Range update:
Kidd ultra lightweight barrel 16.5” threaded, Titan22 stock, Primary Arms 3-18x 50, UTG bipod
Prone with bipod and rear bag @ 50 yards, 4-8 MPH winds from 1 o’clock. 45 F climbing to 57 F.
Shot various ammo for function and getting used to the ACSS reticle on a scope I took off on a Ruger American Predator 6.5CM. A few stove pipes initially, but zero after the first 100 shots. Total rounds 250.
I followed the Kidd website instructions to clean the shoulder of the receiver and removed the paint there. I also Scotchbrited the overspray in the inside of the receiver.
The barrel was chilled in the freezer overnight and the receiver heated with a hairdryer for 2 minutes. With just a small amount of anti-seize, the barrel slid in 1/2 way with some firm pressure. The extractor alignment and v-block and receiver were leveled and aligned. Then 3 firm whacks with a rubber mallet seated the barrel nicely.
The Victor Co Titan22 stock is sturdy but light. The rear flush cup sling points rattled, but a dab of superglue fix the minor annoyance easily. The Titan22 spike receiver anchor was easy to install and there is zero teeter-totter or lateral movement after installation.
After assembly, the safety, bolt catch, magazine release, and dry fire worked flawlessly. Upon inspection of the barrel, it does not sit perfectly aligned to the stock’s fore-end. I looked at the Victor Co website and this is a known issue related to the receiver barrel mounting hole on the Ruger 10/22s. The barrel is still free floated and passes the dollar bill test, but if I did it all over again, it may be worth getting a Brownell receiver and building off of that. In my sample of 1 for the BRN-22 takedown, the anodizing is much cleaner than the black paint on the Ruger along with excellent machining and tighter tolerances.
Below are some photos of how she sits today. Please excuse the Beartooth neoprene cheek riser. I will likely upgrade the scope and bipod and I did not want to drill and mount the Titan cheek riser until I get an extended rail set up for the right eye relief. Current weight = 8.08 lbs with balance at the magazine well.
Below are the groups while seasoning the barrel and also the best cherry picked groups of the day.
Promising groups, and easy to stay on target for follow up shots. I was able to see 75% of the shots drop in.
3rd best group: SK rifle match, 6x5 avg = .741”, best = .464". (disregard MOA numbers... I forgot to multiply by 2) This was the middle group of the day. Took a break to let others set up targets before group 4. Cold bore or cold shooter, either way group 4 was a hot mess. If group 4 removed, 5x5 avg = .589”
Runner up: SK std+, 6x5 avg = .697”, best = .546“. (disregard MOA numbers... I forgot to multiply by 2). This was the 1st 6x5 group and I was getting used to the rifle and the ACSS reticle. I was not using the chevron to best effect, but starting to get the hang of it by groups 5 and 6.
Best groups of the day: Last groups shot, figured out the best technique was to hold the ACSS chevron on the apex of the big diamond, and hold the .2 mil dot on the small black diamond. By this time, fatigue was settling in and winds picked up (as seen by the more horizontal stringing). 6x5 avg = .685”, best = .515”. (disregard MOA numbers... I forgot to multiply by 2). Less group to group variance compared to the SK RM and Std+.
Beautiful day at the range. I learned a lot about how capable this 10/22 with Kidd ultra lightweight barrel and Titan22 stock can be. The stock Ruger 10/22 scope rail isn’t set up for optimal eye relief, so a EGW extended picatinny rail with 20 MOA is on order and a scope with a center dot reticle and more magnification might shrink the groups. SK RM probably has the most potential as it had multiple sub .5” groups and would likely have had the the best average if there wasn’t a break in the action after group 3.
Reasonably accurate/precise and fun rifle for ˜$700 + time invested. Let me know if you have question. More testing to come.
YMMV, happy shooting
(edited for wrong MOA calculations, should be twice the listed value)