ruger 10/22 - losing accuracy {was a tack driver}

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savagehunter44

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Apr 10, 2011
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#1
ruger 10/22 has lost its accuracy, it used to put 10 in darn near the same hole it was a tack driver. but the group size has slowly got bigger out to 1/2 dollar size
mad.gif
mad.gif
. i have made sure all bolts are tight and clean the bore, it has seen about 350-400 rounds i guess thats normal. i dont know chit about rimfires, thanks
 
#2
Re: ruger 10/22 - losing accuracy {was a tack driver}

Don't rule out your ammo. Even though you may be shooting the same brand of ammo, I have seen accuracy change from lot to lot with 22 ammo.

Open a new box of the same ammo that your rifle has previously liked and see if that makes a difference
 
#4
Re: ruger 10/22 - losing accuracy {was a tack driver}

yeah the gradual change probably rules out the lot to lot ammo variation. That would be a night and day difference. It sure sounds like it might need cleaned out then a few fouling shots to get the accuracy back. Every rifle is going to be different, but generally 22's don't need cleaned that often. But a slowly degrading accuracy sure points to fouling.
 
#5
Re: ruger 10/22 - losing accuracy {was a tack driver}

Check your crown also when you clean it. Mine had a ton of crud (wax lube, lead, etc.) on it after a few hundred rounds. I soaked a chunk of gauze with shooter's choice and layed it over the and of the bore with the rifle propped up in a corner. Let it soak for an hour or so and it'll wipe off. Be super careful when dinking around with the crown, mess it up and you'll never be accurate again (unless you have the crown re-cut). I always try to clean from the chamber, but with a 10/22 unless you drill your reciever or take your barrel off, the only choice to do that is a bore snake. Using a normal cleaning rod from the bore end can mess up the crown on any rifle. My 10/22 is a great rifle, woudnt trade it for the world. I have it set up with an archangel stock system at the moment, I use it as a sub caliber trainer. It allows me way more trigger time than I would have if I had only my centerfires.
 
#6
Re: ruger 10/22 - losing accuracy {was a tack driver}

I recant my initial post as jbuck88 brought up a very valid point… the gradual loss of accuracy would not likely be due to ammunition.

Savagehunter… I am not trying to be insulting, but could it be the person behind the gun? In the past I have sworn that I shot out a particular barrel on several different occasions when accuracy started to slip… I later came to realize in each case that it was not the barrel that was the problem, it was me.
 
#7
Re: ruger 10/22 - losing accuracy {was a tack driver}

its had 100-150 rounds from last cleaning but it has gone longer with the same accuracy. i may need to soak the barrel i shoot a lot of blazer & mini mags thay have a lot of wax on the blazer 40 grin bullets. {they can get gum'd up and the headspacing can slightly vary} did not know that! i take the action down a good ways to clean
 
#9
Re: ruger 10/22 - losing accuracy {was a tack driver}

I have not shot a lot of the Blazer ammo or the mini mags because of the wax issue. I switched over to Wolf 22 ammo a long time ago & I love the stuff. The Wolf 22 ammo is nothing like the cheap crap that they make for centerfire rifles. Not only is the ammo not overly waxy, I have found that it is highly accurate in almost any 22 I shoot it through.

Oh - my 22 barrel has well over 1000 rounds through it & I have yet to clean it. I just keep the action well oiled & keep squeezing the trigger.
 
#11
Re: ruger 10/22 - losing accuracy {was a tack driver}

If its not your ammo or a dirty bore, then check the action screw...seasonal changes in humidity or temp could change torque setting....10/22's are known to be finnicky about this.
 
#12
Re: ruger 10/22 - losing accuracy {was a tack driver}

Nobody has mentioned it yet so I will throw out the loose scope mount or your scope. As said before check the crown to see if there is a nice equal star burst pattern on the muzzle showing a good bullet exit. Given that you said it gradually getting worse I would but $5 on scope or scope mount issue.
 
#13
Re: ruger 10/22 - losing accuracy {was a tack driver}

yeah, after confirming it's not the shooter (we all have an off day). an off lot of ammo would be my next guess. but if that can be ruled out and the group continues to open up i'd check:

1. the weather - is your stock freefloated? is it wood? could it be swelling against the barrel?

2. scope rings getting loose.

3. stock mounting bolts being loose.

4. i don't want to jinx you, but let's hope it's not the scope crapping out on you.

5. check that crown for gunk.
 
#15
Re: ruger 10/22 - losing accuracy {was a tack driver}

I've got to ask SH... but TP brings up a great point. It could be the scope going out on you. Other than that though, what is the current set up of your 10/22? Knowing what mods that you have done could help determine the cause.
 
#16
Re: ruger 10/22 - losing accuracy {was a tack driver}

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: thickstrings</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> If its not your ammo or a dirty bore, then check the action screw...seasonal changes in humidity or temp could change torque setting....10/22's are known to be finnicky about this. </div></div>

I had never heard or thought of the torque on the takedown screw. I got onto google and looked for the "proper" torque. There is a bit of info on guys slowly working up the torque on their 10/22's until they find the best grouping, then marking the screw and stock so that it goes back the same place everytime. Thanks for this bit of advice. When my new hammer comes in and I get it installed, I am going to put the rifle back together and slowly work to the best torque. +1 on that advice for sure.
 
#17
Re: ruger 10/22 - losing accuracy {was a tack driver}

There's not really a proper torque for the take-down screw; just whatever your rifle happens to like. When you do start torqueing the screw, just remember to do it in two pound increments. Ie. 12,14,16, etc. You'll notice that the groups begin to tighten up. When the groups begin to widen back up... well then you've gone to far.
 
#18
Re: ruger 10/22 - losing accuracy {was a tack driver}

- If it is has a barrel band, take it off.
- Check Crown.
- Check Bore for a black dohnut developing.
- Test with diferent scope and shooter.
- Take down screw torque.
The torque of the take down screw changes between ammo types as well.

It is easy to go overboard with a 10/22, but having the bolt trued or purchasing one that has already been done can have great results.
 
#20
Re: ruger 10/22 - losing accuracy {was a tack driver}

savagehunter, are you saying in your first post that the rifle has 350-400 rounds through it since the last cleaning, or total?

If it's a new rifle and you only have that number of rounds through it total, then I'd check the fit of the action to the stock. I've seen them come pretty tight when new, but loosen up quickly, which is the reason why many that use their 10/22 as a precision rig, bed the action into the stock.

Also, you described the rifle as being a tack driver. Are you saying that it was a tack driver running the Blazer and Mini Mags? If you are, that's really surprising.
 
#21
Re: ruger 10/22 - losing accuracy {was a tack driver}

What barrel are you running? Doe the barrel have a comp or brake? Have you changed magazines? Chamber a couple of rounds from the mag and check to see of the bolt, or a rough chamber is scarring the bullet? Any pressure on the barrel?
 
#22
Re: ruger 10/22 - losing accuracy {was a tack driver}

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Grand</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What barrel are you running? Doe the barrel have a comp or brake? Have you changed magazines? Chamber a couple of rounds from the mag and check to see of the bolt, or a rough chamber is scarring the bullet? Any pressure on the barrel?</div></div>

Good questions! If it is an aftermarket heavy/bull barrel and if the barrel is free floated you may be putting too much pressure on the reciever and may be doing unreversable damage to your rifle!

I personally believe there is a reason 10/22s are not free floated with their aluminum reciever from the factory!

Dan
 
#23
Re: ruger 10/22 - losing accuracy {was a tack driver}

I had a V block crack on one of mine once. Some thing to look at. It was hard to see and when loose you could not see it, once it was tight you could see a faint silver line.
 
#24
Re: ruger 10/22 - losing accuracy {was a tack driver}

Did the OP ever get this issue figured out? I'm experiencing the same thing. I have a 10/22 tactical target with the factory bull barrel. It was shooting one hole groups at 25 yards with several types of ammo. It's had maybe 400 to 450 rounds through it and it's started shooting all over the place and won't even group. It's shooting inch or bigger groups at 25 yards now. And it's started stove piping occasionally.

Tried cleaning the muzzle and crown, cleaning the bore with a bore snake, changing the scope, and tried seven different kinds of ammo.
 
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