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For some time I have been looking into building a 10/22 as a light weight semi-auto .22 that can be suppressed.
Weighing in the options now days since you cannot find a reasonable 10/22 anywhere that is not cheap enough to warrant removing the barrel and stock, I started to explore my options.
A 10/22 circa 2020 is around $250~, adding a lightweight tensioned threaded barrel such as Tactical Solutions adds another $280~ with a Magpul Hunter stock slips in another $140~. This does not count towards a trigger job ($100~) and trying to find that spring that left the trigger pack and flew across the room. Very easy to be into a 10/22 build in the $800-900 range.
I have a Takedown 10/22 with Magpul and TacSol setup, it shoots amazing but I wanted a rigid option..
Discussing with Jeremy (@LuckySG) last week I was curious if he had any beaters floating around or something to use as a springboard to do this build.
Bergara website link:
Normally I'm not a person to jump on a rifle that is new but something that takes 10/22 magazines that are already on the shelf is worth a second look.
Picking the rifle up I was impressed with the weight of it. Bergara claims a 4.7 pound weight and it is that but it is well balanced and feels lighter. Checking the trigger when I got home I found a 3.0-3.5lb clean break.
Bergara's stats:
I slapped on my Nikon Prostaff 4-12 and headed to the range.
Shooting what I had at the house already, I was NOT impressed with accuracy.
I had CCI Standards and some Federal bulk opened already so they rolled with me.
All targets were shot at 50 yards and these were with the suppressor.
Federal American Eagle garbage.
CCI Standards (Shoots great in my other rifles):
Not impressed with the top left pattern. It was 7:45 by the time I got to this point and I packed it up and went home.
Fast forward to Sunday.
I went by the Sportmans Warehouse to see if they had any Match or Target ammo variants that were not at the house.
I picked up these flavors:
Norma Match-11
Federal Gold Match
Eley Target
I removed the suppressor and went through a solid test. Shots at 50 yards, 5 shot groups.
Top left: Federal American Eagle
Top Right: Norma Match-22
Bottom Left: Eley Target
Bottom Right: Federal Gold Match
Center target was reserved for sight in or adjustments when switching ammo.
While this is impressive, I must say that I did put some Norma into my Ruger American and it shot 9 rounds inside the black with one flier.
Overall thoughts?
I had no issues feeding or ejecting ammo that I purchased today.
Planning on revisiting this thread when I receive the Lapua and Wolf match ammo from the internet order.
Once dialed in yesterday I was able to use some CCI's and ring the steel out to 200y with ease. The scope was perfect for bottom reticle circle to hit the steel every time.
Would I buy again? Sure. I'd make sure I had match ammo before I went to the range the first time. I would make sure to run it the first time without a suppressor as mine apparently messes with barrel harmonics.
Disclaimer:
I understand this rifle is new and I have not shot 250 rounds through it. The rifle has not 'settled' in yet and even the gents at Vudoo say to not rely on accuracy until 500 rounds minimum. This is a work in progress
Weighing in the options now days since you cannot find a reasonable 10/22 anywhere that is not cheap enough to warrant removing the barrel and stock, I started to explore my options.
A 10/22 circa 2020 is around $250~, adding a lightweight tensioned threaded barrel such as Tactical Solutions adds another $280~ with a Magpul Hunter stock slips in another $140~. This does not count towards a trigger job ($100~) and trying to find that spring that left the trigger pack and flew across the room. Very easy to be into a 10/22 build in the $800-900 range.
I have a Takedown 10/22 with Magpul and TacSol setup, it shoots amazing but I wanted a rigid option..
Discussing with Jeremy (@LuckySG) last week I was curious if he had any beaters floating around or something to use as a springboard to do this build.
Bergara website link:
Normally I'm not a person to jump on a rifle that is new but something that takes 10/22 magazines that are already on the shelf is worth a second look.
Picking the rifle up I was impressed with the weight of it. Bergara claims a 4.7 pound weight and it is that but it is well balanced and feels lighter. Checking the trigger when I got home I found a 3.0-3.5lb clean break.
Bergara's stats:
- 34.5″ Overall length (includes three 3/8″ removable spacers to adjust length of pull)
- 16.5″ Barrel, muzzle threaded 1/2×28. Includes thread protector.
- 4.7 lbs total weight with carbon fiber barrel and 5.2 lbs with fluted steel barrel.
- Includes a 10 shot rotary magazine (10/22 magazine compatible)
- Includes integral 30 MOA Picatinny rail.
- Trigger pull is approximately 3.5 lbs.
- Integrated QD flush cup sling mounts and swivel mounts
Bergara Website said:
I slapped on my Nikon Prostaff 4-12 and headed to the range.
Shooting what I had at the house already, I was NOT impressed with accuracy.
I had CCI Standards and some Federal bulk opened already so they rolled with me.
All targets were shot at 50 yards and these were with the suppressor.
Federal American Eagle garbage.
CCI Standards (Shoots great in my other rifles):
Not impressed with the top left pattern. It was 7:45 by the time I got to this point and I packed it up and went home.
Fast forward to Sunday.
I went by the Sportmans Warehouse to see if they had any Match or Target ammo variants that were not at the house.
I picked up these flavors:
Norma Match-11
Federal Gold Match
Eley Target
I removed the suppressor and went through a solid test. Shots at 50 yards, 5 shot groups.
Top left: Federal American Eagle
Top Right: Norma Match-22
Bottom Left: Eley Target
Bottom Right: Federal Gold Match
Center target was reserved for sight in or adjustments when switching ammo.
- Yellow circles represent the shot groups.
- Purple circle was the sighting in.
- Yellow center circle was shooting a 10 shot Eley group with the suppressor.
While this is impressive, I must say that I did put some Norma into my Ruger American and it shot 9 rounds inside the black with one flier.
Overall thoughts?
- Trigger:
- Nothing needs changed, very predictable pull, clean break and reliable.
- Stock:
- Hate the cutout on the back end, I need a little more rear elevation when bench shooting
- it is a little slicker than one would expect but it is not a heavy rifle so holding it was easy enough.
- Sling Studs / QD:
- Adequate spots for your swivel studs or QD slings
- Feeding/Chambering:
- some issues with bulk and Aguila subs.
- Eject:
- issues with bulk ammo sticking in chamber due to chambering and even mentioned by mfg. Expected result.
- Magazine:
- Bergara magazine has issues. It doesn't like feeding some ammo, the feed lip slot is too narrow and rounds get hung up in there when trying to enter the chamber.
- Magazine release:
- The paddle is nice, 10 round magazines don't drop free but the 15 round BX-15's are a welcome relief and can be easily removed and inserted.
- 30 MOA integrated rail:
- Really guys? I guess I bought a rifle that's more serious than I am.
I had no issues feeding or ejecting ammo that I purchased today.
Planning on revisiting this thread when I receive the Lapua and Wolf match ammo from the internet order.
Once dialed in yesterday I was able to use some CCI's and ring the steel out to 200y with ease. The scope was perfect for bottom reticle circle to hit the steel every time.
Would I buy again? Sure. I'd make sure I had match ammo before I went to the range the first time. I would make sure to run it the first time without a suppressor as mine apparently messes with barrel harmonics.
Disclaimer:
I understand this rifle is new and I have not shot 250 rounds through it. The rifle has not 'settled' in yet and even the gents at Vudoo say to not rely on accuracy until 500 rounds minimum. This is a work in progress
