Thread: Ruger 10/22 - Tricks, tips and modifications

My daughter Mikayla (12) was doing ok with the standard rifle but I noted the difficulty she was having with the standing shots.



Her smaller frame meant it was difficult to shoulder the rifle correctly so a change was needed. I purchased an old beat-up wooden stock off TM for SFA and set about making some changes. I don't like the standard stocks much at all so anything was going to look better than what I had.

First I trimmed about 2" off the back. By chance this worked out to be about perfect. I cleaned up the butt and using my best wood-working skills plus some cursing and swearing, got the plastic protection to fit.


Next I trimmed a bit of meat off the fore end of the stock. The primary reason for doing this was to make it easier for smaller hands to hold on to. I based the shape on a Winchester M70 Featherweight I have. Mikki indicated this change was an excellent one and she can now hold the fore end much easier. I guess it might have reduced the weight a bit too, although bugger all. I drilled a bit of meat out of the butt of the stock too. While I was there I made sure the barrel was floating correctly in the channel too.







After a bit of sanding, some good ol' fashion elbow grease, a few coats of Birchwood Casey Stock Varnish, more elbow grease and finally some TLC, the finished article was handed over for field trials. It was an instant hit - no pun intended. Funny enough, Mikayla now refers to this as "her gun". Hmmmm.

Without checkering on the stock I thought the rifle was looking a little... bland. I wanted to tart it up but I don't even know how to use a chisel, let alone own one. I mulled over the options but left it alone for a few months. When my son was given a craft set for Christmas I noted the small "V" chisel inside the box and the brain started churning out ideas. With no skills and very little appreciation for the time and effort involved I set to. I now believe those guys in European factories who do this as a day job need to be paid more.

The final result was rough enough for the money I got paid and Mikki is rapt with the new addition.







Next stop - the local Marae. Maybe I can whip up a bit of carving for the Wharenui.