Alight fellas, need your input here.
One of my shooting goals for 2019 is precision shooting related. We're starting with Plane Jane, a Ruger 10/22 carbine that's been in the family for 30ish years or longer and has an unknown round count on her. Plane Jane may not be the end game rifle though. Right now we're just seeing what she'll do. So far, the only mod on her is a VQ auto bolt release. This weekend, I'll be replacing the trigger with a Ruger BX trigger and since I'm in there already, I'm going to add the VQ extended mag release. She's wearing a Game Winner 4x32 scope. That scope's been on there for close to 20 years now and has done it's job. This combo has produced 1.2" groups at 50 yards. Not the greatest, but pretty average for a box stock carbine variant.
Next week, on Tuesday Night at the Range(tm), I'll see what the trigger upgrade does for accuracy. I plan to use 5 x 5 round groups using the same Aguila Target loads I used when benchmarking the gun as a control. After that, I'll probably do some load testing with CCI SV and Green Label, Federal Automatch, and maybe one or two other choices to see if I can find a preferred cartridge.
If you've stayed with me this long, this is where I need your input. After the trigger and load testing is done, the first branch of the decision tree will need to occur. As I see it, I have three doors I can open: Optics, Barrel, or Platform for my next investment.
In the optics department, there's a lot of room for glass improvement, but then again, there's only so much glass you need for 50 - 100 yd shots.
As far as barrels are concerned, this is probably the next best value for the dollar in shrinking the groups. The challenge for me is that it isn't really just a barrel. It's a barrel + stock + receiver deal as I want to keep Plane Jane around in her current form and the carbine stock just isn't the greatest stock out there for what I want to do.
Platform. Go bolt, or go home -- some have mentioned just take the dive and get a Ruger Precision Rimfire, which isn't a bad idea. I'd open my aperture a little and consider a Savage Mk II, CZ 455 or 457 Varmint AT-ONE, which has adjustable LOP and comb, similar to the Ruger Precision. The challenge with the 457 AT-ONE is it's a fairly new product and there's not much real world experience with it. Conversely, the Ruger has been on the market for a while and they've already incorporated some improvements to the platform.
So what say ye when it comes to my next investment. Optics, Barrel, or Platform?
One of my shooting goals for 2019 is precision shooting related. We're starting with Plane Jane, a Ruger 10/22 carbine that's been in the family for 30ish years or longer and has an unknown round count on her. Plane Jane may not be the end game rifle though. Right now we're just seeing what she'll do. So far, the only mod on her is a VQ auto bolt release. This weekend, I'll be replacing the trigger with a Ruger BX trigger and since I'm in there already, I'm going to add the VQ extended mag release. She's wearing a Game Winner 4x32 scope. That scope's been on there for close to 20 years now and has done it's job. This combo has produced 1.2" groups at 50 yards. Not the greatest, but pretty average for a box stock carbine variant.
Next week, on Tuesday Night at the Range(tm), I'll see what the trigger upgrade does for accuracy. I plan to use 5 x 5 round groups using the same Aguila Target loads I used when benchmarking the gun as a control. After that, I'll probably do some load testing with CCI SV and Green Label, Federal Automatch, and maybe one or two other choices to see if I can find a preferred cartridge.
If you've stayed with me this long, this is where I need your input. After the trigger and load testing is done, the first branch of the decision tree will need to occur. As I see it, I have three doors I can open: Optics, Barrel, or Platform for my next investment.
In the optics department, there's a lot of room for glass improvement, but then again, there's only so much glass you need for 50 - 100 yd shots.
As far as barrels are concerned, this is probably the next best value for the dollar in shrinking the groups. The challenge for me is that it isn't really just a barrel. It's a barrel + stock + receiver deal as I want to keep Plane Jane around in her current form and the carbine stock just isn't the greatest stock out there for what I want to do.
Platform. Go bolt, or go home -- some have mentioned just take the dive and get a Ruger Precision Rimfire, which isn't a bad idea. I'd open my aperture a little and consider a Savage Mk II, CZ 455 or 457 Varmint AT-ONE, which has adjustable LOP and comb, similar to the Ruger Precision. The challenge with the 457 AT-ONE is it's a fairly new product and there's not much real world experience with it. Conversely, the Ruger has been on the market for a while and they've already incorporated some improvements to the platform.
So what say ye when it comes to my next investment. Optics, Barrel, or Platform?