Adaptive Tactical 10/22

Among the most enduring, reliable, and generally useful rimfire rifles ever introduced is the Ruger 10/22. It is so popular, I have customers who purchased another rifle "just to be different." Some obtain cheaper rifles and others pay more, but the Ruger 10/22 is by far the most popular .22 rimfire rifle in America. There is quite an industry surrounding the 10/22. While Ruger offers several interesting variations on the 10/22, the aftermarket offers many more options.

A recent project involved building a rifle up from a standard stainless receiver using parts from Adaptive Tactical (AdaptiveTactical.com, While the upgrade seems simple enough, attention to detail is important. Reliability and accuracy potential must be maintained. The goal was to build an exceptional 10/22 for hunting and target use, but the primary function would be fun shooting and marksmanship training. After a bit of discussion the parts were ordered. The rifle is a Ruger 10/22 stainless.

The rifle was obtained at a fair price at the local pawn shop for less than two hundred dollars and seemed in decent working condition. The walnut stock was a good fit with no barrel band and a stainless rail attached to receiver. A Bushnell 4×10 scope was mounted. On close examination the bell of the scope was actually touching the barrel! For this price it didn’t matter but I wondered about the accuracy potential.

Anyone wishing to duplicate these efforts might be well served with the new, less expensive Ruger 10/22 supplied with a plastic stock and without sights. While used 10/22 rifles are common, the new Ruger 10/22 inexpensive version can be obtained for less than the price of the average used rifle. Since you will be adding optics, it doesn’t matter if sights are not delivered with the rifle. Prior to any modification it’s important to test the rifle’s accuracy and reliability.

Using CCI Mini Mag ammunition at 25 yards, the rifle functioned fine and a five-shot group went into 1.32", typical for the Ruger 10/22. A good, tight 10/22 with a decent optic should group five shots into 2-2.5" at 50 yards. The parts ordered included the Adaptive Tactical RM4, pistol grip type with an adjustable length of pull. The stock features two hold-

ers in the butt for Ruger ten-round magazines and a removable plate in the forend for bull barrels, allowing a standard tapered barrel if the plate isn’t removed. A stowaway accessory rail in the stock can be reversed for use with a bipod. The length of pull is easily adjusted and the storage compartments are ambidextrous.

There would be some improvement simply by adding the stock but I went a bit further, adding a Tac-Hammer barrel and Tac TRED monopod which fits into the pistol grip after a covering pad is removed. The Tac-Hammer is made of P4140 chromoly steel with a heat and rust resistant coating. The shroud is 6061 aluminum and coated with Cerakote.

Twist rate is 1:16, the end threaded (1/2 x 28) for common compensators or suppressors, outside diameter 0.920", 16" long (17.25" with compensator), Bentz chamber, and 30.68 ounces (870 grams) of weight. This setup isn’t too heavy from offhand and very stable from a bipod or the Tac TRED monopod. Installation To install the stock, disassemble the rifle by turning the single stock screw until completely loose.

Adaptive Tactical also makes a stock for the 10/22 Takedown although the sequence for assembling differs slightly. Since I elected to also install the Tac-Hammer barrel, I also removed the factory tube. Adaptive Tactical has several options and I ordered a Barrel/Rail Combo for $329.99 as the rigid rail and barrel interface made a great deal of sense in this application. The barrel features a match grade Bentz chamber and a nicely done compensator.

While the shooter may not need a compensator in a .22 rifle, the overall effect is pleasant and the rifle certainly is quite accurate. The barrel is threaded for a suppressor, a good option for those that enjoy using "cans", and is advertised as a rigid core stepped barrel design with an aluminum shroud. While it isn’t a true bull barrel, the design provides similar accuracy with Far This invites custom modifications. less weight. My evaluation shows that goal was met.

To remove the Ruger barrel, loosen the two screws securing the barrel retainer (V-block) into the receiver. This simple set up was designed for manufacturing ease, works well, and makes barrel changing easy. When I first disassembled the rifle and removed the barrel I noted that the barrel was slightly loose. Even though initial shooting demonstrated good function and accuracy, it’s worth checking tightness from time to time. The Tac-Hammer was a good, tight fit.

It was necessary to remove the original flat sight rail from the receiver to accommodate the higher and more complex rail. Considerable effort was needed to mate the new barrel to the receiver; a good thing that ensures a tight fit. In order to fit the barrel and keep it perfectly lined with the receiver, I put the receiver in a padded vise

This liner is removed for use with bull barrels or extra diameter barrels. and carefully tapped the barrel into place. I don’t know if every barrel and receiver combination will need this effort but the effort required was modest for the results to be had. Next up was fitting the barreled receiver to the RM4 stock. This is a tight fit but not particularly difficult. Simply apply pressure to seat the action in the stock and then tighten it down.

The receiver is placed in the stock with the barrel tilted upward and the receiver angled into the rear of the stock. Next, the barrel is pressed downward. A bit of pressure is needed to fit the barrel into the stock as it fits tightly. After the receiver and barrel are pressed into the stock, the stock screw is tightened into place. The Bushnell scope that was included with my used 10/22 was fitted to the new railed barrel.

As it turns out the stainless Ruger was a good buy as the Bushnell scope provided an excellent optic for use with the custom rifle. A few adjustments at 25 yards and the scope was perfectly sighted with .22 Mini Mag. While I had to make a few adjustments in the original setting of the rings and fit the bases onto it, this rail is far superior to the original and the Bushnell now rides properly above the barrel.

Rifle scopes with a bell of fifty millimeters will not be difficult to mount or have any problem clearing the Tac-Hammer barrel. The overall look is nice, even racy, and the rifle remains light and fast handling. The final step was firing for accuracy. I used the CCI Mini Mag in most of this work, firing at ranges of up to 100 yards. The Tac-Hammer and RM4 combination turned in groups of two inches at 50 yards for excellent accuracy.

Firing at 100 yards, accuracy seems about as good as at fifty yards, unusual for the 10/22. The rifle could use a better trigger action but that is another story. Since the initial work, the rifle has turned in groups of 1.5 inches with several types of ammunition at 25 yards, qualifying the improvement. The rifle has also proven reliable. Pay attention to detail in assembling the 10/22 and good results are assured. Adaptive Tactical parts are first class.

AG Top The stainless steel 10/22 was a good choice and the Bushnell rifle scope was luck! Center

The compensator performed well in testing. Above center: The Tac Hammer barrel’s integral scope rail is an excellent design.