Thread: Heads-up on Volquartsen THM 10/22 barrels

Originally Posted by 55six

Snug receiver fit, loose fit, angled fit, barrel droop. All inherent problems of the 10/22 receiver to barrel fit platform. There is no consistency in receiver design or barrel design...

I think lose fit and droop are both the product of Ruger's loose tolerance as a result of mass production. when the whole gun is sold for 199 USD and action is cast, precision takes a back seat. The V-lock screw design will induce barrel droop if there is any looseness in the barrel fit. But the design itself is otherwise solid.

KIDD has been making precision 10/22 barrel and action for over 12 years. I own a full KIDD with Ruger standard design receive and barrel and this gun shoots very well. Both receiver and barrel are compatible with Ruger factory barrel/action.

I also own a Whistlepig barrel that is married to a factory Ruger 10/22 receiver. The barrel was made slightly oversized to ensure a tight fit. They send a piece of sandpaper with the barrel for the user to sand down the barrel breach end to fit the receiver. Whistlepig barrels generally enjoy good reputation for accuracy. Mine was very accurate for a lightweight gun.

Lilja and Truflight both make drop-in 10/22 barrels. I have never seen anyone complaining about them not being accurate.

My point is that precision 10/22 barrels can be done and other have been doing it for a long time. Grey Birch is new to the game, so it is not clear why they cannot overcome the variance problem that others seem to have been able to beat.

I agree that making fixed barrel action is better and avoids these compatibility issues. But up front costs is a lot higher and it no compatibility with other barrels. For example, what if a few years down the line you want to swap to a Lilja heavy bull barrel? The whole interchangeability is the 10/22's appeal in the first place.