Build Thread more like "Build Planning" - Ruger 10/22 "convertible," tell me why I'm Nucking Futs

[Diamondback]

So, as I was letting my fingers do the walking at Midwest Industries looking for something else, I stumbled across their 10/22 Takedown chassis, and it gave me an idea...

INSPIRATION: Thompson/Center Contenders and AR15's built on virgin receivers or a few other conditions can go from pistol to rifle and back at will... why not the 10/22? The MI chassis takes a standard AR stock via a buffer tube, which can be set up to be quickly removed creating an no-stock "pistol/other" lower or a "braced pistol." Because the 10/22 and 22 Charger share a common receiver, FCG and barrel mounting system, and they seem to share some engineering with the Ruger PC and PC Charger, why couldn't a 22 Charger pistol exploit that takedown capability to swap between Short (~6"), Medium (~10") and Long (>16") barrel assemblies?

So here's what I've been thinking of...

"Core Group" - Receiver and FCG

• Receiver - Brownells BRN-22 Takedown with integral rail
• Charging Handle - Undetermined; I shoot left-handed but operate non-trigger/safety controls with my right, finding that it both promotes weapon retention via unbroken strong-hand grip and lets me get back into Ready faster
• Bolt Assembly - Factory Ruger, the Brownells receiver doesn't play well with third-party bolts
• Triggerpack - Ruger BX-Trigger, the Midwest chassis doesn't play well with most aftermarkets. Thinking about asking my neighborhood smith to swap in the heavier factory trigger and hammer because I don't like a 2-lb pull
• Chassis - Midwest Industries MI-1022-TDC
• Bolt Stop Pin - Factory Ruger
• Receiver Crosspins - Tandemkross Enhanced
• Grip - FAB Defense AGF-43S with beavertail chopped off

Backend Group

• Rear Plug/Stock Mount - KNS Precision AR-1913 Adapter
• 1913 Tube Mount/Folder - Midwest MI-STAP-SF-BT
• AR Buffer Tube - Milspec CAR-length from spares bin
• Rifle Stock - undecided; I like SOPMODs but they seem big and heavy for a "compact kit" build
• Pistol Brace - SB Tactical SBA3 or SBA4

Barrel/Forend Groups

Component	Short Pistol	Long Pistol	Rifle
Barrel (remove sights if needed)	???	???	Ruger 90565
Barrel takedown mounting (if needed)	Pike Arms Takedown Bundle	Pike Arms Takedown Bundle
Forend	Midwest MI-PC-4.875	Midwest MI-1022-8H	Midwest MI-1022-13H
Flash Hider/Muzzle Device	???	???	???

Sights & Optics: Not a lot determined here; I'm thinking rail-mount AR sights for the longer barrels. Problem is I don't like fighting with rezeroing every time I reinstall the barrels... I was toying with the idea of one of these for short pistol:

SeeAll - Tritium Gun Sights

SeeAll Sights

www.seeallopensight.com

mounted on the receiver with a riser so it'd co-witness with the AR irons, or at least on a QD mount so it could be swiftly swapped with rear iron and optic. Long Pistol and Rifle front sights would be permanently mounted on the handguard but share a rear iron mounted on the receiver (removed in Short setup).

Magazines: Not really discussed. I was thinking the Alangator triple-mount rotary adaptor for three standard Ruger BX-10s and maybe a couple Tandemkross doubles.

Okay, guys, the floor is yours. Tell me why I need a rubber room... Is this thing looking like Title I, or an NFA violation in the making? Ruger gurus, any suggestions to fill in the blanks? This is meant more for "beginner" not a "spare no expense," so we're looking at "value for money" because the concept is two full sets as a His & Hers build project.

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[No_Regerts]

At the end of the day, is it any more capable than any other 10/22?

 

[Diamondback]

At the end of the day, is it any more capable than any other 10/22?

You could probably get the same function by owning both a 22 Charger and a 10/22, but part of the point is expanding the build repertoire and a "His/Hers Build Together" project with the girlfriend rather than just "here's the pile of parts, watch what I do and reassemble what I pre-fitted." Main Gain is taking a whizz in the face of Mandatory Semiauto/Handgun Backdoor Registration by building ourselves from bare frames, other than that's it's basically "climbing a mountain because it's there."

 

[No_Regerts]

You could probably get the same function by owning both a 22 Charger and a 10/22, but part of the point is expanding the build repertoire and a "His/Hers Build Together" project with the girlfriend rather than just "here's the pile of parts, watch what I do and reassemble what I pre-fitted." Main Gain is taking a whizz in the face of Mandatory Semiauto/Handgun Backdoor Registration by building ourselves from bare frames, other than that's it's basically "climbing a mountain because it's there."

Ah, I get it now. I'm not a mountain climber, so it took a second!

 

[Diamondback]

Ah, I get it now. I'm not a mountain climber, so it took a second!

Neither am I, it's just a really good metaphor for any kind of "just to see what's out there" activities.

 

[red442joe]

I bought a SeeAll...it sucks.

Joe

 

[Stomper]

My NAA .22WMR Pug says, "here, hold my beer".

 

[Ruggedbert]

I had both the MI takedown chassis and the Engineered Silence takedown chassis. The Engineered Silence chassis is the way to go. If you don't need to have a take down, look into Enoch Industries Odin or Deep 6 Chassis.

10/22 Takedown Chassis Kit - Engineered Silence

Our 10/22 Takedown Chassis kit is the most elegant chassis available. It also works with non-takedown 10/22's with our non-takedown adapter.

engineeredsilence.com

Deep Six Chassis System | Enoch Industries

The Deep Six Chassis System from Enoch Industries. Upgrade your 10/22® platform with a 15.25" chassis for more attachement options and better performance.

enoch-industries.com

 

[Diamondback]

Bert, the entire point of this is a pistol/rifle convertible, which REQUIRES a takedown system to do quick forend swap. I'll take a look at ES, thanks for the headsup on them--Stickman suggested taking a look at the Odin too but it doesn't lend itself to "quick change" like this.

 

[Member 34319]

For sake of ease, just keep the pistol brace on it and run the 16" barrel. No sense in swapping to a real stock. Especially since the brace you are going with makes a nice stock.

This project might get expensive as most take down stocks don't sell the front end separately. May want to reach out to these companies first and see if you can buy extra front ends to go with the different sized barrels.

If you go with any optic, look to mount it to the barrel instead of the receiver. This might mean three optics, or one, and the other two barrel lengths can be irons.

 

[Member 34319]

I bought a SeeAll...it sucks.

Joe

I have had a couple. They are functional. Not nearly good as a red dot of some sort, but for a battery free optic, they are pretty good.

 

[Diamondback]

For sake of ease, just keep the pistol brace on it and run the 16" barrel. No sense in swapping to a real stock. Especially since the brace you are going with makes a nice stock.

This project might get expensive as most take down stocks don't sell the front end separately. May want to reach out to these companies first and see if you can buy extra front ends to go with the different sized barrels.

If you go with any optic, look to mount it to the barrel instead of the receiver. This might mean three optics, or one, and the other two barrel lengths can be irons.

Midwest does sell them separately, and I had planned to mount sights to HG/barrel assembly. Was thinking a cantilevered rail section back over the receiver partway, but not sure it would hold zero and be sturdy enough to handle "knockaround"... this is mostly thinking an iron-sight plinker and range toy, not Serious Social Work or SHTF.

 

[Diamondback]

So, to update after a month's consultation with industry pros...

Base Chassis: Ruger Charger OEM, $84.99 new-takeoff from S&P Outfitters
Receiver: Brownells BRN22 takedown, $158.99
Rear sight/rail: Brownells BRN26, $88.99
Triggerpack: source a factory takeoff from @Knobgoblin
Bolt stop: Tuffer Buffer, too many offerings to make sense of
Receiver crosspins: Tandemkross (TK orders are going to depend on whether TK has a sale, otherwise Primary Arms)
Mag catch pins: Tandemkross
1913 brace adapter: Copper Custom, $55
Folding grip: FAB Defense AGF-43S

Barrels are all Acculite .920 bulls, no flutes, threaded; all with Acculite takedown kits and NoDak Spud NDS23 front sights. 6" uses Ruger OEM handguard, 10" uses Midwest MI-1022-8H, 16.5" uses Midwest MI-1022-13H. Sights are $44 each direct, TD kits are $36. Barrels are $139 for 6", $143 10", and $197 16". Considering the new FAB Defense M-Lok angled foregrip and thumbrest for the longer barrels. Shout-outs to Louis at Acculite and Harlan at NDS for their help here.

Magazines: Ruger 90451 3-pack, $33 at S&P
Mag accessories: Alangator tri-mag coupler, Ruger dustcovers, Caldwell mag charger, Maglula load/unload kit

Other accessories/tools...
Tandemkross mag toolkit
Tandemkross bolt bar
Tandemkross safety tool
Real Avid 10/22 Field Pack toolkit (micro tool, cleaning kit, field ref guide; out of production)
Harbor Freight tool case to carry gun and all tools https://www.harborfreight.com/18-in-x-6-in-x-13-in-black-aluminum-case-69318.html

Any other recommended tools, books or refinements?

 

[Knobgoblin]

You going to try a variety of mag releases?

 

[Diamondback]

You going to try a variety of mag releases?

Not really, my plan is to try the Ruger standard first. If it's not what I'd like it to be I'll look at an upgrade later, but for the most part I'm thinking if it ain't broke don't futz with it. (TK pins get a preference for their Stay Put detents.)

Harlan at NDS suggested that for windage adjustment I use different colored paint pens to mark correct zero for each barrel assembly, then apply the same color to the rear of its corresponding front sight.

 

[Diamondback]

@Knobgoblin If it becomes necessary to upgrade mag and bolt releases, any suggestions on particularly good fits for someone who's left handed on grip and trigger but runs everything else right-hand?

 

[Knobgoblin]

Bolt release mod can be done with a dremel. It's more or less ambi.

Mag release is always the same from either side. I have gotten used to the tac sol and knock offs of same design.



Some people loathe it though.

 

[Diamondback]

Main thing is... you're gonna laugh at this, I picked up that habit from AR's and 1911s where "split operation" lets me keep an unbroken firing grip at all times. Spear bolt catch, slide stop or AR ambi mag-catch with the birdie, work AR catch button with right thumb and 1911 mag catch with trigger finger.

Ruger looks pretty ambi other than the safety going by that pic.

 

[Knobgoblin]

The nice thing about the bolt stop is that you can choose to not use it

 

[American123]

At the end of the day, is it any more capable than any other 10/22?

More importantly, at the end of the day it sounds like way more money than just owning two, a pistol 10/22 and a rifle 10/22.