I got my first 10/22 a few months ago and I love it out of the box. Recently I've heard people talking about free floating the barrel and others talking about bedding it. My question is which is better and why. I am only using it for squirrels and small game and some friendly backyard competition. The stock is plastic and it has the barrel clamp on it also. I know how to do both methods just curious if it really helps enough to do it for what I'm using it for.
Unless you are a competitive bench-rest shooter, using a BIG scope, the stock 10/22 will most likely exceed your marksmanship abilities. So often, folks want to tear into a perfectly fine rifle with every mod known to man; even BEFORE they have shot the rifle!
Of course, this is usually where the function and reliability issues start...Its very hard to trouble shoot a problem if you didn't start with the base line stock rifle first!
I definitely wouldn't rush to do anything until I have put a fair number of rounds down range, AND evaluated IF you need to make any changes.
Unless you are a competitive bench-rest shooter, using a BIG scope, the stock 10/22 will most likely exceed your marksmanship abilities. So often, folks want to tear into a perfectly fine rifle with every mod known to man; even BEFORE they have shot the rifle!
Of course, this is usually where the function and reliability issues start...Its very hard to trouble shoot a problem if you didn't start with the base line stock rifle first!
I definitely wouldn't rush to do anything until I have put a fair number of rounds down range, AND evaluated IF you need to make any changes.
Welcome aboard. I'm going to second the 'good enough = 's hands off'. My buddy at church had a sweet shooting .243 which was killing deer and groundhogs but he had to tweak it just a bit more so he had someone free float the barrel. That was it for the accuracy - the groups widened out by about triple (.5" became 1.5"). The smith did some other work, which I don't recall and finally said that he would have to re-do the bedding at half price. Being on a limited income the bank was broke and he sold the rifle. So, that's my Aesop's Fable against tweaking the rifle. The End
I've had my latest 10/22, an 1151 for over a year now and have not even mounted the scope yet. I also have several "upgrades" for it I have yet to install. It is such a nice little rifle that I may not do anything but the scope. I agree with cptpoly. If it feels good and shoots well, just enjoy it as it is.
Thanks for the welcome cptpoly. That's kind da what I was thinking guys. I have a scope on it and the only other thing I was definitely going to do was paint it all a better camo than is on it. The stock is a woodland and the action and barrel is all stainless I want it all to match so in going to do my own custom backwoods camo lol.
I have always believed that if you are looking for small groups the action must be mounted very solid and the barrel free floated. But I have found that some rifles need a pressure point before they will shoot well. I recently put together a rapter bullpup using a stock action with a Kidd 20" barrel.The barrel is held firmly in place about 1" from the muzzle after breaking it in I put a target scope on it and shot .250" on a bench constantly with match ammo loosened the barrel and the groups opened to over .750 at 50 yards. If it is doing what it needs to do leave it alone.Sometimes all they need is the right ammo.
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