10/22 magnum Sporter project

[RoninPA]

It looks good, very good. You did a great job on it.

[JAYDAWG]

Very cool.
You are practically a gunsmith!!!
22 MAG is one of my favorite rounds.
Them crows blow up real good!

[Ruger8r]

Thanks for the kind words, gents. I think a real smith would probably have checked the chamber at the start, though. I like to tinker and make things work better so I had to take this on - probably lucky I didn't screw it up. I, too, like the .22 mag.

[Ruger8r]

I found another donor gun for my original concept project. The first one is back in the Hogue stock and going out the door. This one came with a factory stock and barrel but missing the band. It is SN 290-29554, which puts it as a 2001 date of manufacture and it carries the double-extractor bolt. As you can see, the receiver casting is better where it meets the stock with a well-defined deck. The casting marks are also different - the earlier gun has a D in a circle and this one has an E there.
Here is my original concept with the fjfeddersen barrel and a Leupold VX 2, 3-9 X 33mm Rimfire EFR AO scope mounted in Leupold/Ruger low rings. The rings are actually lower than comparable factory rings and put the optics in a perfect position for me. As noted elsewhere they are also smaller, lighter and nicer looking. Some photos:

The receiver mounting surface

Earlier receiver

Current project

Left side

Right side

[JAYDAWG]

Looks great.............
Clean lines, I like it!

[Ruger8r]

Thanks, Jay.
Another interesting bit is that it came with a trigger group from a company called Brimstone that is completely unique. The factory trigger return has been removed with the hole drilled-through and threaded for a set-screw trigger stop. Their trigger return spring is on the trigger pin and there is an additional threaded hole on the left side above the logo with a set-screw in it that may be part of that mechanism. I haven't had the energy to take it apart, yet. Must have been a costly upgrade but trigger pull is amazing and I'm glad to have it
The owner of the company wrote a long, fascinating post on rimfirecentral that is a cautionary tale for aspiring gunsmiths.
I made up a factory-barrel Sporter just to see what it would have looked like.
Some photos:

[Ruger8r]

I took this one to the range recently and everything functions well and the accuracy was about the same as the one with the Volquartsen barrel; 3 inches or so at 50 yds. I'm going to try some Federal 40 gr fmj target ammo.
So, I already had this new FJF 16" fluted bull barrel and I just had to put it together with the Sporter stock that I stripped and opened up. I think it looks much better in this combination. Some photos:

[JAYDAWG]

Owen,
I like the look!!!
Try some different ammo, that 22mag is much better than 3 inch @ 50 yards.
Unless you are like me, to old to shoot up to the capability of the gun!

Cheers,
Jay

[LDB]

Unless you are like me, too old to shoot up to the capability of the gun!
Cheers,
Jay

I resemble that remark.

[Ruger8r]

Well, boys, my eyes are certainly going funny and I suspect they're tired of working after all these years. That and rushing a short range visit, trying to do too many things, may have contributed. I've had good results with Fiocchi ammo in other calibers; maybe it's the "indoor range" bullet.

I like the contrast of the lightened stock finish against the blued barrel. It's handsome and unique though a tad heavy.