I just got a new Ruger 10/22 this afternoon, in stainless steel and a international stock, this is pretty sweet topped off with a red dot scope. My question is I see that cabelas and other places sell lots of up grades or after market parts. Is there any good up grades to put on? I see a bigger magazine release, that was one I was looking at, also if I ever decide to trick it out, ie different stock or barrel is the gunsmithing easy to do? Could I with basic tools do it? Thanks

Barrels and stock are easily changed with simple handtools.I changed out both with an aftermarket kit and group sizes were cut in half.The longer length of pull also makes the gun fit much better.

I have thought about modifying my 10/22 too, but never got around to it. There are tons of things out there for them, barrels, stocks, triggers, muzzle breaks, hammers, you can basically rebuild the whole gun. I just really like the look of a big ol bull barrel on a short .22. Dont know how much they really improve the accuracy though. I read an interview with Mr. Ruger himself one time and he mentioned the 10/22 and said he never understood why people would change the barrels on his .22 that he built it with the best, most accurate barrels you could get. He said that he built one of the best .22's out there and doesnt think anything should be changed.

Total B.S. My best 50 yard groups with the factory barrel ran around 1".With the replacement barrel the groups dropped to 1/2" at 50 yards.

i've got about 500$ in my 10/22 minus the scope, i've got a fluted bull barrel, houge stock and several internal pieces, did all the work myself and this is my favorite gun to shoot, cheap, accurate, and no side affects, recoil/noise.

barrels and stock are simple, i would start there, look at the other pieces and get real freindly with a smith, most of the parts are very simple and may only require a little honing, but you may still want to let the smith handle the touchy items.

I'm with stubblejumper, my 10/22 didn't do what I wanted out of it. God rest ol' Mr Rugers' soul, but he was full of it when he said that. I traded out the factory barrel for a Green Mountain fluted stainless barrel, a Hogue Overmoulded stock and an aftermarket trigger assembly and now, its a real shooter!!!(1/2 inch at 50yds) I've got about 400 in mine minus scope and it'll shoot with rifles that'll run you quite a bit more. I did the mods myself with just common household tools without any trouble. With a little cash and some common scense, you can make a 10/22 shoot like a champ.

Have a few 10/22's, and the best upgrade is the titanium sear and hammer. Only problem is modifying to accomidate the safety. Ti is very very very hard to mill or cut down to fit your safety. I ruined stones, and a diamond stone to do it. The extended mag release is second. All these are high quality components.

Now you can easily be caught in a trap of upgrading these bad boys so be careful to watch your wallet and determine how much its worth to you.

The 2 things I would do is go to Midway and buy a Volquartsen Target Hammer Ruger 10/22 Product #: 163143
This will drop the trigger pull weight a lot and clean it up.
2 and this will go against what you were taught , STOP CLEANING the chamber and inside of the barrel . I have seen several tests and tryed it my self ,after a thousand rdns the rifle will group better than with a clean barrel. I am not saying to stop cleaning or lubing the action that is a must.

I've done upgrades to 2 different 10/22's. the first I used a Fajen thumbhole stock in a two tone gray laminate and a Butler Creek composite bull barrel. I used Power Custom internal parts.

The second project I used a Fajen thumbhole stock in red/white and blue laminate added an Adams and Bennet bull barrel and this time used Volquartsen internal parts. Got the trigger to around 2lbs.

Both rifles shot 1/2 inch groups at 50 yards easily.

You can get alot of money wrapped up in them in a hurry, but it's worth the result.