Preface
Perhaps the granddaddy of all training rifles is the lowly .22 long rifle, and today we are going to dive into one of the most iconic and successful rifles ever to be chambered thus. Sturm Ruger released the 10/22 over sixty years ago, and it has been a steady flow of production ever since. Because of its popularity the 10/22 has been improved, altered, shortened, and folded a dozen different ways. And its huge popularity continues to make it an excellent choice today, which is what bring us together today; I’m building a custom 10/22, and it looks like you’re coming along with me.
Why a Custom 10/22?
With so many models available from both Ruger, and other manufacturers like Bergara, Magnum Research, and many others, you might ask why make your own? Well because this is America, and we often like to do things that are challenging if only to bask in the success. People have been tinkering with 10/22’s for decades, much like the extremely popular AR15. The simplicity of configuring the rifle to exactly your liking seems to be something gun owners take great pride in.
Let me also clarify; “building” a custom 10/22 is a little bit of a misnomer. Lots of folks like to refer to their custom rifle as a “build” when in fact they’ve only assembled a variety of parts using no more than a few Allen wrenches or a screwdriver. A true build in my opinion included machining, cutting, bonding, coating etc. But for todays purpose, we’ll run with it.
Many folks are deep into 22’s for other reasons. For example, if all you can afford to shoot is a .22LR, then you’ve got to roll with it. Other folks have legal restrictions because of tyrannical despots with brain rot (yes I’m talking about you California). Those folks often dive deep into rimfires because it might be their only choice for a fun and configurable firearm.
Lastly I’ll bring up those who find great joy in the challenge. Whether it be the diminutive .22LR cartridge, or the application of it in marksmanship. Many rimfire enthusiasts enjoy the inexpensive challenge of competing against others, to play the marksman game at an abbreviated cost.
My Custom 10/22
I don’t suppose I fit into any of those purposes for my custom 10/22. Today I am putting this rifle together simply because I can, and I enjoy shooting. And despite my immersion in the gun world, I have yet to own a 10/22. And I decided it was time to change that.
I started out with a list of various components, that would eventually come together as a complete rifle.
Steal His Look with the Parts Listed Below
| Rifle Component | Where to purchase (click) |
| Receiver | BRO -22 Action |
| Trigger | BRO-22 Trigger assembly |
| Barrel | Summit Precision 16” Black Carbon |
| Chassis | KRG Bravo 10/22 |
| Magazines | Ruger BX magazines |
| Rifle Scope | Athlon Helos 2-12 — Primary Arms GLX 3-18 |
| Scope mount | Primary Arms — Area 419 |
| Arca Rail | Area 419 ARCA Lock |
| Bipod | MDT Grnd bipod |
| Suppressor | YHM Phantom 22 |
Receiver
There are countless good 10/22 receiver options from a variety of manufacturers. For this project I decided to use the BRO 10/22 action from Black Rain Ordnance. This action had some great features like an integral sight rail machined into it’s billet 6061 Aluminum structure. I picked up a BRO trigger as well, which is also has a billet aluminum structure instead of the plastic one many 10/22’s have.
Since I already had a partially filled cart with them, I also opted to try the BRO extended magazine release. This outstanding addition puts a simple push lever on the trigger guard much like the big precision rifles use.
One of the great things I really appreciated about the BRO action, is how tight the pins fit. The 10/22 trigger group is held in place by a few pins, that notoriously fall out anytime the action is outside of the stock. But the BRO pins fit so tight that they need to be tapped in with a little pressure. This results in an incredibly solid fit, unlike some other models. I’ve never liked how wobbly the extended magazines are on standard 10/22 rifles.
Barrel
For the barrel I went with a Summit Precision carbon fiber wrapped sixteen-inch barrel. Not that I’m worried so much about weight with this gun, I just like the look and quality. I also like supporting local businesses too. The flashy barrel also has a threaded muzzle which is a requirement for all my firearms now, since I refuse to shoot without a suppressor. The barrel dropped right into place, and was held there by the two V-block screws.
Chassis
Mounting the barreled action in a chassis was my next step, for that I chose the KRG Bravo chassis for the 10/22. I’ve got other KRG Bravo stocks, and I always love their ergonomics and the way they accept all kinds of customization.
The Bravo chassis fit the BRO action so snug I probably didn’t even need to tighten the action screw. It actually took me a sec to perfectly set the action pins so there was zero protrusion. Otherwise I could not get the action to seat in the chassis. The fit was as perfect as I could imagine. The Bravo has polymer ribs to add stability to the 10/22 magazine, resulting in a much stronger mating of the two parts.
Additionally, and why I chose the KRG Bravo, there are plenty of spaces to add accessories to the chassis. I added one of my favorite accessories, the Area 419 ARCA Lock rail. this allows you to quickly attach and adjust the location of bipods, bags, and other accessories. After installing the ARCA Lock rail, I attached an MDT Grnd bipod for supported shooting.
Sight Options
Initially I installed an Athlon Optics Helos BTR 2.5-12X42. I mounted the scope using a Primary Arms 30mm scope mount, which ended up being a little higher than I would like but it was serviceable.
I also swapped out the Athlon scope for another one of my favorites. The Primary Arms GLX 3-18 I have used on I don’t know how many rifles now. The 34mm tube of the scope actually sat a little lower because of the Area 419 Scope Mount so I liked the fit a little better. Both of these scopes were a reasonable fit for the type of shooting I would do with this rifle. For a rimfire rifle like this, I like having the ability to zoom out to lower magnifications like 2.5 or 3X. My other .22 rifles have 3-15X scopes on them, I think its a pretty good variable range for useful little rifles like this.
Shooting my Custom 10/22
Accuracy
Accuracy is very dependent on ammunition, and with .22LR its very easy to find low quality ammunition. I had fairly low expectations mainly because I have no interest in buying the more expensive 22 ammo. All I wanted was a gun that I could hit squirrels a hundred yards away with cheap ammunition like you’d find on sale at the hardware store.
Considering that, I think this rifle turned out pretty reasonable. Depending on the ammo it will shoot around one-inch groups at 50 yards, but with its preferred ammo it will do a little better still.
Reliability
Some of the things I noticed while shooting the rifle were it took just a few rounds to get broken in, but within the first magazine it was humming along perfectly. It came as no surprise to me that this rifle ran flawlessly after that, as a sixty-year-old design I think they’ve worked out the bugs. Even with my tinkering and using different parts it all basically came together perfectly.
The controls of the BRO action are quite nice. The knurled and oversized charging handle gives good purchase for running the bolt, and the bolt-lock-back feature is hugely improved over the original Ruger design. No more fiddling with the bolt-catch to get it to close, simply pull it back and let it slam. There’s even a slight cutout of the improved mag catch to allow better engagement with the bolt catch. And the mag release itself is fantastic to operate from any position.
Ergonomics
The ergonomics of the KRG Bravo chassis are outstanding. I love the grip angle, and the way it presents the trigger to your finger at a right angle. The length of pull is a tiny bit short as it came, but it also came with a spacer to increase the LOP so its not an issue. I left it in its factory configuration because my kids would be shooting it often.
You can also remove a section of the lower part of the buttstock to expose a nice butt-hook. I found it mostly unnecessary as the rifle was plenty easy enough to manipulate as it was. You can also add things like a picatinny rail to the back should you wish to add a monopod or something. QD-cups can also be added to the buttstock for sling attachment, and at the front of the handguard on either side there are M-Lok slots to add other connection points.
My high mounted scope was easily adjusted for because of the adjustable comb height on the Bravo. And should I end up using a different scope or mounting system, it will also be quick to adjust.
Suppressor Host
I mentioned I would be shooting mostly suppressed with this rifle, that is my general practice. For this purpose I would use my YHM Phantom 22 suppressor, the Phantom is a great match to the rifle. As with nearly all semi-autos, you can expect the 10/22 to run dirtier when suppressed. In fact rimfire rifles seem to be even dirtier than centerfire rifles when suppressed, that would mean lot’s of cleaning is in the future for this rifle.
I don’t regret anything though, as the quiet pop of the rifle is very pleasant while shooting, even without ear protection. Another side effect of shooting suppressed is the additional gas coming from the action. It’s no big deal if you are shooting outside which I always do.
Value
Most of the time you talk about custom rifles, value and cost goes out the window. With that said, I think 22’s can be a little easier on the billfold. This project easily tipped the scales around $1200, but when putting together what you want I think most of us aren’t as concerned with the nickels and dimes so much as the end result. But if you are the kind of guy who shoots 22’s because they are cheap, you may want to stick to a less expensive factory 10/22.
Pros and Cons
The cons of this project are fairly minimal and predictable. I’ve already mentioned that it is not inexpensive, but most people who start down the custom rifle path know that before starting. I also mentioned the filthiness of suppressed shooting, but again that comes with the territory.
The pros of building a rifle like this however are bountiful. With a massive supply of parts and aftermarket support, there are untold combinations you can explore. And because it has been done countless times by so many, you can always find some hairy redneck like me who has already tried what you are thinking and build from their experience.
The 10/22 has remained so popular for many reasons, it is simply too much fun to shoot. And the fastest way to burn through a brick of ammo and have a good time doing it. The predictable function is reassuring, the modularity of the KRG Bravo made it easily adaptable to various purposes. The accuracy and balance of the Summit carbon barrel made it deadly and comfortable. A great trigger pull matched by an equally sharp look made this whole project a joy.
Final Conclusion
Building a custom rifle might be intimidating the first time, but it will become an addiction just like hunting or casting a line. You might have assembled this gun a little differently than I have, heck, I might do it differently again just to see another way. Picking your parts and making your own custom rifle is an incredible learning experience and brings great satisfaction. Let me know what you think of this project, and how you would have done it differently.