA pistol and PCC about 10 years ago and now I'm hooked on that, and Steel Challenge. It never ends, but it keeps me off the streets!
I'm impressed! 👍
Thanks Clint. Here is the link to part 2. It shows the upgrades I did to the original.
ua-cam.com/video/xDFjUue01Sk/v-deo.html
Really enjoyed this. Could you list items in description you used? Thanks!
Thanks for the question. As I said in the video, the only part that is not stock Ruger components is the barrel. It is a Tactical Solutions aluminum barrel with a steel liner. The entire trigger group is stock Ruger parts that have been reworked by me to get a lighter trigger pull. There are other videos out there that show how this is done, ore you can buy a complete drop in trigger group that will give you a 1.5 pound pull. The red dot is a NC Star brand that cost me $39 on Amazon. A dot on a .22 rifle does not need to cost hundreds of dollars, as long as it holds zero. The stock is Ruger as well that I just removed material from to make it lighter. I still use this rifle as you see it and just won 2 out of my last 3 matches in the past 2 weeks. Are you interested in Steel Challenge or do you just want your rifle to perform better?
Cool build/customization. Reminds me of SpaceX and NASA rockets.
Thanks! I just did a full makeover on the rifle. I slimmed down the stock and took about 6 more ounces out of it and gave it a new paint job. The big improvement is the new barrel. I made (not bought) a sleeved barrel, which is a short steel barrel with an aluminum sleeve. I took the stock barrel and cut it down to 6" long and turned the diameter down too a half inch. I then heat shrank a 1" aluminum tube to it so it will be permanently attached and legal. The remake started with the gun weighing right at 4 pounds, now it is at under 3.5. Makes a huge difference in the way the gun handles. My times have improved dramatically because of the change. I will post a video shortly.
Those are some very nice looking rifles you have sir ..
Thanks Justin. I always get great satisfaction from creating and customizing my own guns. Every gun I own has been modified in some way to enhance its performance, or to make it more user friendly. The white rifle got a lot of attention when I started bringing it to matches. Several of the other competitors said that they had stocks laying around that they would modify, one of those was a Grand Master with a very beautiful custom rifle that he had purchased. If there is anything specific that you would like to discuss, don't hesitate to ask. I have not revealed the iron sight rifle yet, but I'm expecting rave reviews on that one as well. Stay tuned for my video on my Ruger PCC rifle. Not very radical, but impressive how it performed beside the AR-15 based rifles.
Al Frangipane .. so I wanted to get into the steel challenge .. I have a 10/22 ruger open sights .. but I only have one 10 round mag for it at the moment. How many mags would I need to compete with. I have a Glock 44 pistol as well as my Glock 19 I want to shoot the steel challenge with also
@@justinl8455 Ideally you would need a minimum of 5 mags, as each stage requires shooting 5 strings. You can get by with 3 if you have someone loading for you while you are shooting. I go with 7 just in case you need to do a re-shoot due to a malfunction of the timer, or some other reason. You can certainly start with a stock rifle and update, as I did, when you begin to feel that it is the gun that is holding you back from moving up in the rankings. Unfortunately, there are only 2 classes for rifles; iron sights and optics. Regardless of the modifications, all of the guns are lumped together, both stock and modified. In the order of equipment mods you need to do three things in this order, 1) make sure the gun fits you so that when the timer goes off you can snap the gun up quickly and be on target, as I described. 2) get a good trigger, either buy one or modify what you have, and 3), get a lighter barrel. As far as your Glocks go, you would shoot in the Production class. There is a class for anything that shoots. My reason for shooting .22 is that 1) it is cheap (each match is usually a minimum of 125 rounds, more if you miss), and 2) you do not have to draw from a holster, which you must do in any centerfire division. All .22 divisions, rifle and pistol, start at the low ready position with gun in hand. Most .22 pistol shooters use the Ruger MK series, the Browning Buckmark, or the S & W Victory. All of these have the potential of being upgraded as you get better. Go to USPSA.org and click on the Steel Challenge section you will find the rules and other good stuff. But most of all, in my 55 years of shooting, this is the most fun of any shooting sport I have ever done, no moving, no reloading, just plain fun. Give it a try!!
Thanks for the informative video sir....
really liked your video and look forward to getting more information from you. what about some pointers on shooting. Thinking about trying steel challenge myself.
Thanks Dan for the kind comments. How can I help you? Do you already have a rifle/pistol and needing some shooting tips? Did you view my shooting videos? Looks like I have more questions than you LOL. Let me know what you would like to discuss, I'm home because of the virus so I have the time. I'm really into the Steel Challenge so can absolutely get you going in the right direction.
Great video!
Thanks! There is a part 2 coming out shortly, stay tuned.
@@CompShooter54 I used your video as an example on a Rimfire Central thread. Hope you don't mind a spike in views. ;?)
@@bigb0r3 No problem, extra views never hurt. I just checked out the forum, where is it exactly? Can you send me a link?
Awesome info. Thank you for the tips!!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it
Sweet looking gun.
Ironsight...wasn't that a TV series with Raymond Burr???
Good job this is something I have been thinking about doing I can't afford those custom rifles. I'm currently using a S&W victory pistol but I want to get a rifle.
Scott, thanks for the comment. I don’t know how serious you are about this sport, if you are doing it for fun or you want to be a competitor. Either way, the most important thing is to have a reliable combination that goes “bang” every time you pull the trigger. This includes the gun, ammo, and the magazines. When I started shooting there was no internet, and no way to know if there were custom guns out there. If you wanted a match grade rifle or pistol you went to a gunsmith, told him what you wanted, and he built it for you. This is how I would go about it. Start with a used 10-22, for maybe around $200, because you will be throwing away the barrel anyway. Next work on the trigger. I would buy a Volquartsen hammer, which should get the trigger pull down to about 2.5 pounds, and they cost $35 on Ebay. Next will be a lightweight barrel. I got both of mine on Ebay for under $200 from a seller called Racerrifle22, or something like that. Look through all of his postings, as every once in a while he will have a Tactical Solutions barrel for cheap money. Both of mine had a list price of over $300. Next you need a red dot. The one in the video cost me $39 on Ebay and has been working for 3 years without a problem. There is no reason to buy a combat ready Eotech for $600 when you are just shooting .22 at steel plates. Make sure the one you select is not too heavy, no sense in making a lightweight rifle and putting a 6 ounce sight on it. Now we can talk about the stock. It has to fit you so that when the buzzer goes off and you bring it up to your face, the dot has to be on the target. You may have to raise it up some, like I did with an old mouse pad, or shave down the stock, depending on the dot you choose. Shorten the forend, drill holes in it, whatever you like to make it lighter. That’s about it to get started, and you can be competitive to a certain degree. There is no substitute for practice, and with the ammo shortage and high cost of .22 ammo, you need to dry fire as much as you can. OR you can try to find the Ruger Competition rifle already made for this sport, with a lightweight barrel and stock for about $600-if you can find one. Good luck.
@@CompShooter54 I’m 61 so it’s for fun only. My serious competition days ended a while ago. And even when I was serious about it I still was about having fun I don’t do it if it’s not fun.
@@umami0247 That's how it starts! I shot my first steel challenge 3 years ago just for fun. I'm hooked now, and if I win, great, if not I still go home with a big smile! I'm drifting away from the action shooting game, because the stages are becoming too complicated for me to remember. At 67, that tends to happen. Nice to see that we are never too old to try something new.
Al Great video. one question, what grit (number/color) did you use on the scotch brite wheel. Thanks
Hi. It is a 3M brand, 1" wide x 6" diameter with a 1" arbor hole. It is marked "8S FIN". New it was about $45, 10 years ago. I use it all the time, and for all kinds of stuff, including polishing, rust removal, paint removal, you name it, and it is only down to 5 -3/4" diameter. I use it more than any other grinding/polishing tool that I own and can't believe how durable it is. I had to buy a plastic adapter to make it fit my 1/2" arbor on the grinder. The adapter came from McMaster-Carr, forgot where I got the wheel. Oh, and thanks for subscribing!
Liked. Subbed. Thx
Thanks for the sub! I check all of my subscribers, and see that you are into bikes. I also have that sickness!! I started with dirtbikes and eventually got into street bikes. My biggest was a 1998 Suzuki Bandit 1200, which was outfitted for long distance riding. My current bike is a 2007 BMW F650GS that takes me anywhere I need to go. Both I bought new. Between me and my kids, we went through about 20 dirtbikes, them starting at age 7, me at 40. I have one dual sport left, a Suzuki 650 SE. One son has a Kawasaki 250 dual sport, maybe 2008? I don't know if I like bikes more than guns, or the other way around. That's why I have both.
Being new to the 10/22, your build and modifications were done for speed and quick target acquisition during competition, correct?
I'm just learning, watching reviews, & reading everything about the 10/22. While staying on an under ~$800 budget, I decided to forgo the cool factor of the Takedown model for more perceived accuracy of a standard model. I'd like to get/mod a standard 10/22 for bench shooting, but would really only be plinking 100-150yds max.
Any advice for long range 10/22 set up?
Sure. There are some really good target barrels out there that will give you 1/4 to 3/8" groups at 50 yards with the right ammo. Also you need to have a good trigger and a good scope. I have a Butler Creek heavy steel barrel that weighs about 3 pounds, and can get 1/4" groups all day with RWS Rifle Match. However it is very expensive. I have a Savage bolt action that thankfully HATES that ammo and will not group at all with it. But with CCI Standard velocity will group under 3/8", for a tenth of the ammo price. The Butler Creek is so accurate that from a rest I can hit the heads of push pins at 50 yards without a problem. Think about getting a trigger with at least a 2 pound pull, that breaks really clean. There are many out there for under $150. Barrels can be had for about the same. I would start with a used gun, because they are cheaper and you are going to throw away the barrel and trigger group anyway. This will leave you room for a really nice custom stock. Have you looked at the Ruger factory 10/22 Competition rifle, or the Thompson Center target rifles? That may be an option without you having to do anything except soot it!
@@CompShooter54 Thank you for the advice. Went ahead and picked up a 1103 model for the looks. Will plan on upgrading over the years as money allows. Might keep my 1st OEM for nostalgia and pick up an used project model.
I want to build my own Long Barreled 10/22. Where in the world do can I find either a stock used receiver or a new stock receiver? Some of the aftermarket receivers are way overpriced.
Keith. The expensive receivers that you are seeing are machined from solid billet aluminum, not cast. It is not worth it for the aftermarket to invest in the casting tooling to make a receiver, because you still have to machine it after making the casting. I tell people just to buy the the cheapest beat up complete used rifle and throw away the barrel, stock, and maybe the bolt. Then start your build from there, that's what I would do.
Thanks for the video.
Is that NC star sights still working? I don't want to spend >$150 on sights, but don't want mynsights to suck
Yes, it still works. I bought a second one that has both red and green, and I don't think it is built as good as the just red one, which this is. I think the problem with some of these inexpensive dots is that they can change from one lot to another because they can be made in different countries and different factories. But mine has been going strong for almost 4 years now and has never lost zero.
@@CompShooter54 thank you, sir.
My daughter and I are starting out and I really don't want to spend >$1,000 right now.
I've always appreciated the blue collar side of stuff (kinda reminds me of lil league baseball where we'd beat the rich kids with their high dollar bats n uniforms 😀 )
@@deasttn If your plan is to shoot Steel Challenge you can start with any off the shelf gun and upgrade as time goes on. You can see what I did for under $300, and I am still shooting it. I made Master rating with that gun, and if I was 40 years younger I could have made Grand Master 🤣
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Great video thanks for the information
I'll check it out, thanks for the info!
great vid but you can't get a 1022 even one that's beat to hell for 50$. 150 if your lucky.
Kevin. I got these about 30 years ago from a close friend, so the price was right. Today, given the current situation, good luck finding one for even $250.
I hate that once you put a Tac Sol barrel you lose irons ....no options to keeps same gun for 2 divisions
Actually, I have a TacSol iron sight barrel that I bought for the same reason. I figured that if you have a quick disconnect mount for the dot, you could shoot 2 divisions in the same squad, IF the mount kept the same zero after going on and off. Maybe some day I'll give it a try.
What do you use to cut the stock?
Brian. I just used 3 different hole saws that I had laying around my basement. I put them in a drill press and drilled through from one side to the other. I actually just did more mods to the stock by thinning down the section behind the grip to about 3/4" of an inch. It took another 5 ounces off. The stock alone now weighs 17 ounces. I also created a new barrel that took another 3 ounces off the assembly. The whole gun weighs just under 3.5 pounds now and swings really fast.
Hey Al I was looking for your email but couldnt find it. Do you build guns for other people? I would be interested. This rifle is awesome!
Since I do not have a dealers license or a manufactures license, I would have to say no. But if you decide to try it yourself, I can assist.
I bought the same mag release on ebay from createdbycay
There are a lot of different ones out there, but this one dropped right in. I bought the similar looking one for the iron sight rifle but had to do a lot of hand fitting to get it to fit properly. So ever though they may look the same, they don't always look the same. Glad you got a good one.
Awesome video but there is no need to show viewers on UA-cam that your weapons are clear. If you are showing your weapons to a live crowd then yes absolutely.
I DO agree, BUT since it was my first video, having watched others show it, I thought, what the heck. Also, what the viewers don't know is whether or not there is someone behind the camera. In my case there is not, but someday there might be.
@@CompShooter54 LOL, AL, if when making a video, lets say the cameraman actually does get shot. It would never make it to utube anyway. So, when watching a gun vid nobody is gonna get shot. I think it's ridiculous folks have to show the gun is safe. Of course it is! Oh yeah, thanks for all your great videos!😁
@@jolo4036 I agree! This was my first video, so I thought "what the heck". I got comments going both ways. Not anymore!