I bought a Ruger 10/22 for myself as a Christmas present, synthetic stock with the stainless steel barrel.

While trying to figure out the best way to mount some sling swivels on it I ended up taking off the buttplate. It's held in place with some sticky calking type of material on this style of stock. Since I was in there anyway I reinforced the area where I've attached the sling swivels and I decided to make the buttplate detachable.

I took some 1/4" thick plastic stock that I had laying around, cut and sanded a couple of pieces to fit inside the tail end of the stock, I then drilled a single hole thru the buttplate and thru the new plastic pieces. Attached a threaded insert thru the back of the new plastic.

I then epoxied the plastic parts into the stock while keeping the holes in alignment. Once the epoxy set up I was able to run a bolt thru the hole in the butt plate and thread it into the attached plastic plate.

So now I have a reinforced sling swivel mount, I use some other polystyrene scraps and more epoxy for that, a detachable buttplate and by cutting the reinforcement plate to the right size I can now slip some emergency gear into the hollow stock and they will be pretty much waterproofed. I'm thinking a spare firing pin and extractor and whatever springs are most likely to get lost or broken along with 10 or 20 rounds of ammunition will easily fit into the stock.

I still need to make or find something to put the ammunition and other stuff into and I need to get an oval headed, slotted screw to use to hold the plate on instead of the hex head bolt I used during manufacturing.

So that's what I did today instead of continuing the new years resolution to better organise my workshop.

Pics, or it didn't happen!

Sounds like a good way to use the hollow stock. I've got a couple of 10/22s. The first one I bought in 1981 while in high school. No idea how many rounds through it, but has to be well over 50,000 (could go through a brick every time we went camping). Finally had the firing pin just flat wear out. Just worn down a little too short. The point is you probably don't need spare parts in it like that, but if you do you might as well put in a nail of the right diameter with the tip ground flat to remove the drift pins. I think a brush, maybe cleaning rod, bit of oil, - basics to keep it clean and running well would be better use of space.

Good points about the cleaning kit. I could fit a bore snake in there, don't think a normal rod would fit.

Thanks for the idea, I got a little focused on parts but the more I think about it, the more I think you're right.

I've never tried posting photos here and I didn't take any along the way, if I can figure out how to do it I'll try and post the completed project.

That is great! I just bought the 10-22 with the stainless and the wood stock. Bought the DW the blued / wood stock so she would think the purchase was justified (her logic not mine). Anyway makes me almost wish that I had got the synthetic stock.

In fact I was planning on it until the sales clerk at Walmart quoted me the same price for the blued / wood stock as the Stainless / wood stock. I bought 2 and the blued one for my wife (that is what she wanted). They are cheap enough and they are as rugged as they come. So I thought why not?

My mother who is now 63 years into life, said she wanted one last year. Remembering this I figured one for Wife, one for me and one for mom - Happy birthday mom.

This will be my second one as well. I ended up trading the first one for a gun that was probably not worth it, so this time I am keeping it. Good purchase JohnE.

I just got around to putting a scope on mine. I've had the rifle about 3 months. I bought the blued with wood stock.

The scope is a BSA TW4x30, it comes with rings and mounts easily to the Weaver rail that came with the 10/22. Last Saturday I tried the scope out after getting it mounted.

I started out with just regular scored targets, but got bored with those after a while. After several hits on spent shotgun cartridges from 25 yards or so, I tried hitting one of my spent .45 casings from the same distance and got it on the first shot. Not bad for a $189 gun with a $70 scope on it, shooting dirt cheap ammo.

Their basic 10/22 looks like a nice gun. Let us know what you think about its performance after you've been shooting a while. I've been thinking about getting one myself.

However, the target rifle version of their Mini-14 ranch rifle is a ripoff. Hard to believe they actually did this with the design. See the following Web page which exposes the scam ...

http://www.accuracysystemsinc-si.com/021606/Ruger-Mini-30-Rifle-8.htm

other Pete

If you want something you can tinker with, like doing what I did to mine, there's no better .22 caliber rifle out there. If you want something that you can leave alone, Remington makes a nice competitor to the Ruger, I think it's the 567 model? If you're happy with a bolt action, I've read great stuff about the CZ line.

I've wanted a 10/22 since I can remember, why it took me so long to just go out and buy one I'm not sure. I posted about buying one here probably 6-8 months ago, didn't do it then for whatever reason, now I'm going to get another one for my girlfriend to shoot in one of the Appleseed events.

I've heard and read a lot of stuff about the Mini 14, thought several times about getting one but whenever I do it seems that I hear one more horror story about them.

It's sad cause on the surface it's a great idea, but in practice too many people have reported problems with them. I'll read up on the latest scandal, thanks Pete.

As this is a survival forum:

N.A.T.O button compass, Spark-lite, Tinder-quick x 4. Hook's & line.

Extra ammo would of course be useful - provided that recoil does not cause cook off.

You don't need a cleaning kit. Modern ammo is reasonably clean. A 1" square brilo pad in zip baggy will deal with any fouling.

More good ideas, thanks Leigh. I don't think there's enough recoil in this rifle to cook off anything...;^)

One issue is the opening thru which I have to fit anything I want to store in the stock.

It's a rectangular shaped hole that measures 1"x1.5", anything I put in their has to fit thru that and I'm also trying to minimize the clattering around inside the stock as best I can.

It's all fun, I'm going to the hardware store in a bit to see if I can pick up some thinwalled ABS or PVC tubing that I can make into a storage tube.

Congratulations on your purchase. If you would like to see how it'll hold up, check out Project Appleseed. This is a non-political, non-profit group that teaches rifle marksmanship. They conduct two-day shoots around the country. I've been to 2 in Florida. The 10/22, with some minor changes, is the most common rifle on the line. The shoots I've been to are well run and I got some great trigger time. With a 525/550 round box of 22LR from Wally World for about $15.00 and basic range gear (there is a list of recommended gear on their web site), you can see how well you and your rifle can perform.

The shoots are also great ways to torture test your equipment. You'll shoot about 500 rounds in a weekend. If something is going to give, it will.

Anyway, if you would like more information, I suggest a trip to the site at www.appleseedinfo.org

Makes a great weekend.

Thanks, I'm familiar with the Appleseed project, in fact I ordered a sling from them for the rifle I've been writing about. I'm planning on taking my girlfriend to one soon to help introduce her to rifle shooting.

Of course she'll want her own rifle before then...;^)

It never ends.

Meanwhile back at the design lab, I found what may be the perfect case to slip into the stock, some reading glass cases I found at the local 99cents store. They even come with reading glasses! They're plastic slip together tubes, I took the pocket clip off and sealed the resulting hole with some silicone. They fit just about perfectly with some room left to wrap some tape around each one.

The current plan is to attach a leash made out of some 3/32" mini-paracord that I got from County Comm to each case, I'll then attach the other end to the plate that I mounted into the stock. This will allow me to simply drop each case down into the stock and easily retrieve them. One will be a mini survival kit the other will hold 20 rounds of ammunition and a tiny wrapped piece of synthetic brillo type pad for cleaning as recommended by Leigh in an earlier post. I'm going to put a small bag of dessicant in that one as well, to keep the moisture down and also to keep the ammo from rattling around.

I also picked up a nice stainless steel screw and washer to use to attach the buttplate.

And while I was out shopping, I stopped in and picked up the latest acquisition to the armory. A like new but used Marlin 1894C lever action rifle in .357 magnum. Got it for about $200 less than a brand new one and it included a nice strap and a soft case. Solid wooden stock so I won't be dropping any ammo or other stuff down into it.

I carry a cleaning kit with my survival gear more in case my rifle gets wet than to deal with any fouling.

That is the reason my wife and mom wanted the 22's in the first place. They both want to go to the appleseed event as well. I got to talking about it at work and one of the CNA's and one of the RN's I work with want to go to it as well. I did my homework and it sounds like it will be a good learning event for the basics of shooting. I am still not sure why my wife wants to go to it cause she qualified expert in the Air Force. But, I am going cause I can always learn something and she wants to go.

As far as the mini-14, we love ours. I dont have any complaints about it and it does anything it was designed to do with out any problems.

I'm a very good shot with rifle and I shoot pistol competitively. The two Appleseed events I went to were well-run, safe, and fun. I learned some good things, too. Definitely going again.

I looked up the appleseed project sites and have to ask ...

WARNING - PLEASE don't go political on this thread.

The Appleseed Project looks very cool. What a great thing to bring your family - or youth groups - to learn about shooting and marksmanship, but ...

Some of the verbage on the Appleseed web sites seems kind of far right - maybe suggesting a dislike of current U.S. government (this is hard to ask without getting political) and a desire for the government to change.

If I were to go to an event, is it REALLY just about shooting and marksmanship? ... or will there also be some amount of presentation/preaching about governments, politics, or other political views or desires?

NOTE: I'm not revealing my political opinions here, nor judging the views of the Appleseed Project, nor do I want to hear about your political opinions. I'm just asking about what really goes on at Appleseed Project events.

I am unsure of the Appleseed events, so will not comment.

As for our local range, we have come up with a bi-weekly 22 shoot at 50 yards using the USBRA 50 yard targets. They are very competitive targets, to say the least, and should make for some fine shooting. Open sights won't be of much help on this one, but anyone with a telescopic sight on their 22 should have a chance at cutting an x. I know of some guys using Anshutz actioned 22s with 40x power sights that will still miss the x, and they are great marksmen otherwise. A little breeze is all it takes.

That may sound too competitive for some, but last years 50 yard competitions on a target that was less than an inch square yielded a dozen finalists that had to come back the following week for a shoot off. It seems a bit too exclusive, but it is open class, so it is to be expected. I intend to propose some restricted class competition later in the year so people with a stock gun and iron sights can have some competitive fun as well.

Not sure about the politic involved and that is not what I am going for. I am going for the oppurtunity to learn, remember and practice my skills and refine them more then what they are. I can always learn more - always.

Since I brought it up I will step back in to take any heat. I cannot speak for the organization as a whole and beyond being an attendee twice, have no affiliation, but I can say without reservation that at the outset the instructors at the two events I attended were crystal clear about politics staying off the range and out of the event. No endorsements, criticisms or political views were expressed in my hearing. One participant at my first shoot who started to make what sounded like it could become a political comment was reminded that this (the shoot) was not the venue and he desisted.

I certainly do not intend to interject any political angle into any discussion here. It was simply presented as a low cost opportunity to do some relatively high-volume shooting, stress testing the rifle is a pleasant benefit (though not when my front sight drifted right off the barrel), and receive some pretty darn good instruction in marksmanship.

Thanks pworks36!!

That was exactly the kind of insight I was looking for.

Now back to the original topic. Sorry for the short hijack.